I think I'm Craigslisting wrong.

"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
06/29/2018 at 11:47 • Filed to: None

I sell items on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace with relative frequency. I would guess that 75% of the interest I receive are offers of less than half of asking.

“I see you have minivan of $20,000. I give you $8000.”

“Your car isn’t worth $5k. I’ll give you $1500.”

I mean, this HAS to have worked for someone at some point. Otherwise, why would so many people do it?

“I see your home is listed for $299,000. It’s not worth that much. I’ll give you $50, 000"

“You know what... Your probably right. Sold for $50,000.....”

Sienna listed at $17,500:

Honestly, what did he expect me to say? What’s the logical response to that question?

Let’s open the conversation instead by being a dick:

I’m surely going to come around to this guy....

Clearly I've been approaching my Craigslist hunts all wrong. From now on it's full on asshole attitude and offers of 30-50% of asking only. Surely someone, somewhere said yes....

DISCUSSION (25)

Ash78, voting early and often > mkbruin, Atlas VP
06/29/2018 at 12:18

This is like my buddy in college who just gave up and started asking every girl he met if they wanted to sleep with him (far less eloquently). He said if he asked enough girls, eventually it would work.

A few penicillin and topical cream prescriptions later, we discussed the meaning of Adverse Selection.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Ash78, voting early and often
06/29/2018 at 12:19

I mean, it worked...

Future Heap Owner > mkbruin, Atlas VP
06/29/2018 at 12:21

It’s just like spam email, the reward is high enough and the effort low enough that even with a very, very low frequency of success the product of ease * reward * success rate can be high enough that people give it a shot.

My bird IS the word > mkbruin, Atlas VP
06/29/2018 at 12:24

I hate bartering. I haven't had to sell anything yet but I'm tempted to just list everything as firm, and if anyone gives me shit, I will ask what part of firm don't you understand.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Ash78, voting early and often
06/29/2018 at 12:24

Seriously. Every time someone asks for a ridiculous discount on something, I’m thinking, “you really don’t want something they’ll sell for less than half what it should be worth”.

Then again, this explains a lot about my industry and the absolute garbage that so many companies put out. Hiring the cheapest possible person (even going to great lengths to import them) seems like a great way to burn money fixing it later.

Ash78, voting early and often > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
06/29/2018 at 12:28

FWIW, I can’t even get a callback from home contractors/renovaters right now. They’re all too tied up with mid- 6-figure new home projects to bother with my low 5-figure renovations.

It’s no wonder it attracts so many hacks to fill in the market gaps.

HammerheadFistpunch > mkbruin, Atlas VP
06/29/2018 at 12:29

Im really fortunate that in my area I have a way better alternative to craigslist (ksl). Its not that you still don’t get “hello I am out of the town, will you take 150% of asking in the form of bad check?” or the “give you a box of toothpicks an a broken yamaha for it” types but I have had good luck buying and selling MOST things (including one car) on there.

Future next gen S2000 owner > mkbruin, Atlas VP
06/29/2018 at 12:35

Offering 30% of asking is not the same as paying 30% more than it’s worth...............

cmill189 - sans Volvo > HammerheadFistpunch
06/29/2018 at 12:38

Buying and selling on KSL really is better. Hardly anyone wants to trade and most seem to just give asking price. I bought and sold 4 cars, 2 vintage Vespas, so much cycling equipment, canoes, kayaks, and my last motorcycle.

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > mkbruin, Atlas VP
06/29/2018 at 12:45

“I made an effort, therefore, I am entitled to receive the merchandise for what I offered, and if you don’t sell it to me for what I offered, that makes YOU a terrible person.”

The basic concept of a transaction is completely lost somehow. I want a thing, and this other person has the thing, and wants this many things in exchange. Why should I assume that I should still get what I want if I don’t give the other person what he wants?

*throws up hands*

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Ash78, voting early and often
06/29/2018 at 12:50

I’m lucky to have some skills myself and an FIL that has done a lot of construction. We do all our own work , except electrical (found a great electrician when we needed it, but the price was super steep) and HVAC (also very pricey).

Party-vi > mkbruin, Atlas VP
06/29/2018 at 13:01

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit you sell stuff that is too fancy. My beat E46 was way easier to sell.

diplodicus > mkbruin, Atlas VP
06/29/2018 at 13:04

I think the rule of thumb is if they offer money before seeing it in person they’re full of shit anyways.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > mkbruin, Atlas VP
06/29/2018 at 13:06

I never got the comeback of “I just got ____ for less than I offered you!”. What’s your endgame? Are you going to buy mine too? I sold my dad’s riding mower and had a lowballer do that. Told me all about someone’s nicer, newer mower (ignore the fact that the cut deck was a fair amount smaller....) he just paid cash for! An d suddenly he was willing to buy mine too after telling him I would lower my price to that amount! Such a dick...

Best part was after about a week of that, there was a tree we were taking out of the backyard. The tree guy saw the mower for sale, offer ed that low cash price and he got it all thanks to him not being a dick about it.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/29/2018 at 13:22

“But t here’s one in BlahBlahVille in better condition for even less!”

“Well, then you should buy that one.”

*click*

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > mkbruin, Atlas VP
06/29/2018 at 13:22

CL is the worst, but still not as bad as going to a dealership. Low bar, I know.

DipodomysDeserti > mkbruin, Atlas VP
06/29/2018 at 13:33

I get a guy that offers me my asking price on my motorcycle every three months despite me having taken it off CL a year ago. He sets up a meeting time and everything, only to cancel an hour before. I humor him because he seems chill and if he does end up buying my bike I’ll have made a $3k profit. I’m guessing he gets drunk and rememebers wanting my bike every few months. That or he’s hoping I’ll give him my address so he can get shot/bit by a pitbull trying to steal it.