Totally sketched out by Craigslist emailer/prospective buyer

[Gooseman]

So I have an amp on sale on Craigslist and received an email from a guy who was interested. After some back and forth, he seemed to want me to come over to his place or that I should have him over at my house. For me, that is a no-no. I am not going to some stranger's house, and vice-versa. I suggest we meet at GC so he could try out my gear. He seemed against that, although I am not sure why. Anyways, after some friendly emails I wrote him an email giving him my availability and telling him that I was surprised that I never saw his band before in the Boston area. I play there frequently, and mentioned I visited his myspace. I also enclosed that when I first received an email from him, I google'd his address to make sure he wasn't a spammer and/or a creep. His information of course came up on the google search, so I was just being honest with him. The next email I get from the guy is a snarky one, with him pissed off that I would google him. He also said that he isn't cool with GC, or buying my amp. What gives? I do that with all buyers I meet on Craigslist - I google them to learn what I can about who I am dealing with.

Would you be pissed that I did that? I don't get it honestly. Why wouldn't I do that? Imagine inviting a complete stranger over nonetheless. If I had agreed to him coming over, I definitely would've looked him up to know who I am dealing with. Geez.

 

[Ayrton]

You did the right thing, and your suspicion was confirmed by his reaction.

 

[Gooseman]

Hopefully. I am rethinking it over because I try to keep up a good reputation and good business. It's not like I sell that much gear, but when I do I like to do so safely. Thanks. If anyone thinks I was wrong, please enlighten me. I just don't get it.

 

[Tone Zone]

Dude,.....you totally saved yourself from what could have been a premeditated rape scenario. Good call on the background check!

 

[droptrd]

gotta be carefull with CL

 

[Chubtone]

I don't understand what meeting him at Guitar Center does for you. The two of you are going to walk into Guitar Center with your amp and they're going to let you plug in and demo your amp for a guy who's going to buy it directly from you? That's pretty weird right there and most likely not the reason they open the doors in the morning.

The whole Craigslist thing is weird. The drum teacher at my store met a CL guy at his "rehearsal studio" to buy a DW kit from him. So when he gets to the guys "rehearsal studio" address in an industrial section after normal business hours for the surrounding businesses and gets out of the car, three guys get out of a van and hold him up at gun point. The drum set was advertised for $2500. He had $2200 on him. Never saw a penny of it again and the police had nothing to go on.

 

[Spaceboy]

Honestly, if someone was that straightforward and told me they Googled my information before I went through with a deal, I would be a little creeped out, but probably not offended enough to retract from a deal. I really don't understand why he wouldn't want to meet at GC, but he probably though it was fishy that you weren't willing to meet at either party's house to check out the gear in a place he was comfortable. I've been to dozens homes through Craigslist dealing and never been raped once, but I do see your side too. I don't know, I think both of you were probably playing it a little too safe.

 

[The Hoff]

I don't understand what meeting him at Guitar Center does for you. The two of you are going to walk into Guitar Center with your amp and they're going to let you plug in and demo your amp for a guy who's going to buy it directly from you? That's pretty weird right there and most likely not the reason they open the doors in the morning.

The whole Craigslist thing is weird. The drum teacher at my store met a CL guy at his "rehearsal studio" to buy a DW kit from him. So when he gets to the guys "rehearsal studio" address in an industrial section after normal business hours for the surrounding businesses and gets out of the car, three guys get out of a van and hold him up at gun point. The drum set was advertised for $2500. He had $2200 on him. Never saw a penny of it again and the police had nothing to go on.

HOLY SHIT MAN!!!!!

I will keep that in mind, jeeze!

 

[Gooseman]

I don't understand what meeting him at Guitar Center does for you. The two of you are going to walk into Guitar Center with your amp and they're going to let you plug in and demo your amp for a guy who's going to buy it directly from you? That's pretty weird right there and most likely not the reason they open the doors in the morning.

The whole Craigslist thing is weird. The drum teacher at my store met a CL guy at his "rehearsal studio" to buy a DW kit from him. So when he gets to the guys "rehearsal studio" address in an industrial section after normal business hours for the surrounding businesses and gets out of the car, three guys get out of a van and hold him up at gun point. The drum set was advertised for $2500. He had $2200 on him. Never saw a penny of it again and the police had nothing to go on.

HOLY SHIT MAN!!!!!

I will keep that in mind, jeeze!

This is the scenario I am trying to avoid. There are crazy MFs out there, and in this economy, I put nothing past anyone. Meeting at GC is great in that it is a public place. When I sold my Orange, I met a guy at GC. We went in separately and he came over and listened to my amp, and of course tried it out for himself. In the end, I didn't buy the cab I tried and never had any intention of doing so, but that is what people do all the time at GC. They try out gear that they have no intention of buying. Everyone here at this forum has done it at some point, regardless of how much one hates GC. Anyways, I buy some strings on the way out and never look back or feel bad about the whole thing.

 

[kaseri]

Craigslist is a cluster fuck. I've never had a good selling experience on Craigslist and as a result I refuse to use it.

 

[Chris6870]

I don't understand what meeting him at Guitar Center does for you. The two of you are going to walk into Guitar Center with your amp and they're going to let you plug in and demo your amp for a guy who's going to buy it directly from you? That's pretty weird right there and most likely not the reason they open the doors in the morning.

No man, You and your buddy are trying out cabs and you want to use your own amp to make sure they sound good together.

I usually google the Email address. Sometimes you find interesting stuff that way.

 

[Gooseman]

I google everyone when I do a CL transaction. I have had only good transactions...both having people over and/or going to their house. I am very cautious though.

I don't understand what meeting him at Guitar Center does for you. The two of you are going to walk into Guitar Center with your amp and they're going to let you plug in and demo your amp for a guy who's going to buy it directly from you? That's pretty weird right there and most likely not the reason they open the doors in the morning.

No man, You and your buddy are trying out cabs and you want to use your own amp to make sure they sound good together.

I usually google the Email address. Sometimes you find interesting stuff that way.

Thank goodness I am not the only who does this. Meeting someone via Craigslist requires a huge leap of faith, one that I am not willing to take without being at least partially informed of who I am dealing with. I mention it in my emails to buyers because it opens up more conversation, and lets them know that I have information on them that could be used to identify them if their intentions were negative.

Whew, this thread was a relief.

 

[Gooseman]

Honestly, if someone was that straightforward and told me they Googled my information before I went through with a deal, I would be a little creeped out, but probably not offended enough to retract from a deal. I really don't understand why he wouldn't want to meet at GC, but he probably though it was fishy that you weren't willing to meet at either party's house to check out the gear in a place he was comfortable. I've been to dozens homes through Craigslist dealing and never been raped once, but I do see your side too. I don't know, I think both of you were probably playing it a little too safe.

I think how we approach Craigslist could have something to do with where we live as well. I don't know what Tennessee is like, but I would never go over to someone's house in Boston. There is a lot of crime in that city. Didn't you hear about the pizza delivery guy who was brutally murdered by three minors? No way man, I would never do that here. Too sketchy. I am a happily married 29 year-old, and would love to stay that way!

 

[joepete77]

Are you a girl or a young boy?? Maybe u could have your mommy call his and arrange a playdate to test the amp?? Just ball busting, but seriously, I know craigslist is filled with creeps and scammers but I would be creeped out had u did a backround check on me and I also think its wierd to go to gc an just test out your amp in front of everyone etc

 

[Gooseman]

Are you a girl or a young boy?? Maybe u could have your mommy call his and arrange a playdate to test the amp?? Just ball busting, but seriously, I know craigslist is filled with creeps and scammers but I would be creeped out had u did a backround check on me and I also think its wierd to go to gc an just test out your amp in front of everyone etc

What do you mean, in front of everyone? Who exactly pertains to everyone? Why would playing an amp in front of people be weird? When you've bought amps in the past, haven't you tried them out? I've never spent $2000 on an amp that I didn't try out.

That is cool that you feel creeped out by the "google background check." Question though, if you choose to sell on Craigslist, and find a buyer, what would you suggest one should do to protect themselves and get pertinent information? Casting opinions are easy, making choices are much more difficult in that they require thought and evaluation. What would you suggest aside from, "don't sell on Craigslist?" What exactly is creepy about it? Please enlighten me.

 

[Gooseman]

Are you a girl or a young boy?? Maybe u could have your mommy call his and arrange a playdate to test the amp?? Just ball busting, but seriously, I know craigslist is filled with creeps and scammers but I would be creeped out had u did a backround check on me and I also think its wierd to go to gc an just test out your amp in front of everyone etc

Am I a young girl or boy? I'm not the one with YouTube videos of monkeys peeing in their mouths! I suppose someone who posts videos of monkeys urinating in their mouths probably would be creeped out by a Google background check, right? If you don't want info to be found about you, make it private. Otherwise, I am doing the same as the buyer who contacted me was doing when he used Craigslist - using the 'net as a tool to gather information for my benefit.

Later.

This is sort of what you do joepete77, isn't it? Act like a troll at most of the sites you visit. It seems you've made quite a lot of friends on YouTube with your comments concerning Dimebag's death:

"Joepete77 is a troll incase you havent checked him out, his grandparents probably molested him as a kid so now he thinks that him and nathan gale are friends, either way if you believe his bullshit story take your thumbs up and gouge your owsn eye out"

"@joepete77 &%#$ yourself! Thumbs down you moronic piece of %$&*. He murdered 5 people, I could care less about your grandmother. I wonder how forgiving you would be if he shot HER in the head four times to become famous. If there is a heaven, and your version of it seems absolutely ridiculous(and incorrect), why would murdering sadists be sent there? You are unbelievable."

"@joepete77 you are sick arent you? nathan gale was mental, he wasnt a volunteer , and i seriously doubt that dime would be laughing with Nathan coz you know he killed him!! i dont hate nathal and i hope he is resting in peace now but what he did was wrong!! very wrong!!! and he dont deserve someone supporting him"

I don't think I'm going to be too concerned with your thoughts any longer. Thanks for the "ball-busting" man. Right back at ya! Oh wait, I can ball-bust some more, can't I <ADMIN EDIT, DONT POST PEOPLES PERSONAL INFO WITHOUT PERMISSION PLEASE> Naw, just kiddin' man, I'm just "ball-bustin" ya.

 

[Meathead]

The whole Craigslist thing is weird. The drum teacher at my store met a CL guy at his "rehearsal studio" to buy a DW kit from him. So when he gets to the guys "rehearsal studio" address in an industrial section after normal business hours for the surrounding businesses and gets out of the car, three guys get out of a van and hold him up at gun point. The drum set was advertised for $2500. He had $2200 on him. Never saw a penny of it again and the police had nothing to go on.

I'm surprised i don't hear of this more often with Craigslist.
You know a guy has a few grand on him...lure him to a secluded area...

 

[Gooseman]

The whole Craigslist thing is weird. The drum teacher at my store met a CL guy at his "rehearsal studio" to buy a DW kit from him. So when he gets to the guys "rehearsal studio" address in an industrial section after normal business hours for the surrounding businesses and gets out of the car, three guys get out of a van and hold him up at gun point. The drum set was advertised for $2500. He had $2200 on him. Never saw a penny of it again and the police had nothing to go on.

I'm surprised i don't hear of this more often with Craigslist.
You know a guy has a few grand on him...lure him to a secluded area...

+1. Boston is also the place where the "craigslist murderer" was from. While that was probably a minority case, I am still very much sketched out by Boston, hence my futile Google background check.

 

[sinfish]

Good call! Always go with your gut. If you are a church member I have heard of people meeting there. I am not and the few times I have used CL I've met at a bar near my house.

 

[Gooseman]

Good call! Always go with your gut. If you are a church member I have heard of people meeting there. I am not and the few times I have used CL I've met at a bar near my house.

I'll have to remember that!