Craigslist apprehensions

[skyline]

So the other day I found a Craigslist ad for a group of 70+ G1s being sold in LA for $45. Seller says: "Bad memories for me, could be good for you" to explain the price, and their name under the Craigslist contact banner is "Bronie Joe".

I email to ask if they're still available and a bit over 24 hours later this person emails me to say "Let's discuss - please call me" and lists a Philadelphia landline, signing off this time as "Brony Joe". The Craigslist ad has now been taken down.

I don't know why exactly, but this is setting off "weird!" alarms in my head. Has anyone dealt with this kind of thing before? I figure some bronies are sort of secretive, so there might be a reasonable explanation for this behaviour, but if you're so cagey why would you request a phone call instead of an email...?

I emailed back to ask if this person is based in LA or Philly but given how slow they were to respond last time I'm doubtful I'll get a reply any time soon. I can't figure out what the scam would be, I'm just kind of hesitant to call.

[LadyMoondancer]

It does seem a bit strange, especially given that bronies tend to collect G4s (if they even collect the toys at all.)

I guess all I would say is don't pay unless you are able to see the ponies and have them in hand, pay in cash, and meet in a public place.  (Assuming this person even responds again.)

[Taffeta]

I am a super paranoid person about things like this (so take with a pinch of salt) but I would've run a mile from the whole thing the moment that the locations didn't tally. And it's ponies, not national secrets. Why not tell over email? Unless there's a bigger issue involved, eg a domestic of some sort or a relationship breakup. That may seem random but I remember such an incident near where I live where a guy threw his wife and daughter out then proceeded to sell off their collections including the ponies. So given the cryptic message, its not impossible this is a spite sale of some kind. Especially the changing spelling of brony, which suggests someone who doesn't use the term much. And someone who was a brony would probably not associate with G1. People who use brony for G1 usually don't know anything about them at all and assume it's a general term for all pony collecting. Again, it makes me wonder if this is someone selling someone else's ponies for some reason.

Or if not that, they might be cryptic about it because there;s someone who might hack or access their email...so therefore they want to make phone contact.

Either way, so many possible complications in this one. Without a picture or more tangible info, I would let it drop.

[skyline]

The thing is there were pictures, and the seller seemed to know they had one or two good ponies in there (even mentioned Wooly by name) - not that it'd hard to do a quick ID. The whole blurb of "Bad memories for me, maybe good ones for you" makes me think there is definitely a story here but again I am not sure what the truth is.

Will see if they respond... the price and the actual ponies I spotted in there made it so tempting, so it frustrates me that this could just be a regular person without a story who is making a sale difficult. But these are good points that bronies aren't into G1. Something tells me this isn't actually a brony... you might be right that it's a spite sale.

I also have the kind of brain where if someone says "you can't have this" I suddenly want it a LOT more hahaha so now I am taking this as a challenge. I just want answers!

[NightGliderSA]

Maybe call them: no harm can come from that surely? Listen to what they have to say. Some people are not very good at explaining things on 'paper' as such.

Don't transfer any money to them, rather arrange to meet somewhere and hand over cash for ponies if possible and don't go alone. The risk of being scammed is much less that way. Just my two cents for what it's worth.

[northstar3184]

The phone # thing could be as simple as they used to live in Philly, moved, and ported the # to a new service provider so they wouldn't have to change it.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Reach out... it's a phone call and you can always decline or not show up if you get serious "creepies"...