What can one do about flakey CL sellers?

Hey guys,

I found what looks like a neat little awd car sort of local to me on CL. The thing is I have emailed 3-4 times asking for better pics,and I have not received any reply. I have also had a friend email as well,but no luck. The ad has smaller than postage stamp pics,and a not so great description,as you can see here:

http://worcester.craigslist.org/cto/2145623407.html

What can I do to get a hold of this seller?

Chris

There's a chance that the sellers spam filter is catching your incoming emails. You could try formatting them differently or using a different email address. I know my yahoo spam filter will randomly trash craigslist messages.

+1 for different email address, but then again the guy posting the ad probably has figured out by now where to find the responses.

I've had the experience that only about 50% of sellers will actually respond to an email, the car's probably sold and he forgot to take down the ad, etc etc.

I get a LOT of spam when I have an ad up on CL. If the email message just says "send pictures" or "is it still for sale" I immediately delete the email as spam. I'm sure I'm deleting some actual/valid inquiries.

Just make sure that your email is detailed enough they can see it's not auto-generated spam out there collecting email addresses.

Bill

I have sent very detailed emails asking specific questions,but nothing.

seriously. it's local - just ask if you can go have a look. seeing it in person is better than the highest resolution pics anyone could ever send you.

Based on spelling in the ad, the int3rweb may pose challenges to the individual placing the ad ??

Edit: Thread Hijack... my post count is up to 777 - not the sign of the beast, but an evil Lotus ?

patgizz wrote: seriously. it's local - go have a look. seeing it in person is better than the highest resolution pics anyone could ever send you.

It is semi-local,and I have no idea where it is. How do I go look at it of I don't know where it is?

I had the same problem with a bike I bought last year.

The guy answered my first email, then nothing after, so I emailed from another address, and said, I'm local (I wasn't). I'll come buy it right now.

That got his attention, and I bought it.

i meant email and ask if you can go see it. that to me would sound a ton more promising then someone asking for pics that i do not have or can not provide. maybe theyll get back to you.

I have tried all of that,but no replies. It is like the seller has disappeared after posting the ad.

Happens all the time to me with CL and Kijiji.

I had one guy all ready to seel me a part (that I really need!) for $40 and poof gone.

I agree with the others - probably sold and doesn't know enough to get rid of the ad.

wcelliot wrote: I get a LOT of spam when I have an ad up on CL. If the email message just says "send pictures" or "is it still for sale" I immediately delete the email as spam. I'm sure I'm deleting some actual/valid inquiries. Just make sure that your email is detailed enough they can see it's not auto-generated spam out there collecting email addresses. Bill

I've sent emails saying "send pictures" or "is it still for sale", what's wrong with that, they're legitmate questions.

plance1 wrote:

wcelliot wrote: I get a LOT of spam when I have an ad up on CL. If the email message just says "send pictures" or "is it still for sale" I immediately delete the email as spam. I'm sure I'm deleting some actual/valid inquiries. Just make sure that your email is detailed enough they can see it's not auto-generated spam out there collecting email addresses. Bill

I've sent emails saying "send pictures" or "is it still for sale", what's wrong with that, they're legitmate questions.

"Cash in hand, where can I see auto/part/etc" if that doesn't get a response, do what some do "Re:auto/part/etc contact me at 555-555-5555 or wads_of_cash@email.com"

plance1 wrote:

wcelliot wrote: I get a LOT of spam when I have an ad up on CL. If the email message just says "send pictures" or "is it still for sale" I immediately delete the email as spam. I'm sure I'm deleting some actual/valid inquiries. Just make sure that your email is detailed enough they can see it's not auto-generated spam out there collecting email addresses. Bill

I've sent emails saying "send pictures" or "is it still for sale", what's wrong with that, they're legitmate questions.

It's the randomness about it that doesn't show any true interest on your part. Plus it's the phishing aspect of it. I've found that if I respond to simple emails like that most of them are bogus and now my name shows up on the I wanna buy Viagara lists and it takes forever to clear it off again.

carguy123 wrote:

plance1 wrote:

wcelliot wrote: I get a LOT of spam when I have an ad up on CL. If the email message just says "send pictures" or "is it still for sale" I immediately delete the email as spam. I'm sure I'm deleting some actual/valid inquiries. Just make sure that your email is detailed enough they can see it's not auto-generated spam out there collecting email addresses. Bill

I've sent emails saying "send pictures" or "is it still for sale", what's wrong with that, they're legitmate questions.

It's the randomness about it that doesn't show any true interest on your part. Plus it's the phishing aspect of it. I've found that if I respond to simple emails like that most of them are bogus and now my name shows up on the I wanna buy Viagara lists and it takes forever to clear it off again.

I disagree, you can't show any more interest then asking if its still for sale, especially if the ad is more than a week old and asking for pictures, in the case of the original poster, is the most succinct way of getting some visual proof of the cars condition when the original pics don't translate well to CL. The questions that get me are the ones like "What color is it" or "Will you take (Original Price divided by 2) for it???"

I have had the best luck contacting by phone rather than e-mail. If a phone number isn't in the e-mail, put one in yours. You will probably have better luck if the area code is local.

plance1 wrote:

wcelliot wrote: I get a LOT of spam when I have an ad up on CL. If the email message just says "send pictures" or "is it still for sale" I immediately delete the email as spam. I'm sure I'm deleting some actual/valid inquiries. Just make sure that your email is detailed enough they can see it's not auto-generated spam out there collecting email addresses. Bill

I've sent emails saying "send pictures" or "is it still for sale", what's wrong with that, they're legitmate questions.

plance1 wrote:

wcelliot wrote: I get a LOT of spam when I have an ad up on CL. If the email message just says "send pictures" or "is it still for sale" I immediately delete the email as spam. I'm sure I'm deleting some actual/valid inquiries. Just make sure that your email is detailed enough they can see it's not auto-generated spam out there collecting email addresses. Bill

I've sent emails saying "send pictures" or "is it still for sale", what's wrong with that, they're legitmate questions.

Both show a lack of serious interest. You don't provide a name and 99% of those emails are phishing. If I get an email like that, 95% chance it gets deleted. I get SO many of them when I post ads. I get those for wanted ads as well.
"Sign" your email and the chance of me responding becomes 99% unless the reply address doesn't match sent from address or you have a sig that is illogical (another spammer trick).

Ur killing me... never said anything about not providing a name, if I see an ad that has one photo or small crappy photos the first thing I'm going to do is say send pics or ask if its still available. No big grassy knoll conspiracy here. If I don't get a response I assume the car is sold and move on or just assume the guy wasn't smart enough to figure out spam from legit emails.

Its a pet peeve of mine to get an email that only asks if my item is still for sale. It's a total waste of time.