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I don't know why people have to be such on Craig's List. I've been trying to find an inexpensive key cutter in my area, which is like trying to pull hens teeth to begin with, but then, I try to contact these people and they don't reply. A lot of people won't reply to you if an item is already sold, but when it stays up after you try to contact them you begin to wonder if someone just figured out that someone out there is looking for something in particular and they want to pull your chain.

I found a Foley Belsaw model 200 that was a 2 hour drive away and I told the seller I'd pay his asking price and drive to him to pick it up. No answer. Then, last night a post shows up (I find it about 10:00 PM) from only about 45 miles away for the same machine with 800 key blanks. This is a must call poster, so we start calling this morning and I last call them at 8:00 PM and it still goes straight to voice mail. I don't know how many locksmith students there are out there, but I doubt it was sold within the space of 16 hours, but then again, it seems as though some people just sit on Craig's list waiting to grab something like this.

I know of other machines that are at least 3 hours or more drive away, one way. (Also Craig's List) I don't have the money or time to waste driving there if I can't get a better deal and if I got there and the seller gives me the "oh, I just sold it before you got here" routine you can probably figure out how mad that would make me.

I've looked here. I've searched the web. If you can't find it on CL you aren't likely to get a machine on the cheap and unfortunately I'm not in a position to buy new right now. It's going to be hard to pay for a decent deal if I do find one. Yeah, life happens at the worst time and this hasn't been the year we needed, so gripe done. Good picking friends.

How much is your budget?

MBI

I will admit my own fault. The person finally returned my calls this morning (Monday) at 10:00 AM. On his behalf he seems somewhat distracted. I guess that's the most tactful way of putting it. We made a deal at $230.00 (Originally asking $250.00 O.B.O.) for the FB 200 and about 600 (?) key blanks. It was what I felt I could live with as the "budget" is really more of what I think may be the last money I can spend until someone in my household has a job again. Everything else is owed or we will not spend, unlike our government, to try to have a small reserve for what is sure to be a very rough winter.

Oh, my feelings about Craig's List have not changed much as there are far too many people who just don't take the time for polite replies and some that send nonsensical replies that need a code book to decipher. I'm probably not alone in believing that some people want too much and are impossible to deal with while anything you are selling isn't worth anything and you should just list it all for free. OK, maybe that is just my experience, but I still don't expect it when I try to deal fairly with people and take the time to reply honestly.

So yes, as I have been looking around I probably did do pretty well on a setup that the seller admitted he's had for 7-8 years and shows little use and an unknown number of key blanks, but there is use and I don't expect to pay current prices when the logic is that used should be closer to wholesale than retail. I hope it will become a useful part of making an income for me, even if it's only use will be educational and personal. I do not have a manual for it though, and I feel that may be a crucial piece to proper operation. Now I have to locate one. My real budget? $0. If I can find one someone is willing to let go of I guess we'll have to come to some deal. That's pretty much the situation here.

I'm glad you were able to get it sorted out.

There are PDF manuals floating around online for the Foley Belsaw machines although I don't happen to have a link handy. I know I've seen them. If I run across one before someone else posts it I'll link it here.

Thanks MBI, I actually located one here. I sent the person who shared a PM thanking them too.

The answer lies directly in the source of your frustration... they are on craigslist!