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Old 11-22-2016, 05:47 PM   #1
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Rant about boat buyers

I posted on CL a sailboat on behalf an old friend. He have some health problem and ask me the favor to sell his beloved sailboat.
After 24 hs, email flooded my computer.
Basically, 2 types:
1) Classic guy "out the country but in love with your boat" who offer send me a check. Close variation, guy on the services at Irak/Corea/China/Russia, unreachable, but his father can send me a check bla, bla, bla.... Nasty scam.

2) The worst... the guy who don't even want to see the boat... his email have just one single line with something like "what is your bottom price??'. If you tried to ilustrate him about the goodies onboard, the impecable boston condition, whatever, the single line keep coming to me.. 'last/bottom price".. and if you send a very low price, they're gonna counteroffer even 20 or 30% less...

And, finally, few timid answer about would like to see the boats...

Sell a boat on winter at north california is a challenge.. but I feel if you're searching for a bargain boat or a super duper mega yachts.. please.. do not send an email asking for your bottom price, even before check the boat.. it's rude.. and (at least for me) the most direct way to send your email to the dumpster...
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Old 11-22-2016, 06:04 PM   #2
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I would LOVE to see the CL ad you posted!
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Old 11-22-2016, 06:11 PM   #3
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Not this one

23 foot sail boat and trailer - needs work
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Old 11-22-2016, 06:23 PM   #4
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woowww... and.. ejem.. this is a boat???
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Old 11-22-2016, 07:03 PM   #5
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That's a give away boat.
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Old 11-22-2016, 07:32 PM   #6
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When I did this I got a ton of e-mails from people wanting to "broker" the boat for me - and take their 10% brokerage fee - even though I suspect they didn't even have an office.

I think the scam is that they just post it on a bunch of free web sites and hope to cash in. They have nothing to lose and 10% of the sale price of a boat to gain.
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Old 11-22-2016, 07:37 PM   #7
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Pictures are deceiving. It probably doesn't look that good in person.
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Old 11-22-2016, 07:54 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt.Bill11 View Post
That's a give away boat.
You don't need to convince me.
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Old 11-22-2016, 09:05 PM   #9
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"I would LOVE to see the CL ad you posted! "


https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/boa/5888637200.html
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Old 11-22-2016, 09:19 PM   #10
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What model is the electric wench? and bottom line price?
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Old 11-22-2016, 09:28 PM   #11
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I have sold plenty via craigslist, and I enjoy and appreciate using it. Since it's basically free, I am willing to deal with some of the nonsense that is described (and commonly experienced) by garrobito.

I like to put a few qualifiers in my craigslist ad, commonly:

- I do not need or desire any help selling.
- I am not interested in trades at this time, thanks.
- Please send me your contact information and desired contact time via CL reply.

The rest of the screening/qualifying can be done by phone.

I find the most useful craigslist ads have mostly facts vs. opinion, such as "engine has xxx hours, was serviced on date xxxx by XYZ marine, and rebuilt on date xxxx" versus, "The engine is perfect". The facts will tell the story and lead to fewer disappointments for the buyer AND seller. Finally, you can't have too many detailed photos. Take photos of the good, bad, and ugly. Transparency is king.

Good Luck with the sale!

Jeff
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Old 11-22-2016, 10:59 PM   #12
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Title of the thread should be Rant about CL boat scammers.
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Old 11-23-2016, 06:13 AM   #13
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Interesting part is "dock is upwind." Doesn't the wind direction change there?
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Old 11-23-2016, 09:26 AM   #14
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sooo, what's a "auto-piolet, piolet seat"
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Old 11-23-2016, 10:24 AM   #15
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Seems pretty obvious what they are . . . unless I have nothing better to do than make fun of people's English writing skills.
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Old 11-23-2016, 10:48 AM   #16
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Photo 2 wonder what she looked like before she was made ready for sale?
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Old 11-23-2016, 11:09 AM   #17
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Weeding through the scammers and not so interested doesn't take too much time. I just recently sold some high end bikes on CL. Not five minutes after posting the ad the buyer saw it and contacted me. Came and looked, was very pleased with his purchase left with both and I had cash in my hand.
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Old 11-23-2016, 02:44 PM   #18
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Dealing with craigslist is a PITA. People on craigslist are looking for "cheap", not quality. Or they are looking to rob people or cause them harm.


Unless the boat is a POS, you should be presenting it to a higher class of potential buyers.
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Old 11-23-2016, 04:09 PM   #19
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I don`t find the OP`s advt so hard to understand and wish him a good result, especially as he is helping an old friend in poor health.
A concern is the risk you draw a really smart scammer. Delivery should only come after cleared payment.
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Old 11-23-2016, 04:15 PM   #20
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Sold a bunch of furniture and a wide variety of things from four houses in the last decsde on CL.

Just sold a bunch of boating equipment too.

Even bought my boat from a CL ad.

Like many things in life....it takes weeding through...just like advice here. Never had any problems with buyers....except trying to meet up with a few that weren't from my area.

My last sale was a raw water strainer to a nice fellow up in Michigan who was thrilled to find an inexpensive replacement.....
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