I am selling a recliner on craigslist. What are some tips so I can avoid scams or a dangerous situation? Should I give them my phone #? Is it safe to have a stranger come to your home? I am not going to bring them inside but bring recliner out into driveway when they come.
Craigslist safety
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I would listen to the words spoken and the backround noise. If they are talking as a typical street hood or trying to hard to sound smart, I would pass. I would ask for a cell number and home number to call them back at. I would call their home number first.
I would also mark down the license plate of the vehicle that comes to pick-up the recliner.
I would take a picture of the persons loading the recliner into the vehicle. WHY?
Because you have had so many fine memories that you are sad to see it go.
Let them think you are a kook.
I would also mark down the license plate of the vehicle that comes to pick-up the recliner.
I would take a picture of the persons loading the recliner into the vehicle. WHY?
Because you have had so many fine memories that you are sad to see it go.
Let them think you are a kook.
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Craigslist Safety:
1. Do not post your phone number in the ad. Have them email you thier phone number and call them. Situations like this are what prepaid cell phones are made for.
2. Use your Spidey-sense. If you get a bad vibe, don't bring them to you home but rather meet them someplace else if you have a vehicle that will move the chair.
3. Make sure there is another person with you when you meet. Record their license plate and a description of them in case something happens later.
I use Craigslist frequently, butt mostly as a consumer. Carrying a thousand dollars or more in cash and going to somebody else's home puts me at greater risk than selling a piece of furniture. I've only had one situation that felt a bit hinky. I always carry, and have my SA dialed up a notch or two.
Be safe!
CP Lincoln
1. Do not post your phone number in the ad. Have them email you thier phone number and call them. Situations like this are what prepaid cell phones are made for.
2. Use your Spidey-sense. If you get a bad vibe, don't bring them to you home but rather meet them someplace else if you have a vehicle that will move the chair.
3. Make sure there is another person with you when you meet. Record their license plate and a description of them in case something happens later.
I use Craigslist frequently, butt mostly as a consumer. Carrying a thousand dollars or more in cash and going to somebody else's home puts me at greater risk than selling a piece of furniture. I've only had one situation that felt a bit hinky. I always carry, and have my SA dialed up a notch or two.
Be safe!
CP Lincoln
Thanks for making me paranoid :smile:
I have only received an email from them. Once I email them back they will have my email address (which is one I made up just for craigslist). I haven't spoken to them. I was wondering if I should actually get their phone number or should I have every conversation via email.
So far it is just email. The problem is that I don't have a truck to put the recliner in so they have to come to my house.
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I have bought and sold most of the things I own on craigslist in the past 5 years. Nothing has happened to me but that doesn't mean that nothing WILL happen. I have had people come to my house and I have gone to theirs and some have been pretty sketchy to say the least. Craigslist wasn't bad 5-10 years ago but everyone knows about it today and there are tons of scams and crazy people. My truck got broken into last year and 2 days later all the stuff that was stolen was on craigslist, I got it all back 
Be careful, use common sense, and stay armed when meeting people. It's best to meet in public places but when selling things like a recliner it's kind of hard. DON'T let anyone in your house to see what kind of goodies you have. Craigslist is great but there are lots of crazy people out there.
A couple months back people up here in northern VT were using craigslist to meet at a rest area a couple miles from Canada to sell drugs and sex. It went on for a while until the LEO's found out and closed the rest area.
Be careful, use common sense, and stay armed when meeting people. It's best to meet in public places but when selling things like a recliner it's kind of hard. DON'T let anyone in your house to see what kind of goodies you have. Craigslist is great but there are lots of crazy people out there.
A couple months back people up here in northern VT were using craigslist to meet at a rest area a couple miles from Canada to sell drugs and sex. It went on for a while until the LEO's found out and closed the rest area.
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OK here goes,, I buy and sell alot on Craigslist,, Thats the reason got a Conceal Carry Permit,, Most everyone wants CASH, So you have to go to the ATM, Then drive to their location, For the bigger items, Parts Cars, Boats, so its pretty easy to set someone up, With a vacant house, old boat, and I have CASH on me? But armed, And always try to take someone with you to watch your back,, And get a reciept with their DL# so its not stolen goods, And try to do it in the daytime!! Yea I know winters here shorter hours, lol. Still lots of good deals on Craigslist, Just watch SA and be careful on location,
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We sell, I mean "rehome", lol, our puppies on craiglist. I have the puppies in an enclosure in my front yard. We require cash. They have our cell phone # as a contact #. We are armed and when they show up...my wife shows the puppies why I stand back with one of the parent dogs. She is kinda of protective...the other parent plays with the folks..but he is very protective of my wife. Never have had an issue and never had anyone turn down a puppy yet...knock on wood.
From the buyers point of view, it helps to know something about the item. I posted 'looking for' tempered glass(for solar collectors). Some purported seller offered what I wanted at a very good price. I ran the numbers to see if my pickup could carry the weight. Each sheet weighs in the neighborhood of 100 pounds. He gave me a rural address west of St Louis. I googled it and couldn't make out buildings at the end of the lane. I got to thinking about taking $500 cash down there. So I called the guy and asked him how hard it was to handle the glass. Where did he have it stored? Where did he get it? Was it heavy? Could I get it in a truck. He basically answered in such a way that I knew he had never lifted a big thick piece of tempered glass. I thought I was being set up so I didn't go. Now I don't post 'looking for' on Craiglist. If I do find something, I make sure to take the precautions others have posted above.
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LOL to say the majority of the electronics on Craigslist is stolen,, Just ask a few questions,, So the kid wants to upgrade from his ps2 to something else,, Just the selling public,, Trying to get something better, One bad apple don't spoil the whole barrel,,Probly way more stolen items are on the e-bay,
A few years ago, I met someone to buy a large kayak from craigslist (17ft sea kayak). Due to the nature of the purchase I needed to try it out before exchanging money for item.
The way I handled this was we met in a public part that's fairly popular, so I could try out the kayak on the lake first. I arrived with two friends who stayed by the car, while I carried out the interactions.
Everything went just dandy, and I had no problems, but honestly there was no way I was going to meet a stranger from the internet in a fairly remote place, with $1000 cash without backup.
BTW my backup had an SKS and a 12 gauge in the trunk. Trunk was unlocked but not opened. I suspect the guy who was doing the selling had an idea that my backup had weapons at hand but they were a respectful distance away (about 30 yards).
The way I handled this was we met in a public part that's fairly popular, so I could try out the kayak on the lake first. I arrived with two friends who stayed by the car, while I carried out the interactions.
Everything went just dandy, and I had no problems, but honestly there was no way I was going to meet a stranger from the internet in a fairly remote place, with $1000 cash without backup.
BTW my backup had an SKS and a 12 gauge in the trunk. Trunk was unlocked but not opened. I suspect the guy who was doing the selling had an idea that my backup had weapons at hand but they were a respectful distance away (about 30 yards).
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A lot of Sellers, will ask for the person's pho # and name if they want to discuss it or know more info. If they aren't willing to give those up, they won't provide theirs to them. I wouldn't post my phone # , although I have seen items and talked to people who have.
I would not just let anyone into my house .... anyway, let alone a buyer. That may be a difficult one. Can you put it in a garage and let them see it there if they appear to be a serious buyer?
I would not just let anyone into my house .... anyway, let alone a buyer. That may be a difficult one. Can you put it in a garage and let them see it there if they appear to be a serious buyer?
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50,603 Posts
I've sold things on CL before. I had a chance to talk with several people interested in purchasing an enclosed trailer, and then some kayaks.
During each sale, I was able to have a conversation and exchange phone numbers with interested parties. After some questioning, I felt comfortable with having the interested parties come into my yard to inspect the items. I was always armed, and never had a problem. Both items were quickly sold for cash.
I found CL to work quickly and without snags. It worked for me.:hand10::yup:
During each sale, I was able to have a conversation and exchange phone numbers with interested parties. After some questioning, I felt comfortable with having the interested parties come into my yard to inspect the items. I was always armed, and never had a problem. Both items were quickly sold for cash.
I found CL to work quickly and without snags. It worked for me.:hand10::yup:
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:rofl: I should have checked craigslist after my laptop was stolen. I didn't even think about it.
I've never had a problem with craigslist. I got an awesome washer and dryer. I can see how easy it would be to get scammed though. Once I get my CCL I will never go to a transaction unarmed.
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