Modern Vespa

Would YOU buy or sell anything on Craigslist? How do you Trust anyone?

Would.
Have.
Use common sense.

Sure, do it all the time, so far so good. I have had a few scammers respond to my ads but I recognized them for what they were. CASH only! Or barter heh heh. Helpful advice from craigslist: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

Done both successfully. Deal locally, meet the person you are buying from or selling to (somewhere public, never at my home), deal in cash only.

I have been screwed on EBay once or twice, but never on CL.

Sure. I've recently used CL to buy an older '83 Honda 650 Nighthawk motorcycle. Emailed the seller, went for a look and bought the bike.

Yup! I bought my Scarabeo on Craigslist. You can get a feel for whether people are legit or not when they give you their info or when you talk to them on the phone before meeting in person. I also just sold my Buell Blast on Craigslist to the first people that contacted me. Very easy transactions both ways.

My husband has sold several motorcycles on Craigslist. Again - we just use common sense when people contact us. If someone shows up in a really beat up car, then I hate to say it - we're hesitant to let them take it for a test ride unless they pony up the cash for us to hold while they take it out. We try to talk to people as much as possible first - you can usually tell how experienced a rider they are based on chit chat (i.e. asking what they've owned before). If they are a new rider - then we don't let them take it for a test ride - they need to bring someone experienced with them or bring a mechanic to check it out. If they bring the family - then usually things are good and we're more at ease.

If you're nervous - get the contact info and do a reverse lookup. Sites like zabasearch are great for getting background info and previous addresses (if they move around alot that can be a red flag). Use zillow or google street view to check out where they live once you have their address. Some may think this is going a bit far - but if it makes you more comfortable - then I say do it.

Yep. Bought my GT, among other things, from a craigslist ad.

Yes, I've gotten amazing great deals on craigslist. I do my research and use common since.

I have rental property and got the tenents through craigslist. They are they best tenents I've ever had!!!

Recently bought a Versahaul for $100 I commented this morning what a great deal that was.....so useful!!

Really good info guys...never thought of meeting someone in a public place BEFORE doing a transaction.
I already have some furniture listed and let me tell ya....I got a make believe Reverend responding...women and men posing as whoever they want to be that day, emailing with....."Is the item still available....How are you today...., I guess fine."
Or...how about this one: "I'm on my honeymoon here in Hawaii so I'm going to have my secretary draw up a check...please remove your item in the meantime (of course I will pay an extra $20.00 for you to do so) and I will have my friend come by with a truck to pick it up!"
REALLY???
I immediately hit the DELETE button! That was what my commom sense told me. Still, I find it tricky

Found my ET4 on craigslist, and have bought/sold several other motorcycles there, too.

Trust your instincts. If anything seems sketchy or strange to you, walk away. You don't have to show up to look at something with the cash in hand to buy it. Check it out first, leave a deposit if you like it, then buy later.

I don't think I'd feel comfortable forking over cash to someone who met me on the street somewhere with a Vespa in the back of their truck. I've never had someone ask me to meet them someplace other than their home.

Bought my Vespa from an ad on CL. Talked to the seller over the phone after a couple of emails. Drove a little over 200 miles to pick it up and had no problems what so ever. The scooter was exactly as advertised and the transaction (cash) was not a problem. I would just make sure the title is free and clear before proceeding.

Likewise! Bought my LX on Craigslist and got a helluva deal. Last month I sold my trusty old kitted Vino on Craigslist. Both transactions were cash and completely painless.

Some good advice in the posts above.

Bought and sold several things on CL. I've only done local transactions. It's more like the local newspaper classifieds than evilbay.

Just last week I posted some concert tickets that my daughter wanted to sell. I got one scam email. My response was:

I just got the "I'm on my honeymoon here in Hawaii..." wanted to pay with a cashiers check & have his mover pick up the item. I was offered $50 to remove the listing. Ha! Classic... if it sounds fishy, it is!

EDIT: These all sound like the same guy, notice they never name the item... here is mine:

Hello,
I appreciate your response to my inquiry. Am interested in buying your household item. I would have loved to come, check it out myself but I just got married and am presently on honeymoon to Hawaii with my wife.
I would love some surprise inclusions and replacements in our home on our return.
Please do withdraw the advert from craigslist as I wouldn't mind adding $50 for you to take it down, so that I can be assured that the item is held for me. I should believe it is in good condition as stated in the ad.
I will be making the payment via a Certified Check, which my secretary will mail across to you.
I'll be picking the item from you with the aid of a mover. My Mover will be coming to pick it from you once the Certified Check has been cashed. Please I will need both your full name and physical address along with your phone number to issue out the payment.
Best wishes.
Martin

Nice scammers!!!

I'm a fan of CL too--have used it to find nannies for my kids as well as more mundane stuff. Like PP said, common sense is key (and super diligence if it's for a nanny, eg, background checks!).

I've sold a couple bicycles on CL and had mostly normal nice people respond to my adds. I've got my ET4 listed, but no takers yet. I'm guessing the market is slow for scooters due to the down economy, but it is still a great way to get the word out.

Shane

I use it. I got my 69 Rally on there.

Use common sense and i think it's much better than ebay. Well at least if you use it locally. Have bought and sold scooters via them. No problems

I had replied (below) this on earlier similar request:

Bought my GT200 from CL seller in Palo Alto, CA and had it shipped to Honolulu.

Recommendation:

1. Call the seller..trust your instincts.
2. Find someone who lives in the area to check out the scoot if you are unable to inspect scoot yourself (my brother flew to Palo Alto to inspect scoot).
3. Make sure you go thru a check off list of what's needed to consumate sale. Red key/blue key, certificate of title [no liens], Owner's Manual, Service Records, Bill of Sale, etc...if you need one let me know and I will send.

edited

mongoose....love that response!
amazing how these arse's throw the bull....the same lines over and over again! Yea, and I "AM" the president! righttttt

toneyl.....first, wanna say,I really like your avatar and scoot! What I don't like is that you got the EXACT SAME wording dished out to you as I got.... and I live in FL!
These spammers are going to wreck a good thing for everyone else!!! (say...wonder if Ebay is doing the spamming so we all give up on CL and return as paying customers to them? Amazon?.......CycleTrader?....your local area newspaper?..............Hmmmm It could happen....no?

I'm reading everything you guys are saying and taking it to the bank!

I sell most everything on CL. I buy a ton of stuff off of there as well. There are of course scammers but they are everywhere. Most of the people using CL are honest individuals.

I've found it to be more useful than eBay. Easy to use.

I buy and sell quite a bit on CL. I use a dedicated gmail account for CL transactions and I also have a Google Voice phone number. All of my communication is through secondary means; they never have my real phone # or email address.

Google voice is still taking requests for invites and a few people are getting #'s after a few months wait.

Bought both of my scooters from Craigslist. Also my trailer and a Macintosh server for the office.

Oh and a Mac laptop for my daughter.

Sold my Suzuki Intruder

Just recently found a roommate for the fall on craigslist. Can't say I wasn't nervous about it at first, but it ended up working out really well.

Over the last five years I have bought and sold probably 15 motorcycles on Craigslist and had a perfect transaction on every one. I only buy/sell locally. Have yet to run into a scammer or deadbeat. I, personally, would not want to deal with a buyer/seller from outside the area unless they planned on visiting for a face to face transaction. I also insist that the deal be in cash unless I know the buyer/seller personally.

Wow, listen to all the experience we have here.....you guys are something! Did you like flea markets too...selling and buying at them? It's the bargaining factor and saving I guess. Then there's garage sales....I guess that's where all this started?

Love it. Use it to buy and sell, autos, household, anything large that I want to deal face to face.
I never meet person at my house when I am home alone, I try to have merchandise out where they don't have to come into my house. I don't let anyone in my house or garage till I get to size them up.
If it is a large cash transfer we have asked them to come down to our bank and we do the cash trade in the lobby. Safer for both sides. No one has said no. Our bank is 2 minutes away, has never been an issue.
I don't take checks. I no longer trust money orders due to CL scammers.
I have not received bogus $100.00 bills yet but we always chit chat with buyer first to see where they live, etc. Friendly chit chat.
I just bought my new scoot from CL 1.5 hr drive south. We still met face to face. Very nice and easy transaction, long ride home.
If my inner alarms go off the transaction is over.
I LOVE CL.

Great info.....thanx "G" for sharing

I sold my Honda Ridgeline and Lambretta both on Craigs List. I have bought Camera Gear and Scooters on Craigs list. Just use GOOD common sense and accept nothing but cash.

Don't trust cashiers checks either. They have those pens to check for counterfeit bills, not a bad idea if you use cl a lot.

+1 My wife's GT from craigslist

we sold the Zuma on CL as well.

cfargo....you sold your Ridgeline on CL? I have a ridge too...a 2006 RTL. Did you belong to the Ridgelineowners Club forum? Just wondered. I'm hooked on modernvespa....rarely visit ridgeland anymore.
Did you do alright pricewise selling your Ridge on CL?

I am really amazed at how many scoots you guys have sold and bought on CL! And....I haven't even heard 1/2 of it from yas!
About an hour ago, I wrote up a draft for my 2005 honda shadow. Thanks to you all, I'm taking the plunge and will list it. (I know, that's the ezy part)....I'll tackle this step by step....and......maybe sell it?

I have sold a ton of stuff on craigslist and have never had a problem except for a few weird emails similar to that honey moon one. Just ignore the stupid emails and only respond to the ones in proper English.

On a side note I am looking to buy my first vespa and I am looking at a few on CL in my area. Ive never bought a anything on this scale anyone have any advice? I don't have a motorcycle endorsement yet so I don't know how to buy, register, and get it off the sellers property. <.< PMs welcome.

make sure they have pictures mate. i've gone to see 3 vespa's with no pics and described as "in perfect condition" only to find them dropped, dented, scratched, and bad paint jobs. well i've learned my lesson now. if only I could apply that to my love life! haha!

cheers, happy hunting

This weekend I bought an Aprilia Scarabeo off CL. 2002, 3000 miles, beautiful condition, nearly flawless. The scams are usually long distance, and I if they want to ship something to a weird distant location or can't be reached on the phone, I move on.

I use it.

CL is only to be used for in-person, cash transactions. Never, ever ship anything to a CL buyer, and never accept any form of payment other than cash. Money orders (even postal), cashiers checks, and travelers checks are all routinely counterfeited. In many cases, the funds "clear" into your account but are then reversed weeks or months later when the bank figures it out.

There is no seller or buyer protection of any kind on CL. It's basically just an electronic version of the newspaper classifieds. Use it accordingly.

Yes I was a member there and my brother still is. I used the same name as on here. I got exactly what I was asking and I met the guy at his bank. He never tried talking me down.

I loved the Ridgeline but sold it because my trailer with scooters loaded weighed 4700 pounds and the Ridgeline only has a towing capacity of 5000. That was working too close to the limit for me.

Yeah I had a similar experience when I listed a mini van on CL. Guy claimed to be out of the country but was gonna have his people come by with a bank check...yeah right....good advice here...cash only...bank checks can be forged and money orders can be cancelled.

It's how I found my LX.


And how I'm looking for my next bike.