So typically I love me some Craigs List, I have found some awesome deals on there (Lily's crib, changing table, toddler bed, nightstand) and have never gotten burned. Oh, I got BURNED today. BUR. NED.
So I was on the hunt for a bassinet for the new baby. I still have Lily's Pack N Play that is not even two years old, but she hated sleeping in it when she was a newborn. It was also so huge that having it right next to my side of the bed became a space issue, so I wanted something a little smaller and I figure I'll just use the Pack N Play as a playpen/changing area when the baby is older. I found a few CL listings for this particular bassinet that I want and contacted the posters. Everyone responded back, but this one woman seemed the nicest and also said that her bassinet was in mint condition and had only been used for a month, so I told her I would come pick it up today.
Driving to her house, it wasn't exactly the nicest neighborhood. Her porch and front lawn were absolutely COVERED in old, dirty, broken toys and I started to get worried. Weird thing is, when she opened the door, she was totally well-dressed and polished looking and the inside of her home looked super nice. She had already disassembled the bassinet and put it in the box, so I couldn't see it. She couldn't fit the extra sheets in the box, so she handed them to me in a plastic bag and they looked fine - no rips, tears, or stains. She told me again that the bassinet looked brand new and that she had just cleaned and washed everything.
Now, I know I should have opened the box and checked it out, I KNOW that. But... I didn't. I trusted her and made a judgment call based on the condition of what I could see (the sheets) and just paid her and left. I was tired of juggling Lily and just going the lazy way out. BIG MISTAKE. I get the thing home and holy HELL. I cannot even begin to describe how disgusting this thing was. The stand was covered in dirt, I could literally carve my name with my fingernail into the caked on dirt. The wheels would not roll because there was sooooo much hair caught up in them. The bassinet bedding... dear Lord, the bassinet bedding. It smelled like BO and marijuana. I guess when she said it was a "smoke free" home she was only referring to cigarettes and clearly not taking into account GRASS.
So while I saved myself $60, I have also spent the better part of five hours cleaning and laundering this thing. I went through FOUR Mr Clean Magic Erasers getting all of the grime off and spent almost an hour using tweezers to get all of the hair out of the wheels. As for the bedding, so far I have used BacOut and PineSol to try get rid of the body oil stains and reefer smell - the smell is gone but I'm still working on the stains. I just did a two hour soak with PineSol which is generally pretty fabulous at getting greasy stains out, so we'll see.
So, lesson learned - be ye not so stupid! Always check the condition of the entire item before paying! UGH! In good Craigs List news, I did score a brand new Britax Companion infant carseat for $50!! So I guess things have a way of evening out...
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Craigs List gone BAD
But did you take before and after pictures for us!???)
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