Bought Items on Craigslist advertised as everything working, they don't

[brock786]

Jurisdiction/Place: USA - California

Yesterday I bought 4 pieces of musical equipment for $475. I went over to test and buy the items. The seller did not have all the necessary gear in order to test every function so I tested as much as I could and asked if the rest of the functions worked. She responded in the affirmative and I also have her saying everything worked in writing via email. I get home and go to fully test the equipment only to find out there are several problems with each piece. Furthermore, one of the items was stuck in a rack because the screws were stripped and I was to come by today to pick up that last piece. After telling her about the problems with the equipment she will no longer give me the last piece and instead wants to send me a check for $75 as reparation even though this particular piece is worth far more than that. While we never discussed individual prices, we simply agreed all 4 pieces would be sold for $475. My question is, do I have any chance of being able to return the items for all my money? And if not can I at least obtain the last piece instead of the meager $75 she wants to offer me. What options do I have? To me it seems she has broken 3 laws: misrepresentation, breach of contract, and now theft. Thank you for your help!

 

[army judge]

She screwed you. That's what happens to people who buy junk from people they don't know. Of course she lied. That is what happens on that disgusting site. People also get killed using that site!!!

You can try and sue her. It'll take a lot of work, for a meager reward. You won't get money if you win. You'll just get a paper saying she should pay you. Then the fun begins. You have to collect the judgment. That is a all but impossible.

You've let her screw you. Remember, kindergarten. You didn't make the trade, until you both knew one had the money, and the other had a toy that worked! We all learned that at 5 years old!!!!

 

[brock786]

Well is there anything I can do about her not giving me all 4 instruments as promised? I have that in writing as well, twice over even.

 

[army judge]

Well is there anything I can do about her not giving me all 4 instruments as promised? I have that in writing as well, twice over even.

You're not getting it.

She screwed you.

She's not going to do anything more for you, EXCEPT take MORE of YOUR money!

Dude, you gotta leave those online SCAM sites alone!

If I were you, I'd never buy another thing from an online SCAM site.

Those people screw other innocent dupes.

It is all a BIG scam.

On the other hand, AMAZON.COM won't cheat you.

That SCAM site ain't nothing but a big cesspool of SCAMMERS and CON-ARTISTS!!!!

You can ask her, but she'll say no.

If I were you, I'd use this as an expensive lesson!

 

[mightymoose]

If you wanted to you could file in small claims and let a judge hear your argument. It sounds like you would not have good results by doing so even if you were to win the case. It is possible that if you serve court papers then she might be inclined to give up the last piece of equipment to avoid court, but then you still have faulty equipment.

Bottom line- it was your responsibility to make sure the equipment was working to your satisfaction BEFORE you handed over the money. I assure you that she will say it was working fine when you took it and that you must have broken the equipment.

You got hosed- You aren't likely to see your money again.

 

[jacksgal]

Just a note of agreement here. Having been on this forum and others I have never read anything could about craigslist. Personally I would and do avoid site no matter what the deal.