Thank god for RFF... Craigslist rant

Disaster_Area

Disaster_Area

Gadget Monger
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Dec 12, 2007
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Sometimes I wish that RFF and FM would have a bigger user base posting adds, that there was more selection... then I remember how Craigslist and it's like have changed over the past 5 years. They used to be full of deals and gems, like the best garage sale ever right in your living room... now... ugh... I'd like to send my thanks out to the following:

- To the guy who posts a 5DmkII for $1000, a 70-200mm f2.8 for $300 and a M8 kit for $900... EVERY OTHER DAY... thanks so much for making me realize that there must be people out there idiotic enough to fall for your scams or you wouldn't keep at it...

- To the guy who posts his 3mp Fuji crap P&S for $600 just because you paid $1000 for it ten years ago... Craigslist needs a Depreciation for Dummies faq...

- To the guy who posts "vintage" stuff from the late 70's early 80's... a Nikon FG with kit lens is not worthy of Leica prices just because it takes film

- To guys who have posted and reposted the following items for the last TWO YEARS:
- Broken Flash Bulb holder "Antique"
- no-name Flash Bracket (more expensive than new)
- 2 rolls of drug store brand film (more expensive than new)
- Camera bag (no strap, broken zippers)
IF YOU HAVEN'T SOLD IT BY NOW... IT'S PROBABLY GARBAGE!!

And finally... to my favorite of all... For the past year I've gotten to see this gem reposted weekly... and it always brings a chuckle; A no name disposable camera, way expired for $20 with the tag line:

"Never worry about damaging your expensive digital camera ever again!!!! Leave your expensive toy at home and bring this on vacation and never worry about it again!!!"

A+ for effort... but it kinda defeats the purpose of getting a really nice camera only to leave it at home for fear of breaking it... but at least you're trying...


OK... sorry... just had to get that off my chest, I'd love to hear about ridiculous adds from your area!... Might make a good coffee table book :)
 
Interesting rant... but I've seen stuff in the RFF classifieds (both private party and sponsor) that is priced high enough to keep me from even thinking of buying. Bargains are to be found wherever bargains exist; If it's not a bargain (or even priced fairly) feel free to ignore it!
 
yeah.. you see the occasional wildly overpriced things here.. but mostly things are priced pretty fairly, maybe not a "oh my god I gotta have it" bargain.. but pretty much fair value. I'm mostly glad that the "5DmkII for $1000" scammers haven't invaded... *fingers crossed*
 
Gumby said:
If it's not a bargain (or even priced fairly) feel free to ignore it!
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And I agree, the problem I'm coming across in my area is that the number of "junk" adds on Craiglist in my area have increased so much.. I'm having to sift through literally pages of adds before finding something that's even sort of a good deal... and bargains seem to have become mythical creatures... rarely seen by the human eye. But I guess that's the whole free market thing...
 
The other option is just not look at craigslist.
"Bargains" usually turn out to be the most expensive purchases - you buy them because they are cheap not because you need or even want them. Then they sit unused, unless you are actually a dealer (or amateur dealer) who buys to resell. Or you try, decide you don't like, then spend time and energy trying to get rid of it at a loss or relatively insignificant profit (given the value of your time).
 
stoopid is a pretty strong word especially considering how many folks do business over the internet and across the oceans.
 
the danger about CL is that someone could come to see the item with an alternate intention of causing harm or robbing you

that just freaks me out.
i always try to meet in the open if possible (if and if i do buy or sell on cl)
 
haagen_dazs said:
the danger about CL is that someone could come to see the item with an alternate intention of causing harm or robbing you

that just freaks me out.
i always try to meet in the open if possible (if and if i do buy or sell on cl)
Click to expand...

No problem, I am such a messy house keeper, they would be afraid to step in, might trip over a Graflex, Demi, Ikon, Petri, tripod, etc. on the way to some good stuff. Leave those broken down camera projects lying about, and hopefully they will pick on those and the TV.

More likely to be sued, make an appointment to rob me please.

And, the 1892 38-40 Winchester which probably would be of equal danger at either end. ;-)

Regards, John
 
i bought and sold on Craigslist, only locally though. Ive listed items and gotten one local response and many many overseas responses or people who say..."I will buy, Please remove item from the ad now and I will wire you $xxx after you send me your name, address, phone number and bank account info". If a person wont come to my house or meeet somewhere public to pay in cash and inspect the item then I dont respond. Common sense.

hell...ive pretty much built my darkroom from craigslist.....
 
Never used Craigslist, never used twitter, never used facebook. I use RFF classifieds and a little bit of Ebay, so far so good.
 
CL has gotten beat up a bit in the press lately (no surprise...they've made few friends in the world of print media, for obvious reasons), but all my experiences–buying and selling–have been pleasant and uneventful, and I've met a lot of cool people as well. Other than the guys blanketing the Computers page with a solid page or two of spam (that is getting on my nerves a bit), it's a fantastic resource, particularly if you know what you want, and have a bit of a clue as to what to watch out for. Sort of like life. ;)


- Barrett
 
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amateriat said:
CL has gotten beat up a bit in the press lately (no surprise...they've made few friends in the world of print media, for obvious reasons) ;)

- Barrett
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Alas, the company has also made a few political enemies because of what critics would call a general indifference towards policing things like prostitution on the site. :)

I've never used Craigslist myself. One of the reasons, I guess, is that I just don't cherish the idea of having strangers come to my house, etc. I could always pick a neutral meeting place. But I guess I just prefer the more distant eBay, where I only have to go to the Post Office.
 
I've bought/sold more than a few pieces through craigslist. If you're understandably uncomfortable using your home for the swap - use a local coffeeshop/parking lot.
 
One could always agree to meet at a safe location for the transaction. I usually suggest a local Tim Hortons if I sense some unease. My last buy was an excellent find, an entire darkroom. All I really wanted was the Jobo processor so will probably donate much of the other stuff to a local high school or outreach centre that offers photography for at risk youth.

What bugs me are the sellers who never bother to reply to queries.
 
I've bought and sold on there and never had a issue, I just meet people at a Starbucks.
I bought a great Nikon F3/T for $150 a Nikkor 15mm 5.6 for $200 and many other things as well.
 
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