OT Craigslist listing keeps getting flagged (removed)

[aribert]

I bid at metalworking auctions, typically only if they are in my county, for my personal use. I sell off excess both via eBay and Craigslist. A few weeks ago, I had two listings flagged (removed). One listing for Kennametal ceramic inserts and the other listing was for a 5c collet rack with collets. I found out a few days later about the listing being flagged when I was about to renew my listings. I renewed my listings including the two flagged ones and no issues. So for a week the 5c collet listing stayed up. On Monday I once again renewed my listings and within an hour the 5c collets were once again flagged. I changed the verbiage a small amount and relisted. Once again flagged within half an hour. On Tuesday I once again tried to relist the 5c collets and again the listing was flagged within a half hour.

Does anyone know how the flagging occurs? Once a listing is flagged, does it automatically get re-flagged when reposted? Did my listing piss off one individual who keeps flagging my listing? Is there an algorithm that keeps flagging my posting? The 5c collets had been listed without incident for the first 5 or 6 wks, being renewed once or twice a week.

[cijuanni]

Well, are you following the CL rules?
Do you have the items priced?
Are you really a owner or a dealer? Is your ad phrased like you are a dealer? Are your items priced like a dealer?
Are you out of the area of the listing?
Are you posting in multiple CL areas or categories.
Are you posting and reposting twice a week, week after week with prices high so that it annoys people? How many times do you expect to relist those 5C collets before selling them? Twice a week, the same ad over and over in a small market and people get tired of seeing it.


Some of that is prohibited and some just pisses people off enough to flag you.
CL shoppers are bargain hunters, they don't want to have to wade through overpriced stuff that doesn't sell.

A few years ago I lived in a metro area and there was a guy on CL selling a used Wilton bullet vise for $2200, with a new one delivered for $1500. Over and over he relisted only to be flagged and removed.
He even put in his ad please don't flag etc, but I think Craigslisters just plain got tired of his fantasyland price and he probably pissed off a few potential buyers because he would budge.
I wasn't interested in the vise but send him a message that for a used vise that was way overpriced and provided links to the same item, new and delivered for far less.
Still he posted, flagged, reposted over and over.
Probably still trying to sell that vise for $2200. lol


CL has an automated flagging program and users can also flag.
It takes multiple users with different IP addresses flagging you before your post is removed.

So probably isn't just 1 guy flagging and removing you, unless he has multiple IP addresses.

[aribert]

cijuanni, thanks for responding

Well, are you following the CL rules?
Do you have the items priced? yes
Are you really a owner or a dealer? owner Is your ad phrased like you are a dealer? I don't think so Are your items priced like a dealer? This might be the sticking point, 1/16th mostly Hardinge 1/32 mix of Hardige and unbranded + rack for $80 - might seem outlandish for someone who has not price a new Hardinge 5c collet. For items that are both on Craigs and eBay, the Craigslist items are priced about 25% lower that what I list on eBay.
Are you out of the area of the listing? No
Are you posting in multiple CL areas or categories. No
Are you posting and reposting week after week with prices high so that it annoys people? yes to the reposting How many times do you expect to relist those 5C collets before selling them. Twice a week, the same ad over and over in a small market and people get tired of seeing it. I'm in Metro Detroit, my county (Macomb) has its own Craigslist.

Some of that is prohibited and some just pisses people off enough to flag you. As far as pissing people off, I do start all my listings with:
NO TEXT
NO TEXT
NO TEXT (for those who do not read the entire listing)
and then describe the item. That might annoy a few.

CL shoppers are bargain hunters, they don't want to have to wade through overpriced stuff that doesn't sell.

There was a guy selling a used Wilton bullet vise for $2200, with a new one delivered for $1500. Over and over he relisted only to be flagged and removed.
He even put in his ad please don't flag etc, but I think Craigslisters just plain got tired of his fantasyland price and he probably pissed off a few because he would budge.
Probably still trying to sell that vise for $2200. lol


CL has an automated flagging program and users can also flag.
It takes multiple users with different IP addresses flagging you before your post is removed.

So probably isn't just 1 guy flagging and removing you, unless he has multiple IP addresses.

This is really what I was trying to get an insight on. Again, thanks for posting.

On edit - I forgot that I also mention in the listing that I am in search of 64th collets and am willing to trade 3 of mine for 1 or yours that I need. Do you think the barter offer is creating an issue?

[Bob La Londe]

I don't think barter is an issue. I used to post "trade minor machining for ________." Never got flagged. It never amounted to anything.

P.S. I really got tired of dealers posting a ridiculously low price in the price field and then a much higher price in the body of the post.

[QSIMDO]

The ads can be flagged by anyone.
Maybe someone has their own to sell or something about your ad sounds like a scam.
Those ads for brand new Miller Bobcats for only $800 get flagged all the time.

[aribert]

Thank you all for your input. I think I'll try to rewrite the listing and create a separate listing for potentially trading 5c collets.

[OaklandGB]

I peruse the Detroit CL now and then for tools and farm and garden.. It is amazing how many folks think their used equipment is worth the retail prices they post.

[JRouche]

does it automatically get re-flagged when reposted?.

Yes. I sell on ebay.

Just wipe the entire post, delete it from ebay and start over with the same item, under a different term. Ebay will remember the original item... JR

[aribert]

Thanks for all the responses.

So I rewrote my listing - took me a moment to figure out how to change it since 5c collets are quite specific in description - then I realized I could start the listing with the collet rack. Listing has been up about a week without being flagged.