The Gloat That Almost Was

[crokett]

Yesterday a guy posted an ad on Freecycle for 1" oak stair treads - 13 in all from 34 to 44" long. I replied and said I wanted 'em. 9ish PM last night I see his reply timestamped5:00 PM asking when can I come? I reply that I can come any evening this week. I just got a note from him saying he hadn't heard back from me for a few hours so he moved on to the next guy who picked them up today.

I sent a note back saying that while he was busy being impatient I was busy getting home from work, eating dinner and putting my kids to bed.

[Uncle Cracker]

Impatient? You may have overreacted a little. Not hearing is not hearing... How is he to guess what you are doing or if you will call back at all? He placed the ad to get rid of the stuff, and that's what he did. A few hours is a reasonable allowance, and there is no time framework to begin with. If you don't act quickly when you are at the top of the list, you often won't get the goods. This is simply the way of things. You should not take it personally, and you certainly should not have sawed him off at the knees...

[footprintsinconc]

i wouldnt take it personally either. he doesnt know what you are doing, so basically you snooze, you loose. this has happened to me several times .

[crokett]

Impatient? You may have overreacted a little. Not hearing is not hearing... How is he to guess what you are doing or if you will call back at all? He placed the ad to get rid of the stuff, and that's what he did. A few hours is a reasonable allowance, and there is no time framework to begin with. If you don't act quickly when you are at the top of the list, you often won't get the goods. This is simply the way of things. You should not take it personally, and you certainly should not have sawed him off at the knees...

As soon as I saw his reply I responded and told him when I could come. I couldn't act more quickly than I did. When I post stuff and somebody says they are interested I either
a) give em longer than a few hours to respond

or

b) if there is a time limit I let them know.

The missed opportunity isn't really the issue.
He wanted instant responses from me but didn't extend the same courtesy. I spent time this morning morning rejiggering some things to have my evenings free in expectation of his response. Instead I am told some 18hrs after he moved on that I wasted my time. I'd be less annoyed if he told me that last night.

I'll write this one off as you say tomayto I say tomahto.

[just started]

And some sellers are just a**holes. I saw an ad on CL about 20 min after it was posted and called. I said I would take it and pick it up next day at around 4-5pm, he gave me his address. Next afternoon at 3:30 I call to tell him I am caught in major traffic jam and might be a little late, and I am told "oh I sold that this morning and it's gone". I have had this happen before also, and even arrived after 1.5 hours driving to get there and been told "well you already came and got it".
Some of these idiots are just too stupid to live, and for some reason they seem to congregate on CL.

[cgallery]

I guess a lesson to us all is, when you see something like this respond with a message,

I'll take 'em. I can come any night after work (that is after about 6 o'clock for me). You can call my cell (555/555-1212) and let me know which night works for you.

[docrowan]

Crockett,

I believe there's more to the story than what's in your post. You're clearly angry with the guy, and from a history of reading your posts I don't believe you'd be angry without reason. However, just from reading your original post, I can't see too much of a problem on his end, just one of those things you chalk up to c'est la vie. Since you know the whole story, I think when you read the post it seems clear to you, and you might be frustrated with the rest of us that we don't see your point. Just my two cents, hope you take it like that.

[p8ntblr]

I think he's upset because he had to reorganize his day only to find out the item is gone. I've the same situation happen to me but as a seller. I change my schedule to only find out the buyer can't come when they said they would.

[paintandbodtman]

I think this is just another example of soceity's self serving selfish mentality today.Makes no difference if you're the seller, buyer, giver or taker as in this case seems like everyone wants the world to revolve around them most of the time.Not meant to be directed toward anyone in particular just a summation based on lots of the posts I read on this and other forums I frequent.

Wayne

[poolhound]

I think he's upset because he had to reorganize his day only to find out the item is gone. I've the same situation happen to me but as a seller. I change my schedule to only find out the buyer can't come when they said they would.

As a seller I have had the same thing happen where sombody said they would take something and then never turns up or bothers to call. When I contact them they say "sorry but i decided not to!!"

Thats just plain rude

[crokett]

Crockett,
I believe there's more to the story than what's in your post.

No, WYSISWYG. It is what p8ntblr said. I saw the ad, yesterday, noonish. I responded and said I wanted them if available and when could I come. He sent a reply shortly after I'd left the office asking when could I show up. I responded a few hours later (as soon as I saw it) with a note suggesting when I could pick up, then in anticipation of his answer rejiggered a few evening things (including pushing a Batman movie viewing) back to next week. His initial reply could have: told me there was a time limit and/or given me a phone number to call. Either way I wouldn't be out the time lost. I'm not annoyed for losing the lumber near as much as I am for not getting the same courtesy he demands others give him.

Should I be annoyed? Probably not but I've spent most of my professional life in jobs and a profession that demand effective and timely communication.

[leehljp]

No, WYSISWYG. It is what p8ntblr said. I saw the ad, yesterday, noonish. I responded and said I wanted them if available and when could I come. He sent a reply shortly after I'd left the office asking when could I show up. I responded a few hours later (as soon as I saw it) with a note suggesting when I could pick up, then in anticipation of his answer rejiggered a few evening things (including pushing a Batman movie viewing) back to next week. His initial reply could have: told me there was a time limit and/or given me a phone number to call. Either way I wouldn't be out the time lost. I'm not annoyed for losing the lumber near as much as I am for not getting the same courtesy he demands others give him.

Should I be annoyed? Probably not but I've spent most of my professional life in jobs and a profession that demand effective and timely communication.

David,

Your problem is your age! You are growing older and this world is changing the rules on you - as compared to the ones you were raised to appreciate. Kinda like getting married.


Communication with common words is getting harder and harder.

How quick is quick?
How black is black?
How hot is hot?
How cold is cold?
How "good" is "good"?

Boy, do I run into that a lot. I OFTEN get stares like I am some kind of weirdo (good perception on their part) when I ask for clarification of simple words like that.

[Hellrazor]

Your problem is your age! You are growing older and this world is changing the rules on you - as compared to the ones you were raised to appreciate. Kinda like getting married.

You are behind the times too... First you get your gf pregnant, then you realize she is married, then...




Using email as a form of critical communication is not completely wise. There are too many possible delays, etc with email.

[poolhound]

So Hank,

How LONG is a piece of string?

[Uncle Cracker]

The only rule is that there ain't no rules... Craigslist and its like are every man for himself, and first one here wins, and that's where money is involved... When something is free, it's even worse. Lesson: Don't count on getting anything unless you can get there right now, and even then, still don't count on it...