You are totally correct to opt OUT of such a deal, Suzan30.
It is off-putting. You owe them nothing, and if they want to sell it, they should at least be accommodating to a normal request.

I've bought quite a few things on CL now and I've never run into anything like either of those situations. Yep, I'd have opted out too.

I haven't had those kinds of experiences but would have walked away from both. Most people and transactions I've experienced buying and selling through CL have been very nice, normal and easy. But there are nut jobs out there, no doubt about it, and there are also people who don't operate with much integrity.

I responded to an ad, the seller called me right back with the information needed. I said I would be there when my DH got home from work in an hour, cash in hand, pay full price, with a truck to take a sofa. Seller said fine. As we were driving, seller called to say it was already sold and picked up. Huh? Nice of him to let me know he had someone coming to see it before me.

The only thing I ever bought on CL were tickets to the symphony and the guy met me outside his apartment and I paid him cash. With everything that's going on in this world today and especially the cities, people hesitate to be alone or to let people in their homes so they try and narrow it down to where they feel comfortable. No, I would never buy without seeing the furniture.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I am happy to hear that I am not completely off base in my expectations. I've gotten some great deals on CL and for the most part dealt with nice and honest people, but these recent experiences have made me realize that there are reasons to pay full price!

As to the bidding war, yes I'd have walked away too. While the second one was rude, I can understand where they're coming from. I recently listed a lamp, described every detail, size, and included pix and I had two different people show up, look at it, and turn up their noses and say it wasn't what they were looking for! That didn't include the half dozen flakes who never even showed up.

I've learned that CL is a whole 'nuther culture!

I am not surprised by anything when it comes to CL anymore. DH and I have gotten really good deals on some stuff, but there are plenty of flakes out there. I have had absolutely NO luck with selling. Most responses are scammers, or people who say they want it, negotiate a price only to never show up.
In your situation, I would definitely have walked away, I would never buy anything upholstered without seeing it in person. I also never go alone to look, always bring DH with me.
But recently I saw a french cane settee listed for $275, I offered $250, and the person accepted. I arranged for a time to pick up, and asked for their address. Then I never heard back from them. Only to find the item re-listed a week later for $1000. I inquired and they said they had it appraised, and wanted more for it. I told them very diplomatically how rude that was. Well, the last laugh was on them, it is still listed over a month later. Serves them right.

I just recently responded to an ad for a leather sofa. The seller rated it at 95 out of 100 for normal use. We drove all the way there to only find that it was more like a 50 out of 100. All the edges were frayed badly, a stain ran down the front and when we lifted it up to see the store tag underneath, one of the legs were broken off. We never could find a tag that said what the material was, but it wasn't 100% leather, maybe a bonded leather, but still not the quality the seller had described. I was really disappointed and decided to buy new.

I've bought and sold many things on Craigslist without any unpleasant experiences. Both of those people in the OP would get nothing but hung up on from me.

I really can't blame the first person if she is asking for your best offer. Obviously it was very nice and she under priced it. When several people showed interest what was she supposed to do, refuse to sell it for more then she listed it for?

I've purchased 3 items from CL. The items were just as lited and the price was cheap. I paid the $10, $15 & $90 they asked.(2 tables & a leather office chair) I'm pretty sure I was the only one that responded to the adds....that helped.

Happiladdi--I guess my thought was, how do I know if there is another buyer or how much they were offering? I suspected this was just a strategy on the seller's part: price the thing low to create interest and then up the price by playing buyers off against each other.

I probably would have told both of them 'good luck'!

If the first person had an offer that was $200 over the asking, she should have taken it. Sounds like a strategy just to find out what something is worth, but if you really want it I'd let the seller know your offer is the asking price and to contact you if it doesn't sell.

Personally, I wouldn't respond to either person..........

I have bought many things on CL. I have never tried to sell anything. I've bought upholstered furniture, wood furniture (antiques),regular furniture, appliances, a clawfoot tub in need of restoration, sinks, etc.

I would never buy w/o looking. I always bring someone w/me, especially for high priced items. I pay cash. I ask if the price is firm or flexible before I commit to look at the item. If I feel it is priced well, I pay the price. If I think the price is too high for the condition of the item, I will ask for an adjustment. Almost always the seller will agree to a modest reduction. When I set an appointment, I give the seller an out (unless I am literally on my way) that if a buyer shows up cash in hand, then by all means sell it, just let me know so I don't get left high and dry.

I have gotten some nice things, at really good prices, and on occasion paid more that I should or probably could have, but I wanted it ......

You find some strange folks on CL to be sure. You did the right thing to pass on the items you mentioned earlier.

I've sold a few things on CL--most recently my old appliances when I remodeled my kitchen. I priced them very, very low, because I was mainly interested in getting them out of my house while not creating landfill out of usable stuff. Yes, it was annoying when people offered $10 for fridge priced at $50 but I didn't take offense at someone trying to bargain, just politely responded that I would follow-up if I couldn't get my price.

Recently, I've seen people here (Chicago) posting items with descriptions and original prices and basically saying, make me an offer, so in essence they were auctioning them off. That seemed to me to be a better procedure that trying to create demand by posting a very low selling price and then trying to up it by telling potential buyers that others have offered more.

I have been the first seller -- Priced something at a point where there were numerous "I want it!" responses and a few "I'll pay more" offers. What I did in that situation was respond to all of the potential buyers that I had received a number of very enthusiastic responses, and that since several had asked to see the item (an electric piano keyboard -- apparently a very good one) early Saturday afternoon, what I would do is be available Saturday at noon at such and such address so they could inspect the item. If one person showed up at that time and was willing to pay cash, full price -- that was that. If more than one person showed up then, I would ask for a 'best offer' at that time. Only one person showed up, and he paid full price. Seems most of the other responders wanted to send 'their movers' with cashiers' checks ;-) (I'm not that blond...)

The second seller? Well, sounds to me like he/she had been burned by a bunch of 'tire-kickers'... If you really like the item, I'd simply respond that I respected their time and was very serious about the chairs, but simply couldn't make a firm commitment without actually seeing the item in person -- surely they could understand that. Any reasonable person would.

I would've passed on the first one for sure. A year or so ago I wanted to buy a table off CL. The seller knew I was really interested. He told me someone was coming to look at it but then asked if I wanted to offer more. I just said no, and to let me know if the person decided they didn't want it. I received an email back shortly after saying it was mine. I did buy the table.

Asking to see something before buying is pretty normal. That guy needs a wake up call... we're all busy with our lives and some people DO actually keep their word when they say they're coming for something. That's a risk you have to take when selling. I'd let him keep his furniture. Thing aren't always in the "great condition" people say they are. It drives me nuts when you can post at least 4 photos on CL, not to mention I believe there are other ways to post more, and people will show one picture, from a bad angle of the dark room.

Most of my CL experiences have been good but there was once when the guy told me I could buy his end table. He seemed very nice, polite. We set up a time. I went after work with a friend, through traffic, a good 30 min. drive to this guys house and it didn't look like anyone was home. Next thing I know a guy pulls in (I'm thinking he lived there) goes around back and comes out with my table. Got out and started talking to the guy.... he was all smart and basically said too bad he got there first. I was half tempted to beat on the door but I didn't know the guy and remembered he said he needed to be home because of the dogs... The drive may have only been 30 min. from my work but it was an hour and a half from my house. Not to mention inconsiderate and a complete waste of my time. I was furious. Of course the guy wouldn't answer his phone but I made sure to send him an email. If someone is going to have it a "first come first serve" they really should mention that so the people interested can decide if that's a chance they want to take. I would've passed.

I've been on both sides of the fence with CL, buying and selling. We have furnished our house almost totally with items from CL (and Ebay.) As I buy new things I turn around and sell the old ones.

What I've learned from selling: People love to bargain so always price some wiggle room into the ad. Sometimes you'll get the full price but sometimes you'll have someone one offer you less and that will be fine because you priced accordingly. But also know what you will take. And after a while you get a feel for the flakes.

Example - I bought a chair a few years ago for $10. Darling little thing that I used in my office until I upgraded to another CL find. I knew I could sell the chair for $10 but I wanted to see if I could get more. I priced it at $75 and a lady asked me if I would take $50 for it because she wanted to get it for her granddaughter. I said sure, we set up a time and she never showed up. A few days later she wrote and said she forgot to come by and she still wanted the chair but she'd bought so much for other grandkids could I take $30 and I said no. She'd lost her chance.

I just sold the chair for $60

Sometimes you can't tell what's going to be popular. I had a rolling clothes rack that I could have sold 30 times based on the responses in the first hour. Antiques, to get your price, you need to be willing to wait.

On the buying side I've learned that when things are for sale in certain areas that I will usually get a good deal on something in great condition. CL shrinks the pictures now to a smaller size so often I have to ask for better/bigger pictures before I decide I'm going to drive all over the place. Some people are nice about that but some get all pushed out of shape.

For me the good outweighs the bad,

I agree about the good outweighing the bad. I've gotten some lovely things that I could not have afforded new, and as I mentioned above, most people I've dealt with have been nice, honest, and accomodating. When I encounter someone who is not, I just figure I will keep looking.

I responded to the second person in my original post by saying that I was very interested but couldn't commit to buying until I'd seen the chair because I couldn't discern the scale and comfort from a picture, but if that wasn't acceptable I would have to pass. He wrote back that he couldn't be bothered and would just take it to the Salvation Army!

Well, my faith has been restored, there is a God and Karma works!! I mentioned above about the seller who committed a sale to me and then proceeded to sell the sofa out from under me as I was on my way to pick it up...... Well, it was an Ikea Ektorp sofa bed and lo and behold, another came up yesterday on CL, we talked, I picked it up this morning, it's in my house and it was $60 LESS than the first one.

To the original seller: ⪠Nanner, nanner, nanner!

There are definitely some nut jobs on CL, but I also agree the good outweighs the bad. The thing I find most absurd is people who post ads without photos of what they are selling. Do they really think someone is going to go out of their way to drive across town to see something described sans a photo? It happens pretty often where I live.

There are some weird people selling stuff on craigs list. One woman had a dining set I really liked in the town I live in. I emailed her and asked for her phone number so i could set an appt. to come and see the set.. She emailed back without her phone number and said Sunday would be good, I emailed back and asked for her phone number to get directions for Sunday and she never responded. finally Monday she emailed back and gave me her phone number. then I called her and she never called me back. Finally I found another set and bought it (nicer and for less money), then she called to say I could come over. I was so happy to tell her I had bought another set, but I was interested in her patio set and would call her when I could come over. I don't like to play games, but I never called her to set an appt because I figured she wouldn't be there.

Lots of people never email back or give you their phone number and you call and call and they never return your call.

then there are the ones that call and ask what the least you will take, what is your bottom line. for an RV they have never seen, tire kickers.

then there are the dealers who ask you to drive the vehicle to their lot in another town so they can see it.

then there are the legitimate people too.

polly929 - My daughter and husband just bought a caned back and arms "bench" with a velvet seat from an auction house - $35. it needs reupholstering and some staining or painting work. I think it is hideous and does not go with their bedroom suit at all. now I wonder if it is worth more than they paid. Do you have a photo of the settee you were talking about?

I have had a few bad experiences with trying to buy on CL lately, but also some good experiences. If the sellers would be more honest about what they are selling, and post better photos, the process could go so much more smoothly. What I have noticed lately, is that everyone is trying to get more for junk. The purpose of CL used to be to get rid of something by offering it up for a bargain. Now, so much is overpriced.

I've bought quite a few things on CL and had positive experiences. I've also looked at some things I might have been interested in buying IF the seller had done their ad a bit differently.

Things that drive me nuts in CL ads:
#1 - No picture
#2 - No dimensions. This may not be an issue for something like an accent chair but it usually is an issue for a table, sideboard or something like that yet so few folks include the length, width and height!
#3 - Including a phone number and saying they will only respond to phone calls. OK, I get that there are a lot of CL scammers but, if someone hasn't put dimensions into their ad (see #2 above) the last thing I want to do is try to play phone tag with them to ask the dimensions. I want to send one email and then wait for a reply. How much trouble is it for them to look at and delete junk emails in order to sell something? I can't begin to tell you how many things I've passed up that I would have considered because of the "no email" bit!

Great stories! And good for you, Deb!

Craigslist has many of the same people who have been selling their stuff at garage sales and through the classifieds. Some people know what they're doing and some don't. Some think their stuff is fabulous and it's not. You are always going to get a wide mix of people and things and then you complicate (or simplify it as the case may be!) by adding email communications.

I've had many of the same experiences noted here. I've met people and made great deals, I've passed on others. But none of it has been much different than the last 25 years where I've called about furniture in the paper and been given wrong information, or even told by one man, "Im not going to describe it to you or measure it. If you want to look at it, come over." That was maybe ten years ago. I always wondered if he sold his dresser with his snarley attitude?
I've been at garage sales where I've paid, gone to get the truck and come back to find the item has been sold to someone else and they refunded my money.
It's all the same people, you just have to use your head, be nice, try to go see asap if you are seriously interested and learn to walk away if the seller (or buyer) is a flake.

I will say that I love CL, because of the photos. You don't have to drive across town to know that the bookshelf is particle board not walnut. And one other thing---I have travel over 100 miles 4 times to buy something off Craigslist and have not yet been stood up or had the item sold out from under me, or had the seller misrepresent it to the point where I didn't buy. That's pretty cool!

Red

Saw the following lamps listed on CL. They have been listed for a couple of weeks. I know why they haven't sold. it's because of the display. It's hard to see beauty in a lamp that's on a garage floor. After seeing the lamps re-listed, I decided to ask about them, as my daughter needs a couple of matching lamps for her family room.

The following is what I emailed the seller and her/his answer in red:

Could you tell me the height and material of your lamp bases? Do the shades have stains, or is that a pattern I am seeing. The photo really makes it hard to see the lamps well.
Thank you
They are standard height I'd say. Roughly 2 1/2 feet I'd estimate. No stains. They are just like new. They have leaf decorative covers- excellent shape- thanks..

UGH!!! It's like pulling teeth! Roughly is not what I need. I need a specific height and I didn't get an answer as to what the lamps were made of. Naturally, I've sent a return email and asked for base material - metal, ceramic, black, ORB, and specific height! lol

Here is a link that might be useful: Lamps

CL is not eBay--it's not an auction site, and if I found myself sucked into what the OP's described in the first example, I'd tell the seller "No thanks, have a nice life."
Just like what eBay started out as, some people posting items on CL think that this is their new path to get rich. No, this is not Antiques Roadshow. Your 2 little lamps are not going to pay for your kid's college education.
If someone wants the best price for his item, he should just state "I want the best price for this. I will show it Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and it will be sold at that time to the highest bidder."
Then I can just sleep late that day.
I have sold a few things on CL and bought one thing (a metal dog crate--amazing how some people don't even know how to use a measuring tape).
No-shows are irritating. I've had a few of those.