Some people

[Bob_VT]

Just a rant......

Here is a C&P from my local Craigslist

Winterizing/shrinkwrap/Repair (south Hero)

Date: 2009-10-13, 8:12AM EDT
Reply to:

marine repair, Winterizing, shrink-wrapping. 25 yrs experience. Outboards, I/o, inboard, Gas and diesel. Factory trained in Volvo Penta, Mercruiser. Now scheduling winter projects, repairs, re-powers, electronics installation, etc. Specializing in large repairs and projects. contact Chad with any questions you have. Your dealer alternative, done right, in a timely manor. Most general repairs and service complete within one week! Contact Chad at

I have seen this ad about 6 times in the Boats category and I see nothing at all wrong with it...... however, I have seen it Flagged every day. I can not fault this guy for trying to make a buck in our economy but, I think it might be a local dealer Flagging the ad. I wonder if this ad will make it through the day.

It is sad to see people attack the little guy and I think they are afraid of missing some of their monopoly business tactics. You would think people would be able to work in a competitive environment ..... there is plenty to go around.

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Some people

From what I've read in the C/L terms of service, commercial ads aren't allowed in the free listings. That's why they get flagged.

Down here, there is one company that had put out nearly 200 ads in the free area in just a few days. And right now, there's a flame war going on between a business and a flagger. To say that there's rude language is an understatement. And like the grownups they are, they challenge one another to "man up" and meet face to face.

If the businesses followed the rules and PAID for their ads, the problem wouldn't exist. No such thing as a free lunch, I suppose.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Some people

some of the people of craigslist can be childish or down right ruthless.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Some people

Well once again this guy was flagged and removed

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Some people

I hear ya Bob...we had a gentleman selling his gorgeous 16'-18' starcraft SS with 70-90hp(can't remember) Johnnyrude on our CL for about 6-9 months and he was asking $3500. Keep in mind that the boat and motor were both obviously well taken care of and he did end up selling it after lowering the price(originally 4k, still reasonable).

Well...people who obviously couldn't afford the boat got sick of him listing it once or twice a week and started flagging the ad every time.

The guy is a veteran(Korea probably) and deserves more respect than this from people who should be thanking him for his service not harrassing him to lower his price.

He responded properly and told these punks where to stick it but it shouldn't have come to that. I did send him an email letting him know that I was appalled by the way he was being treated and to let him know I loved his boat, just didn't have 3500 to spend.

That someone's grandfather is all I can say and he deserves better.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Some people

I don't normally flag repair ads in the boat section, but I do on occasion, simply because if you aren't selling a boat, I don't want to see your spam clogging it up. There are services sections on CL which are appropriate for those ads. If I needed services, I would be looking there, not the for-sale section.

As for flagging a boat in while some guy is trying to sell for 8 months, I am all over that. I flag any ad I know has been there for more than a month witout a price reduction. Obviously nobody wants it or wants to pay that price for it, so unless the person is lowering the price every week or so it is simply clogging up the listings. Nothing worse than having a new day dawn and scrolling through the same 30 ads which were there 3 months ago for the same prices as day one.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Some people

From what I've read in the C/L terms of service, commercial ads aren't allowed in the free listings. That's why they get flagged.

So what about the cars for sale by dealer?? Are these paid ads? I've never placed an ad on CL. Are there free and paid ads?

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Some people

So what about the cars for sale by dealer?? Are these paid ads? I've never placed an ad on CL. Are there free and paid ads?

Yeah, there are separate sections for paid ads and free ads.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Some people

Well there are other ads in the Boat section for detailing and repairs..... there is no specific area to put a Boat services ad and they number VERY few in my area.

This is just a case of someone being spiteful. I will not hesitate to flag an obvious ad that is a scam and they are fairly easy to detect.

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: Some people

I posted in the free section that I was looking for a free boat and was flagged. I guess you're not allowed to use the word "free?"

 

[marine4003]

Re: Some people

I don't normally flag repair ads in the boat section, but I do on occasion, simply because if you aren't selling a boat, I don't want to see your spam clogging it up. There are services sections on CL which are appropriate for those ads. If I needed services, I would be looking there, not the for-sale section.

As for flagging a boat in while some guy is trying to sell for 8 months, I am all over that. I flag any ad I know has been there for more than a month witout a price reduction. Obviously nobody wants it or wants to pay that price for it, so unless the person is lowering the price every week or so it is simply clogging up the listings. Nothing worse than having a new day dawn and scrolling through the same 30 ads which were there 3 months ago for the same prices as day one.

What are you the CL nazi, sheesh,its not hurting you,you dont know, perhaps the guy is broke and is hanging onto his delusion his boat will sell, ad's..guess what this is a FREE MARKET ECONOMY anyone has the right to earn a living,especially in these sad times, give it a rest.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Some people

What are you the CL nazi, sheesh,its not hurting you

If you like seeing the same overpriced ad over and over for months on end, vote them 'Best of CL'.

I think in terms of scale, where if you allow one delusional seller to spam the listing for months on end, you will quickly see thousands of other people doing the same. Then what you have is a classified service which was once relevant turning into yet another spam laden landfill of irrelevant ads.

There are appropriate sections for nearly all types of ads, so there is no excuse for posting wanted ads in for-sale sections and posting an overpriced item for months does no one any good except to clog up the works. If you aren't looking to sell something, realistically, it shouldn't be listed and I shouldn't have to scroll through 50 different items which I have practically memorized the ad.

So as for your "It's not hurting you". It does hurt me. It wastes my time, having to scroll through crap ads in order to find real items people are actually trying to sell. Not everyone is in a podunk 10-new-ads-a-day market.

Every apologist out there pulls out some fringe case "What if his mother is dying" or your "What if he is broke, living in a bath tub, surrounded by pirates and needs the money to save his long lost ferret" because they know they have no real argument. If your fringe-case argument were actually true, I don't see anyone holding out for top dollar, as having a boat doesn't feed your family, money does. After 8 months, I think pretty well anyone would have starved long ago, even the jumbo people here in NC.

Go ahead and defend the people who ruin these services. I'll keep flagging.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Some people

I'm thinking flagging an ad because YOU think it's overpriced is plain wrong. If the seller follows the rules and puts in on there more than once a month, have at it, but if the seller is following the rules and posts it only once a month, you have no right to flag his ad. He's DOES have a right to ask whatever he wants for it. It will quickly go to the bottom if it's not placed more than once a month and noone is looking at it. You can't be bothered to scroll past it??? That's a little much, Lowkee.
JMO,
JBJ

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Some people

I understand what you guys are talking about.
I went to e-bay (international) for left handed bass guitars for probably a year.
I have given up.
It is clogged up.
Out of the 70 ads, 60 are the same ones that have been there for ever, and they are all overpriced cheap stuff.
Without looking, I could tell you right now what is there for sale.
I just wish I could flag them 'off'.
I can't be bothered sifting thru so much junk any longer.
Cheers
Phillip

 

[lowkee]

Re: Some people

I'm thinking flagging an ad because YOU think it's overpriced is plain wrong. If the seller follows the rules and puts in on there more than once a month, have at it, but if the seller is following the rules and posts it only once a month, you have no right to flag his ad.
JMO,
JBJ

I agree on all counts. We're not talking about some guy who has a collector car and the price fluctuates greatly or some perfect condition thingamajig which he only posts once per month for a realistic price. We're talking the guy with crap which he lists for 300%+ of its value, then continues to repost it every day (or even week) for months on end without dropping the price a dollar. Heck, some ads I see even go UP in price as time goes on. Obviously if something is reposted for months on end, *I* am not the only one who thinks the item is overpriced. CL allows reposting once per 15 days (a 'repost item' button appears in the ad). That is all well and fine. After all, the flagging is for 'overpost/spam', not 'It looks expensive'. Frankly, the 1st time I post a lot of stuff, I jack up the price, too. I mean, why not? Someone may seriously need that item. But if it doesn't sell 1st week, there is a reason, and reposting the same ad every week won't solve that reason.

After all, the original post said "I have seen it Flagged every day." Every day is not once per month.

You may be inclined to say "Well, once a week isn't too bad, either", but this area gets over 100 boats ads per day, and that is after the 'weeding out' of obvious spam ads. Just imagine if these guys were allowed to repost every day or even week without end. The daily list would be astoundingly big and for no reason, since only 30 or so would actually be new, the rest would be overposts trying to 'bubble up'. Change your price, it is a new ad. Keep the same price, it is the same ad and therefore overposting/spam in my book and in CL's book, too, unless 15 days have elapsed. After all, just because an ad is two days old, doesn't mean it is inaccessible. It is just on page two or three, just like every other two day old ad.

I'd be hard pressed to assume craigslist installed the overpost flag for no reason. Obviously I'm not the only one who considers repetitive ads annoying, and CL found it important enough to implement a minimum 15 day repost rule. They likely did that after some decent site research.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Some people

Well, shows what I know.........I didn't even know there was an "overpost" flag. I've never flagged an ad. I can see why someone would want to be rid of the goofball ads. Obviously I didn't read the "everday" thing closely enough. You're right, I was thinking of stuff like old cars and boats and such that different folks have different opinions on about the prices.
sorry about that,
JBJ

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Some people

I agree on all counts. We're not talking about some guy who has a collector car and the price fluctuates greatly or some perfect condition thingamajig which he only posts once per month for a realistic price. We're talking the guy with crap which he lists for 300%+ of its value, then continues to repost it every day (or even week) for months on end without dropping the price a dollar. Heck, some ads I see even go UP in price as time goes on. Obviously if something is reposted for months on end, *I* am not the only one who thinks the item is overpriced. CL allows reposting once per 15 days (a 'repost item' button appears in the ad). That is all well and fine. After all, the flagging is for 'overpost/spam', not 'It looks expensive'. Frankly, the 1st time I post a lot of stuff, I jack up the price, too. I mean, why not? Someone may seriously need that item. But if it doesn't sell 1st week, there is a reason, and reposting the same ad every week won't solve that reason.

After all, the original post said "I have seen it Flagged every day." Every day is not once per month.

You may be inclined to say "Well, once a week isn't too bad, either", but this area gets over 100 boats ads per day, and that is after the 'weeding out' of obvious spam ads. Just imagine if these guys were allowed to repost every day or even week without end. The daily list would be astoundingly big and for no reason, since only 30 or so would actually be new, the rest would be overposts trying to 'bubble up'. Change your price, it is a new ad. Keep the same price, it is the same ad and therefore overposting/spam in my book and in CL's book, too, unless 15 days have elapsed. After all, just because an ad is two days old, doesn't mean it is inaccessible. It is just on page two or three, just like every other two day old ad.

I'd be hard pressed to assume craigslist installed the overpost flag for no reason. Obviously I'm not the only one who considers repetitive ads annoying, and CL found it important enough to implement a minimum 15 day repost rule. They likely did that after some decent site research.

15 day repost rule? Could it be different for different locations? Seems 48 hours is all that's required here.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Some people

i'm not sure i understand this flagging deal. verse the price, verse you think he posts to much.
all the craigs lists i have seen list a brief add and to go farther, you have to click on the add.









if you know the add, and don't choose to see it,
WHY IN GODS GREEN ACRES DO YOU CLICK ON IT???????????????

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Some people

From what I've read in the C/L terms of service, commercial ads aren't allowed in the free listings. That's why they get flagged.

Down here, there is one company that had put out nearly 200 ads in the free area in just a few days. And right now, there's a flame war going on between a business and a flagger. To say that there's rude language is an understatement. And like the grownups they are, they challenge one another to "man up" and meet face to face.

If the businesses followed the rules and PAID for their ads, the problem wouldn't exist. No such thing as a free lunch, I suppose.

Some of the same BS goes on down here in SWFL..
There was a guy that was a Wyno-Tech marine grad looking for side work..I wanted to call him and see what he could do for me...Flagged off of CL.

I actually posted a comment about the flaggers and that I was looking for a mechanic..But all the flagging & FLAMING back and forth made me decide not to deal with any of em..

yep..it got flagged and removed in 3 minutes..lol

yet...you can get a booty call WITH PICS in the adult casual encounter section??

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Some people

i'm not sure i understand this flagging deal. verse the price, verse you think he posts to much.
all the craigs lists i have seen list a brief add and to go farther, you have to click on the add.









if you know the add, and don't choose to see it,
WHY IN GODS GREEN ACRES DO YOU CLICK ON IT???????????????

Some folks put very little in the title section... like "boat for sale" or "motor for sale" or "parts for sale" etc. Gotta look. THEN find out it's spam.