Do you use bank lobby to make a craigslist transaction?

[JerrySpringer]

I am considering selling some coins locally via craigslist. Anybody utilize one of their bank branches to do such business? I have seen some banks post signs that say only bank business is allowed for entrance/visit -ie- makes it sound like they want to shoo away solicitors perhaps? My reasoning is that the buyer would pay with $50 or $100 bills and I can verify/deposit money on the spot with the bank tellers? Never did a craigslist transaction. My thoughts are I probably do not want buyer(s) to know anything more about me than that I sold some silver to them. Maybe not a great idea to enlist a bank lobby then? How do people propose using a police building to make a transaction? I'd think the police would tell you to get the heck out of their building. BTW, I am getting totally convinced that Ebay is for buying only. Selling is too much red-tape for items that trade at the margin prices, like silver.

[goodcents]

I've done transactions in the parking lot of my bank and asked the person to wait for the items until I go in and either cash the check or deposit the money. That way you are not in the bank but only a few steps away and it should not be inconvenient for the buyer because you'll be out in just a few minutes. Usually the parking lots are of decent size with people around and in a busy area. Plus doing deals in a bank lobby I really wouldn't want my transactions being on camera.

[NDFarmer]

This might be a dumb question but why not try to sell here first before doing the craigs list thing? Or have you already tried here?

[NHsorter]

Get one of those test pens to check the bills if you are that worried about fakes. Write down the license plate of the person that you transacted with if you want t cover your hiney. Then if you did get fake money, you'll have a good lead for the secret service.

[JerrySpringer]

This might be a dumb question but why not try to sell here first before doing the craigs list thing? Or have you already tried here?

Shipping costs.
Time of delivery.
Type of funds remitted.
Trustworthiness of both parties.
Pricing.

I can not think of other obstacles right now. Nothing against the RC members here, but the convenience is to have someone I can just swap in person with right now.

[JerrySpringer]

Plus doing deals in a bank lobby I really wouldn't want my transactions being on camera.

Good point.

[NDFarmer]

Shipping costs.
Time of delivery.
Type of funds remitted.
Trustworthiness of both parties.
Pricing.

I can not think of other obstacles right now. Nothing against the RC members here, but the convenience is to have someone I can just swap in person with right now.

I couldn't agree with you more, all the reasons you listed are exactly the reason why I would NOT do any craigs list deals. There are many people here that I wouldn't think twice about sending several hundred or thousands of dollars to. I have done it many times.

[highroller4321]

CL is great for certian things. I bought 2 concert tickets last night for a sold out show tomorrow. Show has been sold out for 2+ months and I got great tickets for $20 less then if I bought them right away.


If its a very large transaction then I might go into the bank lobby. If its just a small transaction no need to draw attention to yourself in the bank. I would find a grocery store or something and just do the deal right in the parking lot or something.....but thats just me.

[Oakair]

I always do restaurants...

Have done a few deals in the thousands and it's always good to see the waitresses faces when they see the table covered in silver coins

[natsb88]

Shipping costs.
Time of delivery.
Type of funds remitted.
Trustworthiness of both parties.
Pricing.

I can not think of other obstacles right now. Nothing against the RC members here, but the convenience is to have someone I can just swap in person with right now.

I couldn't agree with you more, all the reasons you listed are exactly the reason why I would NOT do any craigs list deals. There are many people here that I wouldn't think twice about sending several hundred or thousands of dollars to. I have done it many times.

+1

Lord knows who will see / respond to / show up for a Craigslist deal. At least here you have some feedback/references to go by.

To me, arranging a meeting place and time, taking gas and time to get there, then hoping they show up and don't pull anything weird, is a HUGE hassle compared to printing a shipping label online. Not to mention the potential trouble you invite by arranging to meet a stranger in a parking lot who knows you'll be carrying valuables

Craigslist can be good for large but relatively low-value items that aren't worth shipping, or regional-specific things like highroller's ticket example, but I wouldn't waste my time trying to sell coins there. Probably won't get the full value anyway; people on Craigslist are generally looking for bottom-dollar bargains, or to make a quick buck off the uniformed. They aren't there to pay coin shop or even Realcent prices.

[christostock]

I have used a branch of one of my banks.
Monster box of eagles, I let the manager know what I am doing.
Exchanging a large amount of cash for a large amount of precious metal.
This is the safest place I could think of completing the transaction.
They have cameras.
I have been given an empty desk several times.
I have been offered an open office several times.
You actually are doing bank business.
You are their customer and you are exchanging large amounts of cash.
Let them know what you are doing.
If you have a safe deposit box you get to use the secret room for your transaction!!!

[galenrog]

I prefer to meet potential buyers and sellers in a public venue with ACTIVE security cameras. I prefer to meet in local bank or credit union branches. Other places I have met in include cafes, mall food courts, local coin dealers, hospital lobbies, and a variety of other venues with video cameras. My first choice is the branch with my safe deposit box.

I always carry concealed, so I have to ensure the meeting place is not averse to my preference to carry.

When meeting in a bank or C.U., it is important that the branch manager knows what is going on. I have never been turned down when asking for a few chairs.

NEVER meet any stranger at your home or theirs, or any place that makes you in the least bit uncomfortable.

Always be the first in and the last out.

[scrapman1077]

one bank I used let customers use a conference room with a days notice/ if available.

[slickeast]

I bought a large amount of 90% from a guy at a bank before. We sat in the lobby and a few bank personal walked by while we were counting the coins. I felt safe and the transaction went smooth.

[justoneguy]

I like to meet at our library.
They'll give me a private room in a public place.

[Engineer]

I like to meet at our library.
They'll give me a private room in a public place.

Libraries are nice, especially if you might need internet access to look up some values.

[misteroman]

Biggest I ever did was a 21k deal at a Texas roadhouse. 12k in cash and 9k personal check. Was kind of surprised the guy took it but assured him it was good. And bought him dinner too. Sat and talked for about an hr.
Did an 8800 deal at the pizzeria once.
Met a guy at his house to look at his Morgan collection . Did offer next day and he delivered to my house. Older widowed man. Again talked for an hr. Done many 2-5l deals in the motel lobby which surprises me a little bit.
Met alot of good people too.

[mr18]

CL is hit or miss. I always buy silver coinage on CL. I set up time and place to meet, if seller does not comply, I do not conduct business. I always pay in $20's. When I sell items on CL (such as bikes, and misc items i find at yard sales), I again, set up time and place and ask to buyer to bring exact change in small bills. I always conduct transactions in public locations such as a starbucks where there is always alot of people and cameras, starbucks are especially good when they are located inside of a Target store. If I ever sell silver, try Realcent first, if its a face to face transaction you want, look up a RC member near you.

[mishra142]

Has anyone had a deal on Craigslist that requires shipping? What's the best way to do this? Only thing I could think of was to either set up an eBay auction for them (fees :/) or send them a PayPal invoice.

[NHsorter]

Has anyone had a deal on Craigslist that requires shipping? What's the best way to do this? Only thing I could think of was to either set up an eBay auction for them (fees :/) or send them a PayPal invoice.

This scares me. Anyone requesting to ship on CL, I just delete the message. Maybe I am overcautious, I am sure that legitimate transactions have taken place, but I personally prefer to avoid this.

[Lemon Thrower]

i have had success on CL through dumb luck. what usually happens is this. first, if its a small lot, someone invariably will offer more than its worth to me. a few times i have seen larger lots. I have offered to buy it all for a price that is fair to me. buyers with a lot of stuff will usually accept a discount if you are capable of a larger deal not flaky. did some medium size deals and then they would call me to do more. but yeah you get all types. one guy lived in the middle of nowhere and would cut his prices to make it worth my while to drive out to him - about 3 hours round trip. another guy had lots of gold, pretty wealthy, but dressed like a homeless man, sort of ungroomed. guy drives around in a 70s gas guzzler with a bumper sticker advocating gold. wierd guy. he was former military and i think he got recruited from their into some sort of clandestine service. i told him it was a real bad idea to have a gold bumpersticker on his car. he meets me at a bank lobby and he has all of his coins in a beat up dirty igloo cooler. branch manager was pretty ticked off. another dude had me drive out to his house, which is really stupid on his part.

[rockme54]

I have bought and sold many things on CL, phones, cars, furniture, appliances, etc...have always had great luck and only one bad experience with a guy who didn't change over the title as soon as he should have. But with metals, hmm, would definitely want to meet somewhere safe, but I'm a trusting fellow and live in Oklahoma, most folks have that old western mentality about honesty and such, which isn't a bad thing. And it is a concealed carry state.....

[Sterling Silver]

I used to do them in restaurants until I saw "Pulp Fiction." Now I perfer hotel lobbys.

[AGgressive Metal]

Trustworthiness of both parties.

I added up the combined feedback from the top 50 "best users" category and there is 2,325 positive transactions and 0 negative.