Craigslist Replies - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Graplr · #1 02-10-2012, 04:45 PM

So I had a DLP HDTV sitting in my house that doesn't work. I think the color wheel went bad. I was planning on fixing it but never got around to it and you know how it goes.

So I decided to give it away for free on Craigslist along with the stand, remote and service manual on CD.

I explained everything about it and asked to include 3 things in the response so I could weed through the morons and get the serious people that I would more than likely not have issues with.

The things I asked to include were
1-When you can come
2-What you will be driving
3-Where you're coming from

I don't think it was too much to ask. 1 was for obvious reasons. If you can't come until Sunday night (it was Friday afternoon) I won't respond if someone else can leave now. 2 was because I didn't want someone coming with a VW Jetta sedan expecting it to fit and I have to waste my time. I stated this in the ad. And 3 was so I could gauge how long it would take them to get here when they say "I'll leave right now!" and obviously no one from a long distance away that "really wants it."

So in the course of 1 hour the ad was up I get 14 replies. Only 4 included all 3 items I asked for. 1 of those told me they could fit it in their car

and one couldn't come until tomorrow.

So of the other two both had trucks. One wrote in complete sentences and the other in text speak. So we had our winner.

He came promptly and picked it up. No issues. That is why I love Craigslist.

He had a Ford Ranger and we barely got both the TV and stand in there so there was absolutely no chance it would fit in a car.

A couple of fun responses.
This one was good-

Fred - 763-XXX-XXXX

This one to-

Hi call 763-XXX-XXXX

But this was the best one....

I would like this....

JB3 · #2 02-10-2012, 04:55 PM

hahaha

you weeded out all the ****heads pretty successfully

That guy got a good deal. I picked up one of the projection HD tvs as well with a bad color wheel, replaced the color wheel, and have enjoyed it immensely.

kerry · #3 02-10-2012, 05:13 PM

What's a bad color wheel?

JB3 · #4 02-10-2012, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

What's a bad color wheel?

its this circular plastic wheel with primary colors on it that spins at 7000 rpm that the bulb on a projection TV shows through into the "picture engine" or some such before being displayed up onto the screen, and A + B = C, some other magic happens, and you can watch "Real housewives of NYC" and so on.

It was pretty easy to swap out, the bearings go on these things all the time apparently, and the TV sounds like an outboard engine. I switched to an air bearing instead of the original metal bearing. Crazy to think that your TV could need a bearing!

I have no idea how the next part of the picture deal works, it was something "engine", and thats where the colored light is converted in to picture. Pretty amazing device actually.

Hopefully someone who actually knows something about this will post. I was able to swap the part, but thats a far cry from knowing how it works

G-Benz · #5 02-10-2012, 05:32 PM

Good way to separate the "tire kickers" from the interested buyers.

I like craigslist. Bought and sold several items within days of posting ads with no issues.

For selling, nothing speeds up the process like lots of high quality pics! Even if the item is something simple...

Graplr · #6 02-10-2012, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Benz

Good way to separate the "tire kickers" from the interested buyers.

I like craigslist. Bought and sold several items within days of posting ads with no issues.

For selling, nothing speeds up the process like lots of high quality pics! Even if the item is something simple...

I sold my wife's old car in 4 hours this summer from the time I posted until I had cash in my hand.

Graplr · #7 02-10-2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

What's a bad color wheel?

It is only for projection TVs. I'm not positive this was the issue but it seemed likely. It went bad in the first two years I owned it.

This time I left the TV in a room I was sanding drywall and it got pretty dusty. I tried to clean everything but no improvement. I figured the cheapest it would cost me was $100, maybe more to fix. With new LCD and Plasmas at around $700 for the same size I figured it wasn't worth the hassle and to let someone else have a go at it.

JB3 · #8 02-10-2012, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graplr

It is only for projection TVs. I'm not positive this was the issue but it seemed likely. It went bad in the first two years I owned it.

This time I left the TV in a room I was sanding drywall and it got pretty dusty. I tried to clean everything but no improvement. I figured the cheapest it would cost me was $100, maybe more to fix. With new LCD and Plasmas at around $700 for the same size I figured it wasn't worth the hassle and to let someone else have a go at it.

good call, a new wheel cost me about 120 bucks, and I also replaced the bulb for another 75 bucks, so my free TV turned out to be a 195 dollar TV. Still a good deal for a 44 inch HD, but not worth it if you are looking to upgrade.

Angel · #9 02-10-2012, 09:01 PM

I've only sold a few cars (a 240D and an MGBGT come to mind...) on CL, and in every ad, there was a line at the very end...

"When you reply, please include the words "I Love hardtop MG's" in your response so I know you are a real person"

...or something like that. That also weeded out a lot of chaff. sometimes I'd get 2 emails from someone, the first was their response and the 2nd was an 'omg I forgot to include those words you asked for'.

I do like your idea better. If the potential buyer can't share where they'd be coming from, and when would be possible, that saves you a lot of thinking - ie: 'lets see, who is going to have an easier time coming to get this off of my hands...'

-John

The Clk Man · #10 02-10-2012, 09:12 PM

I posted on CL that I had a boat for FREE. And in all caps I wrote NO MOTOR and the boat was in VERY BAD SHAPE and has a hole in the bottom. I received an email asking if they could test the boat in the water and did I think it was safe for children. I said NO.

spdrun · #11 02-10-2012, 09:47 PM

Simple way to separate the 'tards and spammers out:

1. Leave the reply e-mail hidden
2 Put a line at the end of the ad -- "Please call (Two One Two) 867-5309 or reply to john.doe (at) foobar (dot) net."

Yak · #12 02-10-2012, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dropnosky

its this circular plastic wheel with primary colors on it that spins at 7000 rpm that the bulb on a projection TV shows through into the "picture engine" or some such before being displayed up onto the screen, and A + B = C, some other magic happens, and you can watch "Real housewives of NYC" and so on.

It was pretty easy to swap out, the bearings go on these things all the time apparently, and the TV sounds like an outboard engine. I switched to an air bearing instead of the original metal bearing. Crazy to think that your TV could need a bearing!

I have no idea how the next part of the picture deal works, it was something "engine", and thats where the colored light is converted in to picture. Pretty amazing device actually.

Hopefully someone who actually knows something about this will post. I was able to swap the part, but thats a far cry from knowing how it works

I had to do mine. It actually lost part of the wheel. The little plastic wheel rotating at high speed actually vibrated the whole cabinet. Loud, violent noise. But replacing it's pretty easy. I recommend this for perhaps the best DIY on the web.

"The first time, I took out quite a bit more screws and cables than necessary. I did it again to write this article and now you don't need to think about all that." Martyred himself to take pics and the write-up.

How To Replace the Color Wheel in Your Samsung DLP Television and Save $400

HowStuffWorks "DLP Projection"

Graplr · #13 02-10-2012, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

Simple way to separate the 'tards and spammers out:

1. Leave the reply e-mail hidden
2 Put a line at the end of the ad -- "Please call (Two One Two) 867-5309 or reply to john.doe (at) foobar (dot) net."

Spammers yes. (The use of "tards" actually offends me so I chose to use morons) Morons no.

It gives the morons my phone number that they can call/text at 2am if they choose. Plus when I cancel the ad there is no longer a way for all the crazies to contact me (except the one person I reply to via my craigslist only email account). It is simple to save the ad in text for by sending it to your email. If my phone number is in it, they can call me a month later and ask if I still have it. If my phone number is not in the ad they can't contact me as even if they try to reply to the craigslist email it won't go through.

Graplr · #14 02-10-2012, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yak

I had to do mine. It actually lost part of the wheel. The little plastic wheel rotating at high speed actually vibrated the whole cabinet. Loud, violent noise. But replacing it's pretty easy. I recommend this for perhaps the best DIY on the web.

"The first time, I took out quite a bit more screws and cables than necessary. I did it again to write this article and now you don't need to think about all that." Martyred himself to take pics and the write-up.

How To Replace the Color Wheel in Your Samsung DLP Television and Save $400

HowStuffWorks "DLP Projection"

I was not confident the color wheel was the only issue. If I were I would have kept it. I didn't want to replace it and have it still not work and have to dump a few hundred more into it when i can get a new TV of the same size for only a couple hundred more.