Just words today, no pretty pictures to show you, but I will have some soon.
Let's talk about the pink elephant sitting in the room called Craigslist.
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me,
"Aren't you scared to use Craigslist? Don't people get killed..."
...well, I wouldn't be rich, but I'd definitely have a *great* new pair of shoes. Or a cool new tool.
So far, every single person I have dealt with on CL has been completely normal (aside from the obvious email scammers that everyone ignores.)
I'm thankful for our God given intuition to doubt when something isn't quite right -
which I experienced this week. I have finally learned to really pay attention to that little voice, which is usually just a gentle knock, but it's distinctive, and it has gotten me out of some real pickles.
I had someone first email then call me about a piece I had listed, and she left a voicemail. She had that beautiful English accent that I wish I had. When I called her back, a man answered - and he was having a strange conversation with what I eventually realized wasn't me, and he wasn't making any sense. He sounded drunk or high or whatever they are calling it these days. I hung up.
The English lady called me back immediately and briefly mentioned how I had just called her. I didn't know what to make of the guy who was talking in word salad, other than there must have been a cross connection. She quickly glossed over that whole thing, and went right into her shtick. I hope I spelled shtick right. I promise that wasn't supposed to be a swear word, although I think it would be fitting.
Our conversation went like this:
Lady: "Is this a full size piece or miniature? "
Remember to insert beautiful English accent for her parts :)
Me: (Miniature?) "It's full size."
(insert boring voice)
Lady: "I am very, very interested in it. Where are you located, and when can I pop over to take a look?"
Me: "I'm near [such and such] and I'll be home the rest of the day."
Lady: "Oh, that actually works perfectly because I am meeting a friend at [such and such] and we should be finished around 5 o'clock."
I hope you're doing the English accent. It's just not the same without it.Me: "Okay, just let me know when you want to stop by." (Should've said "pop over." It's less boring.)
Lady: "Do you only accept cash? Because I would have to stop at the bank if I had to get cash."
Me: (Hmm....nobody's ever asked me this before...plus that would mean that I would have to stop at the bank to cash HER check.) "Yeah, cash is best."
Lady: "Well I'm very very interested in this piece, it's absolutely brilliant." (remember to pronounce the second L with a Y sound).
Me: "Thanks." (The brilliant part threw me.)
Lady: "And, what other pieces do you have?"
Me: (I briefly describe.)
Lady: "Oh, I'm very interested in [that one] in particular. Can you send me pictures?"
Me: "Sure."
Lady: "Do you deliver?"
Me: "We can make arrangements for that."
Lady: "Oh, brilliant. Absolutely brilliant! Okay, I will call you back around 5 o'clock to get directions."
Me: "Okay bye." (yeah, I got nothin.)
As I predicted, she never called back. Something wasn't right about this one.
Two days later I get a text from someone asking for my "exact" location. I only gave a general vicinity. They responded back "are you a business or house?" I said house, and no response. Weird, weird, and just WEIRD. The picture in the ad is clearly a house.
I thought this whole exchange was worthy of passing on to all my blog buddies, (because I think you all are absolutely brilyiant), and because this person had certain characteristics that I don't find with most CL callers (not to be confused with killers).
- She was very confident. I find CL callers to be always friendly, but not so there. They usually pause at least for a second to process the information we exchange, and they don't shift gears so fast.
- She made no mention of the fact that I had just had a weird phone thing going on with some guy.
- She questioned the need for a cash purchase.
- She just happened to be at a shopping center 5 miles from me that day.
- Soon after I get a text asking for my EXACT location? Random? Probably. Creepy? I'll say.
Of course this lady could actually be who she says she is, and I sure hope she doesn't follow my blog. I never felt I was in any physical danger, but this had SCAM written all over it. You know, clear a check, give the furniture, the bank discovers the check isn't good and takes it out of your account sort of thing. Do I still think that CL is a great thing? Yes! And, I just watched the CL Killer movie on Lifetime and I still love CL. Okay, I actually hate it sometimes.
Regardless, these are my guidelines for keeping me and my precious family safe (and away from the radar of a Lifetime movie producer):
- I always have some sort of phone conversation if texting or emailing was initiated first.
- Romeo can't always be with me, but I would never deal with a man without him.
- Don't ever get desperate to sell anything. Pick and choose who you will do business with.
- If I second guess anything, that's enough to end it right there.
- I never give out my address until I've talked to them and as close to the appointment as possible.
- I don't respond to dating ads offering massages or hanky panky. That was a joke.
What about you guys? Any sketchy CL stories?
xoxo,
Christa
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