Weber Kettle Club Forums
Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: WhaleinaTeardrop on June 18, 2017, 03:46:27 PM
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Just scored a like-new(under the grease and filth) Q320 for $50. Told my wife that I was heading out to pick it up, on Father's Day no less and she looked at me a little strange. I told her that it was. $400 grill for $50 and I was the first to make contact, so I couldn't pass it up. She then went on to tell me to be careful and let her know where I was at all times et cetera....
I'm a big dude, 6'4.75", 325lbs, college OT and wrestler....but I'm getting older with many old injuries and the way she KEPT pushing actually made me stop and think so the only things I took with me were:
$50, Driver's License, CCP, S&W .38 Special, phone and a credit card for emergencies.
Things went so smoothly that I almost foolish as the seller was a family man about my age and while I expected him to bring the grill out front, he walked me through his condo and family room where his wife and kids were and onto his balcony. We carried it out so as not to get the rug dirty, he helped me load into my car and I was off; the deal was done and I was on my home in 10 minutes.
That being said, did she/we overreact and how do you guys plan for CL pick-ups and sales?
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Dude. You're 6'4" 325 lbs lol. You're fine.
Unless.... They know Jiu Jit Su, and then they'll kick your ass, steal your 50 bones and keep the grill.
On a more serious note, I've picked up a lot of grills off of Craigslist and have never ever had any problems. Even in shady areas/settings......
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I am also a big dude, so I have never worried about it. My wife can track me through my phone so I have that as a backup in case I don't come home. Sometimes the seller wants to meet in a public parking lot which is just fine by me and probably a good idea, bit most people don't want to transport a large item to a public place.
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lol I'm 5 10 180 pounds and I just bring myself.
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I suppose this is probably very different for women. So I asked my wife and she quickly answered that there is a designated area for this type of trade/buy/sell in Charleston in the police HQ parking lot. I had no idea this was a thing and I am sure most major cities have the same thing.
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I live in Chicago and many of the surrounding suburbs have designated meet-up areas as well, some of which are actually at the local police stations.
Much of this stemmed from a ring of robberies at CL meet-ups; the thieves were caught when they attempted to rob two guys who came to buy a motorcycle....who happened to not only be bikers, but best friends who had been in the Army together and were off-duty Chicago Police officers.
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I'm 6'4", and I still get the heebie jeebies on a CL pickup:
http://weberkettleclub.com/blog/2013/12/18/the-rescue-mission-a-martyg-kettle-adventure-story/ (http://weberkettleclub.com/blog/2013/12/18/the-rescue-mission-a-martyg-kettle-adventure-story/)
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Did you say 6-4.75"?
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Did you say you live in Chicago?
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Are you coming to the meet up?
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Yes to both; and my unbelievably timid wife is 6'2" and a former D1 Power Forward.
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I designated Lowe's down the street as my meet up spot open area and always has people in it
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When is the meet-up? I've seen references to it, but no actual dates....
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here is the info on the chicago meetup
http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/meetups-events/chicago-meet-up-2017-master-thread/
July 8th in Elgin sometime after noon time frame.
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I am 5' 6" and have bought and sold over 250 grills in 5 years, not a single issue CL issues are overblown.
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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.
8)
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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.
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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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I have more trouble with the sellers thinking I'm going to rob them...
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I keep waiting for a hot house wife to answer the door in her robe and invite me in.. Lol.
8)
Take a job cleaning carpets or a plummer for a few days.
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I keep waiting for a hot house wife to answer the door in her robe and invite me in.. Lol.
8)
Take a job cleaning carpets or a plummer for a few days.
or become a pool guy they always do good in movies lol
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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.
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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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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.
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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
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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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I keep waiting for a hot house wife to answer the door in her robe and invite me in.. Lol.
8)
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.
8)
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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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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
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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.
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I've never had an issue with any CL grill buys, but I am cautious about CL for other things, so if I'm buying/selling a firearm, for instance, I always use our local shooting forums and check the other party's feedback.