Adventures in Craigslisting

I bought a loft bed off of Craigslist last week. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the home, the bed wasn't disassembled so I had to go upstairs with the seller to take it apart. The seller wasn't very friendly and could easily be placed in the uptight category but it was going to take a while to take down the bed so I tried to engage her in some friendly banter to lighten the atmosphere.

I asked her if she sold a lot on Craigslist. If she ever got any weirdos, etc..
"Well, sometimes I do worry about the security aspect," she said.
"Me too! I just read this really creepy article about a Craigslist murder! It was just a routine sale and the seller let the person into their house and then they just KILLED them. A total stranger. Can you imagine!"
She looked at me in shock. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked horrified.
"Ha! Now you think I'm going to kill you! I swear I'm not. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything, but it was just such a shocking story!"
"Let's not talk about this."
"You're right. I'm sorry. This is pretty creepy. Here I am, a total stranger in your house talking about murders."

That's one ice-breaker that I won't be trying again. If she was uptight before, she was stone cold now. We took the bed apart as quickly as possible and she got me the heck out of there. Now I'm not the murdering type, but as I watched her scurry back into her home and snap the door shut, I couldn't help but smirk that she thought I had it in me. My conversational skills may be lacking, but I make up for it in general creepiness.

Comments

Shiloh said…
Now I'm all worried about craigslisting!!! Was there really a Craigslist Murder???
Nancy Sabina said…
I sorta despise those online abbreviations - but if I didn't this would totally be one post that I responded to with a "ROFL"
Sarah said…
I just read an article in The Economist about all kinds of nefarious activity resulting from the trusting souls who live on Craigslist. And yes, the most disturbing one was this from October 2007:

"A 24-year-old Minnesota woman was murdered after responding to an ad for a nanny job. According to reports, the 19-year-old male suspect, in custody and charged with second-degree murder, had lured the victim with the ad and allegedly shot her once she was inside his house."

Delightful.
Anonymous said…
*shudder*
Rachel said…
And now there is one loft bed-less person in LA who will no longer be using Craig's List.
John said…
doesn't everyone just assume they will be killed during a craigslist transaction? if you escape with your purchase and your life intact, it's just gravy.
Jessica said…
SCARY! Craigslist does kinda creep me out...
Sarah said…
So true, John! I always send Spike the address of where I am going and call him before and after pickup so that if anything happens they know where to look. I like that I live in an apartment as well because when people come to buy stuff from me I just meet them at the front gate with the item and they never even know which apartment I live in.
Colleen said…
Ha ha! Way funny post. Yeah, I'm a little leery of letting strangers in my house unless the spouse is home. He's a bit more formidable than I am.
Colleen said…
...but is he more formidable than you?
Anonymous said…
this one really cracked me up. "...I make up for in general creepiness." HA!
Nancy Ross said…
Some people have no sense of humor. I'd champion your newly found axe-murderwomanship - it gives you an edge.
The Wiz said…
OK - HOW do you make murder funny? It's a gift.

Yeah, she probably is blogging this right now - "then she came in and started talking about how there was this Craigslist murder, and I swear she had this look in her eyes...I got her out of there as soon as possible, and I am NEVER using Craigslist again."
Anonymous said…
LOL! Yeah, I would so do the same thing. I have a nice habit of saying exactly the wrong thing. :)
Karen said…
That's hysterical! And so totally something that I would do. I'm great at eating my foot apparently.
ashley marie said…
Okay I love reading your blog because you totally crack me up -- you're such a witty writer :)

Anyway, imagine my surprise when you left me a comment on MY blog! I couldn't believe my eyes.

I must agree that I was not rockin out my solo while sitting on the couch. Background info: my greedy brother wouldn't let me have a turn on the drums so I was singing my 5th solo in a row. I sat down after number 3. Rockin the mic isn't nearly as fun as the drums. I hope, by the way, that you get that phone call to come play. You're life will be changed.
Val said…
That is too funny. My husband always is buying and selling on craigslist. I always worry about it. I mean one day he has one of the guys come to our house, he becomes "friends" with him. The nesxt thing you know he's fixing the guy's car and the guy is checking out our AC problem. Hello!
I myself have only tried to sell some of my baby stuff-pack n' play etc. and told the person to meet at a Costco parking lot. Daylight and lots of witnesses. But the person never showed.
Perla said…
Oh, that is so funny in a very creepy way! We have a rule that nobody can come pick stuff up if my man isn't home.
Perla said…
p.s. i wish i knew what a loftbed was
Sarah said…
Perla, here's a link to a picture of the same bed I bought. Mine didn't come with the attatched tent underneath, but we've just hung blankets to turn it into a tent and it's just as good. It's an awesome bed and Pixie pretty much thinks I walk on water for buying her a bed with a slide attached.
S'mee said…
I can see the headlines now...

UPI: Update, Pasadena, CA. Paranoid Craigslist seller bludgeoned to death over a matter of hours allegedly by woman best described as a "stick figure with small toddlers attached." Witnesses report that it took the small woman "several hours" to finish the victim off. "Those bunky boards are HEAVY!" explained the alleged stick figure as she was hauled off to the hoosegow by local police.
Mr. M said…
Huh. I use craigslist all the time and have had many positive experiences. The only downside I've experienced is all the FLAKES (no offense, Hollywood) who never show up like they say they will. - Mrs. M
Lisa said…
I say she got what she deserved for not having the bed taken down and ready to go. I mean seriously, she's lucky you were the one buying it and not some creepy guy!
Irishmama said…
This is just so dang funny. I wish you had a secret camera on you so we could see her face.......or even your face when you realized what you just said. Thanks for keeping me laughing.
Enduring a little creepiness for buying and selling on craigslist is WORTH IT! I've gotten so much good stuff off there. But is it worth the risk of being murdered?...hold on...I'm considering it.
Anonymous said…
I needed a good laugh. Next time she sells something, she might have it taken apar and put out side in front.
Anonymous said…
Great info about craiglist!. Planning to work hard to sell products on craigslist.

Thanks

Popular Posts