27.10.05
Craigslist follies
I love craigslist. Yes, it caused us a lot of traumatic experiences with the psycho bitch crazy roommate, but I still think it's a great service. No complaints from me. Oh wait, I forgot that whenever you post something in the STRICTLY PLATONIC section, your inbox quickly fills with propositions.My friend moved a while ago and gave me a hotplate he no longer wanted. It was brand new, and I wanted to give it to some friends of mine, but never did. In the end, I have been holding on to this hotplate for a little under a year, and felt it was time to get rid of it. I posted an ad on Craigslist, in the Household section, trying to sell it for 8 bux. A girl emailed me, we called and left messages on each others' machines for a week and a half, and when I finally got in touch with her, she said she changed her mind and didn't want it anymore.
The hotplate sat under my bed. Motivated by some serious cleaning, I put it back on Craigslist a few months later. The ad read: "This hot plate has never been used before. I don't have a box for it, but it's in perfect working order. If you're interested, I can also meet you in the city." A woman emailed me about it:
"I'm intersted in buying this hotplate from you. How will I know that
it is working?"
First of all, when you are buying something on Craigslist, you are taking a small but potentially serious risk -- the object is NOT WHAT IT SEEMS TO BE! This is like online dating. People show pictures of themselves looking fit and attractive, but don't bother to mention that this was twelve years ago, before they lost their hair and put on 80 pounds. However, inanimate objects can't gain weight. The risk is minimised when photos of the item are shown (I posted two, which I spent the time to retouch in Photoshop for optimum lighting and contrast), and when you are picking it up in person! You can always walk away. Say no to drugs, and to false advertising.
I was a little stunned, but answered her with a friendly "I'm going to check once more that it's in working order when I get home tonight (I've had it lying around for a while). If you'd like to check for yourself, you can come pick it up at my house, or we can meet at a place with an outlet so you can test it out." I then got home, tested the damn thing, and emailed her again: "Hi, I just checked it and it works fine. I'm located in _______, but I work in Times Square. What is convenient for you?"
She wrote back, two days later:
Did you sell your Hot Plate yet? I'd still like to purchase it. Can you deliver it to me in lower Manhattan? I remember - it was $8.00.
Evidently, she wants me to deliver it to her so she can know that it is working by plugging it in at her house. Either that, or she's plotting a murder. I'm sorry, lady, but if you want that shit delivered, buy it on amazon.com. I wrote her saying that I will not deliver, but we can meet up somewhere, and never heard from her again.
Today another woman emailed me about the hotplate. It started out with a grammatically flawed run on sentence:
Hi do u still have this unit?
I wrote back that indeed the hotplate was still in my possession, and how great it would be if we could meet in the coming days and make the exchange. I received this for an answer:
Yes that would be great.Would u sell it to me for $5? Con Ed shut me off. I'm running a temp line for a few hours to use my computer and with this hotplate I can cook too.
I throw my hands up in frustration. Does she try this bargaining thing with the gas company, too? My friend noted, "no wonder conEd cut her off". Forget all this bullshit. I'm posting it to my work mailing list. I'm thinking something along the lines of:
Craigslist has failed me. I have a brand new hotplate. It is making my life difficult. Please take it off my hands. I can only meet you in [office location], and please don't ask if I can deliver it to you. That is why it's free, motherfucker!
Does it seem too harsh? Well, that is why it's free! (motherfucker).
posted by a girl @ 12:47
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