Joined Oct 2009
L6: Expert
Forum Thread
Am I being unreasonable or wrong in this Craigslist dispute?
September 27, 2011 at
01:48 PM
Hi folks,
I will keep the story short but sufficient in quickly helping you understand the situation.
I sold a merchandise to a person on Craigslist for $130 dollars. This person was unable to pay the complete $130 at the time and offered to pay in two payments and told me that he was good for it. I initially declined this idea, not being comfortable with it. He later offered to "give up" a piece of electronic as collateral as something for me to hold on to. This was a Playstation 3 Slim. The first payment which I accepted was then $80 alongside the PS3.
He said he would be able to pay the remaining $50 the next weekend. The first meet-up was on a weekend, so it was essentially a week in-between the two original proposed payment times. However, at that time, I was going on a holiday and got stuck at the airport. As such, I couldn't make that weekend and asked if he could do the day after.
The first transaction was made on July 1st, meaning that the second payment was supposed to be on July 8th to 10th?
Since then, he has either been out of town or has repeatedly told me that he does not have the money on dates which he himself set up as dates of payments (3 or more times now). I have also found out that the merchandise which I sold him (a phone), is now broken.
I recently (i.e., mid September) -subtly indicated- to him that I cannot be waiting forever to get my money back and that at some point, I would take the PS3 as collateral. He proposed an October 1st payment as a date where he "should be" able to make the payment.
Based on e-mail exchanges in the past 48 hours, it is evident that he cannot make that date again, to which I provided an ultimatum for an additional one-more week extension.
Should he miss this date, I will terminate the deal and consider the PS3 to be collateral.
He is now flipping out, and mentioning that he couldn't believe that I was like this. He stated that he would be forced to call a lawyer should it come to that. He also indicated that he is only getting paid at the end of October and can only pay "then". He says he doesn't know what else he can do but again reiterated that he would be forced to contact a lawyer should it come down to that.
I haven't responded yet, but I'm looking for thoughts and ideas here. Am I being unreasonable? I'm only asking for my $50 back and it's close to 3 months now.
Thank you in advance to all who respond.
I will keep the story short but sufficient in quickly helping you understand the situation.
I sold a merchandise to a person on Craigslist for $130 dollars. This person was unable to pay the complete $130 at the time and offered to pay in two payments and told me that he was good for it. I initially declined this idea, not being comfortable with it. He later offered to "give up" a piece of electronic as collateral as something for me to hold on to. This was a Playstation 3 Slim. The first payment which I accepted was then $80 alongside the PS3.
He said he would be able to pay the remaining $50 the next weekend. The first meet-up was on a weekend, so it was essentially a week in-between the two original proposed payment times. However, at that time, I was going on a holiday and got stuck at the airport. As such, I couldn't make that weekend and asked if he could do the day after.
The first transaction was made on July 1st, meaning that the second payment was supposed to be on July 8th to 10th?
Since then, he has either been out of town or has repeatedly told me that he does not have the money on dates which he himself set up as dates of payments (3 or more times now). I have also found out that the merchandise which I sold him (a phone), is now broken.
I recently (i.e., mid September) -subtly indicated- to him that I cannot be waiting forever to get my money back and that at some point, I would take the PS3 as collateral. He proposed an October 1st payment as a date where he "should be" able to make the payment.
Based on e-mail exchanges in the past 48 hours, it is evident that he cannot make that date again, to which I provided an ultimatum for an additional one-more week extension.
Should he miss this date, I will terminate the deal and consider the PS3 to be collateral.
He is now flipping out, and mentioning that he couldn't believe that I was like this. He stated that he would be forced to call a lawyer should it come to that. He also indicated that he is only getting paid at the end of October and can only pay "then". He says he doesn't know what else he can do but again reiterated that he would be forced to contact a lawyer should it come down to that.
I haven't responded yet, but I'm looking for thoughts and ideas here. Am I being unreasonable? I'm only asking for my $50 back and it's close to 3 months now.
Thank you in advance to all who respond.
209 Comments
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Actually, do NOT block his emails! You want as much incriminating evidence you can from him. So, let him shoot himself in the foot if he's stupid enough to do so. With all the emails, just print them out and keep them for your records.
Better yet, respond to him ASAP and remind him that the PS3 was collateral, that it was HIS idea to leave that as collateral until he gave you the $50 balance. Hopefully, he'll reply and further prejudice himself by either admitting to it or not denying the fact that it was collateral. A judge will read all this and determine that you're being truthful since he never denied the collateral issue in his replies to you.
I just received an e-mail from him. I'm not going to reply any further. I found this e-mail to be particularly interesting. It's almost like his threats are positively correlated with his sense of desperation. Anyhow, I thought you guys would like to see an example of what I mean by threats.
My winning idea:
1) Return PS3 to Walmart for gift card.
2) Buy underpants.
3) ????
4) Profit!
I didn't catch that until now!
OP,
If that's the case, you probably just need to send him an email to let him know he has one more month to resolve this. Because, if you send him a certified letter, you may have to list your address.
I didn't catch that until now!
OP,
If that's the case, you probably just need to send him an email to let him know he has one more month to resolve this. Because, if you send him a certified letter, you may have to list your address.
I don't think it's a good idea to send him a certified letter, as I wouldn't want him "paying a visit" as some other users have hinted as I would have to list my address on it.
You say to give him one more month, this is after the fact that I've given him an ultimatum of an October 9th final date (extension from the 1st of October)? The original transaction was July 1st.
I don't think it's a good idea to send him a certified letter, as I wouldn't want him "paying a visit" as some other users have hinted as I would have to list my address on it.
You say to give him one more month, this is after the fact that I've given him an ultimatum of an October 9th final date (extension from the 1st of October)? The original transaction was July 1st.
I don't think it's a good idea to send him a certified letter, as I wouldn't want him "paying a visit" as some other users have hinted as I would have to list my address on it.
You say to give him one more month, this is after the fact that I've given him an ultimatum of an October 9th final date (extension from the 1st of October)? The original transaction was July 1st.
Now, that I've learned he doesn't even have your name, address, or phone number, it makes his threats even more ridiculous.
And yes, don't bother sending the certified letter. I thought you guys already exchanged info.
He ain't whooped yo ass yet, and that's not happening. He doesn't know where you live. He hasn't called the cops yet (BIG thing to note), he's threatening a lawsuit over $50....
Chances are the ps3 wasn't his from the door! That's probably why he quickly put it up for collateral! Think about it...who goes "Hey, hold on to this ps3 as proof that I'm going to pay you the rest of the money...."
Shit's probably boosted. Does it even turn on? Try to go online w/it...might be a blacklisted account.
He'd had to just chalk that up to the game.
Craigslist is the wild wild west. I bought a mattress on there last month. Went to the woman's house and all. Called her up 30 mins later and told her I'll be there in 20 mins and I'll cut her a check. I get there and she's like "oh yea, I forgot to tell you...cash only."
I almost ran over her dogs almost wasting my time like that!!! Luckily I had the cash....or I'd had to drive about 15 miles to an ATM....
But back to the point. Forget all the legal crap. Just sell that thing and move on. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, takes more than a month to get back something they desire. Trust me, I'd found $50 if that was my PS3. If offered right now, I could find $50. In fact, only a fool offers to put up a ps3 in exchange for a $50 debt.....(I probably already typed that)
Just sell it. Sell it, spam folder the emails, and move on. Keep messing around and you'll be dealing w/this fool until Christmas when he finally gets you to just cancel the debt
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He ain't whooped yo ass yet, and that's not happening. He doesn't know where you live. He hasn't called the cops yet (BIG thing to note), he's threatening a lawsuit over $50....
Chances are the ps3 wasn't his from the door! That's probably why he quickly put it up for collateral! Think about it...who goes "Hey, hold on to this ps3 as proof that I'm going to pay you the rest of the money...."
Shit's probably boosted. Does it even turn on? Try to go online w/it...might be a blacklisted account.
He'd had to just chalk that up to the game.
Craigslist is the wild wild west. I bought a mattress on there last month. Went to the woman's house and all. Called her up 30 mins later and told her I'll be there in 20 mins and I'll cut her a check. I get there and she's like "oh yea, I forgot to tell you...cash only."
I almost ran over her dogs almost wasting my time like that!!! Luckily I had the cash....or I'd had to drive about 15 miles to an ATM....
But back to the point. Forget all the legal crap. Just sell that thing and move on. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, takes more than a month to get back something they desire. Trust me, I'd found $50 if that was my PS3. If offered right now, I could find $50. In fact, only a fool offers to put up a ps3 in exchange for a $50 debt.....(I probably already typed that)
Just sell it. Sell it, spam folder the emails, and move on. Keep messing around and you'll be dealing w/this fool until Christmas when he finally gets you to just cancel the debt
But hey you could CL all that left-over Opti-Free solution you have! Should bring a couple of bucks a bottle.
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'imma sue!!!'