Nice guys finish last or do they?

admin

I found a 30A and WC-24 on Craigslist  a month ago. The guy didn't  have any way to contact  him. I even posted an "in search of". So my dad found another listing for the same spoolgun in heavy equipment  instead of tools. I called the guy and explained  that I had posted an add explaining  he didn't have anyway to get a hold of him. Told him I could  get there Friday and I had cash money. He called me and said he fixed the add and had sold the spoolgun. He gave me the first come first serve.  I understand. This guy at least called me and told me he sold it. I explained  to him that I should have kept my mouth shut, but that wasn't the right thing to do and nice guys finish last. He then hung up on me. I understand where he was coming from money talks but the guy hung up on me because I stated the obvious. You answer isn't going to change the way I am. I am interested  in what or how you would of handled this.
Reply:After dealing with more flakes, fakes and douchebags than I care to admit, if I see an ad like that, and the guy doesn't even have enough sense to post it correctly, screw it. I have better things to do with my time.Nothing worse than chasing some moron down to try and buy something from him, get strung along, only to find out he already sold it. Same way with the "Make an offer" kinda guys. If they post something up for sale without even including a price, to me it's like saying, "Lets play a guessing game, and if you're WAAY off the mark, I'll just take the extra money and put it in my pocket. If you're too low, I'll just say someone else is on their way to buy it" Then, you get the types that wanna try and start an auction by inviting two or three ppl to come look at it at the same time, then slyly interject the comment that the highest bid takes it. Or, the variation that the first guy to race to his location and place cash in his hand before anyone else gets it, even tho he told the guy two hours away who called before anyone else that it was his.I could kick guys like that in the face all day long. I have zero patience for game players. My time is too valuable, and my temper, far too short...Avoiding the idiots and game players on the Internet is the best policy. If they're either too stupid or too greedy to play a straight game, by doing things right and above board, they can play it with someone else.IMHO of courseExpert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Originally Posted by JeffKiper I am interested  in what or how you would of handled this.
Reply:I almost sent you a text about this spoolgun. It was $300.00 and looked good in the pictures. I wanted another spoolgun. I didn't  need it just found it at a good price and was going to buy it.
Reply:I once tried to sell a truck grille on Craigslist. Guy calls me at 9:30pm, wants me to come meet him to buy it. I had the grille listed for $40, as it was brand new, not a single scratch. The grille was aftermarket but it still cost $90, so a very fair deal. Guy agreed to pay the $40 after trying to haggle, so I get out of bed and drive a couple miles to meet with him. He took a look at it and instantly tried offering me $30 for the grille, figuring I'd just say F it, eat the $10 and be on my way. He was wrong. I snatched the grille out of his hands and smashed it into about a half million pieces right in front of him. I looked him in the eye, said "Now I'll take $30 for it" and left. As annoying as the whole ordeal was, I left with a smile, haha!
Reply:Originally Posted by geezerbillIf you see somebody has made a mistake in an ad, tell him....unless you want it, then just buy it.He still sells his item, no ethical issues whatsoever.
Reply:That was a good price man. I know it sucks when deals like that "get away" and I've been there a few times. With stuff like that, I generally shoot low as far as expectations go if I can't get there right away. If they sell it before I can make arrangements, then that's fine. If they insist I rush immediately there, and threaten that someone else is interested, I say let them have it and forget it.There was a time I used to get really geeked up about killer deals. After getting royally screwed around a few times, I grew pretty skeptical and unwilling to jump thru hoops to save a little money. If it's close and won't put me out much to go take a look at it, then fine. If it's far away, or the seller sounds flaky and feeds you the line that the first guy who puts cash in my hand get it, there no way in hell I'm going to drop everything I'm doing, drive two hours away and find out the guy sold it fifteen minutes before I got there.That's just part of the deal with CL stuff. You gotta know when to hit it and know when to forget it.IMHO of courseExpert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:I'd probably have done the same thing if I were him. He made a mistake, which he fixed, then when he was decent enough to call you back to tell you the item had sold you essentially call him a jerk. There's no reason he should have to respond to that, so he didn't and he hung up. That's fair. On more than one occasion I've driven somewhere to meet a seller and they don't show. I would have much preferred a phone call. Consider yourself lucky.As much as you hate CL sellers, CL buyers are worse. I'll get 10 emails for something and I'll be lucky to have one guy actually show up when they said they would, let alone buy the item without trying to knock half the price off. So because of this, I'll also back up the seller's "first come first served" policy. Unless I know that somebody is on the way to my house, I will never hold an item. I'll be up front about that even if we make an appointment to meet at a later time, though I'd always update them if somebody comes to buy it. I wish I didn't have to do this, but when 90% of the buyers are no-shows anyways, I can't help it.
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Agreed- if I wanted the item I would have just said "I'll be there on Friday, and if ya sell it before Friday can ya let me know?"
Reply:Originally Posted by Sharon NeedlesI once tried to sell a truck grille on Craigslist. Guy calls me at 9:30pm, wants me to come meet him to buy it. I had the grille listed for $40, as it was brand new, not a single scratch. The grille was aftermarket but it still cost $90, so a very fair deal. Guy agreed to pay the $40 after trying to haggle, so I get out of bed and drive a couple miles to meet with him. He took a look at it and instantly tried offering me $30 for the grille, figuring I'd just say F it, eat the $10 and be on my way. He was wrong. I snatched the grille out of his hands and smashed it into about a half million pieces right in front of him. I looked him in the eye, said "Now I'll take $30 for it" and left. As annoying as the whole ordeal was, I left with a smile, haha!
Reply:If I think the price is fair I don't haggle. I want it and I know the price I'll pay.BUT if I see an ad that states "500.00 firm" and then the next week it is "400.00 firm" and then "350.00 FIRM"  I just might try and squeeze a few bucks outta da seller Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:One way to look at it.... You went to some effort to help yourself and, incidentally helped the guy.    You did not go out of your way to do it just to help him.Any time that you are looking for to buy, you should also be ready to consummate the sale immediately.    You don't expect a business to hold an item for you without a deposit, so no reason to expect an individual to do that either.Dan----------------------------Measure twice.  Weld once.  Grind to size.MIG:  Lincoln SP100 TIG/STICK:  AHP Alphatig 200X
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1If I think the price is fair I don't haggle. I want it and I know the price I'll pay.BUT if I see an ad that states "500.00 firm" and then the next week it is "400.00 firm" and then "350.00 FIRM"  I just might try and squeeze a few bucks outta da seller
Reply:If the price is fair I just pay it. I could probably  count on 1 hand how many times I have tried to beat someone  on the price.
Reply:I have had mostly good experiences on CL believe it or not. I for sure got taken on the AHP AlphaTIG that I bought second hand, but I knew going in it was a risk. I got too greedy on that one. But I definitely got a good deal on my TIG cooler and my syncrowaves. And I recently sold a couple of welders and got my asking price for the most part. It was interesting though, the last one I sold was the Hobart Stickmate. The guy who showed up to buy it was definitely armed. You could see a rather high dollar leather holster just peeking out from under his jacket. I don't think he was making a point of showing it off. Of course I was also armed, as was my wife. But as they say an armed society is a civil society. The guy had no idea how to weld so I offered to demo the machine for him. he was happy, paid me in cash, we shook hands, and parted ways. The entire experience was very cordial.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Agreed- if I wanted the item I would have just said "I'll be there on Friday, and if ya sell it before Friday can ya let me know?"
Reply:Some of the best deals on CL and eBay are the ones where the seller can't spell, and nobody finds their items but youHobart Beta-Mig 2511972 Miller AEAD-200LEMiller 250 TwinNorthern Ind. Hybrid 200Longevity Stick 140Longevity Migweld 200SThermal Arc Pak 3XR
Reply:I didn't know it was an option not to be armed. Years ago I was doing an HVAC job where we hired off duty police to work security  for us. He told me to make sure you aim center mass and double tap. I bought some tools of a guy once and after all was done he asked if I was armed. I of course said yes I was. He just laugh and said he was too.
Reply:Originally Posted by geezerbillSome of the best deals on CL and eBay are the ones where the seller can't spell, and nobody finds their items but you
Reply:Originally Posted by Sharon NeedlesI once tried to sell a truck grille on Craigslist. Guy calls me at 9:30pm, wants me to come meet him to buy it. I had the grille listed for $40, as it was brand new, not a single scratch. The grille was aftermarket but it still cost $90, so a very fair deal. Guy agreed to pay the $40 after trying to haggle, so I get out of bed and drive a couple miles to meet with him. He took a look at it and instantly tried offering me $30 for the grille, figuring I'd just say F it, eat the $10 and be on my way. He was wrong. I snatched the grille out of his hands and smashed it into about a half million pieces right in front of him. I looked him in the eye, said "Now I'll take $30 for it" and left. As annoying as the whole ordeal was, I left with a smile, haha!
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveSounds like my kind of temper. Couple times I've had people negotiate my price down over the phone, then when I tell them that since we've agreed on a price, when they come to get it the price cannot be negotiated further - they decide not to come...
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I wonder what would happen if you played guitars??
Reply:Pete didn't really need a reason....Great pic! Attached ImagesExpert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Pete didn't really need a reason....Great pic!
Reply:Neither did Ritchie...  Attached ImagesExpert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948I didn't know it was an option not to be armed.Years ago I was doing an HVAC job where we hired off duty police to work security for us. He told me to make sure you aim center mass and double tap.
Reply:Originally Posted by JeffKiperI found a 30A and WC-24 on Craigslist  a month ago. The guy didn't  have any way to contact  him. I even posted an "in search of". So my dad found another listing for the same spoolgun in heavy equipment  instead of tools. I called the guy and explained  that I had posted an add explaining  he didn't have anyway to get a hold of him. Told him I could  get there Friday and I had cash money. He called me and said he fixed the add and had sold the spoolgun. He gave me the first come first serve.  I understand. This guy at least called me and told me he sold it. I explained  to him that I should have kept my mouth shut, but that wasn't the right thing to do and nice guys finish last. He then hung up on me. I understand where he was coming from money talks but the guy hung up on me because I stated the obvious. You answer isn't going to change the way I am. I am interested  in what or how you would of handled this.
Reply:CL is great, but you've got to take the good with the bad (and hopefully filter out the latter). I've had pretty good luck with CL both as a buyer and seller. I've gotta say, though, that if I found something at a scorching hot price, the last thing I'd do if I couldn't go buy it right then is to tell the seller how to improve his ad. That's not being nice. It's something else...Speaking of getting scorching deals, I did pretty good on a Dewalt miter saw recently. You can bet I didn't tell the seller his ebay ad could have benefited from listing the model number. lol1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Nice Score on a Dewalt DWS780 Miter SawCheers,Q1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 RefitMiller TB280 w/Spoolmatic 30a2016 AHP AlphaTIG 200XAncient Millermatic 35Zeny Cut50 plasma cutter
Reply:Originally Posted by JeffKiper... I am interested  in what or how you would of handled this.
Reply:There was no email option in the ad? I thought that was in there by default.
Reply:I still gigle about my trailer. The first guy in line was late to show and I was early to show. He looks at it with the seller and then they walk back to where I was standing and he trys to chisel the seller KNOWING I am there to buy if he does not. Obviuosly the seller said no to the low offer. He leaves I look at the trailer, the seller offers it to me at the low ballers price plus threw in a spare rim and tire......damdest thing I have ever seen.
Reply:I'm pretty picky about which CL ads I will actually call on. If it looks sketchy, I won't even bother. But sometimes, there's only 1 person selling something you can't find anywhere else at a reasonable price...About 3 or 4 months ago I desperately needed an XR feeder cabinet with push-pull gun for a large aluminum job. Once I received the aluminum, I would only have a week to finish it. I really put myself in a pickle taking the job without the feeder cabinet, but I thought it wouldn't be an issue. Well I found a guy on craigslist selling a slightly newer model, the XR-A model with a 30' gun for $350. That was 1/3 the price I could find anywhere else for the OLDER model. Cheapest XR-A I could find was $2,000+. Called the guy and he was super nice. He was about 5 hours from me and I didn't have time to go pick it up. So I took a huge chance, sent him a check in the mail, he waited for it to clear (I think it took 3 days), then I sent a courier service to pick it up for me. Showed up in excellent working order with no issues right before I received the aluminum. Guess God was watching out for me on this one! Seems like every other time I take a chance he teaches me a lesson instead... Got lucky this time.John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:Yesterday a guy called about some atv tires and rims I had listed and wanted me to deliver over 120 miles away, I laughed at the as$hole and hung him up. I no longer deal with people like that and have recently started hanging up people, Not because I am rude but because they piss me off with stupid offers or expect free delivery as if I am dying for cash .
Reply:Originally Posted by vwguy3I still gigle about my trailer. The first guy in line was late to show and I was early to show. He looks at it with the seller and then they walk back to where I was standing and he trys to chisel the seller KNOWING I am there to buy if he does not. Obviuosly the seller said no to the low offer. He leaves I look at the trailer, the seller offers it to me at the low ballers price plus threw in a spare rim and tire......damdest thing I have ever seen.
Reply:Do nice guys ever finish first?No.They are taken advantage of all the time... Trust me I know....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterDo nice guys ever finish first?
Reply:Originally Posted by geezerbillLance Armstrong did. ...7 times
Reply:Originally Posted by geezerbillLance Armstrong did. ...7 times
Reply:Obviously a little humor re. my postbutMean, really??I used to be a police officer, in Ft Worth, Texas, and I once "met" a guy who had just murdered an 80 year old woman, and violated her with a broom stick, because she accidentally walked in on him while he was stealing her television.So, Mean??Maybe it is a relative termHobart Beta-Mig 2511972 Miller AEAD-200LEMiller 250 TwinNorthern Ind. Hybrid 200Longevity Stick 140Longevity Migweld 200SThermal Arc Pak 3XR
Reply:Had a local list a Lincoln 175 MIG with small bottle, little cart and extras for a really good price, maybe $350.  I told him I had to stop by the bank and made an appointment time that was convenient for him (same day).  He then got another call and gave me about an hour to get there.  So I boogied.  I was there within the appointed time period, but no one home.  Got the guy on the phone and he sold it to someone else who offered $100. over the asking price.  His excuse was that he tried to call me.  Hell, I was on the road, hauling *** to get there in a stick shift truck.  I read him the riot act, for what that's worth.  Some people are not honorable.  Another time I went to get a Delta wood jointer which was advertized at a great price.  As I got there, another guy was starting to cart it away.  The old guy's wife had answered the phone and maybe thought it was me.  The guy who came to get it (in a Lexus SUV) was obviously a bit slimy and was in a hurry to get out of there.  I let it slide, but did buy a rotary phase converter I saw sitting in the basement.  I figured there was no point in upsetting some 70 year old plus people. Azzhole in the Lexus tried to sell me some other piece of machinery."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I'm shaking my head at this because I can't figure why you would say to him 'nice guys finish last'.......what were you looking for a pat on the back?  Are you that insecure that you have to tell people that you did a good deed and you want them to know? Maybe this is the reason he hung up on you.
Reply:I think the word finish needs to be defined.As you said you are what you are. Is someone going to call you out on that? I can't and one of my purposes in life is calling people out.
Reply:I guess I'm a bad guy - one time I noticed a welder needing work was on craigslist longer than I expected at a low-ball price.I realized from the location listed that he put the area code in wrong and specified no emails.I bought it and didn't tell him why he wasn't getting any calls.....Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveI guess I'm a bad guy - one time I noticed a welder needing work was on craigslist longer than I expected at a low-ball price.I realized from the location listed that he put the area code in wrong and specified no emails.I bought it and didn't tell him why he wasn't getting any calls.....
Reply:Originally Posted by geezerbillI'm tellin'!