Can you get ripped off selling on CL?

[HurricaneJesus]

Getting rid of some odds and ends and I've gotten a few e-mails and I suddenly got paranoid. It'll be straight cash but is someone gonna come rob my house or something?

[The Golden Boy]

Meet them in a parking lot or something.

My Brother In Law is big on buying stuff on the CL. When I've gone along with him, I've been invited into people's houses with tons of stuff in there. I don't think I'd want a stranger seeing my house and the shit I got put away... but you know what- there's probably more 'relatively good' people in the world than anything

[Ze Schwam]

I've always taken the name they have provided(or extrapolated it from the email) and googled it. For music related gear, especially here in Nashville, you will usually find some kind of facebook or myspace page. Iif I was comfortable with what I saw, I'd just have them come to the house. Never had a problem, but most of the people I sold to were attending a local music focused college. Plus, I got a good feeling from the email conversations.

That being said, always trust your gut...

[Rockinrob86]

if you are selling something and they pay you with pay pal, and then meet you, I think they can recall their payment after you have seen it in your paypal account and even told pay pal to transfer it to your bank.

You have to have them pay you, you transfer the money, wait until it is actually cleared and in the bank (call and verify) or you could get the pay pal card and withdraw all of it from an atm.

[KCWM]

I've been buying crap off of craigslist for 3 or 4 years now. I've had a lot of people come over and been to a lot of people's houses. If I'm selling a pedal or a guitar, I often offer to meet at Guitar Center. If I'm selling an amp (which isn't common anymore), I invite them over or offer to take it there if there's some seemingly genuine interest. It's always a gut call.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

I sell low dollar stuff on Craigs list ..... things worth $50 or less. I don't invite them in the house and say the wife won't allow stangers in the house to use the facilities. (always blame the wife for these things). No problems so far.







I've heard of ppl going out to buy a computer off CL and then getting robbed of their cash. The address was some vacant house with the thugs waiting.

[Guitar Josh]

The best bet is to use your head. Always deal in cash only. Always talk on the phone with the buyer. If you get a weird feeling from e-mail or phone, walk away. Try and meet in a well lit, public place. If someone must come to your house, let them try out the equipment in a garage or in the front foyer, away from the rest of your possessions. Don't disable security systems in front of them. If someone brings a friend without your knowledge, ask if the friend can stay in the car or on the porch. 99% of the time it's just a buddy, but you never know.

Most CL deals work out perfectly fine, and all can if you just use your head.

[small axe]

ive done deals on craigslist...i ask for payment up frony, usually paypal, but cash is cool....i meet them at a location somewhere mutually agreed upon...when i buy i use paypal and have it shipped...never had a problem

[GuitarGuy510]

Go meet them INSIDE a guitar center or something. Why you would prefer to meet a stranger in a parking lot with a piece of gear is beyond me, I used to live 15 mins from the local GC and met up there tons of times. Buy a pack of strings or something if they give you a hard time, but the folks at the Fairfax GC never gave me a hard time and that's much safer than meeting some dude in a parking lot where he might try something versus in a store where he knows a bunch of people are seeing everything.

Originally Posted by sandiprdesai

ive done deals on craigslist...i ask for payment up frony, usually paypal, but cash is cool....i meet them at a location somewhere mutually agreed upon...when i buy i use paypal and have it shipped...never had a problem

That is a truly awful idea. All it takes is a shady dude to run home, reverse the payment and claim he never received it and without a tracking number to prove delivery Paypal will more than likely just refund his money back to him leaving you out the gear and your cash. If someone is picking up locally (and you should NEVER ship via Craigslist, IMO) they better have cash in hand because all it takes is a few clicks and they can have Paypal give them all their money back since you have no real proof that they received it.

[j2b4o]

if your that scared just have someone home with you like friend. Ive met literally dozens of people from CL at my house to sell something never had a problem. and I live in NY probably the most likely place to get robbed. just act tough and if theres any funny stuff kick em out.

[sears]

Originally Posted by GuitarGuy510

Go meet them INSIDE a guitar center or something.

When I bought my Stingray I suggested this and the seller got touchy, saying that peple are always trying to "pull that kind of shit" at the Glen Burnie Guitar Center and the employees don't take kindly to it.

I'd thought that CG would welcome the traffic but I suppose it could get out of control.

It turned out that he was a great guy. I went to his house to do the deal and we still exchange emails.

[NHDave]

Originally Posted by Rockinrob86

if you are selling something and they pay you with pay pal, and then meet you, I think they can recall their payment after you have seen it in your paypal account and even told pay pal to transfer it to your bank.

You have to have them pay you, you transfer the money, wait until it is actually cleared and in the bank (call and verify) or you could get the pay pal card and withdraw all of it from an atm.

Totally agree with GuitarGuy 510 on this one... bad idea, easily reversable in the absence of
proof of delivery. I don't take paypal on craig's list deals. I just don't.


I always meet at Barnes and Noble, never at my home, and...
if it's a really small item, you could always meet at the cafe.
Food court at the mall isn't bad either.

[ducatisteve]

I usually meet at the Panera Bread in the big mall area right by my house and accept cash only. That way I can get some lunch too!

[Big Boss Man]

I have gone in other people's homes to buy gear and I have never robbed anyone. Just make sure you have their full name and phone number. Talk to them on the phone to make the arrangements to meet up.

[Luke]

I have them come to my office, that way I don't have to waste anytime waiting for them or driving to meet them. If they don't show I had to be here anyway.