Protocol for Craigslist pick-ups?

[Heyjude]

You gotta use common sense.. I've picked up grills in just about every place possible.
Only 1 time did I meet someone in a gas station and it felt a bit weird. As if they were selling a stolen grill..
I just think they needed the cash really bad.

I never take too much cash and always aware of my surroundings. Keep my phone handy and figure that most likely that its not likely Im gonna get mugged for a grill.

I keep waiting for a hot house wife to answer the door in her robe and invite me in.. Lol.

[Heyjude]

I am 5' 6" and have bought and sold over 250 grills in 5 years, not a single issue  CL issues are overblown.

Thats like 1 grill a week, every week.  I thought I was bad, you need an intervention!
I think we need to start a list:

"Excuses we tell our wives where were going"...
And don't tell me that all wives are OK with bringing another Weber home.

[LightningBoldtz]

Maybe the figures are 250 in 6,  but yeah I have purchased a lot, dome weeks I will sell 5 grills an dome none.

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[Hell Fire Grill]

I have more trouble with the sellers thinking I'm going to rob them...

[Hell Fire Grill]

I keep waiting for a hot house wife to answer the door in her robe and invite me in.. Lol.

Take a job cleaning carpets or a plummer for a few days.

[LiquidOcelot]

I keep waiting for a hot house wife to answer the door in her robe and invite me in.. Lol.

Take a job cleaning carpets or a plummer for a few days.

or become a pool guy they always do good in movies lol

[mrbill]

i'm a cop and will always say that it never hurts to be prepared and you can't be too careful. as the saying goes, it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. i've done a few cl transactions and if i thought the meet location or seller were even half sketch, i either brought someone else or carried my gun(or both). and regardless of possible sketch issues, i always make sure someone who isn't going knows where i'm going and about how long to expect me to be gone.

[kettlebb]

I never thought about it until now but I haven't had any issues with CL or the other seller apps.  Good point about people not wanting to lug a grill to a public place and I figure I'm usually buying a grill for a price generally under $50. I know folks get robbed for less but I still don't think about it much. Maybe I'll change my approach from now on.


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[MrHoss]

Protocol?

I show up to purchases dressed as a Ninja with a bow staff. I appear and disappear like a chameleon.......man. @LightningBoldtz knows my skills and has me on call for severe scores. I'm all foiled up coach...just put me in.

@pbe gummi bear also knows of my peculiar nature and acts in an ongoing advisory role.

Lets be careful out there.

[AZ Monsoon]

Protocol?

I show up to purchases dressed as a Ninja with a bow staff. I appear and disappear like a chameleon.......man. @LightningBoldtz knows my skills and has me on call for severe scores. I'm all foiled up coach...just put me in.

@pbe gummi bear also knows of my peculiar nature and acts in an ongoing advisory role.

Lets be careful out there.

I hear you bro. I lurk in the shadows and move like a panther

[Bob BQ]

I've never had a problem, but will give my wife info if it's not one of those last second-drop-everything-on-lunch-break pick ups. For CL sales, I typically meet up at a public parking lot right next to my municipality's cop shop... it's about a 1/4 mile from my house.


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[Heyjude]

I keep waiting for a hot house wife to answer the door in her robe and invite me in.. Lol.

Take a job cleaning carpets or a plummer for a few days.

or become a pool guy they always do good in movies lol

Well, I'm not a plumber, carpet cleaner or a pool guy, so I guess Im just gonna have to keep dreaming!
I bet the UPS and FedEx guys see  a lot.
I should get to know a roofer, as I bet they see all the great looking grills just waiting to be rescued.

[kettlebb]

I was a FedEx guy and you don't see much but a bunch of dogs barking at you though the side lights of the front door. There was a house that I delivered blinds to weekly and their dog always went ape shit on me. One day I was walking up to the front door and I got down to the glass and started barking back really loud. Scared the shit out of that dog. I was young and dumb but it was fun.


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[Neil_VT00]

I usually try to meet in a public place but it's challenging with the size of what we are buying/selling.  If I'm selling, I always meet in a parking lot where there are likely cameras around.

I just ran across this article which really makes you wonder about CL dealings:
https://www.local10.com/news/crime/teen-who-received-football-scholarship-fatally-shot-during-craigslist-transaction

[Cellar2ful]

I buy, restore and resell quite a few Weber kettles. It helps support and justify purchasing some of my more rare, collectible kettles.  I have not had a bad experience yet, but after 30 years as a Deputy Sheriff in the Oakland, California area, I am a pretty good at assessing folks. Most of my purchases are in the $25 to $50 range and sales are in the $70 to $200 (Performers). Not a lot of money, but I have worked multiple robbery cases and a homicide case that began with CL vehicle add placed or responded to by the victim.

1- I always ask for a buyers cell phone number to arrange for a meeting. I want to talk to them and hear the person's voice I will be interacting with, prior to arranging a meeting. This way you get a r
     good sense of a person's age and gender, opposed to a straight internet transaction.  A person not willing to give their phone number is a red flag. I understand that some sellers do not want to
     give out their numbers, but I am usually going to their house and don't have the same concerns that I have with someone coming to mine.

2- After talking to the person and I get any sense of uneasiness,  I arrange to meet them at my local Police or Sheriff's Department parking lot to conduct the transaction.  Anyone that is reluctant to
    meet in this location, you don't not want to be involved with.

Be smart, be safe, use common sense.