I was looking at different things on Craigslist the other day and there was a post from a woman who said she was a single mother of 4 and was looking for a dining room set for $200 or less. So since I am trying to save money myself, and have a diningroom set that I am trying to sell, I e-mailed her and told her about the set, that it is only 2 years old, like new, etc etc. I said I had purchased different placemats and runners for all the holidays since I had the set, and I would give them to her as well for $200. She called me and said that the $200 has to include delivery because she has no car, then gave me a sad story of how she is only 24, is sick with 4 kids and she is sleepy all the time and can't work and the $200 is all she has saved, can I go any lower. Since I was a single mom when my DS was born (I was 19 at the time) I told her the lowest I could do was $150 and that is with us delivering it to her. I also told her my brother had a table that isn't in the best shape that she could have for free, it just doesnt have chairs. She said she wanted mine. I made arrangements with my brother to get the table to her, and plans were made to deliver the table to her tonight. Well I just checked my voice mails and she left me one asking to call her. So I call and she again started with the sad stories, and said she really needs a table, can't I just give it to her? i told her i understand her situation, however I can't give my table away. I told her that if she wanted, I can see if my brother still has the table he was going to give her. I have no idea what I said wrong because she went off on me saying how I was heartless and she is in desperate need and just because she is a single mother doesnt mean she needs crappy furniture and she needs, wants and feels she deserves a decent table for her family. I told her I agree; however I can not and will not give my set away. She then proceeded to go off again and I simply just said that what she is saying is her opinion and I feel for her and hope she finds what she wants and hung up.
I do feel bad for single mothers who are out there struggling, as I was there. I was 19 and working 2 jobs to support me and my son, dealing with his abusive father, until the day I finally had the courage to go against a Court order and bribe him to sign away his rights. During the time it was just me and my DS I never demanded or asked anyone for anything, he was my child and my responsibility. Do you think I was wrong for telling her no?

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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

NO!!! You were not wrong. More than likely you were being played. You wouldn't be the first. I wouldn't give it another thought if I were you. SO sick of the single mom sob stories. Give me a break.

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Melissa

I think you absolutely did the right thing. I just hope she doesn't have your address or phone number.

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I smell a scam. Run, don't walk when people start changing the rules after a deal is made. If she calls you back, be polite but tell her you decided against selling the table. Try to not set her off again, she may know where you live.

sounds like a scam to me as well....

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-Kristi

No. If the free table wasn't good enough for her, she didn't really need a table.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Count me in as well. Real tired of the single mom sob stories..........

dl

Count me in as well. Real tired of the single mom sob stories..........

dl

OP hon you did the right thing, I am all for helping someone, however that being said, you must learn how to help yourself first, sadly for the people who truly need the help, they go without, and the ones who are perfectly capable of working just lay around all day and wait for a handout. Sorry this person gave your such a hard time. Peace and blessings to all...Catherine

Sounds scammy to me too.

Don't loose any sleep over this one. I agree with everyone else ~ there's something fishy here. Don't give in if she calls again.

I think from the very beginning, she had no intention of paying for a table. Sounds like she is used to getting hands out. What a pathetic mindset. She might not even have any kids, but since she's used to all the handouts....well, probably does.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

She acted like you owed it to her or something...whatever! And talk about ungrateful, you had a table that you even offered to her for free. If she weren't an AZZ she would have been grateful to get that one.

I hope that you never hear from this crazy beeotch again but if you do, you should just tell her that you don't owe her anything...they do make birthcontrol and that you need money too, that's why you were selling your table. We all need money, not just her! Besides, she's probably got a free ride from the government anyway.

Couponsrock, they do make birth control...we all need money... priceless comments, love it, lol.

Ishop2much, you did the right thing, I too think she was trying to scam you. Like someone else said, if the free table wasn't good enough for her then she really didn't need a table.

When I was a single mom, I worked a full time job, then a part time job of 16 hours every other weekend. So I had two weekends off a month, (4 days off a month total). I did it for 3 years until I could get bills paid off and a savings account built up. I have no sympathy for people who won't get out there and support themselves and their children!

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visit my homepage http://penny.mycoupons.com/

You were in the right, she has no right to demand free furniture (delivered!) and bitch you out for not being glad to oblidge! If she calls back, tell her you sold it to someone with 5 kids.....lol

I agree with everyone else here. In NO way did YOU did anything wrong. She is the one who has the nerve to do that. If it were me I would have not even gone down to $150 and I would not even consider anyone coming to my home I always deliver craigslist items to public places where there are lots of people. She sounds like one of those we're always talking about who tries to milk everyone for every drop. I hope she never calls you again.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Sorry this happened to you OP. This is basically why I don't use craigslist, too many scammers and just plain weirdos.
ITA as Anna said, if you're gonna trade/buy/sell to someone you don't know, don't compromise your safety.. go to a public place to exchange goods or money, not to a stranger's house.

You definitely did the right thing. She was playing you ...

Here's another story with quite the opposite ending.......

Just last week my sister advertised an oven for sale (apartment oven) and a young girl called. She had 4 children, single and said she desperately needed the oven. She was using a microwave and couldn't wait to give her children a cooked meal on an oven. That young girl drove to my sister's house and put that oven in her CAR! She was just thrilled with it and continued to thank my sister.