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Has anyone here had success posting a want ad on craigslist? I've been thinking about it, but there are so many scammers out there, and they seem to adore craigslist.

I found my Jacobs 56 and Stoner 180 on craigs list

I have never posted a want ad--i.e. "Wanted--vintage soda and candy machines.  Will pay top dollar--cash waiting!"  I have seen those types of ads but never responded to any of them and I question there efficacy.  I do know that a lot of my clients use CL as part of their tool box for recruiting new employees.

I have bought and sold most all of my machines (too many to count at this point) on CL.  The key is not listing your phone number and requiring the interested party to respond to you with a phone number so you control the contact.  The scammers will pretty much send you emails that will become real easy to spot :glare: once you start to get a few.  I see a lot of ads where people ask you to put certain words or phrases in the subject line of your email.  That is because the scammers are generally using automated programs to respond to CL ads.  Serious buyers on CL will generally send you an email telling you they are interested, would like to see the item and include a phone number.  If they are like me, they are then waiting by the phone for that call back!  :tounge:  That is what I always do and I generally get a call back.

My copyrighted (patent pending) rules for buying on CL:

1.  Email the seller expressing your interest and include your email and phone number so the seller has multiple ways to reach you.
2.  Do not ask if the item is still available--if the ad is up it should be.  Shame on the seller if it is sold and he has not pulled the ad.
3.  When you make an appointment to see an item, be on time and let the seller know what you will be driving.  That way he knows who is pulling in his driveway.  Remember his guard is up because he does not know you and you don't know him.
4.  I tend not to meet with sellers by myself unless it is absolutely necessary--you never know what the other party's intentions are.  Hate to sound paranoid but I learned a long time ago that trust is earned and if I don't know you, you have not earned my trust.
5.  If I have someone with me, I usually have them stay in the car with cell phone handy in the event that something goes sideways.
6.  If I am alone, I tell someone where I am going (address etc.) and I leave my money hidden in the car until I have inspected the item and made a deal.  I keep my cell phone handy as well.
7.  Bring hand truck/four wheel cart/appliance dolly and moving blankets so you can cash and carry.  The item may not be there when you come back.  I keep basic loading tools and gloves in my car all the time.
8.  If you make a deal on CL it should be cash upon pick up--no exceptions.

My copyrighted (patent pending) rules for selling on CL:

1.  Give an honest description of the item that you are selling.  Seriously, you are only going to tick off :veryangry: potential buyers if you misrepresent the item and they drive out to your place to see it.
2.  Include several good, clear pictures.  For example if selling a soda machine, include pictures of all sides and inside and out--including the warts.  That will save you time from people requesting more pictures via email.  I don't usually ask for photos if I can make a decent assessment of the item from the pictures in the ad because I am going to look it over when I go see it anyway.  Remember  :needphotos:
3.  If you are firm on your price--indicate FIRM in your ad as that will save you some headaches with the LOW-BALLERS.
4.  If you are not FIRM on your price there is no point in putting "NO LOWBALLERS" in your ad because you will get them due to the fact that CL is basically an electronic garage sale and who doesn't haggle at a garage sale?  Plus we may make fun of your ad on SMC!  :tounge:
5.  Do your homework and price your item appropriately.  You will know pretty quickly if you have it priced correctly because you will get immediate activity.  And if you have it priced too high, we may make fun of your ad on SMC!  :tounge:
6.  Pricing too high leads to re-posting of the ad with a price cut and puts you in a weaker negotiating position with the LOW-BALLERS because they have been watching your price cuts.  It is like the signs that you see on a house for sale that says "Price Reduced".  If I am buying that house, I now know that the house has been on the market a while and the seller is likely getting desperate.  I am automatically going to LOW-BALL the offer because if he cut the price once he will likely cut it again.
7.  If you price something too high and it does not sell.  It is better to pull the ad for a while and come back with a new ad and different price down the road.  Even change the pictures so it looks like a new listing for an item.  Why--see #6.
8.  When you make an appointment with a buyer, ask them what time they will be there and what they will be driving so you know who is pulling in your driveway.
9.  I tend not to meet with buyers by myself unless it is absolutely necessary--you never know what the other party's intentions are.  Hate to sound paranoid but I learned a long time ago that trust is earned and if I don't know you, you have not earned my trust.
10.  Have the item accessible and preferrably not inside your house.  I usually move machines I am selling into my garage so I can bring them out in the driveway where the meeting with the potential buyer will be visible to my neighbors.  Plus, there is no point in allowing strangers inside your home.  Basic safety issue.
11.  If you make a deal on CL it should be cash upon pick up--no exceptions.
12.  Be prepared to help load the item if you are physically able.
13.  Most importantly--When the item is sold, please pull down the ad. :hopefull:

All in all, regardless of the scammers, I have had great luck buying and selling on CL. Come to think of it, I am going to expand on the above rules and make it into a little booklet!  Then I will create an infomercial about buying and selling items on the internet and for just five easy payments of $19.99 you can get my information that others have paid thousands for!  But wait, there is more . . . . . . . . I guess I don't want to end up like Don Lapre!

Good luck!  What are you selling?  Will you take half of your asking price?  :biggrin: 8) :laugh:

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

Great advice Tim...I buy/sell all my machines thru CL or word of mouth. No fee-bay for me unless I'm buying only.

I would like to add-


I had a lead on a machine, no pictures with the ad. The "seller" was looking for a trade, did not give a cash price, or indicate what he wanted in the way of a trade. So I e-mail and ask for some pictures.  It looked decent on the outside, hard to tell on inside. Ask for more pictures, and ask "seller" does he have any specific trade in mind? He sends the pictures and basically repeats the line, what do you have?

I should have forgot it then, but I suggested a trade, sent a picture, and asked to see a better picture of the inside. His refusal indicated that not only was the item not what he wanted, it wasn't even "good enough". He did not send any more pictures like I had asked, and I haven't heard from him since.

In any event, I wasn't about to play "twenty questions" trying to figure out something that would suit. It was entirely his prerogative to refuse the trade, but he didn't have to act so rude about it. Had he not been so undiplomatic in his refusal, I might have asked him about just buying it.

People just get me anymore.  :darn:

      "What do I have to trade?"...............I have green dollar bills, how many do you need?

He didn't price it. I suppose I should have asked him about it at the start, but I figured there was some reason he didn't put a cash price on it. It was a 96 anyway, so I'm not too upset about not getting it.

I like those rules. Well said Tim.

I post want ads often on Craigslist, you'd be surprised how many good leads I get on stuff.  Mostly looking for glass insulator collections and some random other stuff.  I got sick of my Coke machines ad because people kept sending me newer push button stuff.

I also try to check the wanted section to see if I can help anyone out.  I call it 'Craigslist Karma', it always seems that right after I help someone out or give stuff away for free, a great deal on a Coke machine or something pops up!

I'm not dead set against push buttons in theory, I even wanted one the first time I started looking for machines. I've learned though that they're not practical for someone who doesn't mean to use them commercially. Most of them are not well regarded by collectors, meaning one would have to deal with a vending company for parts, or they're not available at all. I don't think the soda companies want vending suppliers dealing with people on newer personal-use machines.

If I posted a want ad, I'd be very specific, even including an example photo. I'm sure it wouldn't eliminate offers of push button machines, but maybe reduce them.

I also brought most of my stuff on CL, the last purchase was a United Puck bowler.....play Jim's "Kilroy" ball bowler I got the itch for one but didn't have the room for the ball type so I had to settle for the puck style. Which do to the size required a trailer.. I didn't have one handy so after sizing the seller up I left him a small deposit and good to his word he keep the ad up but adding "sales pending" I pick up the game as scheduled and he was even nice enough to help dismantle and load it.  

If you don't mind me asking, was that the result of a want ad, or did you just find it on there?

       To avoid confusion..........get right to the point.

         http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/wan/4070043760.html  (http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/wan/4070043760.html)

Perhaps this is the "Dumb Question of the Day" but, is that your ad?

Call the number, ask for Glen!

        :biggrin:    No not my ad, but it does spoil the fun of the search for some of us.

I checked it out, you're in Ventura, the ad was in Bakersfield. I don't know how far apart they are, but I wouldn't have figured you'd said "Bakersfield" if you were in Ventura.



Yah, hunting for a solid, working late-model USS around here is just a barrel of laughs.  :tounge:

:darn:

EDIT: Don't worry, johnnie, I remembered.  :tounge:

(http://soda-machines.com/discussions/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=18317.0;attach=44649;image)

One thing to add for posting a wanted ad, or even a for sale ad.  Get yourself a google voice number.  It rings to your cellphone and can either show up as the callers number or your own google number. 

That way when the phone rings you can know what they are calling about, you can keep your real number private from spammers, you can also block numbers if needed. 

I've never really liked talking on the phone, I get nervous for some reason. I usually withhold my phone number until I'm pretty sure I want to go check something out.

That isn't a bad idea though. I would be a little worried about google making me sit through vending supply company ads on YouTube.