Ain't that a kick in the butt?

[captainsblog]

Back when I was a journalist, when dinosaurs roamed the press rooms, we often heard, then as now, of the death of our medium. If it turns out, as many theorize, that Craigslist is the caster of the final killing blow, that will really be ironic, because if there's one thing that sucks more than old-school newspapers, it's Craigslist.

Never mind the scams and the spam. I'm a big boy and can look out for myself when it comes to that. No, it's the immaturity and rudeness of the genuine sellers that seem to be attracted to this beast. I don't know if it's how everyone is these days, or if there's something unique to the free-posting atmosphere that just attracts Teh Weird.

Two weekends before this past one, I found a replacement car for Emily. I called the number, confirmed the address, and we headed down to South Buffalo to see it. It looked clean and well-maintained enough, we agreed on a price, and I told them I'd call when we got the plates from our old car. When it became clear that wasn't going to happen, I called again to let them know I'd buy it even before registering it if the car checked out with our mechanic.

::boodaBEEP!:: The Cricket number you have called has been temporarily disconnected.

I emailed the selller using the link in their original ad, and over a day later, I got a message saying it was undeliverable. Finally, I drove by the house today, to be sure the thing (which had been lacking plates and registration sticker) was gone. It was.

Poo.

----

Meanwhile, when it started looking improbable, another comparable car had surfaced, this time in North Buffalo. Not looking quite as clean, but fewer miles and the same price. I called yesterday and told her we'd come today.

She called while I was in court and I said I'd be there as soon as Emily got out of school. I called again while on my way to pick her up and we were still good. Halfway to Delaware Avenue, the phone went bloop! A voicemail: I just sold the car. Sorry for the inconvenience.

That's all you got? I'd made an appointment with a mechanic to look at the car. I'd moved money around so she could have cash today if she needed it. Which she apparently did, because while I was doing all of that, she was posting new ads lowering her price below what I was going to pay as long as they drove it off today.  If I now see that same car on a dealer ad for twice the price, I will be displeased.

So we're back to square one. There's no urgency to it all until August, but if I don't find a suitable replacement by July I'm going to need to just take back the car I'd been saving for her, which will be equally displeasing to someone else. As for the rest of you? I know common courtesy is a 20th century thing and nobody bothers with thank-you notes (or notes of any kind anymore), but could you at least call a buyer that was serious enough to come see you (or was literally on his way to do so) and give them a chance to match or beat an offer before just pulling out the rug?

Comments

[platypus]

I think people advertising on Craigslist are conditioned to go with the first buyer who is present with money in hand, because so many potential buyers flake. Which is probably also why they promise to sell to three different people, and disappoint two of them, perpetuating the whole loop of neither side having any confidence that the other will come through...

[ellettra.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness. Shopping for a car is tooth-grindingly challenging to begin with, not to mention having to juggle idiots from Clist. I am sending massive good luck vibes your way.