CL scam? Item way underpriced, same pic several different ads?

[The Heretic]

I stumbled across an ad in CL that had a really good deal on an item - about one third to one fourth of its actual value - i.e., $1K vs. about $4K.

Item looks like in new condition. Searching around a wider area, similar items by same manufacturer, used, go from $3K to $6K in less good condition, one looking pretty ratty for over $2K.

Found the same ad with same pic, advertised up and down I-5 from Washougal to Seattle, with slightly different prices, but all between $1K and $1.1K. The ads have slightly different descriptions - one ad describes a different model for the same exact pic. Several of the ads have slight grammar problems in the description. Some mention accessories that the other ads don't.

I have to wonder - is this ad an attempt to get someone to show up with $1K in their pocket and rob them?

I replied to the ad via email (it went to the CL email for the ad) asking how many hours were on the machine. In my experience even legit ads rarely answer the emails. It gives several different phone #s to call.

Am I being overcautious?

The ad just seems too good to be true to me, but it is a hell of a deal if true.

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[Member 5605]

Their response will tell you if it's fake real quick.

 

[The Heretic]

I will try texting the numbers in a couple of hours and see if I get a response.

 

[IronMonster]

Its a scam and pretty common. Craigslist is full of these. Send an offer to buy it and you will find pretty quickly how the scam works.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

I would say yes...its a scam.
The different phone numbers...
Grammar issues...
Different descriptions...
And the old adage of If its too good to be true....it probably is....often applies.
Andy

 

[notazombie]

You mean ads for 2013 Honda Accords with 13k miles for $3800? Totally legit. Don't let the lack of license plates or the tile roofed house and palm trees in the background throw you off. And if you miss out on the one in Portland, don't worry. There's a twin for sale in Seattle...and Salem...and Boise...and Salt Lake...and Reno...

 

[The Heretic]

Googled the phone number. Came up with a name/address in Battleground but in my experience numbers change owners so often that this doesn't necessarily mean anything. The name accounts for the slight grammar issues in the ads (even a native english speaker could make these mistakes).

I texted the number asking where the unit is and where/when I could see it. We'll see what the response indicates.

I did do a google search on the photo and got nothing of interest that would say it was a copy from somewhere else.

It could be legit - sometimes people are desperate, don't know what they have or just don't care. I had one guy here on NWFA give me 7 lab containers for free that were worth about $50 to $100 each.

 

[moose]

Share a link or 2? I promise not to fight you unless its a John Deere backhoe.

 

[DirectDrive]

Share a link or 2? I promise not to fight you unless its a John Deere backhoe.

Or a short swing mini !

 

[The Heretic]

<broken link removed>

This one describes it as a 225 not a 250:

<broken link removed>

<broken link removed>

<broken link removed>

I think there are a couple more ads in WA state.

Other NWFA member have found this same ad in other states.

I am calling it a scam at this point

You can see why it is so tempting and so suspicious; these go for about $4K new.

 

[Devenk89]

Scam. Any time it has an odd price like that, it's a scam.

 

[Hop Sing]

People been scamming motorcycle ads a lot lately, so if in doubt stay away from deals too good to be true. A messed up computer can cost a lot of fix plus the hassle of being hacked isn't worth it.

 

[The Heretic]

Scam. Any time it has an odd price like that, it's a scam.

That plus low price plus each ad has a slightly different price that is not enough different to be a price reduction. Maybe somehow trying to beat scam detection by CL.

 

[Alexx1401]

That plus low price plus each ad has a slightly different price that is not enough different to be a price reduction. Maybe somehow trying to beat scam detection by CL.

Yep since many are easily the same pic, each time in a different location. Will be curios to see if he gets back to you on seeing it.

 

[cigars]

Never trust anything you see on the Internet.

 

[jbett98]

For a deal like that it would have to in an estate sale and you're first in line to grab it.

 

[11Charlie]

If for some reason you do get a response and go see it in Battle Ground let me know I would be happy to meet you and go with ya for safety reason's.

 

[The Heretic]

If for some reason you do get a response and go see it in Battle Ground let me know I would be happy to meet you and go with ya for safety reason's.

Speak of the devil, just got a text reply. Said he posted it for his aunt. So maybe it is an estate sale. Don't know. Doesn't quite jive with the ad, but we'll see.

Thanks for the offer. Might take you up on it. The thing weighs 500 pounds so I don't know how a person would load it if they don't have a hoist there.

I don't think I can get it today as I can't pull any more money out via ATM (just bought a $500 from someone here).

 

[11Charlie]

Speak of the devil, just got a text reply. Said he posted it for his aunt. So maybe it is an estate sale. Don't know. Doesn't quite jive with the ad, but we'll see.

Thanks for the offer. Might take you up on it. The thing weighs 500 pounds so I don't know how a person would load it if they don't have a hoist there.

I don't think I can get it today as I can't pull any more money out via ATM (just bought a $500 from someone here).

I live 10 minutes from Battle Ground so just let me know.

 

[CoastRange57]

Shaky or questionable adds on Flakeslist ?? No way. I run multiple adds on flakeslist for a business and get all kinds of inquires via e mail. Even though I have it in capital letters at the top of the description in the add "E MAIL INQUIRES WILL NOT BE ANSWERED".

They still e mail with random questions and stupid remarks. I never answer them back. I had an older friend (79) ask me to help him sell a Sleep Number bed on craigslist for $ 3,500. Seems to be the target price range for the scam jerkoffs. I set the add up for him with his contact information, and sure enough in less than 9 hours he had a bunch of texts from some jack wagon with questions and he started answering them and lo and behold they hit him with the old I am going to send you a check for $ XXXXX and you send me back $

He called me and asked about it and I said Hell no, stop texting with them and block the number. Which he did. He got a couple more inquires and decided it was such a pain in the azz he donated it to the Habitat ReStore and we went over and loaded it up and took it there.

What a fing pain in the azz. I have been using some local Facebook pages to sell some things and still run into jerk wads there even. Probably 30% of the adds on Flakeslist are scams and 40% are ran by morons. Oh and Flakeslist could care less about it when you report a scam.