I have met people on CL to buy and sell stuff. I sold a mink jacket to a woman, and made her meet me at JC Penny. She got to try it on in the changing room there before she bought it, and neither of us had to worry about the other being crazy.
I bought a grill from some guy, and I went to his job to pick it up. Same deal. I got to plug it in before taking it home, and neither of us worried about the other being a loon. He seemed genuinely shocked that I could possibly be black though.
I tried to buy something else from this other guy, but he never showed up, and did not call to cancel. He got really pissed off when I kept calling him, and finally told me he was having an emergency and did not know when he would be home. He lived in a doorman building, and we were supposed to meet in his lobby. I was pissed because parking is freaking expensive in mid-town. Asshole.
I met woman about my age on CL. She wrote a ridiculous ad, I mean so, so silly! I just had to know her. Neither of us was looking for sex, just a new buddy. We had fun for a few months hitting up karaoke spots. She had a controlling boyfriend and, I suspected, a coke habit. I distanced myself.
Now I am in Miami, and no one on CL seems worth the trouble of writing an email. Oh well. Just be careful. People are all strange birds.