TJP hits the nail on the head with the societal issue.
There have always been idiots, but it has spread like a virus.
CL & FBM seem to be the worst, but I've also had similar experiences on Racing Junk.
At this point, with plans to move, I'm leaning toward just taking stuff to the dump rather than post ads for it.

Been using it since it was created, not one negative experience. My most recent sale was a car that only lasted for 8 hours before being sold to a buyer that called as instructed, all others were ignored.

I’ve done well with Craigslist. Both buying and selling. On this board I’ve had some weird interactions. Most recently a guy selling a car where the numbers checking out are crucial to value, of course he was cutting no deal so it had to be verified. Twice was given bs about why he wouldn’t give me pics necessary to see if it was even worth pursuing. I’ve come to the conclusion that most people are perfectly content wandering aimlessly through life and are totally aloof when a serious person is right in front of them.

Must be different depending what area you're in?

As previously mentioned, I've been purging stuff for the last 4 months. I run my ads on both FB and CL trying to get a little more coverage and for those (like here) who despise FB. None of the items I sold were thru CL, NONE. The CL ads only brought scams and bogus replies. Sure, I had a few issues on FB, but nothing like CL. That being said though, I will continue posting on CL on the off chance it does generate a sale.


One thing I'm curious about with those here that sell on FB, do you sell just on the actual Marketplace? Or do you use specific groups depending on what you're selling? I have the best of luck using Market place in addition to specific groups.

Until someone steps up and creats a better free platform for selling stuff (car related or not) I'll just keep plugging away with FB and CL.

I belong to many facebook Mopar groups so when I write up an add I can pick around 20 groups that I want my ad and pictures on. Tap tap tap done. I’ve sold race cars, engines, heads, balanced assemblies you name it. Price it right and under 48 hours it’s gone.

I do the same

I remember when cell phones first came out and this was the case. To this day it's easier to tap the screen and talk rather than type on a miniature keyboard. But text's/email's do have some advantages, If the person is busy and cant answer the phone or it's late they can respond at their leisure.


I'm still waiting for this! I liked Offer up until i couldn't contact anybody. They implemented "tru you" where you need to give them your drivers license # and post the pic from it on their site. I told them FU and closed my account. I see them advising on TV but don't tell you about the license thing.

Personally I prefer email. I can read them at MY convenience as opposed to having the phone ring at inconvenient times. And if I miss the call and it goes to voicemail then I have to deal with someone mumbling incoherently or not speaking loud enough or into the mouthpiece. NOPE. I'll take emails thank you very much !

I ran a business for 30 years. Most of the time, when the phone rang, it was an interruption. To this day, every time I need to make a phone call, I think I'm going to interrupt someone. I hate making phone calls.

might have been interesting to put TWO polls on this,
1. Your communication preference
2. Your age group

Email for me.

1) there's a record of the conversation
2) people have to think a little bit before pressing "send".

I don't know. I can't tell you how many times I've hit "send" and a moment later thought "Oh crap, I probably shouldn't have done that."

Even when that someone solicits the phone call?

When I’m doing porting work for a customer texting if fine but I like to talk to the customer on the phone too. I tell them I’m available 9am to 9pm and if I miss you call you don’t have to leave a voicemail. Your number will be entered into my phone and I will call you but usually in under 30 minutes.

This is good advice.

I AGREE! I'm not anti social but I dread phone calls, such time wasters. An email or text is a hard copy I can refer to or reply to when it's convenient. Now a days it's hard to find the exact MOMENT when 2 people are doing NOTHING and can communicate on a phone like its 1950. Personally, I'm SUPER BUSY every single second. Plus a text or email you can share a contact or picture. You wouldnt believe how many call I get with long winded descriptions and I have to interrupt the caller and tell them to text me a picture.

These last few months, I've been averaging 8-10 spam calls every day. When there is no phone number for people to call for something I might list for sale, I can simply ignore any numbers I don't know. When I have something for sale with only a phone number as a contact point, I have to answer every call, and then the number of spam calls increase.

With the new phones, its pretty hard for this old man to set up a message to leave a message covering what they want to talk about, if they want to talk to me. Then, like the ads, no one seems to pay attention to the instructions.

Phone life was easier when all the phones were attached to a phone line. My phone would still be connected to a land line if the fools wouldn't have raised the minimum monthly phone bill to over $100 a month.

I HATE calling on ads if I don't have to because if it's with someone who's retired they want to give you their life story and talk at you for wayyyy longer than it takes to make a transaction. Texts are clear and to the point.

I have battled similar issues with a plethora of CL ads in the past few years.
I have a different view however.
I refuse to email, all I want is initially a text, and if that text asks me if item is still available, after clearly stating in the ad, "if it's listed its available", and stating "if you ask, I will ignore you" outright, and I still get dozens of asking if its available. All ignored of course.
If I am feeling snarky I might reply, "why, are you interested?"

Meaning if you contact me and ask, "can I come by and see it", or "how old is it", "does it fit,,,,,,?", my very first reply might be, "sorry I just sold it 3 minutes ago" or the answer to your question.

It's pretty obvious quickly if a buyer is sincerely interested by the quality of their questions.
I also only accept offers in person, and so far, anyone who has made the effort to visit and see an item, has left with it and often more, except one.
I don't like wasting my time or the buyers.
CL is the wild wild west.
Ebay is highway robbery.
Not sure about Moparts yet.

You know how many people complain about others talking on the cell phone while driving?

So when was the last time someone called you on your cell phone and then asked if you are driving?