The one that got away!

[Knottscott]

This nearly got posted in the tool forum, but here it is.... A 2006 General International 50-260 left tilt 3hp cab saw with 50" fence, laminate extension table, and a mobile base was posted on Craigslist Sunday afternoon for $800....looked to be in mint shape. I couldn't have been too far behind the initial post when I first inquired because I had checked just a bit earlier, but I got no response from the seller. Tried again later than night...no response. Tried from another email address...no response, tried from work today....no response...finally tried yet another email address and finally got a response..."The saw is sold" !

There's no law that says the seller has to sell to the first responder, and I don't know whether or not I was, but first come first served is the usual scenario. I've sold several items on Craigslist and can't think of a single time that I didn't at least respond to let someone know the item was sold...then I delete the listing asap. At this point I know it just wasn't meant to be, but the failure to respond promptly on an $800 machine inquiry leaves a bad taste in my mouth....an item like that is a rare sighting around here, and I thought I had a shot.

The Canadian made General 650 has long been a dream saw of mine...the GI isn't in quite the same league, but it's alot of saw for $800, and it was within reasonable financial reach if I sold my 22124. I'm disappointed, but I'm not out anything, and typing out these few paragraphs of rant leaves me feeling a little better! Thanks for letting me bellyache!

[jonmnelson]

I've had a few of those experiences myself. I'm like you -- I always try to respond promptly to any inquiries, so it drives me nuts when others aren't as responsive. Too bad about the saw; better luck next time.

[Uncle Cracker]

CL is not known as a place where you find a lot of manners. I'm like you guys... I respond to all inquiries, and take down an ad the minute something sells. But we live in different times now.

[Pappy]

On the recent free metal shed deal, I responded 10 minutes after the ad posted. Two days later I got mail saying I was #4 on the list and asking for a contact #. Got a call the next day offering it to me. I jumped on it without asking what happened to 3's 1-3.

[bfrikken]

The other thing to look for, is some people list their stuff in separate posts. I saw someone in a similar position as to you going after a Unisaw. The person provided their phone number in 4 different posts, but forgot it in the Unisaw post. The person interested in it didn't see that and just emailed a few times. Another guy on the forum sent him the number, and said to try it. He called, and sure enough the person selling was surprised they were only the second person to call. Too bad they sold it to the first person.

So, if there is something you really want and no number listed, do a quick double check around the posting to see if there are similar time and location postings. You may luck out there.

At any rate, sorry about the missed opp...

[Woodshark]

I had an unusual CL buy go wrong last week. A guy posted a rolling Craftsman tool cabinet for a very fair price. I was the first to respond and he emailed me that since I was the first, it was mine. I offered to come get it, BUT, he could not meet with me until a day or two later. No problem for me. The next day I emailed him to set up a date and time to get togther. No answer. I emailed again later in the day. No answer. Next day, same thing.

He finally emailed me and said that even though he promised it to me, someone emailed and offered him a little more so he sold it to him. Didn't even bother to let me know.

I only hope what goes around, comes around.

[Knottscott]

I had an unusual CL buy go wrong last week. A guy posted a rolling Craftsman tool cabinet for a very fair price. I was the first to respond and he emailed me that since I was the first, it was mine. I offered to come get it, BUT, he could not meet with me until a day or two later. No problem for me. The next day I emailed him to set up a date and time to get togther. No answer. I emailed again later in the day. No answer. Next day, same thing.

He finally emailed me and said that even though he promised it to me, someone emailed and offered him a little more so he sold it to him. Didn't even bother to let me know.

I only hope what goes around, comes around.

Now that's low, and would have been heartbreaking to me .....I'd be telling my friends that I snagged a GI cabinet saw! Maybe I just get a bit too excited about these things! A man's (or woman's) word is pretty important, and typically has more meaning than a legal document. That was a bummer.

[Uncle Cracker]

I have learned that a deal is not a deal until it's in your truck. When a keeper comes along, I do everything I can to be camping out on the guy's doorstep before he hangs up the phone. Others will be trying to take it away from you.

[footprintsinconc]

well it goes the other way aswell.

i had somethings that i had for sale, several people called, and i returned the call on the first guy and since he was coming from an hour away, he said that he would come by on saturday (this was thursday). and he didnt show. i had called the others telling them, it was sold. he didnt show + never called + never returned the calls. so i sol.

i dont know what to do if i had a case like this again. i guess i would have to say, call before you come, and if its here, it here otherwise it gone.

[Uncle Cracker]

That's about all you can do, Omar. Anybody who asks you to hold an item already knows he's asked too much, and already expects it won't be there if he's too slow. I just tell people "If you come now, it's yours... If you come later, it might not be... Send somebody by with the money, or come yourself, and bring back your husband and his truck later..." This will discourage those who want you to commit to them, but may not show up later, or worse yet, come later and decide they don't want the item or want to haggle price after you've already taken steps to accommodate them. This is why it's also important to post pictures in your ad, and tell people up front whether you're in a haggling mood.

You will likely not get nearly as many responses after the first couple of hours, as many folks will assume that a good deal has already been snapped up, so you can't toss away that opportunity straightaway. It does help, however, if you state in your ad that you will take it down when the item sells. That might encourage the later inquiries to some degree.