Have you ever bought anything on Craig’s list?

I made my first purchase using Craig’s list the other day, it was a clothes dryer. Bride and I have always been DINKS, dual income no kids, so typically when we needed a new appliance or anything else for that matter we went and bought it. Well that has changed! My Sister-in-law uses Craig’s list like a pot head uses a bong and is always raving about the deals she gets there. Some time ago our dryer started squeaking and I was able to, with a bit of graphite lubrication, ease the squeak. I am by no means an appliance repairperson but I will lay claims to several innovative appliance repairs. In one case, and yes I am bragging here, I was able to redesign the method by which the centrifugal clutch was mounted on the washing machine motor. That redesign coupled with a modification of the washer frame proved effective and I was able to get an additional 5 years of service from that bad boy, and I considered sending in a recommended change in the manufacturing process to GE. I have always been good at repairing my stuff, from lawn mowers to washers and dryers to irrigation systems and that has saved me countless thousands of dollars in repair costs over the years.



I am also what some (my Bride) might call a trash picker, I like to refer to myself as an enthusiastically passionate recycler. I remember one of the first instances of that after I was married was when we first moved to Jacksonville. Our apartment here, our 4th together, was the first one that had carpeting, wall to wall and 1700 square feet and the little Dirt Devil I had for my car was not going to be able to handle that. I was on my way back home, on like the second day here, and I saw a vacuum cleaner handle sticking out of the dumpster. I stopped the truck and grabbed the vacuum and tossed it in the back. Well after about a half hour of time cleaning the dirt that was packed in the head and replacing the belt the Hoover self propelled Cadillac vacuum cleaner served us well for the next 8 years without incident. For a scant 5 bucks for the belt I got a great vacuum cleaner, the only one I have ever seen that would self propel forward and backwards. Over the years I have plucked everything from garage door openers to radio’s to pool chairs to power tools from the trash. Most people just do not want to deal with something once it stops working, our materialistic society has taught us it is just easier to replace the items instead of fixing them.



I am always looking for deals at yard sale, flea markets and estate sales and am always amazed what people are getting rid of. I remember being amazed by EBay and have been buying stuff on there for years. I can’t remember what the first item was that I purchased there but the last was some Nag Champa incense. I am also looking at one of the training collars for my puppy right now, I pay close attention to where the item is though. More and more items are being sold out of China and while those items are usually cheaper than the exact item from a seller in the US I still will only buy American while on EBay. I am under the delusion that EBay will not wind up like Wal-Mart where most all the merchandise is made in China, stupid on my part to think that but I will still pay extra to a seller in the US, the global economy has not done a damn thing for me, so there!



In these economic times I have found myself searching for a deal more and more on items I would have never thought to look for deals on. It was more personal thing being an enthusiastically passionate recycler, it was the challenge of repairing something I had no idea how to fix and with nothing invested I had nothing to lose if it went badly. So we now get by on one income and have for about the last 19 months and I have to tell you, it is much different. I am praying that nothing breaks and if it does I pray I can fix it or find a hell of deal on something that works or will be easy to fix. So back to the dryer, our dryer had started squeaking and by the time I figured out what was squeaking it had already worn through the nylon bearing surfaces and had eroded the plastic front panel. Just a tip, if your dryer starts to squeak get it addressed right away or expect to pay a higher repair bill. Anyway I did not think the squeak was that bad so we left it alone, squeaky damn thing anyway. Well not much longer after that I found the thing had some other problem, after it shut off the heater element would stay on. I found this out about 3 hours after it stopped one day and the top was so hot it blistered my hand. Well the squeak I could live with, fire hazard not so much.



Not really wanting to spend the money on a new dryer I thought I would try Craig’s list. After a couple of weeks of looking I was stunned that I found one that was the exact model of the one I already had only it was a year newer. The add indicated the house was hit by lightening and while the washer was fried the dryer, according to the add, was fine and he would like 75 bucks for it. After an email or two for some pictures and to get phone numbers we were close to sealing the deal. Come to find out this particular dryer was located less than three blocks away from my house, I was cautiously optimistic about my first Craig’s list find. I stopped by on my way home and the dryer looked fine, the washer looked like it had been hit by lightening. There was no cord on the dryer so I could not test it to ensure it operated correctly. I was immediately nervous, a bait and switch kind of thing is what I was thinking. That suspicion was perpetuated by the fact the seller had no shirt on, especially since he knew I was coming I thought it odd. I guess that may be a Craig’s thing so I guess I have to keep that in mind and next sale or purchase I will take my shirt off as well. Well I knew the one part to fix my dryer cost more than 75 bucks so I thought worse case I at least got the part. Well I asked if he would take 60 and he said he would take 65 and we loaded it up into my jalopy. I got it home and took it completely apart to clean it inside and out, would not want other peoples cooties to touch my delicate unmentionables. After a thorough cleaning and inspection I got it plugged up and she worked like a champ. It looks identical to the one I took out and paid damn near $400 for a few years ago but this one did look a lot better because I knew I just paid 65 bucks for it.



I am pleased with my first Craig’s list purchase and will continue to look there first!