Sellers of CRTs on Craigslist not replying

[Brad251]

It seems that at least half the time I send a message to someone on Craigslist that I am interested in a CRT TV they are selling, they don't respond. I suspect that this has to do with the questions I am asking about the condition of the TV, if they can help me move it, etc. Here is a message I sent to a seller about their Panasonic CRT two days ago:

"Hello, I was interested in your your Panasonic CRT you listed on Craigslist and had a few questions. I live in Buffalo and just wanted to get some information about the TV before I travel to Rochester:

Are you able to help me move the TV into my car?

Would you be able to give me the model number on the back of the TV?

Would I be able to test the TV out with my video games system?

Do you notice any warping in the picture when viewing content?

Is there any screen burn in (permanent color spots on the screen)?

Do the corners of the picture look blurry when viewing content?

Is there anything wrong with the TV and picture at all that I didn't mention?

Thank you."

I know this is a lot of questions but I like to get as much information about the TV as I can before I travel up to 80 miles away to get it and I feel that these are fair questions. Do you think if a person is not willing to answer these questions, they are not worth buying from? Do you think I should shorten my list of questions?

[tacoguy64]

Even though you are going to be traveling 80 miles the most I would ask anyone over an email is if there is anything wrong with the tv. If they say no then I will take a chance on something I want. Even if I have to travel 80 miles. You can inspect the tv when you get there and go on with negotiations from there.

[Brad251]

Even though you are going to be traveling 80 miles the most I would ask anyone over an email is if there is anything wrong with the tv. If they say no then I will take a chance on something I want. Even if I have to travel 80 miles. You can inspect the tv when you get there and go on with negotiations from there.

I can understand that. I have to ask if they are able to help me move the TV into my car because I can't do it on my own. I think it is also important to ask the person if I can test the TV out so there are no surprises when I get there. I ask for the model number because I need to made sure the TV is a non-HD CRT with component inputs.

[tacoguy64]

Yes asking for those things is fine too. You should know if you are going to need a buddy to come and help. From my experiences using craigslist, people sometimes arent really on top of their sells and or want to just get rid of things in the most hassle-less way possible. This means asking too many questions can potentially turn them away.

[Brad251]

This means asking too many questions can potentially turn them away.

That is what I figured.

[Josh128]

They're like deer, they spook easy...

[Ikaruga11]

Do you think if a person is not willing to answer these questions, they are not worth buying from?

If they aren't going to save you the hassle by answering your questions, then they aren't worth buying from unless the price is cheap or free and you're dead-set on having that particular CRT.

Do you think I should shorten my list of questions?

Yes and make them easier to understand.

[Brad251]

Do you think I should shorten my list of questions?

Yes and make them easier to understand.

Can you give me some suggestions? I feel like my questions are easy to understand. How would you have worded my questions?

[mvsfan]

i usually try to remember that many people on craigslist dont know shit about their Tvs. they are just trying to get rid of something thats taking up space.

I just ask wether i can test it first.

most of The rest of the stuff you can look up with the model number if they will give you that.

[Brad251]

i usually try to remember that many people on craigslist dont know shit about their Tvs. they are just trying to get rid of something thats taking up space.

I just ask wether i can test it first.

most of The rest of the stuff you can look up with the model number if they will give you that.

This is all true but most of my questions were regarding whether there are any defects in the picture and only the seller can give me that information.

[Guspaz]

The seller probably has no idea: that thing has probably been sitting unused for a long time, and they want to get rid of it. Asking them so many questions is a hassle to the seller, so they're probably going to ignore you and wait for somebody who less trouble. They're not selling PVMs, they're trying to make a buck off an old piece of junk instead of tossing it on the curb.

[Brad251]

The seller probably has no idea: that thing has probably been sitting unused for a long time, and they want to get rid of it. Asking them so many questions is a hassle to the seller, so they're probably going to ignore you and wait for somebody who less trouble. They're not selling PVMs, they're trying to make a buck off an old piece of junk instead of tossing it on the curb.

I agree with you and I guess I will have to ask less questions. It is just unfortunate because it is also a hassle for me to have to drive to the person's place and test out the TV with no guarantee that the picture will be okay. I am also doing the seller a favor by taking a big hulking CRT of their hands.

[Ikaruga11]

I would probably ask the seller those questions because if they don't answer it means the TV is either in bad shape, don't know how to check for those things, or is too lazy to reply. Either way, it's a sign they are not worth buying from.

Is e-mail the only means of contacting them? Try texting or calling them. How long has it been since you sent that e-mail? I would resend it for good measure and wait a few days.

[FinalBaton]

I always ask 3 questions max in my first message to the seller.

If he replies, and seem interested in doing business with me, then I ask the rest of my questions in the next message or two(or preferably by phone).

[Ed Oscuro]

3 questions sounds sensible.

Can you help move the TV?
Does it work good?
Do you know the brand and model number?

- that's all I'd ask for starters. I wouldn't even bother with all that convergence and focus stuff; you know that's going to show up when you bring along your cheap (so it's no loss if you get jacked) video test source and then you'll have to decide what to do then. Like, I didn't even look carefully at your list when writing this post out at first, but I knew you probably threw "screen burn" in there. Realistically speaking, it's rare that consumer TVs have screen burn on them. Essentially, I'd forget about that. I mean, I brought some PVM home and found it had a chip out of the coating on the front. It's probably annoying almost all the time, it's the kind of thing you wouldn't get asking somebody questions from afar, and it could have happened while moving the screen to my car.

[austin532]

How big is the TV you plan to buy? Most SD TV's 27" or less are usually doable with one person as they don't have all of that extra crap in them that HD CRT's have. I usually just ask what condition the TV is in, if there is anything wrong with it, was it a main TV or spare, and what model number it is.

To me I'm more concerned about condition. If the TV has some geometry issues or brightness problems, those can usually be fixed in the service menu. Where as if the TV has scuffs and scratches, those usually can't be fixed.

All you can really go by is the pictures and what they say. If it's looks great and they say it's great then it usually is. Also if it's owned by a woman I hate to say it but it's usually in better condition with less hours on it than if a guy owned it.

Texting is always faster as email is kind of an old fashion thing now and takes too long.

[tjstogy]

Even in 2016, most first conversations are best had in person, and if not possible, then on the phone. Emailing is like the butt hole of communicating... Should be a last resort and it usually stinks. Call the guy.

[tjstogy]

Btw I bought my pvm 20l5 for $60 from some dude who had it in a closet because it was his brothers who used to do security. He didn't know shit about the monitor and if I asked him these questions he wouldnt have replied. Call, call, call. Forget emailing forget texting. If it's a good deal, buy it. If it's expensive, ask questions on the phone.

[Brad251]

Even in 2016, most first conversations are best had in person, and if not possible, then on the phone. Emailing is like the butt hole of communicating... Should be a last resort and it usually stinks. Call the guy.

A lot of the time, people listing CRTs in my area don't list a number and can only be contacted through email. In this case, should I just send them an email asking them if I can call them about the TV?

[Brad251]

How big is the TV you plan to buy? Most SD TV's 27" or less are usually doable with one person as they don't have all of that extra crap in them that HD CRT's have.

It is 27" but I am a smaller guy with back problems. I am strong enough to lift the TV but it is really hard on my back trying to get the thing in and out of my small car.

[TransatlanticFoe]

Does it work?
Does it have its remote control (good luck doing anything with a lot of 90s CRTs if it doesn't have it)?

If you get someone that replies, by all means check that there are no colour blotches (literally the only reason anyone in my family ever binned a CRT through the 90s and early 00s) and get make/model. But bear in mind people may not even be able to test them beyond a snowstorm!

Personally find something properly local that you can literally pop round the corner and check out instead of going 80 miles for something which might only have an RF input and the whole screen is pink. Most people just want rid for little money, so a tonne of questions and organising a viewing is too much hassle for the asking price.

[BazookaBen]

The most I've ever asked about a CRT on craigslist is:

1) What's the model number
2)Will you take $10 for it.

The answer to number 2 is usually yes.

[satstation]

Unless the seller explicitly states otherwise, I think it's safe to assume it's working. CRT TVs last a long time and of the 8 or so that I own I only have one that doesn't power on.

[ELabit]

If I was Joe Schmo selling a CRT on CL I wouldn't answer your email either

[mvsfan]

out of The 2 Crts i bought on Craigslist both work great.

I got a sony kv32fs120 with component for $20. I took a chance on it.

I got a JVC av36s33 36" with component for $25. The Jvc tv is 800 TVL and has really good geometry. I got lucky in that they had 2 good pics on craigslist of the tv turned on and working.

[KevinDDR]

You're just asking too many questions. The kind of person who's listing a CRT on Craigslist is not likely to be a display connoisseur. Asking about help lifting it into your car is reasonable, but usually they will want you to do it yourself (sorry, you'll have to find someone to help). Asking anything more than that just makes them likely to think you're a hassle and not respond. You might have to drive quite far for nothing; it sucks but that's just how it is.

[Lord of Pirates]

Typically I try to keep my opening email to asking if X is still available and slowly working my way along from there. There's also CL being what it is. Sometimes people on CL drop off the face of the planet for no reason.

[mikejmoffitt]

If you're moving to Rochester, NY, don't bother - I've got way too many CRTs and would love to unload one on a Shmupper.

PM sent - Unlike the Craigslist sellers I'm happy to answer an obsessive number of questions.

[mvsfan]

Asking if an item is still available as your first question is the easiest way to get yourself ignored on craigslist because thats what all the scammers do.

have you ever tried to sell anything on craigslist? they will fill your email with that question if you have emails on.

[Lord of Pirates]

Asking if an item is still available as your first question is the easiest way to get yourself ignored on craigslist because thats what all the scammers do.

have you ever tried to sell anything on craigslist? they will fill your email with that question if you have emails on.

Many times, and spam emails never ask if it's available. I don't know how it is in your area but, it's a very valid question in mine unless the listing says they'll take it down when it's gone.