Classic & Vintage - Craigslist Flagging

Hey Guys. I've been buying, fixing, and selling road bikes on my spare time for a while now. I usually sell about 3 bikes a month. Just recently I had new competition just down the street from me. I have a main job and just see this as extra saving cash. He on the other hand decided to sell used bikes for a living. He bombards the bike section with his bike ads everyday. He uses posting and flagging software. All of this and the constant overposting is against CL rules.

I usually only post a single ad each day (Unless it's flagged or ghosted), and that usually lasts a week if not sold before. He doesn't like competition and constantly flags any bike ad that I place with the same zip code. He copied my ad layout and the use of HTML special characters to make his ads standout too. Just recently he took it a step further and searched my number and flagged every one of my ads. Pissed the hell out of me.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/8793/cladj.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/28/cladj.png/)

I'd love to give this guy a taste of his own medicine. I want him to feel how annoying it is, even if it's for a day. I know all his ads will be right back up tomorrow. Any of you guys willing to help flag his ads?

These are all his ads (with bold, lines, stars etc.) http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bid/ (http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bid/)

If he is that close to you, why don't you pay him a face to face visit?

In before the lock.

1. Don't list your zip code. I often use nearby landmarks instead, that make sense to locals.

2. Don't list your name or phone number. And if you do, mix it up with numbers and words, like Eight 6 four one nine 03

3. Change up your background. Don't use the same front door, garage door, whatever.

4. Build a reputation around here, and you could probably get a lot of help.

1. Don't list your zip code. I often use nearby landmarks instead, that make sense to locals.

2. Don't list your name or phone number. And if you do, mix it up with numbers and words, like Eight 6 four one nine 03

3. Change up your background. Don't use the same front door, garage door, whatever.

4. Build a reputation around here, and you could probably get a lot of help.

That's exactly what I've been doing lately. I changed my number to text letters mixed with numbers And taking pictures in different locations. I dropped the zip code. I've never had this problem until this guy came along. I never felt the need to do any of this beforehand. I've been here since 08, but really only do reading and check out peoples build threads. Never really posted other than to introduce myself.

Thanks for the tips.

I think Craigslist is the only site left on the interwebs that doesn't use a capcha to validate whether it is a real person or a program doing the dirt.

Don't quit your day job...

These are all his ads (with bold, lines, stars etc.)

how are you able to see his ads in your account info? :twitchy:


you'll probably get better help in the CL help forums: https://forums.craigslist.org/?areaID=7&forumID=3

Don't flag the Spamalot, it put's the ad back on top. Bare in mind that every time your flagged, your back on top when you re-post your ad:)

how are you able to see his ads in your account info? :twitchy:


you'll probably get better help in the CL help forums: https://forums.craigslist.org/?areaID=7&forumID=3

That is my account info. I was showing how my ads are constantly flagged. I changed it a bit and bolded the link to his ads.

I don't understand how those forums work. The layout is so weird. Nothing like this or other normal type forums.

Maybe you can use this to your advantage. You include a disclaimer that you are one of the most flagged bicycle sellers in the area as the other sellers can't compete with your quality and prices so all they can do is flag and try and steer you to their sorry a$$ listings..:lol:

Just strait up list better quality stuff and good describtions and no issues:)

Lol at all the replies. I just made a new account. I'm getting flagged on 4 different accounts. Just today I've had my ad flagged down about 10 times. I'm gonna give the new account a try.

Just a try idea show us some nice pics of the bike I know the guys here are harsh as hell but they will be honest and give a lot more appriasel wise than any place on the web.

You can see my ad here. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/3527949347.html

You can see my ad here. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/3527949347.html

^ already flagged.. that's pretty wack..

i'd still recommend you try to get help on CL forums.. also would recommend NOT POSTING TITLES IN ALL CAPS

there are creative ways you can waste the guys time if you are motivated but i'm assuming you're talking about the guy who runs ADOPTABIKELA and it looks like he's got plenty of time to spare :lol:

+1 Stop with the all CAPS.

Stop with the boxes, stars, etc. in your titles. Makes you more of a target.

$450 for an aluminum Schwinn, wow!

Craigs List is free, with free comes the goofiness: flaky buyers (and sellers), scammers, and flaggers. Don't worry, once ebay takes over C/L and makes it fee based, most of these problems will go away.

Don't post all in caps, use special characters, or try to use slick sales language. They'll make you look like a full-time CL seller. Just a low key, detailed, informative ad with a fairly generic location....

the fact that your car part ads are getting flagged makes me think maybe it's not just your neighbor, it could be the fact you post like a "dealer" and are selling "by owner", but honestly i couldn't say since I haven't seen any of your ads

Don't post all in caps, use special characters, or try to use slick sales language. They'll make you look like a full-time CL seller. Just a low key, detailed, informative ad with a fairly generic location....

+1


It's a shame that you probably will have to do things to avoid detection by this flag-Wacko, and even then, it's likely he'll use his program to clear the decks for his own ads.

I have only been flagged only a couple of times out of many hundreds of ads posted, but I still found it very annoying. :notamused:

I find it even more annoying that Craigslist will not take even the most rudimentary measures to prevent this sort of abuse, but they'll expend their technical and legal resources to prevent buyers from searching simultaneously across multiple locales.:rolleyes:

I just flagged this thread. You're not asking anything about classic or vintage bicycles. You're asking for this forum to help you sell your stuff on CL. CL is free and you get what you pay for.

I just flagged this thread. You're not asking anything about classic or vintage bicycles. You're asking for this forum to help you sell your stuff on CL. CL is free and you get what you pay for.

But I thought this hobby was all about the flip. You mean there's more?

I thought it took more than 1 'flag' to take down an ad. There are some horrific offenders in the NY Metro CL sites. Same crap every day, multiple postings, no prices, flagrant violations of CL policy, but the ads endure.

I would suggest contacting the "other guy", unless you are the other guy, and having a fair and reasonable discussion with him/her.
Next contact Craigslist and get active in the Craigslist forums for assistence.
Next just drop out of Craigslist for awhile since to you it is just a hobby and maybe the situation will take care of itself.
Or just migrate your hobby selling to ebay where you can have a little more control over your auctions at a higher price.

Apart from your craigslist hobby business, what sort of C&V relevant bikes do you have as your "keepers" ?

And as a side note, the last two bikes I sold on craigslist were re-posted on craigslist for double or more what I sold them for, with one still going unsold for several months, and the other probably destined for the same fate. More power to the flippers and re-sellers if they can do better than I could with those bikes, I just got tired of the CL games and am now just working on my own and the immediate family's bikes.

YMMV

I thought it took more than 1 'flag' to take down an ad. There are some horrific offenders in the NY Metro CL sites. Same crap every day, multiple postings, no prices, flagrant violations of CL policy, but the ads endure.

It does take several 'flags' to take down a CL ad, but from distinct I/P addresses.
There are programs available to renew an I/P automatically, so that one flagger can take down multiple legitimate ads quite easily.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/8793/cladj.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/28/cladj.png/)


- Like someone else mentioned, it usually takes a lot more than one flag to flag a post.It looks like you are posting a lot of craigslist ads. I think craigslist has some sort of ranking system set up where once you've been flagged for a few ads, it doesn't take as many flags to take one of your ads down.

- If you are posting that many ads, maybe you should be posting in the craigslist by-dealer sections, instead of the by-owner sections. "OEM KITS" cross posted across multiple categories etc sounds like business stuff to me.

- It looks like you have a "unique" posting style with the ascii characters and all-caps. In my opinion, that style makes people think you're a business or possibly a spammer since I've seen a lot of apartment listings like that. But people are probably used to seeing your ads and they remember the style, so they may just flag them when they get tired of seeing them.

I don't think any single person has a personal vendetta against you. If your listings are consistently getting marked as spam, maybe people browsing craigslist think they are spam?

- Like someone else mentioned, it usually takes a lot more than one flag to flag a post.It looks like you are posting a lot of craigslist ads. I think craigslist has some sort of ranking system set up where once you've been flagged for a few ads, it doesn't take as many flags to take one of your ads down.

- If you are posting that many ads, maybe you should be posting in the craigslist by-dealer sections, instead of the by-owner sections. "OEM KITS" cross posted across multiple categories etc sounds like business stuff to me.

- It looks like you have a "unique" posting style with the ascii characters and all-caps. In my opinion, that style makes people think your a business or possibly a spammer since I've seen a lot of apartment listings like that. But people are probably used to seeing your ads and they remember the style, so they may just flag them when they get tired of seeing them.

I don't think any single person has a personal vendetta against you. If your listings are consistently getting marked as spam, maybe people browsing craigslist think they are spam?

^ The OP said he typically posts just one ad per day - Hardly a spammer.
- And though the flagging may not stem from a "personal" vendetta, quite possibly it is a single person, doing it for advantage.

"special HTML" - you may be getting auto-flagged by CL's software. It's happened to me.

I know what I'd do, but it would get flagged here.
I doubt he'd bother your ads again, though.

This is not a CL problem, or a C&V problem.
It's a human behavior problem, and that behavior can be corrected.

Forget about his market, which is your market.

Look instead to his supply chain, storage, and ability to operate.
Inhibiting these may change his behavior, just be ready to deal with the consequences.

It sounds like he's going to flag you no matter what you do.
CL has no rules governing poor behavior. We can't get dealers off the private owner lists, here.
CL is based, somewhat, on the honor system, which just doesn't exist any more.

The only solution is to pose as a buyer, and impact his supply, storage, and operations.

"special HTML" - you may be getting auto-flagged by CL's software. It's happened to me.


★★★★★I've used them dozens of times but never got flagged by any SW from Craigslist.★★★★★

seriously, you might want to have your computer scanned properly first.
you never know what's helping that rapid responses.
not hurting to do it, if you are capable.
good luck and sorry to hear hassle.

+1 on building a good reputation here in C+V.
will help you in long term.

Thanks for all the tips guys. The reason why there are so many ads there is because I kept reposting after they got flagged. The car parts are just stuff I have laying around from an old truck I sold. The HID kit was from a motorcycle I sold and the new owner wanted the OEM bulbs. Most of my ads don't have special characters. Now I only use them in the auto parts section. Most other sections are flagged right away. I used special characters for years and was the only one in the bike section for a long time, until this guy copied me and started flagging anyone else who used them. Somehow he's the only one able to get away with special characters now.