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Forum Thread

Am I being unreasonable or wrong in this Craigslist dispute?

1,405 306 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.

209 Comments

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Joined Jan 2006
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> bubble2 5,853 Posts
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ManUpOrShutUp
10-06-2011 at 10:27 PM.
10-06-2011 at 10:27 PM.
"Excuse me sir, please provide your full name and address so I may sue you or have you arrested at my discretion. If you fail to do so, I will have to bend over and take it up the a** because I have SQUAT." shake head

Quote from blacksoxing :
Damn, I'm glad I'm not the OP....because I'd been sold that PS3 and went on with my life like it wasn't nothing to think about....
Ditto.

Quote from blacksoxing :
I almost ran over her dogs almost wasting my time like that!!!
No elderly people or handicapped children you could pick on that day?
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Joined Apr 2005
GapPen.
> bubble2 11,782 Posts
389 Reputation
nutter218
10-07-2011 at 12:25 AM.
10-07-2011 at 12:25 AM.
That guy can pass the physical training but he wouldn't pass the appitude test with that spelling.

You should send him an email with a name of a lawyer and thier number. The email should say, "I saved you the trouble of having to find a lawyer to sue me. Just let them know that you want to give them the go ahead."
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Joined Oct 2004
Professor Fishslapper!
> bubble2 12,104 Posts
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dalokgawd
10-07-2011 at 04:54 AM.
10-07-2011 at 04:54 AM.
OP I will add one more thing... do not feel bad about this. Not. One. Little. Bit. This person is obviously incredibly immature and impulsive. Consider this a necessary lesson for him on his path of learning how to be an adult. He acted stupidly, and now he has to pay the price for his bad decision and his failure to live up to the bargain that HE SET FOR HIMSELF. You have been nice and helpful at every turn, far more than this guy ever deserved. You gave him numerous opportunities, but opportunities are not infinite and it's about time this guy learned that lesson.

He probably won't learn a damn thing because he seems like he has the IQ of a bag of wet hair, but consider this one of many attempts in his life to teach him that lesson. Walk away, sell the PS/3, and treat yourself to a nice dinner with the extra money you make. You deserve it.
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Joined May 2005
Proud Barner
> bubble2 36,606 Posts
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TigerStar
10-07-2011 at 06:29 AM.
10-07-2011 at 06:29 AM.
Wave

Hey mlv
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Joined Sep 2004
Fighter of Foo
> bubble2 21,316 Posts
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zmarko
10-07-2011 at 06:52 AM.
10-07-2011 at 06:52 AM.
Bump for Schoob. laugh out loud
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Joined Feb 2010
L9: Master
> bubble2 4,199 Posts
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idkist
10-07-2011 at 07:17 AM.
10-07-2011 at 07:17 AM.
Sooo... since OP is now the proud owner of a used PS3... willing to sell it for 11 installments of $5 + shipping Big Grin
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Joined May 2008
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> bubble2 1,445 Posts
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jj.12321
10-07-2011 at 07:33 AM.
10-07-2011 at 07:33 AM.
Quote from PoisonWolf :
idk i will have to let you know i am out of town for firefihrer training i should be back saturday night? idk or sunday night either way i would like to get it back if i dont by sunday i need ur address and all that cuz i am sending u a court things for the 50 dollars......
i toold you the latersy i could have it was friday the 21st is when i get paid from the fire hall if u cant wait till than idk what to tell you there will be cops at ur door with a summons .
laugh out loud Poor guy can't even write an intimidating email..

My favorite part.. asking for your address to send you "Court things" laugh out loud
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Joined Oct 2004
Professor Fishslapper!
> bubble2 12,104 Posts
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dalokgawd
10-07-2011 at 07:35 AM.
10-07-2011 at 07:35 AM.
Quote from jj12321 :
laugh out loud Poor guy can't even write an intimidating email..

My favorite part.. asking for your address to send you "Court things" laugh out loud
Not court things... "a court things". Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)
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Joined Oct 2009
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> bubble2 1,405 Posts
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Original Poster
PoisonWolf
10-07-2011 at 09:23 AM.
10-07-2011 at 09:23 AM.
Thanks everyone for your input, it's really been a great help over the past few days in helping me bounce ideas and get different perspectives on the situation.

Whatever happens, I just want Sunday to come and be over with (money or no money). I'm definitely doing what some of you suggested in parking farther away and walking to the destination. I don't want this dude to be stalking me, etc.
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Joined Sep 2004
Fighter of Foo
> bubble2 21,316 Posts
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zmarko
10-07-2011 at 09:29 AM.
10-07-2011 at 09:29 AM.
Quote from PoisonWolf :
Thanks everyone for your input, it's really been a great help over the past few days in helping me bounce ideas and get different perspectives on the situation.

Whatever happens, I just want Sunday to come and be over with (money or no money). I'm definitely doing what some of you suggested in parking farther away and walking to the destination. I don't want this dude to be stalking me, etc.
Do the transaction at the police station. I think TS suggested this a few pages back. Solid advice.
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Joined Oct 2004
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 12,150 Posts
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Jabbit
10-07-2011 at 09:35 AM.
10-07-2011 at 09:35 AM.
You should tell him the only reasonable thing to do is cut the PS3 in 1/2. Then see what he says, if he says "fine do it I don't care" then he never loved it and you are the true owner. If he says "no, I don't want it to end like that, you keep it" then he is the true owner and you must relinquish the PS3.
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Joined May 2006
Suspected porn star
> bubble2 11,996 Posts
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ForeverDecember
10-07-2011 at 11:20 AM.
10-07-2011 at 11:20 AM.
OP, I really think you should reply and mention something to the effect of "hey, if you want to go through the trouble of paying for a summons, filing a court case, etc, why don't you just use that money and pay me the $50 you owe?" I would love to hear his response. Just like so many in this thread have mentioned, he is full of it since all of those things cost money that he doesn't even want to pay to you.

Oh and when he asked for your address to serve you papers, I loled. You should give him the address of the court house.
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Joined Oct 2009
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> bubble2 1,405 Posts
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Original Poster
PoisonWolf
10-07-2011 at 11:26 AM.
10-07-2011 at 11:26 AM.
Quote from ForeverDcember :
OP, I really think you should reply and mention something to the effect of "hey, if you want to go through the trouble of paying for a summons, filing a court case, etc, why don't you just use that money and pay me the $50 you owe?" I would love to hear his response. Just like so many in this thread have mentioned, he is full of it since all of those things cost money that he doesn't even want to pay to you.

Oh and when he asked for your address to serve you papers, I loled. You should give him the address of the court house.
I've did that in the past with some of my emails, he never responded to it and mentioned other things instead.

I notice in this e-mails, it has slowly turned into him wanting his PS3 back and less about him wanting to pay me (or maybe altogether). Maybe this is just me.

I get the feeling because the phone is now broken, he has been trying to squirm out of paying the $50 AND get his PS3 back.
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Joined Jul 2005
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> bubble2 10,159 Posts
z2g
10-07-2011 at 11:48 AM.
10-07-2011 at 11:48 AM.
Quote from PoisonWolf :
I've did that in the past with some of my emails, he never responded to it and mentioned other things instead.

I notice in this e-mails, it has slowly turned into him wanting his PS3 back and less about him wanting to pay me (or maybe altogether). Maybe this is just me.

I get the feeling because the phone is now broken, he has been trying to squirm out of paying the $50 AND get his PS3 back.
Just to be sure though, I'd still send him one more email stating all the facts and your final resolution. Mention to him that it's your final "offer" for him to have until Sunday Oct. 9th. And after that, you're going to consider it a default and the PS3 is yours.
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Joined Jan 2006
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ManUpOrShutUp
10-07-2011 at 12:28 PM.
10-07-2011 at 12:28 PM.
Quote from Jabbit :
You should tell him the only reasonable thing to do is cut the PS3 in 1/2. Then see what he says, if he says "fine do it I don't care" then he never loved it and you are the true owner. If he says "no, I don't want it to end like that, you keep it" then he is the true owner and you must relinquish the PS3.
laugh out loud What would Jesus do? I'm pretty sure he'd tell this guy to go F himself.
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