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Do you call out innacurate/decieving CL ads?

14K views 35 replies 14 participants last post by  DSUZU 
#1 ·
Found this browsing local craiglist

https://fairbanks.craigslist.org/cto/4947621961.html

I'm not interested in buying it. But part of me feels like calling the seller out on the BS fuel mileage numbers they list (30mpg) , just so somebody who might buy it isn't deceived.

Another part of me says forget it, people are responsible for their own research when making large purchases.
 
#2 ·
I doubt "calling the seller out" would do any good. However, Craigslist's list of reasons to flag includes this.
false, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent content
Click that little question mark next to "prohibited" for a complete list.
 
#3 ·
When I'm scrounging on CL, I usually stick to the "owner" categories. Often, I see ads that are plainly dealers or services offered. Sometimes I flag them. Sometimes I see scammers (like advertising a 2008 vehicle for 1500.00). I know that these scumbags are usually either "fishing" for email addresses or sometimes actually trying to scam some poor (usually stupid) sucker. I always flag these. There are others that I am tempted to call and say "hey, I'm on my way there", but that would just give them one of my phone numbers.
We have another idiot down here who continuously advertises an obsolete 5.00 Tecumseh (lawnmower) muffler for 10.00. For over a year. I swear one of these days I'm going to place an ad that says "nobody wants your overpriced muffler, just throw it away"
IN this case it might be better to place your own ad that says "Re 1999 Isuzu Rodeo: Isuzu Rodeos get XX miles per gallon. Dennis
 
#4 ·
Whatever you do, if he started out as a scumbag, he's still going to be one when you finish. I just give these guys a wide berth, you might win a battle but you're going to lose the war. Craigslist and Ebay are the perfect example of Buyer Beware. Up to the buyer to research what they are buying and understand what they are getting. We sell a lot of medical equipment online, and my feeling is there are just as many sleazy buyers as there are sellers. If we get burned on a deal that looks too good, our fault, no one else's. Same when I'm the buyer.

I applaud your ideals though, everyone should have them.
 
#5 ·
One would ascertain from that ad that rodeos have a 10-11 gallon fuel tank. Maybe a typo and the seller meant to say 14/20 mpg. You could always shoot them a message and ask.
 
#6 ·
Some people honestly have no idea what they are getting for gas mileage. I remember seeing a second gen Trooper on ebay a few years back. Seller said it regularly gets 35 MPG. I felt like commenting that if it does, I'll buy it outright. My father in law had a Chevy S-10 extra cab and he said he was getting 30 MPG. I don't think he was trying to lie, but I don't think he was getting 30 MPG either. Some are B.S. others are just wrong. Dennis
 
#7 ·
DSUZU said:
Some people honestly have no idea what they are getting for gas mileage. I remember seeing a second gen Trooper on ebay a few years back. Seller said it regularly gets 35 MPG. I felt like commenting that if it does, I'll buy it outright. My father in law had a Chevy S-10 extra cab and he said he was getting 30 MPG. I don't think he was trying to lie, but I don't think he was getting 30 MPG either. Some are B.S. others are just wrong. Dennis
There are some really stupid ignorant people when it comes to calculating fuel economy. I'll bet you 50% think the fuel gauge or tank size somehow factors into the calculation. :roll:

Jack
 
#8 ·
I called out a guy around here that was advertising his Rodeo as "the same as a Honda Passport". The way he worded it he was clearly attempting to imply that it was actually a Honda with Isuzu stickers on it. The ad disappeared the next day. :mrgreen:
 
#9 ·
Didn't call it out, but I flagged it: 1999 Vehicross for 1900.00. I'm sure it was a scam. Dennis
 
#10 ·
DSUZU said:
Didn't call it out, but I flagged it: 1999 Vehicross for 1900.00. I'm sure it was a scam. Dennis
I've seen that one and ones like it pop up from time to time. For some reason the photos are extra pixel-y usually on the scammy ones.
 
#11 ·
i always like the ads where they seller is openly hostile. he knows what he has so dont try to lowball him.

or

the ad where the guy knows the truck/cer will be worth more a few years from now, but he wants tomorrows price today

or

the ad where the 2000 buck truck has a bad tranny, but its worth 5000 if fixed... but he doesnt fix it. you should. its a deal for YOU.

youd have more success keeping high school boys from internet porn, than keeping scrote sacks off craigslist.
 
#12 ·
I drove 6 hours to look at a vehicle yesterday only to show up and find out the photos were 10 years old and the motor was frozen. The crazy lady was telling me that if we could break the engine free, it'll run. I offered half of what she was asking and she said no. Then I went home and wrote another ad with MY photos of the vehicle and explained that the engine was locked up. I've already received a few " thanks for the heads up" responses. I was pissed.
 
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#13 ·
N law said:
I drove 6 hours to look at a vehicle yesterday only to show up and find out the photos were 10 years old and the motor was frozen. The crazy lady was telling me that if we could break the engine free, it'll run. I offered half of what she was asking and she said no. Then I went home and wrote another ad with MY photos of the vehicle and explained that the engine was locked up. I've already received a few " thanks for the heads up" responses. I was pissed.
THAT is how ya do it! :)

Jack
 
#14 ·
Well, while I didn't call him out, I did just flag the 3 ads for a super clean 1991 LS Trooper (92K miles). He's asking 3800, which may be a tad steep for CL, but really, 3 adds in a row. That's overposting. I don't get idiots that think that by posting their ad 5 times, it will make someone buy the item. to me, it makes them look desperate. Felt good when 2 of the ads dropped as soon as I flagged them. That means someone else had already flagged them. Dennis
 
#15 ·
DSUZU said:
Well, while I didn't call him out, I did just flag the 3 ads for a super clean 1991 LS Trooper (92K miles). He's asking 3800, which may be a tad steep for CL, but really, 3 adds in a row. That's overposting. I don't get idiots that think that by posting their ad 5 times, it will make someone buy the item. to me, it makes them look desperate. Felt good when 2 of the ads dropped as soon as I flagged them. That means someone else had already flagged them. Dennis
This depends...

sometimes they have one ad listed in For Sale Cars & Trucks and another in Barter and maybe another in Boats (for trade obviously!). If they have tailored each ad to fit each one (first one is straight up sale, second one is what do you have to trade? and the final one is I want to trade for a boat), then I usually let those slide. I'd rather see someone over post an actual isuzu than simple have Isuzu in a large block of keywords that makes EVERY vehicle they are parting out show up in my search results!
 
#16 ·
Nah, It was just 3 separate ads like someone is going to say "3rd times a charm, I'm gonna buy this". I just popped a Subaru Forester ad the same way. I flagged one ad and all 3 went away :D . I'm not the CL Nazi or anything like that, It just irritates me that some people have no regard for the rules on something like this (BTW, Isuzu and Subaru Forester are 2 categories I regularly check daily). A new one I find irritating is some jerk who is making "chicken coops" and all kind of other crap out of what looks like old pallets (maybe because it reminds me of a particular "backyard shooting range" :roll: ), anyway this jerk has multiple ads every day. I'm all for recycling / re-purposing, and I'm all for a guy making a buck here and there, but the rules do say something about overposting and if someone is selling multiple items constantly, they are a dealer, not an owner.
FWIW, the 3800 Trooper, there is an almost identical one for 1900 except it is a 2.8 V-6 and manual instead of automatic and has about 126K miles. I was tempted, but have to keep the wife happy :D . Dennis
 
#17 ·
Ok you guys made me do it. Saw these tonight. Notice the tags. It's NOT a center console! And the title. It's not a jon it's a V hull. Ok small stuff who cares. Nice price though. Bet there is no title so you can't register it.
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/boa/5036352761.html

Then a couple of lines farther down I saw this. 10,000 tags for motorcycles. Now he calls it a V hull and has double the price on it.
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/boa/5035667360.html

I wouldn't call on that if I really wanted it.
 
#18 ·
The lack of title thing intrigues me. Down here, there are various states that just don't deal with titles on some things. For instance, in TN, I could buy that boat with a bill of sale and go register it without much effort. I could build a trailer out of 2x4s, not register it and not get pulled over as long as it had lights! But sometimes I get jealous when I find an old car without a title and I look at Georgia two miles down the road. Georgia doesn't require a title on older cars! Just a bill of sale and insurance. But then you can request a title, just for fun and resale.

I have always wanted to find a clear cut and cost effective way to save these types of vehicles from being parted out by getting all of their paperwork straightened out.
 
#19 ·
I see ads all the time on CL here in MD saying you can get a title with a bill of sale. Wrong!!!!!!!!!! Cars and trailers must have the previous title. Boats must have the title or a certificate of origination(from manufacturer for thing like canoes that haven't been titled but need to be for a motor) to register it. The funny thing is the stupids normally just lost it and can get a copy for a few bucks if they are the real owner. They just don't want to be bothered so they give them away dang near instead.
 
#20 ·
In Florida (boat capital?) it is a misdemeanor to sell a boat and NOT deliver the title within 10 days. If the boat does not have a title and you can't track down the last registered owner, the only way you will get a title is to go to court and petition the court to grant you a title. And you'd think that the state with probably the most derelict boats would come up with some kind of a simple law to grant a title to someone willing to remove and claim a derelict boat. I see these CL no title boat deals all the time. On occasion, someone will post the Fla law on boat titles. Dennis
 
#21 ·
DSUZU said:
In Florida (boat capital?) it is a misdemeanor to sell a boat and NOT deliver the title within 10 days. If the boat does not have a title and you can't track down the last registered owner, the only way you will get a title is to go to court and petition the court to grant you a title. And you'd think that the state with probably the most derelict boats would come up with some kind of a simple law to grant a title to someone willing to remove and claim a derelict boat. I see these CL no title boat deals all the time. On occasion, someone will post the Fla law on boat titles. Dennis
Sounds like I need to make a few trips to Florida and bring some boats up to TN!!!
 
#22 ·
What are you looking for? I have actually seen a few NICE boats on the free CL but they are worthless in Florida. Often, the freebies need a new plywood floor, but that isn't all that difficult. Dennis
 
#23 ·
Generally speaking, I would be very leery of buying anything without a title. The question would be, who owns a car, the person with the bill of sale or the person who has the title with there name on it. Courts are faced with this and usually the person with the title is awarded ownership. Try junking a car without having the title. The yards here won't take a car unless you have the title. I just scrapped a 190 Mercedes. It was my grandsons car. the title had his name on it and was from out of state. The yard required a signed title. Really didn't care who's name was on it or where it came from.
 
#24 ·
I learned my lesson on that when I bought my 1993 short bed pickup. I thought "no title? No problem". Well, unbeknownst to me they had changed the laws in Florida and cars and trucks now work just like boats. I did run the VIN and sent a letter and picture of the truck to the last registered owner, but got no reply. Ended up selling the truck to an exporter.
FWIW, I do not have a title for my sailboat. As long as it's under 14 feet and I don't plan to use a motor, I don't need one. I would like to use a motor someday (legally) so I did a search and found the present address of the last registered owner. Just a matter of sending him a letter, maybe a little palm grease for his trouble and a power of attorney. I've owned the boat for 15 years. While it was previously registered in Florida, it never had a state authorized I.D. plate attached to the hull so no serial number other that the one on record in Tallahassee. Back before "the dark times" (when Florida figured a new way to draw money out of people's pockets) Florida didn't require a registration on boats smaller than 16 feet. Now, if it isn't man powered or wind powered, it needs a registration. Dennis
 
#25 ·
#26 ·
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