Collecting Money for Items Sold Online

You may believe in the honor system but not every one does, especially people on Craigslist. Since there is no binding agreement, other than word of mouth, there's not much you can do. Sending her a self addressed envelope is like giving her a free stamp. I highly doubt she will send you the money if she hasn't given it to you already. Personally, I would chalk it up to learning a lesson and move on. It's not worth the stress and aggravation. Next time, get the cash first, and then give the buyer the items. I don't trust anyone and that's how I operate because fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I'm sorry this happened but craigslist is a hit or miss. I would just let it go...

Too trusting...just don't do it again. But it would give me some satisfaction getting her on the phone and confronting her. Use someone elses phone when you call. I can just guess what kind of person what do this. Majority of people can be trusted....but I'm guessing her kind can't...as I already know.

Yeah there is nothing more you can do. Just don't do it again. I would stop at 10 bucks for an honor system item left on the porch. If I read your post correctly you were expecting to collect 75 bucks?? That's a lot to leave on your porch.

I would say it was a learning experience. Luckily it wasnt hundreds of dollars. I would try sending her the envelope with an invoice and what she owes. Whats it going to hurt? If she knows that you know where she lives maybe that will scare her a little.
If she has a website for her business, I might be inclined to leave some sort of negative comment on there. Especially if she is selling houses and is bad at math. Those two dont really go hand in hand.

Id say it was rather foolish of you to leave items worth money out for anyone to steal, and even more foolish to expect someone to leave the money under the mat. When selling things on Craigslist you should always agree to a meeting time and place and if it doesnt work for the other person, then thats too bad. You move on to the next or make arrangements that do work. By leaving things on your porch, or "on the curb" it just intices theives and promotes taking what isnt thiers. If you happend to come across a bike sitting on the sidewalk outside a home, would you assume it is free for the taking? It might be, but gosh, I sure wouldnt be the one to take it thinking they must want to give it away. Ive never understood why Craigslist people think this is a good idea. I think you learned a lesson.

I don't think you'll be effective at getting the rest of the money. You have no contract. She has evidently taken the goods and run. Her motto seems to be, "Whatever I can get away with is fair." There are always folks who work that way and who laugh at trusting people like you.

It's too bad. Keep believing in the honor system, but apply it to your Craigslist sales in a different way: make sure you describe your items exactly, so the buyers get exactly what they expect, and ask a fair price (and collect it in cash!).

And keep this woman's name and information somewhere, so you can be sure you never sell to her again.

Chalk it up to a learning experience. I would stop it's $15 bucks. Let it go and be wiser next time

ETA: No, you should not file a theft report. You do NOT know for sure, unless your home is video recorded what she took. If she admitted to taking more - great. But really - it is FIFTEEN DOLLARS, not fifteen HUNDRED dollars. Do you REALLY want to make a huge deal over this? Learn from it. You have probably spent more of your time finding her than the $30.

YES! People should be held accountable. However, karma is a b**ch and it WILL come her way again. So just don't EVER leave stuff out again.

I don't think you can collect the rest. Did you put a video camera on your porch? Do you have definite proof that she is the one that took all 5 items? Use this as a learning experience, next time be there in person.

Mark this one under lessons learned the hard way and move on. There is the slim possibility that someone else took the other items. And most likely, you will never get your money, no matter how many times you contact her. Which is a shame. I shop and sell on Craigslist often. And I have never had a bad experience, ever, but I have a few "rules" I try to follow. I try to only sell when hubby is home or my neighbor can keep an eye on me (and I try to buy in a public place or bring someone with me). I keep everything I am selling in my garage and open it when perspective buyer comes over. I never let anyone in my house, no matter how small the item, you have to go to my garage. Cash only. And it must all be in my hand before you get the item. It's a bummer this happened to you.

Hi, J.:
Chalk this up to experience.
1) You left yourself open to be taken
advantage of by not looking after your stuff.
2) Don't trust people to be honest.
3) Don't feel badly that you trusted her.
4) Next time set a boundary and hold to it.

Kisses and hugs.
You are a sweet, kind, person.
D.

Well, you could always threaten to report her and see what happens, but hopefully you've learned your lesson here. It's unfortunate, but now a days you can't trust too many people to do the right thing. We sell stuff on e-bay all the time, but we never ship anything until the money is in our acct.

so if she agrees that she took them tell her you will come to her house or work and get them from her on such and such date and do it. if she refuses to pay go to court and file. it will cost you though but it will teach her a lesson. you can get your 35 dollars in court fees when you win back from her.

Live and learn.....
NEVER deal with that particular woman again if you continue to sell things on craigslist!

Unless you had a contract with her in writing, you'd be hard pressed to prove that she owes you for anything more. (Maybe someone else took the other stuff, etc...)

I would chalk this up to experience. In person exchanges only, cash only, when it comes to Craigslist!

I like your S.A.S.E. idea...go for it. As a matter of fact, send to both home and work.

But if you don't hear back...then lesson learned....and what real estate person is bad at math??? And if she is bad at math, maybe she'll pay twice;)

you haver her address dont you, or at the least you have her business address, right ?well, then, go by her business office, with bill in hand,and wait for her. chances are good, if you show up at her business office, and just happen to mention to her secretary that you are there to collect an overdue bill from her boss, the "lady" in question will be only too happy to pay you what she owes you. ( trust me, the same thing happened to me, a Realtor owed me money for a cleaning job i did for her, then she tried to dodge paying me, which backfired on her when i showed up at her business office(well dressed, mind you)and told everyone who came in the door that this "lady" owed me money and i was there to collect)she was only too happy to pay me, if only so she didnt get glared at by the other people in her office .
K. h.