Lousy Buying Experiences

[mtnbiker49]

Anyone else have issues buying 5th gen 4runner parts off craigslist ads? I’ve had two in the past few weeks. Legitimate, but dishonest sellers.

One was for a Gobi rack with ladder in RI. Listed for $980. I call requesting a few more pics and agree to a price of $900. A text later and the price is now $925...what? A couple ignored phone calls and texts later, this guy is MIA.

With that failed attempt, I searched the east coast on craigslist and found a new, older model RPM roof rack in box for $600. The description was copy and pasted with no pic. I request pics of the boxes, name, and location. He obliges and says make an offer, so I offer to pick it up for $500 thinking he’ll counter. Nope, hesays that he will be making $600 to ship it out to CA. He says that if I can beat that, he’ll give it to me. I bump my offer up to $530 since shipping would be a lot for him to ship to CA. Lastly, he says he’ll do $625 pickup so he doesn’t have to have the hassle of shipping. Again, what?

Nothing but good things to say on the forum classifieds, but craigslist...yikes.

Any other crappy seller stories?

 

[Jhalko]

Could be worse, you should see the drabbits/camelback metal gear thread.

It’s hard to find honest people, I generally would stick to the for sale threads on here.

 

[Engineer]

Dont barter as much and pay asking price - if its a fair deal be happy, if not stick to your guns and realize you will lose out on some sales.

Its the price we all pay to play in that space

 

[mtnbiker49]

For the first rack, I asked “what is the lowest you can take?” And he said $900.

 

[mtnbiker49]

Could be worse, you should see the drabbits/camelback metal gear thread.

It’s hard to find honest people, I generally would stick to the for sale threads on here.

Yeah on the xterra boards, there are a couple companies that took some $20-25k in sales for custom fabwork and never shipped out any products. Cruel.

And I will stick to the forum now. Though I believe someone is trying to scam me with a CBI bumper. Not sure, but I haven’t sent money.

 

[Thrasher_S]

Yeah on the xterra boards, there are a couple companies that took some $20-25k in sales for custom fabwork and never shipped out any products. Cruel.

I'm recently an Xterra to 4Runner convert. A company called "InsainFab" or something like that did a group buy for $1800 bumpers, took a lot of money, delivered a couple (that didn't fit...) and then disappeared! A "new company" showed up with suspiciously similar bumpers and it happened AGAIN!...

I'm scared to death of anything but established companies.

 

[JeremyB]

For the first rack, I asked “what is the lowest you can take?” And he said $900.

That's my typical response to "what's the lowest you can take". Give me an actual counter, not some open ended crap - I've already got a price on the ad.

 

[osugsxr]

Dont barter as much and pay asking price - if its a fair deal be happy, if not stick to your guns and realize you will lose out on some sales.

Its the price we all pay to play in that space

completely agree! There are people who expect items for free basically, is the condition of the item good to excellent? Are you able to find a better price else where? Did you try the salvation army or good will? If its a good deal go for it.

 

[LAMGOESHAM]

For the first rack, I asked “what is the lowest you can take?” And he said $900.

Dude you just sound like a lousy buyer, trying so hard to lowball everyone and expect people to be eager to work with you

 

[mtnbiker49]

Funny.

I don’t haggle price on any forums. I try to get the best price possible on craigslist, as I’m sure most of you do. Trying to buy a listed $20,000 car at $18,400 is the same thing.

I guess the 100% positive feedback on 80 ebay transactions as both buyer and seller means nothing. You set something as best offer, you can expect offers. Simple. I’ve also had upwards of fifty craigslist transactions with positive outvomes, both buying and selling. You want to talk about a lowball offer? How does $1500 for a vehicle worth about $3500 sound?

Let’s talk buying here. You have to take into account what condition an item is in, if you are taking a chance on something sight unseen, and age. A GoPro 1 does not retain as much value once GoPro2 comes out. You have to also base value off of prior completed transactions.

Just as an fyi, when a seller states a price as firm, you pay that price. When you give no details or state best offer, the item is open to offers.

 

[WNY PAT]

Unless you’re buying local, I’d always use Pay Pal (prefersbly) or at least a credit card not attached to my own bank accounts, for any transaction. E Bay adds another layer of protection. It can take some time to find deals, but generally, if it seems too good to be true, it is. Never send cash or money orders. Always have a paper trail. IMO... I

 

[SNORunner01]

Selling a used Gobi rack on C.L. is like selling a yacht that comes with 4-5 hot chicks in bikini’s. Everyone is going to try and buy, surprised the guy even got back to you. If it was me would have said I be at your house with cash in hand in 20 minutes.

C.L. gobi rack finds are like winning the lotto. You snooze you lose. Next time you see one you say I be there in 10, period.

 

[Hadelson]

This is my last experience with dealer located in Allentown, PA. I had purchased several Toyota's from them and was satisfied with there customer service, etc. With that in mind, I contacted them about a 4Runner TRDP and set an appointment. When I arrived, I was shuttled around to several people. The person I got was rude and wouldn't work with me on any information. So I walked out. Later, I contacted both the Sales Manager and owner and of course left a voice mail message and they never returned my calls.

I then contacted another dealer located 20 miles away. They worked there tails off and found exactly what I wanted with options and color and no price mark-up. Took 6 weeks to get the Runner.

3 months later, I had just washed and polished the runner, had most of my mods installed. It really stood out in the Red Color. I decided to pay the 1st dealer a visit so off I went. Had a lot of people looking at it and of course attacked by several sales people. I located the Sales person who wouldn't work with me and asked him to walk up to the window...…..he did and then with a loud voice told him he lost that sale due to his poor attitude and lack of customer service. Yup, show-room got quiet and I left with, Have a nice day. The Sales manager came walking out as I was leaving and stopped me and asked me what he could do to correct what happened. I said nothing and told him you lost me as a customer.

Just one day where I left the dealer with a smile on my face.

 

[mrblah]

I was selling a gobi rack on craiglists for 980, and some dood kept lowballing me, so I threw out a number so he wouldn't get all butthurt, and put him on ignore.

I guess the dood doesn't know the phrase:

"all lowballs offers will be ignored".


true story....:

 

[Bumbo]

For the first rack, I asked “what is the lowest you can take?” And he said $900.

No offense OP but anytime someone asks me that on CL I get a bit put-off...

Its like the reverse sales person of a car dealers "How much do you want to pay" As a buyer, I can't stand that question either.

To your original response, my response is generally to ignore or increase the price because I generally put my best foot forward, but in your defense, CL are a funny breed. I've leaned to actually raise the price a little to allow them to low ball me so they FEEL like they are getting a deal.

There is quite a science to CLing in general. It's a bit exhausting at times.

 

[SNORunner01]

I was selling a gobi rack on craiglists for 980, and some dood kept lowballing me, so I threw out a number so he wouldn't get all butthurt, and put him on ignore.

I guess the dood doesn't know the phrase:

"all lowballs offers will be ignored".


true story....:

HAHA... what a lousy selling experience you had. [emoji6]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Weedkiller]

No offense OP but anytime someone asks me that on CL I get a bit put-off...

Its like the reverse sales person of a car dealers "How much do you want to pay" As a buyer, I can't stand that question either.

To your original response, my response is generally to ignore or increase the price because I generally put my best foot forward, but in your defense, CL are a funny breed. I've leaned to actually raise the price a little to allow them to low ball me so they FEEL like they are getting a deal.

There is quite a science to CLing in general. It's a bit exhausting at times.

Yep. The few times I've tried selling things on CL that happened...can't stand that. The worst is the ones that open up with " I'll give you X dollars" . Yeah buddy, I bet you would. Freak'n low ballers with an attitude. Immediate ignore.

 

[Jhalko]

Idk, if I’m selling something and someone asks what my lowest price is I tell them, normal negotiations. I’ve told people I couldn’t go as low as they wanted, I didn’t feel bad and I doubt they did. I’ve had plenty of folks never bother to respond to my inquiries for their stuff, I thought it was lame but moved on. OP doesn’t seem to have unreasonable expectations to me.