nyctreeman
ArboristSite Operative
I know many of you have made major scores on Craigslist and lived to tell about it, but for some reason, maybe it's Karma, my experiences with Craigslist fall into two categories:
1 - I miss the really good deal that was legit, either before I can respond, and sometimes in transit.
2 - I wander off into the unknown, down a rabbit hole to find mysterious and strange creatures.
I've come to the conclusion that people who sell chainsaws and equipment on Craigslist are approximately 25% crackheads who need money fast - 10% legitimate good deals by honest folk - 25% complete and utter morons who honestly do not lead you on a worthless trek deliberately, and 40% people who know full well the chainsaw has serious problems but hope that you won't notice, and probably have been kicked off ebay for misrepresenting their items for sale.
My latest two fiascoes were the hour long trip to buy the Stihl 051 in good running condition for $150, only to discover that the redneck fairy had visited it the night before and boogered it nearly beyond salvation.
Purchased it for $60 because it had a relatively new bar with 404 chain, and I figured why waste the trip.
The last one was a young guy with a Stihl 036 in good running condition for $200, only to discover that the saw had been 'nudged', probably by his pickup truck tire, leaving the front portion of the gas tank assembly twisted and cracked, and starting it I immediately knew the compression was not where it should be, upon pulling the muffler, I saw the piston mildly scored with one ring impacted, although it did run. I offered him $100 as saw that needed fixing, he wouldn't budge under $150. The trip was somewhat worthwhile though, he also had a Stihl 044 in pretty good condition other than the smoked piston and cylinder, and I took that for $125.
The good deal on a good running chainsaw seems to elude me on Craigslist, but at least I haven't been kidnapped by hillbillies on meth and forced to turn over the PIN on my bank card.
(yet)
1 - I miss the really good deal that was legit, either before I can respond, and sometimes in transit.
2 - I wander off into the unknown, down a rabbit hole to find mysterious and strange creatures.
I've come to the conclusion that people who sell chainsaws and equipment on Craigslist are approximately 25% crackheads who need money fast - 10% legitimate good deals by honest folk - 25% complete and utter morons who honestly do not lead you on a worthless trek deliberately, and 40% people who know full well the chainsaw has serious problems but hope that you won't notice, and probably have been kicked off ebay for misrepresenting their items for sale.
My latest two fiascoes were the hour long trip to buy the Stihl 051 in good running condition for $150, only to discover that the redneck fairy had visited it the night before and boogered it nearly beyond salvation.
Purchased it for $60 because it had a relatively new bar with 404 chain, and I figured why waste the trip.
The last one was a young guy with a Stihl 036 in good running condition for $200, only to discover that the saw had been 'nudged', probably by his pickup truck tire, leaving the front portion of the gas tank assembly twisted and cracked, and starting it I immediately knew the compression was not where it should be, upon pulling the muffler, I saw the piston mildly scored with one ring impacted, although it did run. I offered him $100 as saw that needed fixing, he wouldn't budge under $150. The trip was somewhat worthwhile though, he also had a Stihl 044 in pretty good condition other than the smoked piston and cylinder, and I took that for $125.
The good deal on a good running chainsaw seems to elude me on Craigslist, but at least I haven't been kidnapped by hillbillies on meth and forced to turn over the PIN on my bank card.
(yet)
I was impressed to say the least.
He also told me that him and a couple of friends go through 1200 feet of chain a week, which is 3 400" rolls.... pretty sure the dude was on something. Well see what tonight brings...
He said they all run except for the 2 mini parts saws, and the cases go with them. He says do you want to start them? Uh...no lets just load them up. He is an old retired guy who lives alone and he winters in Florida and doesn't need the money but is sure the local thieves will just break in and steal them while he is gone, it happens every year in his neighborhood, a very remote location, can't see the garage from the road, so he would rather see them go somewhere more secure. Would rather give them away than to come home, find them gone and be all pissed off. He takes his good saws with him. I thanked him profusely, I was out of work and had no income at the time. Unemployment had run out and Social security had not started.
