I'm Sick of Bad Boat Ads !

[sww914]

How is it that craigslist breeds people who cannot spell or describe anything?
How is it that nobody in Europe thinks that they need more than one photo?
How is it that brokers everywhere think that cell phone cameras are good enough?
Why does anyone think that 50 close ups of locker doors are necessary but they don't include a single overall picture of the interior?

I have planted a couple of dummy ads on my local craigslist. The worst part is that I've actually received a lot of responses to ads like this!

Here's a sample-

Gotta good boat for sale worth more
SALES & motr
iTs' bout 30-40 feet almostmaybe 20 something pretty big about 6-8 feet high or 10 with the potty and other stuff inside
Needds work
Best to call
u can fish off it

After I posted my first dummy ad last week I looked at the other ads and realized that the real ads were every bit as bad and I was TRYING to look stupid! I wish I already had a boat so I could stop looking.

[Drew13440]

People takin' the pics are in the SALES business. They are not going to show you anything but the most positive angles. Twenty-somethings in bikinis on deck, sure, but not the deck itself. Go look, jump up and down.

[SaltyMonkey]

sww914, you're scaring me. Why are you going bezerking over ad's? Are you looking in the right places? I basically filter by price, manufacturer, and location anyway. I don't find too many on craigslist anyway.

[Minggat]

But anyone who would respond to an ad like that would also be scary. The next clueless boater to join the throngs.

[witzgall]

You are sick of bad ads, yet you are posting them yourself? Huh????

Chris

[sww914]

I think I was trying to lead by bad example. Here's one I placed last week. I received 10 email responses with this ad at $2000.00.

i got a nice fisheen boat hear i wtg want to get 2000 for it or mor. it has a electrc fish finder and a motor i think its about 15 or twntty feet. its a good fisheen boat we got a lot of fish off it ill throw in a ice chest cuz you gotta have beers.
it a good boat youll be happy. i got some pols too not too good but you maybe need some too. i took iit out to avila but their was no ramp so i took it back. we went to morro too but no fish their.
its a relly good boat if you need one. the motor is good. always runs good in the water or out its good. if you like fisheen you need a boat or ski maybe good in a lake, nasemento is good too.
hope to see you bring some beers too heh heh
you gotta call me becse this is the sistrs email and comp.
call for a good boat
doug.


The thing is, it isn't any worse than several of the real ads.
I look at Craigslist because this is a rural area and there are only 6 ocean boats on Yachtworld within 100 miles of me. I'm right at the coast but not a lot of boating activity here other than in lakes.
Maybe it looks so stupid that people figure they can take advantage of somebody so illiterate?

[speedoo]

Sometimes, a bad boat ad is written by an individual who has no clue how to sell a good boat. Responding to such an ad could lead to a really, really good deal, if the right questions are asked.

[Minggat]

I'm kinda thinking that you are more entertained by them than sickened by them.

Craigslist is a different planet. During a hitch of "between jobs" I used to buy from Craigslist and sell on Recycler. I do know what you mean. EZ access to sell your debris attracts all kinds. See it as opportunity rather than aggravation. Or maybe, don't go there?

[David M]

Look at the positive side. If they cant write a good ad then they just might not know that their boat is worth more.

[cdennyb]

Come on, we all know most of those ads are written by shoppers from wal mart.
Give em a brake. (break...LoL)

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by sww914

I've actually received a lot of responses to ads like this!

But any cheques?

[TaoJones]

Here ya go, sww914, check out the ad fellow Cruisers Forum member nmwarren placed in the Classified Ads today:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...0-a-43144.html

Be sure to follow the link to his pictures. I think you'll agree, that is a first rate Classified Ad. All the information on the boat and its contents, and so many nice pictures that an interested sailor would know 95% of what he could ever learn about the vessel just from what the seller has provided.

TaoJones

[anjou]

It depresses me that so few people can actually spell, construct a credible sentance or actually read the ad back after and spot the mistakes.

You know what your trying to say but you have to look at it from the customers view and ask, will it make sense and sound good to them.
Few people can do that.

How often do you see pics with a lamp post sprouting from the top of someones head or their face in full shade.
Most people just dont see the big picture. When someone does, they are hailed as being an artist. Its not brain surgery, yet its uncommon.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by anjou

You know what your trying to say but you have to look at it from the customers view and ask, will it make sense and sound good to them.

Few people can do that.

Your points make sense. I agree with what you're trying to say. Standards have certainly dropped since days of yore.

[forsailbyowner]

I benefited big by a badly written ad. Was on ebay and the only thumbnail that blew up showed the mast in two pieces. The auction description started "mast and rig appear to be intact. " The auction didn't mention the clean diesel or working refrigeration and air conditioning. Got the boat on the opening bid after I'd crawled all over the boat and checked it out.