Father killed in front of son while answering Craigslist ad

[Teddy B 17,252]

I used to own a 2nd home in New Hampshire where I also had two snowmobiles and a trailer. I decided to sell the snowmobiles and trailer so I put them on Craigslist for a good price, they were worth about 7K and I put them up for 6K. I had serious buyers within days. I agreed over the phone to a price of $5500 with a guy from New Brunswick, CA. I agreed to meet this guy at the house on the following Sat to show him the snowmobiles and finalize the sale. I asked a buddy to come with me, but he cancelled at the last minute. So I went alone with my dog.

The guy showed up on Sat morning at 7am with a buddy of his. He liked the snowmobiles and gave me $5500 cash. We had a problem hooking up the trailer to his truck so I got under the trailer on my back to try and get it hooked up. It was at that moment I realized the position I put myself in. I was in the middle of the woods in NH, lying flat on my back with $5500 cash in my pocket and two guys standing over me who I had just met. Not to mention my house was wide open too. Not good. I immediately got up and had one of the other guys get under the trailer and hook it up.

After they left I breathed a big sigh of relief and gave myself a huge kick in the ####### for putting myself in that position. Doing deals on Craigslist can be scary.

Edited October 23, 2013 by Teddy B

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Yep, I've never met anyone off Craigslist alone. We sold our headboard a few weeks ago and there was no way I was letting people come over without my husband being home.

Turned out it was some teenage girl so I had nothing to worry about..

[Teddy B 17,252]

Yep, I've never met anyone off Craigslist alone. We sold our headboard a few weeks ago and there was no way I was letting people come over without my husband being home.

Turned out it was some teenage girl so I had nothing to worry about..

I've had good luck selling items on Craigslist, luckily without running into any psycho killers. I've sold a boat and just this past summer sold a brand new above ground pool still in the boxes. We bought a brand new pool the end of 2012 on a clearance sale and were going to put the pool up in the yard this summer. Over the winter we decided that we aren't going to be in this house long enough to warrant it, so we sold it.

[Darnell 8,479]

I do a lot of stuff on CraigsList and FreeCycle, picking up materials for reclamation and re-use. Usually I show up alone with a van and a trailer. I've not had any issues, but then, I'm male, big n burly, and the majority of my pickups were FREE, no money involved.

A few years ago I put together a hot-tub reclamation co-op, there were 7 of us seeking free hot-tubs on CraigsList. When we found one, we'd go out and get it, load it, take it back to a co-op member's home, fix it and install it. That was fun !! Impossible to do, IMO, with just one human. Usually had 4 going out on a pickup run. We never had any issues, but again, this was FREE stuff at a home-owners place, time pre-arranged for a weekend. Then I had another co-op going for the huge (60 inch or larger) DLP televisions that folk were giving away on CL. Usually had 3 people going out on a run, for one of those (Stairs suck) ..

Sure, there are scams on CL, but for the stuff I chase after, I not have problems. It's sad this fella died, but there are reputable used cell-phone dealers that post on CL as well. Sometimes the hint of a 'real bargain' makes folk step into unsafe environs - I'm a thinking that's what happened with this fella and his son.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

I used to own a 2nd home in New Hampshire where I also had two snowmobiles and a trailer. I decided to sell the snowmobiles and trailer so I put them on Craigslist for a good price, they were worth about 7K and I put them up for 6K. I had serious buyers within days. I agreed over the phone to a price of $5500 with a guy from New Brunswick, CA. I agreed to meet this guy at the house on the following Sat to show him the snowmobiles and finalize the sale. I asked a buddy to come with me, but he cancelled at the last minute. So I went alone with my dog.

The guy showed up on Sat morning at 7am with a buddy of his. He liked the snowmobiles and gave me $5500 cash. We had a problem hooking up the trailer to his truck so I got under the trailer on my back to try and get it hooked up. It was at that moment I realized the position I put myself in. I was in the middle of the woods in NH, lying flat on my back with $5500 cash in my pocket and two guys standing over me who I had just met. Not to mention my house was wide open too. Not good. I immediately got up and had one of the other guys get under the trailer and hook it up.

After they left I breathed a big sigh of relief and gave myself a huge kick in the ####### for putting myself in that position. Doing deals on Craigslist can be scary.

I once sold a car at midnight in the alley behind my apartmetn to about 4 Russian guys from CL.

A few hours after they left I came to my senses and thankfull that they were straight up Guys.

I'm listing Betsie today on CL so will keep this in mind. Hope I don't make the news.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I once sold a car at midnight in the alley behind my apartmetn to about 4 Russian guys from CL.

A few hours after they left I came to my senses and thankfull that they were straight up Guys.

I'm listing Betsie today on CL so will keep this in mind. Hope I don't make the news.

Dude, that's nuts!

You got lucky for sure.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Easy. You pull the trigger.

The Gowon needs to rethink his CL activities.

Yes, I do not touch Craig's List. I don't do anything that requires me to go and meet a stranger, that's just me. Might be a bit paranoid, but I like safe than sorry better.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Eek! I am going to look at a CL thing tonight

I've had people come over to our house for Craigslist things... not gonna lie, the "hope they don't want to kill me!" thing has run through my mind.

I was just on craigslist a while ago looking for a place to rent.. Eek! Now im scared

I used to own a 2nd home in New Hampshire where I also had two snowmobiles and a trailer. I decided to sell the snowmobiles and trailer so I put them on Craigslist for a good price, they were worth about 7K and I put them up for 6K. I had serious buyers within days. I agreed over the phone to a price of $5500 with a guy from New Brunswick, CA. I agreed to meet this guy at the house on the following Sat to show him the snowmobiles and finalize the sale. I asked a buddy to come with me, but he cancelled at the last minute. So I went alone with my dog.

The guy showed up on Sat morning at 7am with a buddy of his. He liked the snowmobiles and gave me $5500 cash. We had a problem hooking up the trailer to his truck so I got under the trailer on my back to try and get it hooked up. It was at that moment I realized the position I put myself in. I was in the middle of the woods in NH, lying flat on my back with $5500 cash in my pocket and two guys standing over me who I had just met. Not to mention my house was wide open too. Not good. I immediately got up and had one of the other guys get under the trailer and hook it up.

After they left I breathed a big sigh of relief and gave myself a huge kick in the ####### for putting myself in that position. Doing deals on Craigslist can be scary.

Guns. Buy guns.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Guns wouldn't make me feel safer. Quite the opposite.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Guns. Buy guns.

I just answered an add for guns on Craigslist, I'm going to meet the guy tonight on the railroad tracks.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Guns wouldn't make me feel safer. Quite the opposite.

Chicken.

I just answered an add for guns on Craigslist, I'm going to meet the guy tonight on the railroad tracks.

Brockton or Mattapan?

[Teddy B 17,252]

Brockton or Mattapan?

Blue Hill Ave. I'm thinking of looking at some rental apts. while I'm there.

Edited October 23, 2013 by Teddy B

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I've never had a problem with CL. I've bought and sold everything from cars to curtains on there. And holy moley, I bought a new phone off CL in LA and I am here to tell the tale. I'm vigilant and know a scam when I see one. If you're gullible, naive and a fool, you might be easy pickings.

There's something missing from this story, as others have noted.