I am so Angry and Frustrated!!!

Okay everyone, I am really sorry, but I really need to vent....

I was supposed to pick up the fish tank that I found on craigslist today after work. I have been looking on craigslist for weeks trying to find a good deal on a smaller tank. I finally found one..... a 29 gallon tank fully equiped for $40. I contacted the guy on Wednesday night and asked him if it was still available, and if so when could I come get it. He told me that weekends worked best for him. I emailed him back and said that I got off work on Saturday (today) around 4:30 and could be at his house by 5:00. He emailed me back to confirm that he would see me then and gave me his address. Well, yesterday I sent him an email just to confirm that I would still be seeing him at 5:00 the next day. I got an email back late last night saying that he sold the tank to someone else yesterday!!! I was so mad because I could have gone and gotten it from him yesterday if he really needed to get rid of it a day early. I thought that it was really rude of him to contact me after he had already sold it, instead of calling me to see if I could come and get it earlier since he had promised it to me. My husband was going to put the glass dividers in for me this weekend so that I can get the tank up and running for my new bettas that Karen is sending me. Now I have to go out and buy a new setup which is going to cost way more money. I have emailed several people who have tanks on craigslist that are not quite as good of a deal, but nobody has emailed me back. I think I am going to go into my LFS today to see if they can give me a good deal on a 20 long with a versa top and light fixture. We'll see. I am just so angry because I was not planning on spending a ton of money on this project. My bettas were expensive, so the set up was supposed to be a cheap DIY project. Some people are just so rude!!!

If anyone in southern CA has a tank between 20 and 30 gallons that they are no longer in need of, please let me know. I would still like to buy this set up used if I can. I am also looking for a few small filters. Any help would really be appreciated.

 

That's Craigslist for ya! Maybe you could go garage sale shopping.....I found my 25 gallon at a garage sale for cheap and it is a great tank! If you need to postpone shipping don't worry they'll be fine here a little longer...

 

Been there. Done that. Got screwed hard. I've lost 2 75gallons, 1 150gallon, and a few pieces of equipment with <censored> people on craigslist.

Sorry you got burned :9

 

HI Kate
that is a disgusting business practice.. and I would do a report on this persons craiglist listing..
What a shame.. and what a jerk for pulling that stunt with you. I totally understand your frustrations!
wish I could help you out with a tank.. but being clear across the country.. I'm not going to be any help in searching for a new tank for you. Best of luck and I hope you find one soon.

 

Also MissMTS, after seeing you are in the So Cal area, I figured I'd suggest this to you. The monsterfishkeepers classifieds section has INSANE deals on fish, equipment, and tanks pretty much regularly.

I think everyone on that forums hates the So Cals because of the insane deals that are always up there and available.

Anyhow, good luck to you in the future!

 

That's Craigslist for ya! Maybe you could go garage sale shopping.....I found my 25 gallon at a garage sale for cheap and it is a great tank! If you need to postpone shipping don't worry they'll be fine here a little longer...

Thanks Karen. I'll let you know if I need you to hold on to them a little while longer. I still have 12 days until they get here though so I should be able to get something situated by then. I am going to check at some garage sales today and see what I can find. Maybe my LFS will be feeling generous and give me a good deal....who knows? I emailed a bunch of people who have tanks posted on craigslist in the Los Angeles and Riverside areas, but even if I find a good deal, I am not sure that after I use all of that gas to get there and back that it will really be worth it.

HI Kate
that is a disgusting business practice.. and I would do a report on this persons craiglist listing..
What a shame.. and what a jerk for pulling that stunt with you. I totally understand your frustrations!
wish I could help you out with a tank.. but being clear across the country.. I'm not going to be any help in searching for a new tank for you. Best of luck and I hope you find one soon.

Thanks Kate. I am gonna shop around today and do my best to find something. I know that I have to buy a versa top regardless because I am doing glass dividers so I need a filter in each section. The good news is that last night I was tinkering with one of my filters that I thought was broken and it works! That means I have to buy one less filter for this tank which is good. I can also probably hold off on buying the heaters for a little while as well since we are already having summer weather here. I have the heaters turned off in my other tanks anyways cause it is getting too warm.

Also MissMTS, after seeing you are in the So Cal area, I figured I'd suggest this to you. The monsterfishkeepers classifieds section has INSANE deals on fish, equipment, and tanks pretty much regularly.

I think everyone on that forums hates the So Cals because of the insane deals that are always up there and available.

Anyhow, good luck to you in the future!

Thanks so much for the advice. I will make sure I check there this morning. There are good deals in So Cal, but they go so quickly. You literally have to be able to drive and get it as soon as the person responds to you. I don't feel comfortable going to someone's house to pick up a tank by myself, so I have to make sure my husband can come with me, which sometimes slows me down because people just give it to the first person that can pick it up.

 

Yup you never wait. Just ask for availability and address and that your on your way. It should always be a next day thing.
I sold my boast on craiglist which is not an easy thing and certainly serious business and serious money. A lady from Denver called me which is a day's trip away and told me how she loved the pics of my boast and how she would like to buy it and how she was planning a trip out to my area in about a week. My response was yes the price is firm and its in excellent shape and a cash sale. 2 days later a gentleman calls me and after two questions tell me I will be right down, shows up and pays me the money and takes the boat.
Out of courtesy I call the lady back and tell her the boat just sold at which point she she got very upset accusing me of being disrespectful after know how much she liked my boat that I was obviously not a man of my word and dishonest. My reply was dishonest about what, all I did was answer your questions and listen, I never promised you anything and you never offered made an earnest deposit. The boat was up for public sale, not verbal reservation pending a possible sale. She just went on and on.

Don't feel bad though this happens to everyone who waits and sometimes its good that we miss out because the Lord has something much better for us. I lost an opportunity on a 60 gallon tank only to find what I really wanted, a 120 tanks for just a little more. Thank the Lord I missed out on the first deal lol.

 

awwww Kate,
So sorry!!!..This happened to me too. It broke my heart..I'm so sorry it happened to you.

 

That is so wrong. Are there any freecycle groups in your area? That is how I got my 30 gallon tank. I do need to replace the hood with a better one and hopefully get it clear of algae soon though.

 

awwwwww kate I wish I was closer I Have a 20 gal long in my shed ....shipping it would probably cost you more than a new one....but if you want to take a trip to new england, its yours free ;D amanda got her own ahahha

 

That really stinks. When I got my tank off Craig's List I made sure I was there picking it up within the hour. I had read so many times of this sort of thing happening.

When someone calls a seller and the seller knows you're coming at the very least they should advise anyone else who calls that they have an interested party but if they fail to show, they'd be next in line.

Just plain rude.

 

yeah, I know what that's like. a few months ago I contacted a guy with a 55 gallon for sale. I was about to pick it up, but the guy screwed me over. I called and he said he "broke" it while moving it out. I didn't buy it, because I went back online and it said "this product has been sold">>

 

Yup you never wait. Just ask for availability and address and that your on your way. It should always be a next day thing.
I sold my boast on craiglist which is not an easy thing and certainly serious business and serious money. A lady from Denver called me which is a day's trip away and told me how she loved the pics of my boast and how she would like to buy it and how she was planning a trip out to my area in about a week. My response was yes the price is firm and its in excellent shape and a cash sale. 2 days later a gentleman calls me and after two questions tell me I will be right down, shows up and pays me the money and takes the boat.
Out of courtesy I call the lady back and tell her the boat just sold at which point she she got very upset accusing me of being disrespectful after know how much she liked my boat that I was obviously not a man of my word and dishonest. My reply was dishonest about what, all I did was answer your questions and listen, I never promised you anything and you never offered made an earnest deposit. The boat was up for public sale, not verbal reservation pending a possible sale. She just went on and on.

Don't feel bad though this happens to everyone who waits and sometimes its good that we miss out because the Lord has something much better for us. I lost an opportunity on a 60 gallon tank only to find what I really wanted, a 120 tanks for just a little more. Thank the Lord I missed out on the first deal lol.

Yeah I understand that people just want to make a sale. I have sold lots of stuff on craigslist and sometimes, you just want it gone. I just wish the guy had told me that he wanted it picked up ASAP. I would have been there in a heartbeat. I just think that people should be fair and not tell you that they will hold it if they are not going to. Oh well, as it turns out I did end up with something better

awwww Kate,
So sorry!!!..This happened to me too. It broke my heart..I'm so sorry it happened to you.

Thanks Cesch I had a bit of a freakout because I have fish on the way and I want to be ready for them. I just hate it when people have bad manners. I was already bummed because I just sold my extra 29 gallon tanks two months ago and I was mad that I had to spend the money on another one. I should have just stored the old one that I had. When he pulled out on me I just felt so bad. I did get a tank today though, so I will still be able to get my betta kids as soon as Karen in ready to send them.

That is so wrong. Are there any freecycle groups in your area? That is how I got my 30 gallon tank. I do need to replace the hood with a better one and hopefully get it clear of algae soon though.

There is a freecycle group in my area. I tried to join and for some reason my activation didn't work. I need to try it again. I will deffinetly keep my eye out for freebies on there Thanks for the advice!

 

awwwwww kate I wish I was closer I Have a 20 gal long in my shed ....shipping it would probably cost you more than a new one....but if you want to take a trip to new england, its yours free ;D amanda got her own ahahha

Oh Shawnie you are such a sweetie I wish you were closer to me for more than just the tank; we would have some good times I think What I want to know is how you can stand it having an empty tank in your shed. I have this irresistable compulsion to fill empty tanks.... Hmmmm I wonder why that is I'll keep that in mind if I ever get to come to New England though. I have never been and I would really like to visit that area of the counrty sometime. I hear it is gorgeous!

That really stinks. When I got my tank off Craig's List I made sure I was there picking it up within the hour. I had read so many times of this sort of thing happening.

When someone calls a seller and the seller knows you're coming at the very least they should advise anyone else who calls that they have an interested party but if they fail to show, they'd be next in line.

Just plain rude.

Yeah I was pretty bummed. I think the rudeness of it was what bothered me the most. I just wish he had been up front. It is hard for me to buy stuff off of craigslist because my work schedule is so busy that it doesn't allow me to pick stuff up as soon as I hear back from the seller. I have to try to schedule it into my week.

yeah, I know what that's like. a few months ago I contacted a guy with a 55 gallon for sale. I was about to pick it up, but the guy screwed me over. I called and he said he "broke" it while moving it out. I didn't buy it, because I went back online and it said "this product has been sold">>

That is such a bummer. He could have at least been honest with you. I think that people forget about common courtesy when they don't know the person and are emailing them instead of talking to them face to face.

 

So I decided that finding one on craigslist was becoming too much of a chore. I don't have time to be driving around trying to pick up tanks, and I wanted to find something that was exactly what I was looking for, not just good enough. Since I am on a limited budget I decided to get creative. I ordered 3 minI filters off of the Drs Foster and Smith website for $8 each. They will go in 3 of the compartments and I will use my aquaclear on the 4th one. I realized that I have an extra light fixture on one of my tanks that would fit a 30 inch tank. So, I called around to all of the fish stores in my area and asked for a price on a 20 gallon long with a glass top. I ended up finding one for $31 which I thought was a great deal I went to the dollar store after that and got some marbles for the bottom of the tank (usually I prefer a more natural look, but this time around I want to do my very best to keep my bettas healthy and I want to try to prevent ripped fins) and some plastic plants. My husband is picking up the glass dividers and silicone tomorrow and then we will be all set. The set up wasn't dirt cheap, but I didn't spend a ton of money and I got exactly what I wanted which makes me happy. Thanks so much for being so supportive guys. I was exhausted and upset when I posted this morning because I had been up half the night trying to find a tank on craigslist. Sigh......okay I'm better now

 

Sooo glad you ended up with what you wanted...I always say things happen for a reason..Can't wait to see it all set up and going!!

 

Thanks Cesch I can't wait to get it set up. I think I am going to rinse it and paint the back tonight. Tomorrow I will help my husband put the dividers where I want them and then let the silicone dry. I do feel like things happen for a reason. The tank that I missed out on was a 29 gallon and I honestly just wanted a 20 long since bettas don't do well in really deep tanks

 

It did work out for the best then!!..That's great. It will be soo cute to see them all lined up in a row!!..lol.

 

i'm really sorry to hear that I had the same thing happen to me on an incredible deal on a 125 gallon tank, it was $250 including tank, filters, heaters, decor, and some other assorted stuff.

 

i'm really sorry to hear that I had the same thing happen to me on an incredible deal on a 125 gallon tank, it was $250 including tank, filters, heaters, decor, and some other assorted stuff.

Thanks Alex I am feeling better about it today. I am excited to get my new tank set up and ready for my new babies.

 

MissMTS; My, Mother God Love Her, always said ;things happen for a reason-maybe this tank is for the better as betta's do not like high tanks.Glad you got a resonable one. Good Luck with your betta babie's. bella

 

Thanks Bella

 

Thanks Alex I am feeling better about it today. I am excited to get my new tank set up and ready for my new babies.

you're welcome i'm glad!

 

The e-mail thing on Craigslist I have never had luck. Always ask for or call them and pick up ASAP and you should not get scewed over. Hopefully better luck next if you want another tank.