A modest proposal concerning Craigslist

DGDevin · 2009-04-20T23:30:12+00:00

Inspired by Craigslist ads that run -- "power tools $50 obo leave phone number on awnser macheen if you want to sea some but dont call again if I don't call you back stupid" -- I'd love to see Craigslist adopt a set of conditions something along the following lines:A for-sale ad must feature the brand name of the item and the full model name or number, failure to provide both costs ten points unless both are clearly visible in your photo.If multiple items are on offer, using the phrase "Too many to list" or "E-mail or phone to find out what I have" indicates you should have had a garage sale instead, minus ten points.Failure to provide an in-focus, properly-lit photo costs ten points, but multiple photos from different angles or appropriate close-ups adds ten points. Not having a photo and offering to e-mail one to anyone interested costs an additional ten points. Referring in your text to a photo (or web link, or phone number) you have failed to include, minus ten points.Use of a manufacturer's photo while failing to mention the one you have for sale was used to prop up the axle of an old pickup truck for ten years and has been 10% converted to rust, minus ten points towards your next ad when would-be purchasers report that.Use of the phrase "skill saw" (lower case or capitalized) in reference to any product including those made by Skilsaw Inc., minus ten points. Compounding that by combining "skill saw" with another brand name, e.g. "Black and Decker Skillsaw" deducts another ten points.Placing an entirely inappropriate ad such as pool cleaning in the tools for sale section, minus ten points.Failure to indicate whether the original accessories and instruction manual come with the item costs ten points. Throwing in extra items not originally included like a spare blade or shop-vac attachment adds ten points.Use of OBO (or best offer) if you don't really mean you'll take the best offer you get, bad karma but otherwise hard to enforce.Putting at least three useful...

Apr 20, 2009 23 Replies

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Bored Borg 17 years ago

On Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:52:11 +0100, Tom Veatch wrote (in article ):

so if you call again to put it right.... A redial arm saw?

I regularly see drums advertized with symbols. Again probably "operator error."

However... local post office had hand written advertisement for "Old Station puppies."

More for Ebay than Craiglist. The listing of "Free P&P" when they mean you have to go and pick the item up should carry a mandatory death penalty followed by a lifetime ban.

I once waited two weeks for an item that was clearly listed C.O.D. and when the vendor finally returned my phone call he explained that that meant I could pay when I picked it up.

Twunt!!!

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Doug Miller 17 years ago

Yep, seen that too.

Took me a while... Alsatian, I guess?

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Bill Hall 17 years ago

Ahha!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanx Doug, that one had me stumped

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DGDevin 17 years ago

Yeah, but they're all temp positions, like the dept. store Santa's elves, you know: Ho, Ho and Ho....

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