This has happened to me with two woodstove sales, both for the MBr stove. The first time, flakes, flakes, flakes...but then someone called from UC (Davis?) farm near Half Moon Bay and said they'd be there in a couple hours...only an hour later they were on the doorstep, with three strong guys to haul it away. Maybe you just have to wait for the most motivated party. Also, maybe "market" it a bit with some motivating language: Start Your Veggies Early This Year With a Greenhouse!. Maybe that will remind someone that they've always wanted that greenhouse, but....and now they can have your's!

The second time I sold a woodstove, it was for a nice, but well-used Vermont Castings little stove, and the buyers wanted a good deal. I knew that the stove smoked a bit, and they wanted it for their garage where they work on cars, so I knew no one would be in any danger from the slight smoke odor. We met halfway, and it was gone.

You could also contact Cynthia at Love Apple Farms in Ben Lomond -- she sells tomato seedlings in the spring, and I've seen a nice, but very small greenhouse on her property, so she may be interested in another one, or she may know someone who could use one.

http://www.growbetterveggies.com/

There are a few flakes floating around in the average town, in case you hadn't noticed ... and I don't mean snow-flakes!

o j

When I checked out Craisglist here, I saw weird postings. It was so strange, I never went back!

I could have written your post Clare (except for the greenhouse part lol)! I have the very same problems. I also no longer hold an item or go in order of people who are interested... it's first come, first serve now!

I had a boat listed in the fall. Had a very interested party - principal of a high school - for over a week she was going to come and get it.. then she couldn't get a truck. By then the second interested person has already found a different boat.. then we had the guy who keeps saying he's coming over to look at it.. but never did. The boat will be relisted in the spring.

I do like Craigslist and I've sold (or given away) quite a few things.. but I agree you've got to deal with a lot of flaky peeps!

I sold a set of electric trains on Craigslist and the buyer took me to small claims court because there was a small part missing. The part was just an accessory and had no effect on its performance. Other than the missing piece, the set was in perfect condition.

I haven't bought or sold anything on Craigslist, but did try to give away some things on Free Cycle. I went through the same cr@p! First it was a FREE box spring. Got email after email from people wanting it. I'm sure most stuff from Free Cycle is sold in 2nd hand stores, but I didn't care: come get it. It took four appointments for someone to finally show up to come and get it. I would have been upset at the timing normally, (we were just sitting down to eat supper) but I didn't care anymore. Then last spring I gave away four pairs of Capri's. I lost 30 pounds and they were now too big for me. Do you know how hard it is to give away four pairs of clean, folded articles of clothes that are next to new? FINALLY a school bus driver stopped by when her route was done, and she took them. There were a few other things too, that weren't quite as bad but still enough for me to email the moderator to let her know enough was enough. From now on, it's yard sales and nothing is free. Apparently it's easier to sell things than it is to give them away. LOL

Also, eBay is better than Craigslist if you ask me. You have both eBay and Paypal backing you up with people who flake out.

I don't shop Craigs much...but I go to Freecycle...

Many times in the orginal post they will forget to put the area in which they live.

I will email them and tell them I'm interested but need to know aprox where they are.

I belong to the Omaha and Council Bluffs freecycle. If it is way out in Omaha there is no way I'd find it...

If that is the case I always email them back and tell them to go ahead and offer it to the next person because I won't be coming to pick it up.

One time I emailed, told them I wanted it, got the address, got my husband to take me (he can find his way around...me I get lost in my yard) anyway...went to pick it up and they had given it to the first person to get there. Didn't say that in the post. Sometimes people are very irratating

patti

There are so many flakes, because it's FREE. That's what I've decided, anyway.

Have run into the same types of problems as you, Clare. I started putting "will not hold," and "cash only" on my ads, and also how far out of town we are and that they msut arrive during daylight hours. For whatever reason, peeps seem to have trouble finding us when it gets dark. I don't quite understand it, but it's consistent so now they have to come during the daytime or not at all! LOL!

Hubby thought I was being b!tchy when I started adding all the requirements to my ads ... but then he stood out in the unheated garage (separate building from the house) for 1-1/2 cold hours waiting for someone who never called back to say he wasn't coming ... and he quit fussing about the wording I use.

We give away more than we sell, which is an additional irritant, since they're getting the goodies for free. Their behaviour should still be considerate! Geesh.

But, we keep doing it because we like the feeling we get when someone really needs what we're giving them. Last week it was almost a truckload of camping stuff for a new Boy Scout troop. They had absolutely nothing previously, and drove almost an hour to get to us. Hubby certainly made it worth their while. The BS Leader had tears in his eyes at one point while they were loading it up, he was so grateful.

I have heard that too, that it is easier to sell then give away things free. I can't even imagine how bad it would be to have deal with people when it is free. They must really come out of the woodwork then.

When I want to just rid of things, I give them away to Goodwill or some other charity. I don't have the patience to deal with people. Why do people give things away free instead of donating the items? I have always wondered about that.

The things I don't like about ebay is the fees which they have raised, Craigslist is free, and the hassle of shipping. Though most of the items I sell on Craigslist are big items. Of course I am not going to be shipping a greenhouse. LOL
Clare

Lots of simple ways to deal with it. Quit taking the stress onto yourself. If they want it, they come and get it. No "holding" it - aka, turn down other buyers and then I can dicker you down... I say it's first come first served.

Secondly, I don't give out my address. I arrange a time and tell them to come to the intersection near my place, call me and I'll guide you by phone.

For the ones who ask if I take a check, simply "no". If they're playing games, say goodbye, tell them you have to go increase the price on it. Make it cost them more.

When I was selling my old car back in 75, A guy and his wife wanted it badly. I knew that and I had a good price anyway. Then he tried to lowball me at 1/3 the price. I said no way. I think I wanted $300, they offered $100. They said you can come down something can't you? I said best price, $275 and that's it. Then they offered me $200. I said, no, now it's $350. She sat there a few seconds and it hit her. YOU'RE GOING *UP* IN PRICE!!!" I said yes and it's gonna keep going that way. They bought it. And paid for the transfer, and drove down to transfer the title! :D

I give away my stuff to Goodwill.

I second Ebay. Craigslist scares the cr@p out of me. There's no regulation on that site. Anyone can post anything. It's a total free for all. I remember the story about someone who posted an address and said everything in the house was free. It was a hoax, but the house was completely stripped by people who read the ad. Some poor woman lost everything.

I had an interesting experience with a housekeeper I found on Craigslist. I'll spare you the details but at the end of the day I couldn't help but wonder if she wasn't casing the house. On the very first day we told her we would always be home while she was here, and didn't give her the alarm codes or keys. She didn't show up the following week.

She's still advertising for work on Craigslist. I found it curious she walked away from 4 guaranteed days of easy cleaning a month.

And I wondered about the Neighborhood Watch alert that came out warning us about an increase in home robberies in the area.

Call me paranoid. No way, no how would I give my address out to anyone who posted there. You have absolutely no idea who you are dealing with.

Here is a link that might be useful: Craigslist Hoax

It was my DH's idea to sell all the stuff we aren't using on Craigslist since he got laid off. I did not want to sell anything. I hate having to deal with people in that regard and I don't like giving out my address. I am glad he is home, though, when people show up. And that both he and DS are 6'2 and 180+ lbs. And that we have an alarm system. And Elvira barks at them, a lot!
Clare

Hey, you've got some heavy duty bodyguards :)

Still, I wouldn't use Craigslist for anything. Google Craigslist and crime...And crime has gone up since the number of people out of work has increased so dramatically in the past few months.

"Local law enforcement officers say that crimes on Craigslist are a major problem, however.

"Craigslist, unfortunately, is about much more than just buying and selling things. There have also been issues with prostitution, child exploitation, stolen property, ID theft, any number of things," said Multnomah County sheriffÂs office spokesman Travis Gullberg, whose agency has arrested many people in recent years for Craigslist-related crimes.

Substantially reducing Craigslist-related crimes may not be possible, however. Federal courts have so far ruled that Web site operators are not liable for what people post on them. And local law enforcement officials say they do not have the resources to constantly monitor Craigslist....

"An 18-year-old Milwaukee man who advertised his video game system for sale at the online classifieds site Craigslist lost it at gunpoint Saturday to the would-be buyer, Milwaukee Police said today."...

"Beware of robbers using Craigslist.

Several of the popular Web site's users have been held up at gunpoint by individuals posing as buyers and sellers, according to a number of police departments. "

Just be careful out there, OK?

Here is a link that might be useful: Craigslist CrimeList

No Craigslist close by here.

I had a car for sale some years ago. I put an ad in the paper for 2-3 days. I think I had priced it at $500. A man came on the first day and asked if I would take $400.

I told him if it was still here at the end of the last day I would.

He bought it right then, for $500, saying he didn't want to lose it.

I think that is a good way to handle the "will you take less" crowd. If they really want it they will pay rather than not get it.

Maybe I had it priced too low? :-(

Sue

Finally got a nice person who actually showed up and paid the full price. Her DH and mine are taking the greenhouse apart tomorrow morning since it is so late now. Bye Bye Greenhouse. I am going to miss it. :>( But she is a professor of Bontany at the local University and he grows cacti so it is going to a good home.
Clare

Has anyone ever done a "Curb Alert" for their free for the taking stuff? I see it done alot in St. Louis's CL. I am considering that, but I'm afraid that people might come and then just make a mess picking out only the stuff they want. I've seen wording to the effect "if you find something--please take it all" Anyone ever try this give it away method? TIA

Cynic gave some good advice. You set the terms. First come,best offer,firm price etc. Reiterate all the details when they call. Keep the ball in your park.

Maybe I have been extraordinary lucky, but so far the people that have come to my house have been the nicest you would ever meet. I hope my luck continues. I had to deal with the flakes only on the phone.

katclaws_mo - I haven't heard of a "Curb Alert". I have seen people list Free Items at such and such address on CL. The problem with that is people taking everything that was outside, like patio table & chairs and plants - anything not nailed down. Afterwards people post asking for those items back. I always wonder if they ever get them back. I wouldn't post my address on CL for everyone to see. I feel uncomfortable enough giving it out to strangers in emails and on the phone.

No answered my question, 'Why not donate to a charity free items instead of having people come to your house and take them away?'
Clare

I wanted a newer microwave so put smaller one out front with a free sign. It was gone almost immediatly

I sell and buy many items on Craig's list and have found a method which works well for me. First I put a price on the item that is much lower than the other similar items being advertised on Craig's list. I am not interested in a negotiating session when a buyer shows up. Next, I tell all interested parties that the item will be sold to the first person who shows up with the money at a set time and address. You may think you'll have a bunch of people but not really only the one or two really interested ones will show up. I have used this method many times and it has always worked.

Here is a link that might be useful: traveling and cooking with grandpa

Last spring, I advertised a free above ground swimming pool on Craigslist. It included a great new pump, new liner, and three almost new filters. One guy came and took the deck and ladder, promised to return for the rest later that week but never showed. I didn't have his phone number. Others were put off when they saw what was left looked like. I finally found a junk metal dealer who took it down and charged me $200. So it cost me $200 to give something away! I would never advertise anything on Craigslist. What a disappointment!

Jannie, did the guy pay you for the deck and ladder?

"Has anyone ever done a "Curb Alert" for their free for the taking stuff? "

I see *Curb alert* all the time on the CL by me. Usually it means come and take it or it will be gone at trash pick up next day. Sometimes it is for things that trash pick up won't take, like there was recently one for a potted yew. I would have gone and got it but I knew I would not be able to lift it without help and I did not see the ad until midnight. I wasn't going to call anyone at that time to come with me.

I don't post any Curb Alerts. If I want to get rid of anything I just put it out with a *FREE* sign and it disappears in minutes. I always put a sign on the item. I don't want anyone ringing my door bell to ask "Are you throwing that away???"

Hey, Clare ... around here, the Salvation Army and Goodwill drop-off locations are swamped with donations. We tried to donate a truckload a couple of years ago ... at the SA there was a line of seven or eight vehicles in front of us, waiting to unload. We left and went to Goodwill and they peeked in the back of the truck and said they had enough dressers/end tables (these were in really decent shape) and household items, and were limiting the amount they would take in. They gave us a 'schedule' of days when they would accept such items.

That's when we started giving away on Craig's List.