Craigslist posters have gone nuts.....

That’s what I see, too. I have no idea what’s going on, but I haven’t seen a real bargain in a year. Seems like everyone wants current retail price for their 40 year old “used to work real good” whatever.

I’m thinkin’ I’ll have to look for bargains elsewhere.

-- Jim Maher, Illinois

I think, to some extent, Craigslist has gone the way of eBay. It has become so popular that folks know they can overprice an item and still have a good chance of some not-so-savvy buyer jumping on it. There are still bargains to be had, but they are harder and harder to find.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

I’ve observed the same thing. Prices approaching and in some cases exceeding retail prices of new for used gear.

I think shows like Hardcore Pawn, Pawn Stars and Storage Wars are to blame. Money and numbers get tossed around like it’s Monopoly money. I’ve seen valuations given on some of these shows that I know for a fact are complete horse-shit.

When I make an offer for something from a CL seller, I try to be fair and usually have to explain to them why their “gold plated” vintage widget is fairly common, what’s wrong with it, what I will need to do to make it usable and frankly it’s barely worth a third of what they want for it.

-- "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." - Mark Twain

i’ve noticed the same been looking for a jointer and everyone i see is covered in rust.if its that bad whats the motor and internals look like?

-- It don't have to be straight,it's just a suggestion!!!

Sometimes I laugh at the photos. Somebody is selling a woodworking machine, and you can barely see any of it under and behind piles of other junk. There’s no need for professional photography, but all least move some stuff, unless it is there to hide something.

-- "Too much hurry ruins the body. I'll sit easy … fan the spark" - I. Anderson

I hear ya! Dunno if people are stupid, lazy, ignorant, greedy, clueless, or some combination of those, but I absolutely agree with you. Things present so much better when they’re at least cleaned off.

I love the listings that read something like: 10” table saw – $250, no pic, no brand, no model, no description…..holy cow! I’d expect more from an average 10 year old….seriously!

It amazes me how many poorly listed items I see. Bad spelling is one thing, but I’ve gotten so I send corrections if they’ve grossly overstated the retail price or features on something…just in case they’re really didn’t know. Some thank me, some ignore me, some tell me off.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

There are a lot of people online these days…most are sane and rational, but as in all groups of people, a small percentage will always be crazy. Unfortunately, the Web makes it easy for sellers to reach that tiny niche who don’t know any better. In fact, in some industries it’s a targeted market. Kind of sad.

-- http://www.ezwoodshop.com

Sometimes I laugh at the photos. Somebody is selling a woodworking machine, and you can barely see any of it under and behind piles of other junk.

Yep. Nothing I see on CL baffles me more. Some jackass selling a TS and includes a pic of the machine with two full trash bags on top of it and a cardboard box in front of it. I mean really, it’d take 30 seconds to move the junk and make the saw presentable.
Then they have the balls to include “no lowball offers will be considered”. Well of course I always send them a ridculous offer- just to be a jerk. Something like “I know you’re asking $450 for the 113 saw, but I’ll be glad to give you $75…..but only if you include the trash bags and the box”.

Some people do not even know what they are selling. I saw a listing for a radial arm saw a while back and the photo was one of a miter saw. Severely worn out looking and obviously junk…yet they were asking $300. I emailed them and asked if they would take $350.

-- Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. http://www.FineArtBoxes.com

When I see these kinds of ads.
I have offered what I have instead.
Say the asking price for the tool for some ridiculas price for $200. I would offer to sell mine to them for $100. Of couse the actual item is probable ony with 1/5 to 1/4 of the orignal asking price. That way could turn around and double their money.

I don’t ever seem to get any taker.

-- I'll be a woodworker when I grow up. HHHOPKS

The cell phone age has created the biggest bunch of krummy photographers that I have ever seen! If I have something to sell, I am going to take the best pictures that I can so potential buyers can get a good idea of what I am selling and make their decision wisely. And then they send a low ball offer! :-(

Here is a new finding, which explains what is really going on.

Either that, or the rest of people are just stupid, lazy, ignorant, greedy, clueless, or some combination of those.

Oh great.

Looks like my level or grumpiness, is about to takeoff exponentiial confirming my kids’ testimony.

-- I'll be a woodworker when I grow up. HHHOPKS

It seems to me that the people selling this stuff don’t use it anymore, but want almost what they paid for it. Also, it seems EVERYTHING is barely, lightly, or seldom used, and in near new condition. I’ve replied to some of these posters that I could get the same tool “new” for just a bit more money and it would be under warranty. They usually reply with, “This is a new tool”. I just can’t believe it. The toughest thing to deal with is when they tell you the tools price new is 3 times what you know the true retail price is.

Saw a listing tonight for “two sawing machines” with a picture of one old and beat up circular saw. Now there’s a guy I want to buy a tool from.

-- John - Huntington Beach CA

I saw a listing for a new table saw, missing motor, for $150. As it turns out it was on of those tables from HF that you mount a circular saw under.

-- If the old masters had power tools, they would have used them. So get off your damn High Horse.