A co-worker selling a bedroom set on Craig's List recently got an e-mail from a buyer who identified herself as deaf and disabled. She wrote that she definitely wanted to buy the set. "I really need this. I will have movers pick it up. I will send a check including the cost of the mover ($500). Please pay the mover when they arrive."

It"s a scam, of course. They pick up the furniture and her check bounces. The reason she is deaf and disabled is that you can't call her to confirm anything or expect her to show up to get the furniture. Thus you have little recourse unless maybe you copied down a license plate number and got a name and phone number of the mover, whom I'm guessing pretends to speak no English.

I don't mean to suggest that Craig's List is full of scams because many of us buy and sell without a problem. But sellers probably have learned the hard way to tell buyers that there are no "holds." The first person to show up with cash gets it. It's that simple. Otherwise, you're waiting at home for the no show who "absolutely wants it" and will be there "within an hour."

So tell me what you've done as a buyer or seller to make it a good experience. I'll follow up in a future article. Either respond online, send an e-mail to jewoldt@startribune.com or call me at 612-673-7633.