How to deal with crooked people

[onlinebiker]

I am looking for a car - a body, actually -- to replace the one my SO has been driving the past few winters. It' s beginning to rust out - but the drive train is awesome. The engine goes 6000 miles between oil changes, and uses no oil.


So, I found a suitable candidate on Craigslist - and texted back and forth with the owner several times. According to this person, the undercarriage is in good condition.

Liar.

I go to check it out ( owner not present) and I use an inspection mirror to check out the underbody. The first place I look - the trailing limit arm mounts - are not even connected to the body - as the rust has eaten the whole section of the body.

On these cars - when this happens, it allows the rear wheel to arc on the end of the suspension arms. This will destroy a tire in a shockingly short distance. At BEST you might go 50 miles before the tire is torn from the rim.

There is no fix. The labor costs would far exceed the worth of the car.

I know they lied. It had a different brand tire on that wheel. They might have changed it more than once. 

This person KNOWS the vehicle is junk. They KNOW it can't be fixed - but the ad says it needs the brakes bled, and exhaust fixed --- as if this thing will ever be driven again. They' re hoping to off it on a sucker who doesn't know any better.


How would you deal with this sort of human garbage?

[tackattack]

publicly comment on their adds with a review, otherwise, on to the next one.

[Yonadav]

I usually stake them to an anthill or feed them to Brian's cat.

[Jackalope]

Definitely don't elect them to the presidency.

[T0 Th3 M4X]

Would recommend staying away from Craigslist as much as possible. I use it on a very rare occasion, and mostly if I want to give something away. Too many people on that site just looking to exploit someone/something. About a year ago I was giving away a dog kennel since I put in a fence and didn't need it anymore. Within about an hour, I had at least 70 people volunteer to take it. Of course there were various scenarios people came up with as well to get it Like wanting me to hold it 30 days until they could get it, or some other silliness. With all those people, one guy bothered to tell me about his dog, why he needed it, and even shared a photo of his doggy. Invited him over the next day and gave it to him. Point is, gotta sort through too many crooks/scam artists to get to the people who are sincere.

IMO, the best way to go about getting a decent car is to check the auto trader sites that include the Carfax. You can usually view the accident history and service records right online. No accidents and regular service, then worth checking out the car. I know you said you just want a body, but may be more cost effective just to trade up. Also, prime season for buying used cars will be in about another month or two because of taxes, so lots will usually be more willing to deal. Also good to hit them at the end of the month. Car dealer associates usually have quotas, so if the month is about over you many have someone desperate to sell so they can get a bonus.

If all else fells, GTA.

[onlinebiker]

I' ve done very well on Craigslist - in exactly the same way I do well at garage sales ---

I sort through the shit to find the gems.


I just sold a mint condition 93 Saturn wagon for $2500. I paid $400 - and spent under $100 fixing the problem ( no oil pressure)

My buddy who bought it is giddy like a schoolgirl driving it. It drives like a new car.

But - I know these cars inside out - so I know the good from the bad.

[T0 Th3 M4X]

I' ve done very well on Craigslist - in exactly the same way I do well at garage sales ---

I sort through the shit to find the gems.


I just sold a mint condition 93 Saturn wagon for $2500. I paid $400 - and spent under $100 fixing the problem ( no oil pressure)

My buddy who bought it is giddy like a schoolgirl driving it. It drives like a new car.

But - I know these cars inside out - so I know the good from the bad.

Of course, but the whole sorting through the nuts is just part of Craigslist.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

The best way to deal with crooked people is to not deal with crooked people.

Boru

[LastPoet]

How would you deal with this sort of human garbage?

Beyond being an atheist, I remain a humanist. Human garbage? What the fuck you are talking about?

[onlinebiker]

How would you deal with this sort of human garbage?

Beyond being an atheist, I remain a humanist. Human garbage? What the fuck you are talking about?

Human garbage = those that wiillfully screw other people for profiit - aka lowlife thieves....