jefnvk

Why do you think it is arbitrary?

Some people don't have texting plans. Some find it hard to type on small keyboards. Some can't understand things like "m8". Some simply have the preference of dealing with people they talk to before meeting.

I prefer email on CL, not texts. I've been harassed on CL, the harasser thinking that they'd get a better price. No flipping way I want them to have my phone number. Would you be fine with emailing me, or should I be forced to only communicate in your preferred method?

I hold the goods you want, if you want them, the sale is on my terms, not yours. I'm quite fine with you not buying if that doesn't suit your needs.

mstateglfr 

Sad response. Clearly an attempt to demean, but this thread is just full of odd.

You rant in a way where anyone who can type that much knows they are being divisive and will get contrary opinions, then you dismiss the responses with a flippant name call.


Good stuff, i enjoyed.

likewater

No, they should just shutup and sell their stuff any way they can. Call or text.

Nah, I'll just keep bugging them until they act right.

No, actually your response was sad and flippant, britney. Texting is easier for both parties, it's not a matter of opinion.

Divisive? The truth hurts I suppose.

It's arbitrary by nature. Like paying more for a cake that's half price at the store next door but I choose to pay more because "that's the way I like it". Makes sense.

I hold the money you want so the sale is on my terms. If your objective is to sell something, you accomodate. The customer is always right.

Talking before meeting does absolutely nothing, as outlined in my original post.

They actually don't have their reasons, as outlined in my original post.

If anyone is wasting their time, it's the moronic sellers that make such demands because they are cutting themselves out of a buyer pool because of their own stupidity thus taking longer to get rid of the items.

mstateglfr 

Of course its an opinion. Do you not have a grasp on the difference between fact and opinion?

When i have questions about a bike due to a bad description and single useless picture, id rather talk to the person instead of send huge texts.


When i sell a bike, i offer people the choice to text me or email me. 2/3 of the time i am emailed. So apparently 2/3 of the population is doing the more difficult thing, according to you. Yet they clearly prefer it.
Odd.

likewater

So it's an opinion that a smart phone is more capable than a razr? No. It isnt. Someone can have an opinion that they like the way the razr opens up, but both devices can be used to talk and text but one has many more capabilities than the other. Fact. Not opinion.

Texting offers you more freedom to do other things while communicating. Fact.

What people prefer is a non factor. The masses are asses.

mstateglfr 

For every one like you, there are others willing to dial numbers and simply speak. You are reducing the competition others would otherwise have to go up against for the product.

Your arbitrary boycott is called cutting off your nose to spite your face. Your principles didnt get you what you otherwise want and allows others a better chance tonget what you otherwise want.

likewater

Do you even read what you type?

By attempting to only accept calls even when some people can't do that and would rather text, that is reducing the chances of selling the items. Thus creating unnecessary competition with yourself.

Trying to only accept calls rather than texts is cutting off your nose to spite your face. You are reducing the amount of potential buyers because of some stupid demand, and lessening the chances of doing what you set out to do - sell the items.

Lay off the bong.

mstateglfr 

1- dont use a big word if you cant use it properly. Just noticed you misused a word i properly used in an earlier post. Less is more is sometimes best.

2- i gave you a real world example where its more convenient to talk rather than text.
Younhave now changed your argument from 'texting is always easier for both parties' to 'smart phones are more capable than razrs'. Im not playing that game.

jefnvk

Nah, there are others who hold money that want what I have, if I am selling something on CL don't come up with delusions of grandeur that you are my only possible lead. I have no obligation to conduct the sale on your terms, and it probably hurts me to do so. "Customer is always right" only applies to corporations, when it comes to CL it is simply "my way or the highway"

And talking before meeting lets me weed out wastes of time, who are more than likely going to offer me 20% of asking price and expect me to give them praise for being so "generous".

mstateglfr 

Yes, this is another possibility. It all depends on demand.
You assume there is little demand for a bike and my counter example assumes there is demand for a bike.

This is all hypothetical and so neither example is right or wrong.

So yeah, i read what you posted. I had to in order to post a very realiatic alternative.
There are buyers markets and sellers markets. There is high demand and low demand within each market.

To claim that the buyer is always right is either ignorance, inexperience, or being contrarian.

chopsteeks

Sellers who demand phone calls only for most part are not really desperate to sell their items. If it sells great.....otherwise. These sellers are really just screening out buyers with attitude....

likewater

1. I didn't misuse anything. You're lucky I don't send you an invoice for educating you.

2. There is no real world example where talking is better than texting. As I said before, you can't catch a large mouth bass and talk at the same time. You can, however, text somebody, put the phone down, reel in the fish, and pick the phone back up.

Youre clearly missing the point of the comparison.

Both a smartphone and a Razr can be used to talk and text. But one can do things the other could never do. It's not a matter of opinion, it's fact that a smart phone is more capable and better.

You're not "playing that game" because you know it's a losing one for you.

It's very simple - there's no reason one can articulate for wanting a regular orange vs an orange that washes your dishes for you after you eat it.
No, it's just common sense. Unless the seller is not interested in selling but rather having conversation with strangers.
Negative. All they are screening are potential buyers that will buy their stuff.

canklecat

So, you're saying you don't like people but you need to deal with them. As little as possible.

Sometimes an introvert, and even a misanthrope, has to take the Sheriff Ed Tom Bell philosophy:

Quote:

"I don’t want to push my chips forward and go out and meet something I don’t understand. You can say it’s my job to fight it but I don’t know what it is anymore. More than that, I don’t want to know. A man would have to put his soul at hazard. He would have to say, okay, I’ll be part of this world."

likewater

No, to see what I'm saying refer to my original post.

canklecat

But you do have time to refute every post everyone else makes. At length. So it's not that you don't have time. You just prefer to dictate the terms of communication to suit yourself.

I don't text much. Couple of times a month with friends to arrange a meet. An occasional tech support chat.

I'm not big on phone conversations either. But in real life voice phone is often quicker and more efficient. No need for follow up texts to get more detail or clarify context. Most of my voice phone calls take less than five minutes, often much less. No big involved conversation, even when making plans with friends. We save the conversation for when we get together.

likewater

Negative, it's that I can multi-task. I can do what I want and type at the same time. Simple.

In addition to everything I've said showing that texting is superior, often times people will forget questions they wanted to ask or points hey wanted to make while in the middle of the call having their attention diverted by what the seller is saying. THEN they remember another couple questions they wanted to ask but forgot to, so then they either need to call back again thus extending the inconvenience or, drum roll - text them - because one or both parties have moved on to doing something else now and no longer have time for another phone call.

canklecat

What sort of multi-tasking can you do while texting? Unless your occupation involves kick drum, soccer, walking, running, skating, stomping bugs or being Chuck Norris, you're probably not multi-tasking while texting.

You can multi-task while talking. Working people have done it for decades. But not texting.

Unless we're redefining multi-tasking as "dividing my attention between texting to avoid talking to a human being, and paying attention to traffic so I don't get run over or run over someone else." Which is what most people mean by multi-tasking. Often it involves applying mascara or shaving as well.

Sending out Morse Code while multi-tasking, possibly. Using voice command-to-text, sure. Not really texting as most folks would call it. More like dictation to a bot.

You haven't shown that texting is superior. You've argued that you prefer texting. That's fine. No need for convoluted justifications.

likewater

Incorrect. My posts clearly show that texting is superior.

You cannot carry on a conversation while doing the things that you can do while texting. It's a matter of intermittence. Fact.

CliffordK

I actually like both e-mail and calls.

E-Mail to get info.
Calls to arrange a meet/pickup/time.

Also E-Mail for odd hours, or no answer on phone.

cb400bill

Stop with the personal attacks and ankle biting.

highrpm

I am on craigslist a lot. Mostly selling. I prefer texting. But to me there is a clear trend in the types of folks who are comfortable with it.
The younger the person, the more comfortable they are texting since they text their friends all day anyway.
Older folks are not used to texting as much, and they also can't see their screens as easily and can't type as quickly on the smartphone keyboard, so they want to call instead.
I can see a clear trend as you go through the ages from folks in their teens, into the 20s, 30s, and older. In my experience, folks in their late 40s and up are much less comfortable with texting.

Cyclist0084

hurtmypony

Despite your distaste for calls, you might want to try a few as they may improve your Craig's List sales and purchases. You seem haughty and unaccommodating in written form. Maybe you are more amiable speaking?

Ridefreemc

I guess you want to bend everyone to your way of thinking about this. I thought your post ended in a question. BTW, what is "britney?"

Phil_gretz

So, this is a pretty sad thread that exposes generational differences in communication styles, and belies a high level of cynicism, self indulgence and disrespect on the part of the OP.


Many of life's most meaningful conversations occur on the phone by necessity. Texting is a lesser substitute, but is good for communicating quick facts. For nuance...not so much.


I have found that some of my very best Craigslist transactions have resulted from phone calls, questions and interaction. You never know what other things the other party has to sell, wants to buy, or would be willing to give away to a good home. You just don't know until you take a few moments to get to know them and to ask. I'm able to help buyers over the phone because I can get to know what they're looking for, how they intend to use it, and other things relevant to the sale. Often I steer them away from the bike(s) that I'm selling, because it's not the right answer for their needs. Talking with one another brings this out.


My advice to the OP is to re-think his position on this...