Can you dictate selling terms on Craig's List (which I call Poor Man's EBAY)?

Question

I happened to see something for sale on Craig's List and the seller posted terms of sale. Seems like they don't want to sell it very badly. Too many rules!.........

Before responding to this post, you must –

1)be a SERIOUS buyer. Don’t just e-mail and ask if this is still available if you have no intention on following up on it. If you ARE a serious buyer, when responding, please include your location (you don’t have to give a specific address, just the general area of your residence). If you don't provide this information, I will not respond to your inquiry as I only deal locally.

2)cash only – personal checks, money orders or credit cards will NOT be accepted as payment.

3)You must be willing to come and pick it up in person yourself. I am not shipping it, or bringing it to your residence or place of employment, or turning it over to a third party.

Answer 1

The seller can have whatever terms he wants.  If you don't agree with the terms, then don't buy the item.  Now, wasn't that simple?

Answer 2

Yup - It is a poor man's EBAY.  Its FREE!  Why wouldn't a seller be able to dictate the terms of selling their item?  Craigslist is not like E-Bay were there are some protections against fraudulent transactions (not perfect protections, just SOME protection) so a seller has to be real careful in accepting checks.  And most people can't accept credit cards anyway.

Most of the transactions on Craigslist are cash anyway.  I don't know why they even bother putting that in the decription.

Answer 3

well on CL you get a lot of BS offers and a lot of calls and no shows... I have filled up my house with things bought from CL and besides a bum laptop its all been good to me...  and yes pay in cash and pay less..

Answer 4

There are no rules about selling on Craig's List other than it can't be illegal (like drug paraphernalia) or what would be reasonably considered immoral (e.g. pornography). The seller is calling the shots, not the buyer.