Why dirty dusty EBay CL pictures ?

[benush26]

I'm not really a slob nor a neat freak, but it bothers me when I see pictures on EBay and CL that show tools and equipment covered in dust and saw dust.

Do people just not care about the condition or do they presume that if it's covered in saw dust that it is a working machine? Even if they don't have an air compressor, a $3 can of compressed air and an old towel would make things look so much nicer (at least IMO)

[db5]

I LOVE seeing these on Craigslist (local) because I know I am dealing with someone who won't spend a half-hour cleaning up something to make a lot more money. Lazy, dumb, or just don't give a damn. You would be amazed at the things I have picked up for mice nuts because no one else responded to these near-do-wells who didn't get any response. At garage sales stuff (really good but dirty stuff) has been thrown out afterwards for just picking up for free.

Later this spring or summer I will post some pictures of what I have gotten for free or at low cost and restored. People throw or sell cheap really quality stuff because they don't want spend time cleaning it up. It's too bad that it happens to children but great when it happens to other stuff.

[BuckeyeDennis]

Ditto DB5. The very best stea .. Ahem, bargains .. happen when the seller photographs the grime in all of its glory. Especially when the grimy old sawdust looks like rust.

[letterk]

It's true and my biggest issue with CL people are the ones that say something like, "email me for pictures." It's not like CL charges for posting pictures and for the lazy person saving 30 seconds they waste my time and their own time every time someone wants pictures.

[BuckeyeDennis]

It's true and my biggest issue with CL people are the ones that say something like, "email me for pictures." It's not like CL charges for posting pictures and for the lazy person saving 30 seconds they waste my time and their own time every time someone wants pictures.

So far, I have simply assumed that those "email me for pictures" postings would be a complete waste of time, and have never bothered to respond. Now I am wondering if there might just be some bargains lurking there. What is your experience?

My own personal "favorite" CL phrase is "too many accessories to list"! So now typing a few keystrokes is more work than designing and manufacturing precision machinery components?

[BuckeyeDennis]

It's true and my biggest issue with CL people are the ones that say something like, "email me for pictures." It's not like CL charges for posting pictures and for the lazy person saving 30 seconds they waste my time and their own time every time someone wants pictures.

So far, I have simply assumed that those "email me for pictures" postings would be a complete waste of time, and have never bothered to respond. Now I am wondering if there might just be some bargains lurking there. What is your experience?

My own personal "favorite" CL phrase is "too many accessories to list"! So now typing a few keystrokes is more work than designing and manufacturing precision machinery components?

[TheBigE]

Some of the things you guys have said have struck the same cord with me. I never understand if your going to sell something why one wouldn't take the time to make it look nice and worth the price for someone to take a look at. Both my table saw and Mark V where purchase off craigslist and both needed cleaned up extensively. I actually feel like I saved both the machines.

Another peeve of mine is the "no emails" clause. Look I understand that you don't want to be inundated with spam but you also have to realize you are using a modern way to sell something and with that come emails. All you need to do is tell people to add a phrase to the subject and set a rule in your email program to filter those out.

Another peeve is bad pictures. Again, you're trying to present something and taking bad pictures with your cell phone and what not just shows you really don't care.

Oh and Dennis, Go Bucks!

-Erich-

[dgale]

As far as CraigsList goes for me, if there's no photo, iI'm not likely to even want to look at whatever they wrote. Bad photos are also a peeve for me - why do people seem to use tiny little pictures from weird angles to sell something. Another peeve is the minimal description - "Table saw for sale" instead of providing a description with model number, age, condition, accessories etc. When I sell something on CraigsList, I put multiple photos from all possible angles and take the whopping 1-2 minutes to write a good description so folks know what exactly I'm selling, what shape it's in, how to reach me, and can see photos that are clear enough and large enough to get a clear idea of what I'm selling.

[letterk]

So far, I have simply assumed that those "email me for pictures" postings would be a complete waste of time, and have never bothered to respond. Now I am wondering if there might just be some bargains lurking there. What is your experience?

My own personal "favorite" CL phrase is "too many accessories to list"! So now typing a few keystrokes is more work than designing and manufacturing precision machinery components?

Most of the time it is complete waste of time. Usually, the same people who price their items based on other posts, which are completely unreasonable. Gotta love the posts who want to trade RVs, guns, boat 4-wheelers, motorcycles and cars for their used equipment. Yes, of course that 50, or even 20 year old equipment is worth so much that I'm going to give you a boat for it.

I have to admit that last year was my first year looking on Craigslist and I assumed that it was normal that shop items would taper down over the winter and pick up once spring came around. When I first was looking for a machine last year there was one reasonable priced machine and that was it. When I bought my machine I watched the guy drop the price about once a week and he told me he had one other person semi-interested in it.

Now it is the same time of the year and there are probably 10-15 machine/related parts listings and the prices are all way higher than I would ever consider. The high prices are just feeding off of each other. I'd like to pick up a cheap machine to do some playing with, but there is nothing within $500-$750 of what I'd call reasonable.

Everyone thinks that they'll list of CL for high prices and some chump will come around. When I was looking for a table saw I saw posts with 5 year old Rigid saws for $100 less than I could go out and buy a new one. If I had a dime for every cheap Powermatic/Delta contractor priced like a cabinet saw because it was a brand known for nice cabinet saws I'd have a PowerPro in my garage right now.

[merchant2013]

I have a brand new Machine in my storage building that has been there ever since purchased. I'm thinking of letting someone buy it because I'm a retired Veteran on a very limited income and really could use the money.
I would like to list it here or somewhere with some help in getting what it's worth.

Thank you for your input in advance.

Ray