roam1 wrote: I never use email in an ad, always put in the last line:
no email, phone only
weeds out most of the scammers a phishers....
The only downside is that you also weed out legitimate buyers also. I would much rather use email than hand out my phone number when doing an inquiry.
Indeed so, and thats an unfortunate downside. I'd like to think, though, that if a potential buyer is not interested enough in what I have to pick up the phone and call me about it....They probably aren't really that interested in the first place.
IMO, leaving email off is the lesser evil on public, free sales boards like Craigslist. Scammers have gotten so relentless on there....I was getting 20-30 scam emails a day, until I took that email address off.
They're all very easy to spot and immediately get deleted, but it gets old after a while, constantly getting emails that get you excited about a potential buyer, only to quickly find out when reading the email that its just another scammer.
Another clue to a scam is that their English language skills are very poor. Not always the case though. If they give a name you can use Google to investigate, but not foolproof.
The old axiom applies: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
roam1 wrote: I never use email in an ad, always put in the last line:
no email, phone only
weeds out most of the scammers a phishers....
The only downside is that you also weed out legitimate buyers also. I would much rather use email than hand out my phone number when doing an inquiry.
Indeed so, and thats an unfortunate downside. I'd like to think, though, that if a potential buyer is not interested enough in what I have to pick up the phone and call me about it....They probably aren't really that interested in the first place.
IMO, leaving email off is the lesser evil on public, free sales boards like Craigslist. Scammers have gotten so relentless on there....I was getting 20-30 scam emails a day, until I took that email address off.
They're all very easy to spot and immediately get deleted, but it gets old after a while, constantly getting emails that get you excited about a potential buyer, only to quickly find out when reading the email that its just another scammer.
Will
FWIW, when looking to buy something I always email only. If there's no email address, unless you're basically giving away the motor home (in which case I'd probably suspect it's a scam anyway), I'm not going to call. Personally, I just prefer emailing than speaking to someone on the phone. I usually have many questions and it's easier just listing them all out and then I have a record of the answers. I also usually want more pictures which I obviously can't get over the phone. If everything looks ok and I'm very interested then I might call but even then, I'd rather do everything by email.
As a seller, I think it's a huge mistake to not accept emails - sure there might be some scams but it's not all that hard to weed through. Bottom line, unless they show up with the money, don't sell them the motor home.
Another benefit of using email only is it's much easier to get a temporary email than it is to get a temporary phone number. Once your phone number is on the internet, it's probably there forever. Personally, when I place an ad, I ONLY have my email address. If you want to talk on the phone, email me your number or ask me for mine.
roam1 wrote: I never use email in an ad, always put in the last line:
no email, phone only
weeds out most of the scammers a phishers....
The only downside is that you also weed out legitimate buyers also. I would much rather use email than hand out my phone number when doing an inquiry.
Indeed so, and thats an unfortunate downside. I'd like to think, though, that if a potential buyer is not interested enough in what I have to pick up the phone and call me about it....They probably aren't really that interested in the first place.
IMO, leaving email off is the lesser evil on public, free sales boards like Craigslist. Scammers have gotten so relentless on there....I was getting 20-30 scam emails a day, until I took that email address off.
They're all very easy to spot and immediately get deleted, but it gets old after a while, constantly getting emails that get you excited about a potential buyer, only to quickly find out when reading the email that its just another scammer.
Will
FWIW, when looking to buy something I always email only. If there's no email address, unless you're basically giving away the motor home (in which case I'd probably suspect it's a scam anyway), I'm not going to call. Personally, I just prefer emailing than speaking to someone on the phone. I usually have many questions and it's easier just listing them all out and then I have a record of the answers. I also usually want more pictures which I obviously can't get over the phone. If everything looks ok and I'm very interested then I might call but even then, I'd rather do everything by email.
As a seller, I think it's a huge mistake to not accept emails - sure there might be some scams but it's not all that hard to weed through. Bottom line, unless they show up with the money, don't sell them the motor home.
Another benefit of using email only is it's much easier to get a temporary email than it is to get a temporary phone number. Once your phone number is on the internet, it's probably there forever. Personally, when I place an ad, I ONLY have my email address. If you want to talk on the phone, email me your number or ask me for mine.
Hope this helps,
Mike
Yep, that's my take exactly. The added advantage of having a record of the questions and answers is very important to keep track of the info flow.
For me, it's no email no contact.
Others feel differently but if you're a seller, you certainly don't want to eliminate potential buyers right off.
michelb wrote: FWIW, when looking to buy something I always email only. If there's no email address, unless you're basically giving away the motor home (in which case I'd probably suspect it's a scam anyway), I'm not going to call.
...Well, if I was selling something as high $$ as a MH, I wouldnt put it on a public board like Craigslist, I'd use something like RVtraderonline, which provides much better protection against scammers. In that case, I would provide an email address.
When I sold our last RV, I had it on RVtraderonline and I did use email in that case, and did not get any scammers. Craiglist or other free boards, are a different story, though. There's just too many scammers on them. For those, I do not put an email address.
Quote: ..As a seller, I think it's a huge mistake to not accept emails..
Well, to each their own, but thats the way I've always worked with Craigslist (no email) and I've sold plenty of stuff that way. And I haven't had to deal with any garbage scammer emails in the process.
I have my Anthem ad in a few different sites. Yesterday I got the email only scammer. I played with them for 11 emails and the bottom line was that they were going to send me a deposit for a weeks right of first refusal at an agreed price. I was to get a cashiers check for the deposit PLUS an additional amount I was supposed to give to his "agent" to cover the pre-buy inspection and transportation. The "deal" ended when I said to cut the agent a separate check. There are a lot of bogus cashiers checks out there and even legitimate ones can have a stop payment applied. You are stuck for the total loss and the inspector and transportation money, as well as the buyer, are gone. My last email was goodbye scammer. I have reported and forwarded all correspondence to the two larger ad sites. I'll wait for a buyer I can speak directly to.
I'm in the process of selling a vehicle now and get all kinds of replies and rediculous offers. I merely tell them that I trust them and to mail a personal check and come and pick it up. They never reply.
I always tell them to meet me at the local police station with their check and we can do the deal in their parking lot........Dennis
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houtrz wrote: A few years ago my trailer was listed on Craigslist and within a few minutes of the listing I had emails saying they would pay me more than I was asking and wanted it shipped overseas. I needed to send them the difference back on the shipping costs, blah blah blah. I can't believe people fall for this stuff. I won't use Craigslist anymore.
So because a scammer responded, you're pretty much throwing the baby out with the bathwater?
Craigslist is an excellent tool, and it's very easy to weed out the scammers, and it may be the best sales tool available to many folks.
Jim
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