Body Builders on Craigslist

Maddy and I have a 200lb Sony WEGA pre-flat panel 36" TV in our apartment. It has been great for watching movies, and only cost $160 to obtain (free from a friend + mover's fee), but its dimensions are just a bit too large for the apartment. It takes up about 15 square feet of space (3ft x 5ft) and I want to upgrade to a projector, which will be easy to move when the time comes.

I've listed this thing on craigslist several times over the last few months but recently I posted it for a mere $125 (it was originally $2700 and other sellers want about $400-500 for it) in the hopes that someone somewhere would take it off our hands. The catch: we are in a 5th floor walkup with no elevator. With that in mind, I haven't been great on selling it since everyone who responds on craigslist gets the same sort of response from me: unless you and 2 friends look like Arnold Schwartzenegger, you will not be able to move this and should hire movers.

A Columbia student came over yesterday to see and hopefully buy it. He and a friend walked into the apartment. They were both scrawny little guys. I said "Look, no offense, there's no way you're moving this." He said "oh, but I have 2 other friends coming."

An even skinnier asian kid came through the door followed by another skinny Indian kid. I had my doubts. They tried lifting it for a few seconds and realized I wasn't joking in the several emails where I specified it weighed 200lbs and was big and heavy. They then took a minute to assess the situation. Was it worth the effort? Could they even move it? THey'd only be using it for a year before they graduate anyway. Hiring movers would nearly double the cost and that wasn't worth it. I asked them how much they valued their spines and backs - that perhaps $150 wasn't that much. The Indian guy said "I can think of 5 reasons why we shouldn't take this TV." I concurred and warned "if you do decide to, and drop it, you'll have to pay for it." So they left and apologized for taking up our time.

The last thing I want is to have 4 college students halfway down my stairs with a gigantic TV pinning one of them down after crushing the head and spines of the others. There's the potential for casualties and lawsuits, not just a scratched TV. I knew this would be a hard sell even though I had a dozen responses via email.

One of the emails I got was from a father. He said he and his son really wanted the TV and that they'd come and pick it up. I said "unless you and your son are incredibly muscular and can easily lift 150+ lbs, you will not be able to get this out the door."

Today I got a call from the son. He said he wanted to come today with his father to get the TV. I said great, and asked "are you strong?" Amazingly, he said "yes, my father and I both work out. We can lift 250lbs each." I love craigslist. We'll see if it works out tonight.