When people only text (responding to CL ads)

I've found that people who want to deal through texts are usually the people I don't want to deal with. I've given it a try. It wasn't successful.

I also wish those DAMNED KIDS WOULD STAY THE HELL OFF MY LAWN!

I'm serious about the texts though.

..... and when my phone starts beeping with a text at midnight on a Tuesday because some happy shiny person thinks I'm a store that's open 24/7

Datsun1500 wrote: If it mentions what you are selling, it's usually legit. If it actually uses the word item, as in "do you still have the item for sale?" It's not legit.

I've actually gotten mail that said, "Do you still have this [item] for sale?" With the square brackets. Apparently someone hadn't set up his Phish-O-Matic script properly.

I just came in here to agree with the non-texters. berkeley that nonsense. Communicate with me like a grown up or do not buy my [item] or get my business.

Email me from your phone and it looks like a text message complete with the words "U" or "R", little to no punctuation, and every indication that you really didn't ready more than 10% of my well-crafted ad? DELETE

Related: why isn't there a "Get off my lawn!" emoticon yet?

I don't like talking on the phone very much and prefer e-mail first, then text, then phone. I don't list my number in CL ads. I know I'm missing out on a lot with the people that refuse to e-mail, but I don't care. I've completed deals on cars entirely through e-mail before without ever speaking to the person on the phone.

Well, I listened to you guys who said respond.

I now have 14 Nigerian princes interested in sending me money orders for my camper, as soon as I give them my bank routing number.

Thanks guys.

SVreX wrote: Plus, the area codes are far away, and the messages all say the same thing, "Do you still have (the item) for sale?", with no decent question.

Just to reply to this part, I have lots of friends who have moved to the area, but kept old phone numbers. With some 'yutes', it's sort of like an email, it's easier to keep than have to update everyone to change, and since cell phones have free long distance, no one really cares anymore...

Get with the program ladies. It's 2013. People text. Even old farts like me. It's easier, cheaper and usually faster than email.

Now, that aside, when I have something for sale, I PREFER TO SELL IT. I don't make up a bunch of rules, and have a lot of drama. I just sell E36 M3.

So harden the berkeley up.

Umm...

Not sure what you're itch is, ZW.

As previously noted, I responded to every one. They were all flakes.

I'd be happy to sell E36 M3. I'm not the one bringing drama to the table.

I'm sorry, I thought you started a thread about people who texted you when you didn't give them permission

easy solution ... don't put cell phone # in ad ... list e-mail only ... if you want to communicate by phone later the # can always be e-mailed

usually when I reply to an ad, I put my phone # so the seller can call me if they want to (it's a land line, so trying to text me doesn't work LOL )

bastomatic wrote: A word to you guys: 99% of the time if I get an email or text and all it says is "do you still have x?" It's a phishing scam, so I no longer respond to those messages, and I know many others who sell regularly on Craigslist do the same. A little humanity goes a long way with online interactions.

If someone emails or texts me asking only "Is the listed item still for sale" (sometimes they actually call it "listed item"), it does not get a response from me.

I'll take the gamble that the 1% of those I get might be real (because, in my experience, basto's stat is spot-on).

The harm in responding to a text like that? The phishers now have "a live one." Not something I want to participate in.

I'll follow that with an off-the-cuff statistic that about half of the emails I get from CL listings are phishing scams.

It's pretty easy to spot them.

As a result, when I email or text as a buyer, I make sure they know I'm a real person.

"Hi,

I'm interested in your '71 Pinto. Does it have a standard transmission or auto?

Thanks,
Clem My phone number that I have
My town that I live in"

I stopped putting my phone number in the ads for reasons listed above. (middle of the night texts, time wasters, scams).

I text...but I have to say...a significant portion of the texting public give terrible first impressions.

Datsun1500 wrote: If it mentions what you are selling, it's usually legit. If it actually uses the word item, as in "do you still have the item for sale?" It's not legit.

I'd modify that to say it's 105% phishing if they use "item" or "complete text copied directly from CL ad title"