Craigs list, or why I'll stick with eBay

[DMRick]

At least on eBay when I am being held up, it's just for more money from eBay, and I don't have to worry about actually getting hurt. Craigs list has just gotten scary. Sure, maybe you haven't had any problems, and you feel safe. But so did this family:

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/11/c...slist-slaying-widow-i-cry-every-day/19472612/

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

I read this story earlier today. Unbelievable tragedy. My heart breaks for this family.

 

[spacemermaid]

That is hideous! I won't even say what I hope happens to the evil people who did such a thing...

 

[Sparx]

This is incredibly tragic, and I feel so bad for the family involved.

I don't think its really craigslist. I think its crazy people on the internet (referring to the criminals, not the family involved.) I could find addresses or places of work for a lot of posters here, based on the info that they give out. You don't have to explicitly write it down. I truly believe that people who want to hurt others will find a way to do so, no matter how cautious the victim is. I think these criminals would have killed someone on the street as soon as they hunted down this couple.

 

[DMRick]

These weren't just crazy people finding someone on the internet. These were people who knew someone had something valuable. They were invited into their home, shown something of value and it was oportunistic. Do I think they would have killed someone on the street? Maybe, but this was easier..they knew this person had a valuable item. They were inside and prob felt safer robing this couple.

So many people invite 'buyers' from Craigs list into their homes, feeling that they are a guy, who would bother them, or they will be safe because husband and wife are home. Often these people have children at home.

We live in a different society than we did even 10 years ago. Inviting a stranger into or to your home has just become nuts. We can't tell by 'hearing' them on the phone that we will be safe. Even if you aren't home, the 'buyer' often knows it by the seller setting up a certain time, because they won't be home. Another perfect way to set up a robbery. This isn't the only time I have heard of something like this. But it is the time that really makes me see that I would be foolish imo to invite a stranger into my home.

If I have a bigger item to sell, I will really think long and hard about inviting someone into my home. I don't want this man to have died for nothing..I will use him as a lesson, to decide to be safer.

This is incredibly tragic, and I feel so bad for the family involved.

I don't think its really craigslist. I think its crazy people on the internet (referring to the criminals, not the family involved.) I could find addresses or places of work for a lot of posters here, based on the info that they give out. You don't have to explicitly write it down. I truly believe that people who want to hurt others will find a way to do so, no matter how cautious the victim is. I think these criminals would have killed someone on the street as soon as they hunted down this couple.

 

[Robinrs]

It's idiotic to blame Craigslist. People make choices and they could've chosen to meet in a public place, something I do nearly every week.

YEARS ago a couple was murdered by a man who answered a classified ad to buy a car. There was no CL then. Anytime you deal with money and people, you have to take your chances.

BTW, eBay and CL are my second income. I could have a part time job in a retail outlet or work nights, which is WAY more dangerous.

Every transaction should be treated with caution, with any human being no matter what outlet you use.

 

[Carly_Roach]

While this is definitely a tragic story, people are robbed and killed on a daily basis. Only the circumstances have changed and this particular story revolves around Craigslist. Bad people are going to do bad things regardless of whether they do them by answering an ad in Craigslist, buying a local product on eBay and meeting the seller, or simply breaking into someone's home because it looks affluent.

The only real answer is one no one wants to hear about: change the circumstances that drive people to desperate measures in the first place.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

At least on eBay when I am being held up, it's just for more money from eBay, and I don't have to worry about actually getting hurt. Craigs list has just gotten scary. Sure, maybe you haven't had any problems, and you feel safe. But so did this family:

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/11/c...slist-slaying-widow-i-cry-every-day/19472612/

For starters, I am NOT going to list a diamond ring. That is really dumb.

Secondly, if we are selling electronics we are meeting people in a public place.

Thirdly, you did not have to invite the people into the house. Again, not very smart on the seller's part.

My dh is a CL junky and most people are honest out there, really. Why buy a new gadget when you can buy it used.

Use common sense and precautions when selling on CL.

 

[Rora]

I agree that common sense wasn't used in this situation but it is still a terrible, tragic, and heartbreaking story..

Regardless, CL is a scary place, IMO.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

My first and ONLY rule with CL has always been "never at the house!" I sell a lot of things, and buy a lot of things off of CL. I never go to a strange house, nor do I invite strangers to our house. We have a pickup truck that will get even the largest of items down to the local mall or other public place.

I agree with everyone that this isn't a CL problem, more than someone who made life easier for the burglars. The burglars didn't have to "case" the house, or anything, they were given a menu of valuable items, and a free pass in the door. It was a terrible lapse of judgment on the sellers, and, unfortunately, it had a tragic ending.

I do feel sympathy for the family, but this is far from a CL problem.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Horrible.

I saw a news clip with the wife. It brought tears to my eyes. So sad!

I think there were some missteps made with the listing. But I would imagine they were made with the premise that people are basically good. They paid dearly for that. I have a hard time faulting them. The majority of transactions take place without a hitch. But it's the cases like this that jolt a person into reality. Evil can collide with good when given the opportunity. It's not about the avenue, it's about precaution.

 

[golfgal]

A couple years ago a woman in MN was murdered answering a Craigslist ad for a nanny. It is just too risky to go to someone's home or have people come to your home for something like this.

 

[Robinrs]

Horrible.

I saw a news clip with the wife. It brought tears to my eyes. So sad!

I think there were some missteps made with the listing. But I would imagine they were made with the premise that people are basically good. They paid dearly for that. I have a hard time faulting them. The majority of transactions take place without a hitch. But it's the cases like this that jolt a person into reality. Evil can collide with good when given the opportunity. It's not about the avenue, it's about precaution.

I love that line.

I grew up surrounded by crime. I say all the time that most people grow up reading about crime, I lived it.

We have to ALWAYS be proactive, because evil people are everywhere. All they need is the need and the opportunity. I've grown protective antenna and I practice caution at all times.

I HATE the word "nowadays". I grew up around WAY more crime, abuse and deception than my son does today. People do not change, their avenues, opportunities and access to communication may change but people with bad intentions will alway exist so you must always be proactive. It's just basic survival.

People die from violent crime every minute of every day. This crime ONLY made the news because of the "Craigslist" link. Otherwise we wouldn't be here discussing it, sadly.

 

[wdwfan16]

That is so sad. That poor family. This is why one never should sell stuff at their home. It is always recommended that you meet in public.

 

[Kit'smommy]

I feel horrible for that family, but this isn't an issue with Craigslist.

I have sold on there before and have met people in the coffeeshop of the very busy Barnes & Noble quite a way from my house. There is no way anyone would ever get my address or even my neighborhood or place of business.

Common sense, people...

 

[EllenFrasier]

I heard about this Craigslist story yesterday and I feel that the wife and her children are very lucky to be alive! These nuts could just as easily have killed them all and left and nobody would ever have known they were there. The story does not say why the villains left the house - anybody know?

We have bought and sold many things on Craigslist. A few times we have gone to someone's house to buy things - one things was furniture and it was in their garage. If I ever did not feel safe in a situation, I just would not go in the house. As for selling - everything is done in a public place, usually a parking lot of a busy store.

 

[DMRick]

That is true, however there have been several incidents on CL, and I wonder how many are copycats. If I was selling something on CL it would be something big and that would make it difficult to transport it, otherwise it goes on eBay.

I guess at this time I wouldn't sell anything where someone has to come to my home.

eBay is also my second income, and I'm feeling a lot saver using it, along with my PO box.

It's idiotic to blame Craigslist. People make choices and they could've chosen to meet in a public place, something I do nearly every week.

YEARS ago a couple was murdered by a man who answered a classified ad to buy a car. There was no CL then. Anytime you deal with money and people, you have to take your chances.

BTW, eBay and CL are my second income. I could have a part time job in a retail outlet or work nights, which is WAY more dangerous.

Every transaction should be treated with caution, with any human being no matter what outlet you use.

 

[DMRick]

And I agree with you, and those who don't give their address. However, many people do, and once the idea gets out there, I think we will hear more and more of this. Remember the person who showed a ring on her front porch, with her husband inside watchign TV, and they took her? Again, this was CL.

I know someone who was selling a file cabinet. She told the people on Craig's list (who asked about where it was in her house, would they have to carry it far and she told them it was on her enclosed front porch, ready for pick up) and set up a time for them to see it. I don't remember if she told them it would have to be later, because she was going to be out, or if they figured it out, but when she returned, it was gone along with the rest of her porch furniture.
So, yes, I agree, that if you are meeting in a public place, you should be fine, but many many peoplle aren't.
I don't even give my home address for eBay.
I just think people have gotten complacent with something like CL. It's not just this diamond ring. There have been many incidents in our area..just not a murder.

For me, it's no more CL, since I only sell items there too big for eBay..so I can't meet them elsewhere. I have occasionally met elsewhere for the smaller items, but since eBay has improved the search for me, I won't even do that now, since this story really made me stop and think.

I feel horrible for that family, but this isn't an issue with Craigslist.

I have sold on there before and have met people in the coffeeshop of the very busy Barnes & Noble quite a way from my house. There is no way anyone would ever get my address or even my neighborhood or place of business.

Common sense, people...

 

[RadioNate]

I should not have read this. I have some big items to sell and was going to use Craigslist. They aren't easily transportable to a public location.

I have no idea what to do now.

 

[ZachnElli]

We've bought and sold many things using Craigslist and have invited people to our home to pick up the items. Never anything like a diamond ring, large items like furniture and golf cart. This won't stop us. I have things listed right now and sold 2 items last weekend.