Craigslist AlertS PLURAL!

[bostonmike1]

Are you sure you didn't push the same link twice? I can only find one Model A & one Model B home.

Hey G.S.----assuming the side of the horn we cannot see is not damaged----if I end up making a final offer of $625.00, is that wise? Michael

The two listings that have "home" phonographs are listed at $400-$500, what is $625?

NOTHING on c.l. is ever firm---my experience is that most of the time it ends up in a negotiation, ---- they "have" another potential buyer but "make me an offer". Although ebay sucks for many reasons----c.l. more times than not is even worse. Michael

[phonophan79]

Hey G.S.----assuming the side of the horn we cannot see is not damaged----if I end up making a final offer of $625.00, is that wise? Michael

The two listings that have "home" phonographs are listed at $400-$500, what is $625?

NOTHING on c.l. is ever firm---my experience is that most of the time it ends up in a negotiation, ---- they "have" another potential buyer but "make me an offer". Although ebay sucks for many reasons----c.l. more times than not is even worse. Michael

I disagree... I find that most things I buy on craigslist I will get the price to go down, not up, you can haggle. Sure, there are the ones that get away, and money-hungry sellers... but hey, it's free on both ends, seller and buyer. The only thing I "flag" on craigslist are the "make me an offer" fishing for bids posts.

[larryh]

Fun list, none near me either. But its interesting to see how many Edison products are out there. Does that mean its because the Victors sell faster or for more money, or more collectable? I have usually noticed that except at places like Union, the edisons are the step child of sales and price usually. I loved that oak model first on the list. We had a chippendale oak machine sell near me and I didn't even go.. I should have, but just wasn't in the mood for yet another machine sitting around.

Larry

[gramophoneshane]

The only thing I "flag" on craigslist are the "make me an offer" fishing for bids posts.

This is kind of what I questioned in a thread on Moo's board.
I really can't see the difference in "make me an offer" and posting a machine for $75 & adding "OBO".
In my mind, by adding the "Or Best Offer", you are basically saying you will sell it to the highest bidder, which to me is auctioning the item.
Over here you'll often see in classified ads "ONO" (or near offer), but that means if they've got $75 on the item, they might be willing to lower the price if they can't get $75 straight away.
I'm pretty sure over here, that if they sold an item "above" the advertised price, they could be done for false advertising or fraud.
This OBO BS seems bizarre to me
It seems by adding those 3 little letters, they're really not stating a sale price at all, but just a figure to draw people to their auction.
I hope OBO never catches on here!

[phonophan79]

The only thing I "flag" on craigslist are the "make me an offer" fishing for bids posts.

This is kind of what I questioned in a thread on Moo's board.
I really cant see the difference in "make me an offer" and posting a machine for $75 & adding "OBO".
In my mind, by adding the "Or Best Offer", you are basically saying you will sell it to the highest bidder, which to me is auctioning the item.
Over here you'll often see in classified ads "ONO" (or near offer), but that means if they've got $75 on the item, they might be willing to lower the price if they can't get $75 straight away.
I'm pretty sure over here, that if they sold an item "above" the advertised price, they could be done for false advertising or fraud.
This OBO BS seems bizarre to me
It seems by adding those 3 little letters, they're really not stating a sale price at all, but just a figure to draw people to their auction.
I hope OBO never catches on here!

...but at least the guy has given you a starting price. You can tell if he's being reasonable or not. ...and again, in my experience I've found that OBO means the price goes down and not up.

[Brad]

I have only made one purchase through craigslist and it went well, however, I have inquired and/or made offers on several other items only to meet radio silence. The adds where the lister includes a phone number are better as the seller is a least willing to speak to a potential buyer.

Craigslist is no better than classified adds in the paper - i.e. a crapshoot.

Ebay, despite its desire to make money, offers a more predictable and secure method to connect buyers with sellers. Looking back, it seems like it is the sellers that have issue with the 'bay.

[phonophan79]

I have only made one purchase through craigslist and it went well, however, I have inquired and/or made offers on several other items only to meet radio silence.

Very true... there can be a lot of flakes on both seller and buyers end.