Would you buy a _____ off craigslist?

[Sarra]

I was going to ask this in two separate threads, but I decided it's so similar, might as well just make one thread.

Local CL has some decent complete rigs for sale, and at a 'sane' price (IE, not $100 for a fully loaded rig with 'I dunno what parts are on it, but it's badass'). I'm looking at a Yeti with a nice parts list, lots of VP stuff, and it's $450 without electronics, or $650 with electronics/motor/tx/rx.

So, would you suggest to avoid CL at all costs for RCs, or just tread carefully? I absolutely hate the idea of buying stolen property, and honestly, it's really hard to tell sometimes.

The second 'fill in the blank' is 'cars'. Would you buy a car off CL? I was ASE master certified (just expired), so I know my way around cars, so I can pretty easily spot a money pit (hah, I own a 2002 WRX with 190k, talk about a money pit!), but in general... CL okay, or CL avoid?

Past experiences welcome... Only things I've EVER done was sell some old computer parts, with very good results.

[BigSki]

Hmmm. I'd suggest buying a $20 star to support the site whilst you work hard at upping your post count.

[Sevastra]

Tread very carefully on Craigslist. Meet in public locations (Parking lot at starbucks, etc) and look everything over thoroughly. There's some good stuff to be had from Craigslist, but it only takes one bad apple to ruin the whole experience.

[Sarra]

Originally Posted by BigSki

Hmmm. I'd suggest buying a $20 star to support the site whilst you work hard at upping your post count.

I've been in the classifieds here quite a bit already, but there's a huge issue with online stuff. That is, I do not have 1) A paypal account 2) a credit, debit, or similar purchasing card. 3) The means to get a reliable, safe, secure credit, debit, or other charge card.

Originally Posted by Sevastra

Tread very carefully on Craigslist. Meet in public locations (Parking lot at starbucks, etc) and look everything over thoroughly. There's some good stuff to be had from Craigslist, but it only takes one bad apple to ruin the whole experience.

Yeah. When I sold computer parts, I always met at the mall. 'Hey, come with $900 worth of stuff to my dark, unlit back alley, and we'll deal!' doesn't work for me, hah.

I also only do cash... For something like a RC, yeah, I'd go over it pretty carefully, as well as do the transaction at a bank or gas station that would be willing to lend a currency check pen.

I had someone offer to pay me $400 worth of Meth for a $250 video card. Let's just say, I turned that down pretty quickly.

[Norton]

As many times as you have posted today, sure you didn't take the Meth deal?
LOL

[Sarra]

Originally Posted by Norton

As many times as you have posted today, sure you didn't take the Meth deal?
LOL

Bahahaha

Nope. All I did today was... Well. Wake up at 5:50 AM. I NORMALLY wake up at 11 AM. I then worked a 9 hour day. I had one mountain dew... 3 meals. But, I'm tired as hell, and... Manic. So, not really a good combination, but I've been through worse. All this will result in is a few really odd, long, rambly, sarcastic, or bizarrely funny posts, and potentially an infraction (trying to avoid that, honestly), so... No harm done. I'm going to bed pretty soon, though. Thankfully, I got Saturday and Sunday off.

Also... Yeah. My car is going to become an addict, soon... New motor is going to have a Methanol injection kit as part of the build.

M first ex lived in a neighborhood with no fewer than 7 meth labs in it. I've watched Meth destroy people, in real time. I had coworkers that were addicts... Thankfully, I've never tried it, and never plan on it.

[tapped-out]

Good luck either way, I've sold rigs/parts on here & Cl & had people just me but i'm a honest guy & both parties were happy.
I'd only buy a rig off CL locally. But wouldn't have a issue buying a rig from RCC classified.

[Sarra]

Originally Posted by tapped-out

Good luck either way, I've sold rigs/parts on here & Cl & had people just me but i'm a honest guy & both parties were happy.
I'd only buy a rig off CL locally. But wouldn't have a issue buying a rig from RCC classified.

Yeah. I may be able to get a Debit card soon, which means I'd be able to pick up some much needed parts off the classifieds here.

I never had anyone get upset or have problems with computer parts I sold.

[BJoe]

Hard to say, had a couple customers from the HTU I work st each score a very heavily modded 3.3 Revo for max. around $250 each. In both cases, the trucks were dismantled for cleaning when the sellers needed the cash fast and these were the first guys to show up cash in hand. I also knew a couple that had to fire sale their fleet (all of which, I had sold them) after one of them lost his job.......sometimes I'm not sure which I wished for more, commission from their purchases, or that I had the money to buy some of their fleet that weekend they put up the ad.

[fj40jay]

i buy stuff off Cragslist all the time, just be cautious.

[spookyseven]

Can you use visa gift cards to buy stuff online? I think they work kinda like debit cards but I've never bought stuff online with them, has anyone else tried it?

[MountainStorm]

"Would you buy a___________" I keep mentally inserting "Hand Job" in that blank. Thanks Obama.

[badhoopty]

ive bought my last 3 1:1's off craigslist. like somebody else said if its local and you can check it out before you buy i see no problem.

[Sarra]

Originally Posted by BJoe

Hard to say, had a couple customers from the HTU I work st each score a very heavily modded 3.3 Revo for max. around $250 each. In both cases, the trucks were dismantled for cleaning when the sellers needed the cash fast and these were the first guys to show up cash in hand. I also knew a couple that had to fire sale their fleet (all of which, I had sold them) after one of them lost his job.......sometimes I'm not sure which I wished for more, commission from their purchases, or that I had the money to buy some of their fleet that weekend they put up the ad.

Hmmm. True... But, we only have one place here, and... I know everyone that works at it. I'd know if they were selling off stuff...

Originally Posted by spookyseven

Can you use visa gift cards to buy stuff online? I think they work kinda like debit cards but I've never bought stuff online with them, has anyone else tried it?

I need a card that will work for stuff online and offline. One of the places I was doing business online didn't accept the prepaid cards. Go figure. There's a 'payday loan scam' place here that offers debit cards, I've been meaning to go in and check there...

Originally Posted by MountainStorm

"Would you buy a___________" I keep mentally inserting "Hand Job" in that blank. Thanks Obama.

BAHAHAHA soda on my monitor

I've put a few odd things in the blank, there, myself... Not gonna share them here, I don't want points. XD

Originally Posted by badhoopty

ive bought my last 3 1:1's off craigslist. like somebody else said if its local and you can check it out before you buy i see no problem.

You know, you actually just triggered my mind to compare a theoretical CL 1:1 purchase to the last 3 times I bought cars from dealers. I think that buying off CL would actually be safer than buying from a dealership. Possibly... But... I totally got ripped off for my previous car (I knew it, and ripped the dealer off in return). I actually got a fake CarFax printoff from the sales manager. He made it in WordPad. I hadn't asked for the carfax, he just 'threw it in', probably trying to justify him spending the time to make it look 'realistic' in wordpad. Luckily, the title isn't actually branded, and the 'fake' carfax is only missing some dealer trade and previous owner information, but still. Shady as ****.

[Norton]

Pre paid Visa. You get the card and put money on it. Go to Walmart.

[Sevastra]

I use a Paypal Debit Mastercard. It's a seperate account from my Paypal, and only works if I put funds on the card. Has the same safety features as any other debit card. Can reload it at any western union location for a couple dollars, or directly from your paypal account or bank account for no free.

A few days ago my steam account was hacked, and a few hundred dollars in games was purchased using the saved information. Once I saw it I called paypal to inform them, and they instantly denied the payments and restored my balance while I was on the phone with them. I'm very pleased with their service.

They also signed me up (at no charge) for instant text alerts every time my card is used. It tells me where it was used, the purchase amount and the remaining balance.

[BigSki]

I was going to suggest the PayPal debit card as well. I use mine for hobby use while shopping online but you can use it anywhere a debit card is accepted.

[Sarra]

Originally Posted by Sevastra

I use a Paypal Debit Mastercard. It's a seperate account from my Paypal, and only works if I put funds on the card. Has the same safety features as any other debit card. Can reload it at any western union location for a couple dollars, or directly from your paypal account or bank account for no free.

A few days ago my steam account was hacked, and a few hundred dollars in games was purchased using the saved information. Once I saw it I called paypal to inform them, and they instantly denied the payments and restored my balance while I was on the phone with them. I'm very pleased with their service.

They also signed me up (at no charge) for instant text alerts every time my card is used. It tells me where it was used, the purchase amount and the remaining balance.

The walmart cards have a $3/month fee... Which I guess I can live with. Maybe I will go get a new one...

Problem with Paypal is, my bank blocks paypal. I use a credit union, and they've had too much fraud through bad paypal accounts. Otherwise, I would go that route.

However, since you can put money on them at brick and mortar stores, I will consider that again.