Beginning To Really Hate Craigslist

I used to get a lot of scrap from Craigslist items wanted ads. Now every time I post an ad, some anonymous cowardly SOB deletes it.

When I try to sell something I get lots of "still available?" emails which I think are just harvesting email addresses.

Half of the free stuff ads I respond to turn out to be scams who eventually say "sorry, but the lady I promised it to did finally call back. However, you might want to check out this website for government grants, etc"

:mad:

For now I am advertising in the more specialized areas, ignoring the "still available?" emails and trying not to waste too much time chasing the free items ads.

However, it is quite frustrating and I hate to just let the scammers and unethical competitors win.

I've been running into the same things since last year. The year before, I was getting a lot of stuff from CL. I run two ads under SERVICES, but have only gotten one legitimate response in more than six months. I'm really looking for other venues. That's part of why I'm really hanging a lot on this forum. If people are doing Internet searches for someone in their area for getting rid of scrap metal/batteries, I'm hoping this (or my web site) is the "top of the list".

I sell quite a few things on Clist and Ebay depending on the product. On Clist I don't use the email option because of the spam I was getting, instead just a phone number is provided and I encourge them to text so I can answer just as soon as I have a free hand. I will only save something for about an hour then I start taking other calls/texts on the item. I very rarly get unwanted solicitations anymore since an actual person has to take the time to contact me without the email option.

As far as advertising services, I haven't gone down that road yet...There just seems to be to many others doing the same thing.

Yeah i have been buying a crap load of cars off of craigslist.I hate when people flag you but you have to be flagged by i think 5 people before your add gets removed.1 person cant do it.The thing i think is that craiglist needs to have people that check adds and such and flag them if need be.Not leaving it up to the public because everytime they see competition they flag you lol.

Not sure how CL staff would police the millions of ads posted daily. They rely on community moderation, but then you get the jealous asshat scrappers flagging others off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Focker

........you have to be flagged by i think 5 people before your add gets removed.1 person cant do it........

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You sure about that?

"Free classified ads receiving a sufficient number of qualified negative flags are subject to automated removal.

Forums postings and paid classified ads receiving a sufficient number of qualified negative flags are subject to further review."

Who knows what the actual number is to flag an ad. I've read on other forums that various cities have different thresh holds. I think it is safe to say it takes more than one person though.


Source: http://www.craigslist.org/about/help...ity_moderation

Its definately more than 1 flag. But i agree, their is a LOT of people in my area posting "give me your scrap thx" and thats it, then they get flagged.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Meadowview

You sure about that?

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yes i am sure

I had assumed it was just one jerk flagging. Now that I know it is more than one flagger I wonder what exactly annoys them. Maybe it is because I am obviously a business?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Meadowview

I had assumed it was just one jerk flagging. Now that I know it is more than one flagger I wonder what exactly annoys them. Maybe it is because I am obviously a business?

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If you're obviously a business, they don't want you under general. They want you under services.

I get flagged when I post in the "wanted" section. Haven't been flagged for posting under services, but that area is swamped with scrappers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Meadowview

I had assumed it was just one jerk flagging. Now that I know it is more than one flagger I wonder what exactly annoys them. Maybe it is because I am obviously a business?

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From what I understand 1 person CAN flag an ad multiple times.

If there is a legitimate hellow I will haul your appliances and other junk call joey at 123 456 7890 then its fine but like one said before me i want ur junk gimme your wires and i take metal type ads i will flag them and allot of others will too, I respect a legitimate buisiness man but not someone who cant take more than a minute to write an ad.

With craigslist, I thought they did have people monitor postings...other than just the community itself flagging posts. I know they don't want you posting a scrap metal wanted ad in the wanted section...but everyday I see at least 3 or 4 ads from different people posted in the wanted section....so just for the heck of it...I post one...lol..and wouldn't you know it...mine gets flagged. I have an ad in the services section of CL...but I don't think it gets seen to often. Thank you to Kris Kringle for sharing the link for backpage.com. As far as the ads that say they have free stuff....if there is no phone number....I don't mess with it. If you send your email address to these people all you end up with is a bunch of spam.