Topic: I Remember when There Was A Time It Either Sold Or It Didn't, Then Now Days.....

[bill440cars]

I never let a potential buyer come to my house. Maybe a little paranoid, but I'd rather not let anyone know what bikes I have in my garage.

Stev-O, got anything you'd like to sell? I'll be in the neighborhood and would love to stop by... 

I've got an Infinity G35 that I would like to sell! 
Want to meet at the local BBQ joint, I owe ya...

    So Cal, you in the market for an Infinity G35?    Inquiring minds want to know.   

No thanks on the Infiniti. Nice cars I'm sure, but my driveway is rather full of sedans and trucks these days. In fact, I just about finished up my shop and now need to build a new parking garage for the damn bikes that have been multiplying behind closed doors  I thought only rabbits did that... 

           Oh well, at least we tried. 

[bill440cars]

I must be very naive or lucky(whatever happened to him?) as I have done many CL deals both at my house and at the sellers'.  Never a problem.  However, I do not do any deal if I have a bad vibe over the phone....Larry

           Myself, I have done a few CL deals at my house, but I have also gotten some "Scammers" trying mess with me and coming from all over the place (thing is, most of those from all over, had the same basic message and words were irregular. I have just heard of deals gone wrong, that were with CL listings. 

[bill440cars]

One of the problems we are having here in the US is the rise in drug abuse. This problem is growing faster in rural areas than the inner cities.  With drug abuse crime will automatically go up.  As our rural areas find job opportunities dry up, people tend to get high.

The US does not have the rational drug programs you have in the UK.  Here we toss people in jail which is not much more than a School of Crime.  When I travel into the rural part of NY I am packing heat. It has been years since I did that.

Oh, we toss people in jail here too Bobby and you're absolutely right, when they come out a lot of them are more educated and emboldened having found new ways to fund their habits. I'm considering a return to drug and alcohol work after a break of around seven years, so I have been checking out current practices. On the jail thing, it used to be that a heroin addict would undergo a fast (two-week) methadone detox if they were jailed, now many are 'maintained' throughout their sentences. Also, previously I was able to apply for funds for six months of residential rehabilitation for people under my care and who were motivated to change - the limit now is six weeks, which quite frankly doesn't give them a dog's chance.

Even how things were in my day, successes were rare but we had a few. I was waiting in line to pay for some stuff in a local shop the other week. In front of me was an attractive young woman paying for her stuff while also trying to keep an eye on a rather exuberant little girl, probably about three years old and running around causing havoc. The young mum looked kind of familiar to me but she paid and I thought no more of it. Anyway, I got outside of the shop and she was waiting outside for me. She had recognised me as one of the people who had 'rescued' her from her drug addiction and self-destructive lifestyle when she was only sixteen years of age. I couldn't place her at first, but the longer we talked I began to recall things about her. I had met her sixteen years previously in my role of drug worker, she used to come and see me and offer to sell me bottles of perfume she had just stolen from the store. She would often be bruised, cut and beaten and was involved with a notorious drug user who used to knock her senseless and hire her out to his mates on a regular basis. I remembered one time when she came in she had a tyre mark the whole length of her leg where he had drove a motorbike into her. I reminded her about that, and she showed me she now has a tattoo covering the scars. So she had seen me waiting in line, and couldn't let the opportunity pass to say thankyou to me for what I had done for her. I was only one of several key players in her recovery, but I had been the first, and she had never forgotten it. She was 32 now, drug-free, in a solid relationship, and with a beautiful, if a bit mischievous, daughter. At the end we were both in tears. I can't imagine what passers-by must have thought, this young lovely looking woman embracing this old bloke, both of us sobbing away.

That was a slight digression I'll admit, but writing it out has convinced me that that's where I need to be career-wise. Point is, drug use does not always equate to serious crime and violence. Most drug-related violence in the UK occurs between dealers, and I don't think there are many, including myself, who care if the dealers want to shoot and stab each other. It's their victims that deserve the help.

           Martin, that was very touching and Bless You and others like you, who can do that sort of thing. That is just awesome, to hear about a firsthand experience of helping someone turn their life around. Thank You, for the service you provide and Thank You, for Sharing that. Made My Day. 

[bill440cars]

    Bill, sent you a PM just now.

[bill440cars]

Thank you for your above post Martin,I have 7) younger brothers and sisters who have depended on different drugs 'to feel better'.. and have been since they were young.. I hope they come to the end of their addiction someday so they can Grow to be what you just described that smart young woman to be.
We choose to 'feel good' when we think good.Thank you for your chosen vocation 

Yes it was a special moment meeting her again and she has done brilliantly and made the best of all the support that was available to her. Many of her peers sadly did not have the same motivation, and it was almost a weekly occurrence that one of our clients, usually young people, would be found dead in some shop doorway or stairwell due to a bad batch or accidental overdose. It seems nowadays there are actually less resources and support for these kids than there was then ('austerity" I believe is the term our government use to make cuts which affect the most vulnerable).  My thoughts are with your siblings, all you can do is continue to encourage them to seek help, but you have my every sympathy as I know if you don't strike the balance right it is just as easy to distance them as it is to bring them back in line.

Yes Martin, That was very awe inspiring and I too, am so glad that you have been able to help folks with their problem and if you fell lead to get back into it, then it must be what you should be doing.

        And Bill, my heart goes out to you and your family, praying that they soon come to realize that they are headed for destruction and change their ways, by whatever means it takes to get them to do so. III can't imagine having something like that, in the back of your mind. So sorry.  Bill

[bill440cars]

Thank you for your above post Martin,I have 7) younger brothers and sisters who have depended on different drugs 'to feel better'.. and have been since they were young.. I hope they come to the end of their addiction someday so they can Grow to be what you just described that smart young woman to be.
We choose to 'feel good' when we think good.Thank you for your chosen vocation 

Yes it was a special moment meeting her again and she has done brilliantly and made the best of all the support that was available to her. Many of her peers sadly did not have the same motivation, and it was almost a weekly occurrence that one of our clients, usually young people, would be found dead in some shop doorway or stairwell due to a bad batch or accidental overdose. It seems nowadays there are actually less resources and support for these kids than there was then ('austerity" I believe is the term our government use to make cuts which affect the most vulnerable).  My thoughts are with your siblings, all you can do is continue to encourage them to seek help, but you have my every sympathy as I know if you don't strike the balance right it is just as easy to distance them as it is to bring them back in line.

I won't 'thread-jack' this Bill,last post on this.
I never tried to tell any of them that they have a problem .They never have answered any of my phone messages when i call to say "Hello" in over 20yrs.    it's too weird man.They're my family and I love them.
My mother has a drinking problem and i call her regularly in the mornings and it's great between us;I want to bond really well w/ her(she's in her 80's)while she's still alive.I've come to the point to recognize that I can't have a relationship w/ my siblings.. the way things are.They're in God's hands. 

           Bill, don't even think that you are "Hijacking" this thread. You just say whatever you feel and take your time. If we can't listen and offer our sentiments, then we aren't much of a Friend, Comrade or whatever. Anytime you feel the need to unload or whatever, PM me, I will always have an ear to lend. 

[bill440cars]

Christ...this thread suddenly brought up a bunch of emotion.
Hats off to you Martin.

A couple of my mates have had big brothers get hooked on methamphetamine.  One has suffered more heart attacks than any person ever should, and ultimately had a leg amputated as that trash bin of a drug lifestyle led to some life threatening complications.  Not that keeping the body alive will ever help the brain.  The guy is just a fountain of non-sensical hateful speech at any given moment.  A real life of the party, the type you want to smash over the head with a beer bottle.  Lest he drive you to drink more.

But I felt real bad for a different pal and his family.  After his old man passed away, big brother went for the bottle...not even the nice stuff.  The recycling bin was full of cheap strong malts, and what didn't fit in the recycling bin got tossed into the woods.  After the first intervention, the cans no longer showed up in the recycling bin.  Just tossed em all  in the woods.  Then the prescription pills started disappearing from the house  Caused a real trouble for my mate, his doctor didn't believe that he wasn't abusing the pain meds and cut him off.  Meanwhile, we come to find out big brother was using the #$%*in things as currency.  If he wasn't using em to numb his own emotional pain.
But the descent into addict<liar<theif didn't end there.  After getting picked up for DUI (and promplty let go because the punk had no money for the state to extort) things started to go missing from the garage.  I'd be asked to help fix a bike or a car but #$%* if I didn't bring my own tools nothing would get done.  Almost any piece of pops workshop that held value ended up in hawk. 
Thats when the family cut ties.  Found out the brother had been staying with a man that would offer free rent and meth in exchange for a (not so adept) theif's services.  I got asked to deliver the brother a message and his backpack full of clothes. 
So I show up with my truck, and grab the lug wrench from under the seat.  Put on the leathers and gave this guy a scare for makin his momma cry the way he did.  Never did beat his sad sorry ass, when he saw me he said "kill me, I deserve it."
Its real #$%*in hard to punish someone who has nothing to lose.

Got back to my mates place a few days later.  We swore to beat each others ass if we ever got hooked on that sh!t.

        Yeah, Martin did send this thread in a different direction, but I have to say, it makes me feel good that my thread was the one "Derailed". If we can't let things out now and then and also offer some kind words to one another or share things like this with one another, what good are we? We can't and don't need to just stick our heads in the sand and ignore others. Whatever someone is going through, could and up with one of Us going through the same. And, After ALL, we Are Family of sorts.  Thank you ALL for your input here and please continue, if you have something else to offer to this thread.   

[grcamna2]

    Bill, sent you a PM just now.

Thanks Bill,I needed that.

[bill440cars]

    Bill, sent you a PM just now.

Thanks Bill,I needed that.

    Not a problem, Bill. After all, we ARE basically a Family here and if we can't offer an assist, even to try to ease the mind of a troubled Buddy, what good are we? This forum isn't only about the SOHC Hondas, it is also about those of us who belong here as well. Glad to be of whatever assistance.           

[rickmoore24]

"LIKE" button right there Bill. Right on.

[bill440cars]

"LIKE" button right there Bill. Right on.

           THANK YOU, FOR THAT. I DO APPRECIATE IT. Just the way "Family" should be and we all ARE a Family of sorts. These folks helped me through some serious times, when I was really down and I take that Very Serious. 

[faux fiddy]

I must be very naive or lucky(whatever happened to him?) as I have done many CL deals both at my house and at the sellers'.  Never a problem.  However, I do not do any deal if I have a bad vibe over the phone....Larry

           Myself, I have done a few CL deals at my house, but I have also gotten some "Scammers" trying mess with me and coming from all over the place (thing is, most of those from all over, had the same basic message and words were irregular. I have just heard of deals gone wrong, that were with CL listings.

There was a list available by googling that showed phone numbers of cl scammers. Often they post the same vehicle in several cities, once I enquired on a cream puff Toyota pickup. the story was that it was being sold by someone in service it would be shipped to your door by military freight. Soon found the same ad in other cities, looked it up and they were on the "list."

Some people suggest the way to deal with the bovine excrement these people peddle is to engage them and waste their time to the point where they become overwhelmed with spam correspondence  from legit people fukcing with them.

For instance , just today at a friend's house I  answered the phone from a call center obviously in India, the background noise sounded like a phone bank sweat shop. They informed me that the home computer was infected and they needed to help fix it. Since the house had no computer I played this guy to the point I got some access code to their fix, and had to explain that the laptop was taken to work as a shared computer, but that he should call back in three hours so we could get things de-bugged.

[bill440cars]

I must be very naive or lucky(whatever happened to him?) as I have done many CL deals both at my house and at the sellers'.  Never a problem.  However, I do not do any deal if I have a bad vibe over the phone....Larry

           Myself, I have done a few CL deals at my house, but I have also gotten some "Scammers" trying mess with me and coming from all over the place (thing is, most of those from all over, had the same basic message and words were irregular. I have just heard of deals gone wrong, that were with CL listings.

There was a list available by googling that showed phone numbers of cl scammers. Often they post the same vehicle in several cities, once I enquired on a cream puff Toyota pickup. the story was that it was being sold by someone in service it would be shipped to your door by military freight. Soon found the same ad in other cities, looked it up and they were on the "list."

Some people suggest the way to deal with the bovine excrement these people peddle is to engage them and waste their time to the point where they become overwhelmed with spam correspondence  from legit people fukcing with them.

For instance , just today at a friend's house I  answered the phone from a call center obviously in India, the background noise sounded like a phone bank sweat shop. They informed me that the home computer was infected and they needed to help fix it. Since the house had no computer I played this guy to the point I got some access code to their fix, and had to explain that the laptop was taken to work as a shared computer, but that he should call back in three hours so we could get things de-bugged.

            Anyone know if this list still exists or how to bring it up?

            Hilarious, how you jerked around with that one. Wonder how it felt, to have the shoe on the other foot? 

[faux fiddy]

I can't find the one I saw years ago but it might still be out there somewhere,.

This one is different.

http://craigslistscammer.blogspot.com/

[bill440cars]

I can't find the one I saw years ago but it might still be out there somewhere,.

This one is different.

http://craigslistscammer.blogspot.com/

            Appreciate the effort. Real shame that a person can't depend on people to be "Honest & Above Board" about things. But we have gone way past that.

            Really something how, there are those who are busting their butts to make things so a person can use them, without concern and at the same time there are THOSE who are busting THEIR butts to figure out a way to get past the security of PCs and such, so THEY can Scam us!     Is it just me, but seems to me like if the Crooked Folks would put all that effort, into something "Honest", they could be earning a decent living and not have to be concerned about getting  Caught!

           Well, anyway, moving right along. Have a good one and thanks again.  Bill

[MoMo]

^^  I've often thought that Bill-that is if the crooks put effort into honest efforts they'd be just as well off... I see it quite often as I work at a big retail box....Larry

[chewbacca5000]

I agree people seem to have lost all their manners, and think nothing of wasting your time.

As for the ones that keep text you a bunch of weirdo stuff about how you are going to proceed with the sale I don't even know if they are real people.  Maybe they are automated txt messages?

Then there is the bottom dollar people.  Those are the first words out of their mouth.

I think lots of people who lost their jobs from the great recession had a choice between Mc Donalds or selling stuff on craigslist and choose craigslist.

Ebay, Amazon and Craigslist are all about price.  That is why I like to buy and sell here to people I actually like.

[bill440cars]

^^  I've often thought that Bill-that is if the crooks put effort into honest efforts they'd be just as well off... I see it quite often as I work at a big retail box....Larry

           I hear you. I mean, at least on the higher level of crime, there has to be a lot of effort and details, to come up with ways to get money and/ or things from others. What really brought me to think about that is, there is so much effort put into making our personal info safe and yet, usually, not long after new security measures are in place, someone has managed to break in and get past those NEW security measures. Now, IF those same people were working legally, they could get paid (and I would think a pretty decent salary) and not have to dodge the law or anything. But, I don't know, maybe it is the stress of trying to not get caught, is what makes them function? Bad enough, that folks have to work hard, to get what they have, without someone out there,. working pretty hard, to get what others have. Anyway, just a thought. It will never come to pass though.         

[bill440cars]

I agree people seem to have lost all their manners, and think nothing of wasting your time.

As for the ones that keep text you a bunch of weirdo stuff about how you are going to proceed with the sale I don't even know if they are real people.  Maybe they are automated txt messages?

Then there is the bottom dollar people.  Those are the first words out of their mouth.

I think lots of people who lost their jobs from the great recession had a choice between Mc Donalds or selling stuff on craigslist and choose craigslist.

Ebay, Amazon and Craigslist are all about price.  That is why I like to buy and sell here to people I actually like.

           Yeah, there are all sorts of folks on there. I love those who commence to tell you that there are earlier models or a little later model of what you are selling (like a motorcycle, car or truck) that is more in demand and yours doesn't have that much demand. So, then they tell you how much it is worth.    I always say "Cash Only" and such as that, but yet, for example, I had one tell me that they would come and look at the item, they told me when they would come, they also told me that they were bringing a "Cashier's Check" for part of the payment and would come back a week later, after getting paid and pay it off and I could hold the item till they paid it in full. And I am thinking, "REALLY"?    I probably should have just let it go and ignored them, but I told them that I put in the ad, that I wanted "Cash Only" and "I Would Say How The Deal Would Go", after all, I am not at their disposal, Nor do I work for them. HELLO? Some people have a Heck of a lot of nerve. Fortunately, with a lot of what I have sold, over the past 3 years or so, I have had decent folks, who did just as I preferred. And things went very well. Even had 1 fellow, become a good friend and he still buys something now and then.   

[Stev-o]

Then there is the bottom dollar people. 

Yeay, I hate that type of buyer.  I'm that type!

[BobbyR]

One of the problems we are having here in the US is the rise in drug abuse. This problem is growing faster in rural areas than the inner cities.  With drug abuse crime will automatically go up.  As our rural areas find job opportunities dry up, people tend to get high.

The US does not have the rational drug programs you have in the UK.  Here we toss people in jail which is not much more than a School of Crime.  When I travel into the rural part of NY I am packing heat. It has been years since I did that.

Oh, we toss people in jail here too Bobby and you're absolutely right, when they come out a lot of them are more educated and emboldened having found new ways to fund their habits. I'm considering a return to drug and alcohol work after a break of around seven years, so I have been checking out current practices. On the jail thing, it used to be that a heroin addict would undergo a fast (two-week) methadone detox if they were jailed, now many are 'maintained' throughout their sentences. Also, previously I was able to apply for funds for six months of residential rehabilitation for people under my care and who were motivated to change - the limit now is six weeks, which quite frankly doesn't give them a dog's chance.

Even how things were in my day, successes were rare but we had a few. I was waiting in line to pay for some stuff in a local shop the other week. In front of me was an attractive young woman paying for her stuff while also trying to keep an eye on a rather exuberant little girl, probably about three years old and running around causing havoc. The young mum looked kind of familiar to me but she paid and I thought no more of it. Anyway, I got outside of the shop and she was waiting outside for me. She had recognised me as one of the people who had 'rescued' her from her drug addiction and self-destructive lifestyle when she was only sixteen years of age. I couldn't place her at first, but the longer we talked I began to recall things about her. I had met her sixteen years previously in my role of drug worker, she used to come and see me and offer to sell me bottles of perfume she had just stolen from the store. She would often be bruised, cut and beaten and was involved with a notorious drug user who used to knock her senseless and hire her out to his mates on a regular basis. I remembered one time when she came in she had a tyre mark the whole length of her leg where he had drove a motorbike into her. I reminded her about that, and she showed me she now has a tattoo covering the scars. So she had seen me waiting in line, and couldn't let the opportunity pass to say thankyou to me for what I had done for her. I was only one of several key players in her recovery, but I had been the first, and she had never forgotten it. She was 32 now, drug-free, in a solid relationship, and with a beautiful, if a bit mischievous, daughter. At the end we were both in tears. I can't imagine what passers-by must have thought, this young lovely looking woman embracing this old bloke, both of us sobbing away.

That was a slight digression I'll admit, but writing it out has convinced me that that's where I need to be career-wise. Point is, drug use does not always equate to serious crime and violence. Most drug-related violence in the UK occurs between dealers, and I don't think there are many, including myself, who care if the dealers want to shoot and stab each other. It's their victims that deserve the help.

You picked a rough profession and many blessings for it. I was under the impression that the UK was maintaining addicts. While ut does nothing for the underlying additcion, they don't have to steal to get a fix.

If that is no longer the case, i misspoke.  We have methadone which seems useless. The Politicos are now blaming the Doctors for over prescribing.  Forgetting about the Pill Mills in trailers in some States. I am not a big fan of locking up kids unless they are a real threat to society. If they are that bad they need help not Jail.

Back on point. I paid off my house from ebay sales. I liked that it was arms length. I don't like strangers picking things up at my home. If I were you Bill I would either meet them in the middle of Town or the local PD parking lot. Never meet where they wanna meet.