CL Warning

[cdub101]

I just saw a news story about people buying off of craigslist being set up and robbed. The people thought they were buying cars and were jumped and beaten. The thieves used a random house in a nice middleclass neighborhood. The actual homeowners had no idea their house was being used.

Don't know if this is less likely with tool sales, but be careful of bargains that seem to good to be true.

[chopnhack]

Good warning, tis the season for thieves, be aware also of your vehicle and what you keep in it as well as vehicles nearby you or in your neighborhood that seem out of place!

[jtrcy]

I had that same thought as I was driving 45 minutes away to buy about $1850 worth of Festool items for $800 from a guy on CL.

Was thinking it was too good to be true - I'm either going to walk into an ambush and they'll take my $1000 or I'll walk out with the deal of a lifetime - and it ended up being legit - couldn't believe it even as the stuff was in my back seat and I was driving home...

Picked up:
CT22 / Trion Jigsaw / TS55 saw with 100" of rails / Rotex 6" sander / + a ton of blades/sandpaper & accesories all brand new.

Sad - the guy's brother had bought all the tools to build homes and than he died from something.

They researched all of the tools and listed them for 50% off on CL.

I helped them sell some dedicated timber working tools by listing them on finehomebuilding's forums - they sold those tools within a few hours of the listing.

Here in Detroit, even 50% off won't move some dedicated logging tools that quickly.

Another thing that happened to a buddy whole invests and fixes up house - he was ambushed showing a house to a "prospective buyer" - they almost killed him and took him to his bank and made hime withdraw $5000 and took his truck - reminds you to stay on your toes these days.

JT

[pelligrini]

One should always be wary, but I don't believe the crimes are rampant. Doing some quick Google searches I ran across this: http://craigscrimelist.org/archive I'd say that the ratio of crimes to transactions is minimal.

The odds of me getting jacked in a commercial parking lot is probably much greater.

[MBG]

Thanks for the heads up. It hasn't scared me away completely from CL (yet) but has anyone else gotten these annoying replies about the buyer having someone overseas needing the item right away and they'll even pay you extra for it. I'd like to reply back with some kind words but then they have you e-mail address.

Mike

[LinuxRandal]

Like everything, CL can be great, or horrible when abused. I am sure you all remember the nationwide story, about the woman who found her home had been posted as a "take whatever you want, free" on CL, only to find things gone, like "copper, kitchen sink, apliances, etc". CL and Ebay are/have been a great way to fence stolen property (been keeping my eyes out for mine), it's an unfortunate reality of today's electronic, go anywhere virtually society.
I have even heard how CL has been used to defraud insurance companies.

CYA, get a receipt, with ANY purchase, if they don't understand, or want to give one, walk away.

[mac_daddy]

eBay thieves

I've been conned by craigslist.org here in houston once...ONCE. But I am sure eBay sellers have counterbid my stuff to death more times than I can count. Did I buy? Most of the time, NO...but I'm still careful on either side.

[BigguyZ]

... Don't forget the murdered babysitter. She was lured to a guy's house for a job, and was killed. That's my biggest worry. Too easy for the crazies to use.

But for now, I'll still buy from there. Nothing too big, and I won't drive far, but I just had a hand plane mailed to me from a guy who lives an hour away. Not a bad deal.

[crokett]

I've bought off craigslist about a dozone times now. I just meet the person in a public place. I'm not that worried about my safety it just seems more considerate than going to a house, esp if the seller is a woman.

[jackellis]

I've also had (mostly) good luck with CL. The one time I screwed up was buying a miter saw (Delta) that needed a fair bit of work. Many of my tools and a lot of lumber came from CL deals. I'm currently cleaning up some new solid oak flooring purchased for 75 cents per bf and some tigerwood decking purchased for about a buck a bf.

Yes, there are risks, but I drive on the freeways out here and I fly a small plane. It's all what you're comfortable with.