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I put a few items on Facebook Marketplace yesterday. One item free to collector, the other items on at market value, or at least what others are asking for the same thing.
They are on Marketplace and a few other local buy / sell groups. On one group an item has attracted about 15 comments, all taking the piss or the usual “you can get these yourself for free” type of response. The humour, and I use the term loosely, are the exact thing you’d expect from the bottom feeders. I know, I’m classing them all under a very small net.
If I see someone either way off the mark or down right taking the piss, I’ll just move along and give it no more thought. The comments are all from the same group of friends, or acquaintances, I don’t know any of them.
Why would you comment on someone else’s sale ad with no intention of buying? Is this breaking rule 1?
Trolls I suppose. I just don’t get it.
It's an education in what some people think is normal behaviour! 🙂
We've been clearing our loft out ready for a new roof and have listed loads of stuff for free - as a) it saves me a trip to the tip b) I'd rather someone get some use out of the items.
My favourite is "Will you deliver it to xxxx place" which is usually a 2 hour round trip! Errr, no - it's bloody free and you must know someone who drives so put them out not me.
...and people who message at 4am - that's a fun one too!
I think you just have to remember that the majority of society are massive dick heads
Faceache Marketplace - making Ebay look sane
It’s the 83 billion “is this still available” default messages that I love. When you reply 99% don’t get back to you
I think you just have to remember that the majority of society are massive dick heads
So true. A very effective method of detecting them is use of the word “Faceache”
more info on the things you are selling that i can get for free....
do you have any in green with zips?
Trying to give away an artificial Christmas tree.
"is it still available?"
"yes"
"I will arrange collection later"
......
......
"I will collect the drawers at 10pm" (note, still no Ps & Qs)
"it's a Christmas tree"
"ohh are the drawers not avalable"
Now there are drawers in the background of the photo, but also a wall, a gravel driveway, a decorative pot, etc etc. And it's not unique, there have been 20 identical conversations!
…and people who message at 4am – that’s a fun one too!
People can send messages whenever they like, so longs they don't expect immediate responses.
can you deliver the gravel driveway [s}please[/s], my gran is pregnant and her dad's car is in the garage.
more info on the things you are selling that i can get for free….
do you have any in green with zips?
No. It used to be mainly white. It’s now in lots of bits. As I recall it was devoid of zips.
Chapter 2 in trying to give away things for free is bloke 1 has not turned up to collect free thing. He’s not answering messages either, he is however receiving and reading the messages.
I’ve offered it to bloke 2 now. He’s coming after work on Monday 5ish. Maybe.
I’m not holding my breath.
Used to work with a guy, pre-internet, who loved nothing more than phoning someones number from local paper ads that were selling a divan suite, at 3am on a nightshift, enquiring if the diving suit was still available.
Yep, just put our car up on FBM and have so far had two no-shows and lots of "is this still available" and nothing else.
selling a divan suite, at 3am on a nightshift, enquiring if the diving suit was still available
That appeals to my silly sense of humour. I like your friend 🙃
Welcome to the modern age !!
Chapter 2 in trying to give away things for free is bloke 1 has not turned up to collect free thing. He’s not answering messages either, he is however receiving and reading the messages.
I’ve offered it to bloke 2 now. He’s coming after work on Monday 5ish. Maybe.
I’m not holding my breath.
This is standard for FB. Last thing I gave away was a free printer, first guy didn’t show up, second guy was coming next day, obviously didn’t show up, I then gave in and ended up delivering it (despite the advert saying collection only) to a woman that had messaged asking if I’d deliver. I hate throwing stuff away but I always end up wishing I’d just taken it to the tip!
It’s the 83 billion “is this still available” default messages that I love. When you reply 99% don’t get back to you
It's surprisingly easy to click the button on facearse that auto sends that exact message. That's why you don't hear back from quite a few of them - they never meant to be interested in your used sex toys / whatever.
the issue with offering stuff for free is you're attracting 'customers' who can't afford things. They can't afford everything, not just the thing you're offering so it shouldn't be a surprise if the don't have the means for transport and travel. People with the means don't need free stuff - they might be interested in free stuff, but if the cost of getting free stuff turns out to be effort or inconvenience then.... why bother, they don't actually need it., People without the means do need free stuff - but they don't have the means to get it. Even if something is free its still unobtainable no matter how much they need it.
they never meant to be interested in your used sex toys / whatever.
But I am. How used are they? Can you deliver?
But I am. How used are they? Can you deliver?
Sure can. Front or back door?
We did the easier version. 10 year old flat screen monitor. Left it outside with a "take it, it still works" label.
In classic Facebook “sensible offer” melodrama.
I’ve got an item up for £45.
Just been offered £10 for it, if they collect.
It’s collection only and at no point have I offered, or even stated the postage was an option.
🙄
The answer is much simpler.
People are idiots.
Jump onto any Amazon listing and look at the questions, there will always be someone random replying "I don't know."
Currently trying to sell a pram/buggy thing on gumtree..... all the various bits/pieces. We've used it for 2 kids so it's a bit worn. New they are $1,600 - I just want rid of it, so have put it on for $100.
"Can you post it to Melbourne?" (that's about 1,000km away)
Also my favorite:
"sold please"
Got a bunch of other stuff to sell, but anything that would be listed for $50 or less is just going as "free to collector" and left outside the front door, as (it turns out) you can put a price on your sanity.
I still don't understand why people sometimes post 'next' and nothing else on FB ads. Do they mean they want next dibs? It seems very strange and unlikely to succeed if so.
Try listing an Ikea Billy bookcase listed late in the evening.
Person A messaged and said they'd get it the next morning.
Person B else messaged, I said Person A was coming to get it 9am, person B said they'd be round in 25 minutes at c.23:30 and pay double.
Overnight I had dozens of requests.
Marketplace is full of them
we put an old metal bedframe up on facebook for free, the frame was slightly broken, an underbed support was broken so I'd made a wooden replacement, clearly stated in the advert with pics. Hence, free, just to be rid of it.
We got all of the usual can you deliver bits which were easily answered. One bloke came and then decided he didn't want it because it was broken. Another person wanted it but wanted a reduction because it was broken and then went quiet when pointed out it was free anyway.
Then finally a bloke came, wife arranged it so i had no contact at all, he patiently listened as i explained how it went together, where the supports went, where the wooden one goes, etc., and then calmly said "I don't really care mate, I'm just going to take it down the scrap metal dealers and hopefully get a fiver for it"
I giggled, wife was livid when I told her later, not that he'd made a fiver out of us but because it deprived someone of a serviceable bed frame!
Jump onto any Amazon listing and look at the questions, there will always be someone random replying “I don’t know.”
😂 Yeah.
People are idiots.
This. Quite scary how many really.
Some of this sounds like Sir Michael - https://twitter.com/Michael1979
Although I'm sure he has evolved his character from such interactions, I suspect some folk are, in turn, attempting to emulate his humour. Badly.
Now there are drawers in the background of the photo, but also a wall, a gravel driveway, a decorative pot, etc etc.
They always have “hubby’s” too don’t they and that poor sod is getting sent round on a quest to pick up all the free stuff once he’s finished his shift.
And he’ll show up in a nissan micra to collect the full size garden slide and swing set
Currently selling some camping bits including a double camping bed.]
Since posting it on Marketplace yesterday I've had:
Can you hang on to it for me until August?
Can you deliver to Fife (I am in the Borders and said strictly collection only in the ad)
Will you take £10? (Its up for £40 and has been up for only a few hours)
At 3.04am this a message saying "I'm interested in this item". That's nice.
It's the self-important arseholes that only comment to complain about your asking price, even if they're not interested in buying.
There's a lot of them about sadly.
We did the easier version. 10 year old flat screen monitor. Left it outside with a “take it, it still works” label.
That's not always effective, as people will usually assume that something is wrong with it, if you're just giving it away. This method isn't always successful. One that really is, is a sign that says '£XX, please knock/ring'. It'll be 'stolen' in minutes...
@bigblackshed that's nothing. I had an ad up with £4000 on it - it's actually sold now, for asking, but I forgot to mark it as such. Had a message last night "could you do £60?" I presume it's some sort of scam bot but the profile looks reasonably legit, and there are some really stupid people out there!
They always have “hubby’s” too don’t they and that poor sod is getting sent round on a quest to pick up all the free stuff once he’s finished his shift.
One yesterday, about our car - "My husband is interested in your car. His number is XXXXXXXXX. I'm off to work now".
That was it. So I have to call some random? I don't think so.
The answer is much simpler.
People are idiots.
Jump onto any Amazon listing and look at the questions, there will always be someone random replying “I don’t know.”
Ah..... that's because not everyone remembers to opt-out of all the "can we contact you via......." options.
Amazon then sends you requests to review purchases, and questions about them. So if someone asks a question, and you reply "don't know" then Amazon puts that answer on the website.
In classic Facebook “sensible offer” melodrama.
I’ve got an item up for £45.
Just been offered £10 for it, if they collect.
The problem with Facebook is unlike eBay where customers are searching for something and have a budget. Facebook is just shoving your advert in front of random local-ish people. So you're not getting people who are searching for your item with a budget to buy it. You're getting random people to whom it's worth something, but probably not market value.
I have a few rules for FB marketplace:
1-it's not sold/no dibs EVER, until the money is in my hand/bank..
"you want to collect it a week on wed, of course. Pay now and I'll hold it for you"
2-i have NO sympathy with ANYONE on there. No sob stories, no favours. It's just too much hassle.
"this bike wheel reminds you of your dead gran. how lovely. no you can't have it for free"
3-i accept NO-ONE tells the truth, and just deal with it. No one ever comes when they say they will. or at all. I won't change plans to sit and wait for anyone, as they never turn up anyway!
4-I'll agree to sell to ANYONE, and arrange for 10 people to collect if it so happens.. see rule 1! Until money is in my hand, it's not sold. I'll let everyone else know once it's actually sold.
Most of the time I just give stuff to mates rather than deal with teh FB marketplace crew!!
DrP
I broke my rule of insisting that item stays for sale until collected or paid for. Silly me.
Agreed to sell camping bed yesterday evening to someone who said they would collect it "tomorning". I assumed that was either tomorrow or morning. Messaged them back to say that I had others interested, will they definitely collect. Response was yes, will 100% come tomorrow. Then told ten other people it was sold subject to collection.
Just got message "I've changed my mind M8"
My fault, I let my guard slip for a minute and an idiot got through.
D'oh!!!
Glad to see others have rules too!
DrP
I think the issue with Marketplace is that there are more idiots than not. So by default, we should assume that we are dealing with idiots, so treat them like idiots.
Idiots.
I have sold heaps of stuff over the years, mostly low price stuff ie sub £50 although there have been a couple of bike frames around £150 and a car for £450.
It never ceases to amaze me the utter nonsense people come up with, and you can pretty much spot a time waster from the first contact. My favourite is when they say yes, they'll have it and then say they need to go to the bank to get the cash out. Ok no problem. Then a bit of an overly long delay followed by a message along the lines of 'my bank card is playing up'. Must have had that a dozen times. Just say you've changed your mind, it's allowed!
A memorable non sale was some skis and boots that the buyer were desperate for and would arrange courier collection. Next day the inevitable climb down when they realised the courier cost, but a delightfully worded and full apology for timewasting made my day despite being utterly predictable.
My most positive experiences were selling bike stuff on here on the old classifieds (halcyon days). Interested - send pictures - agree price - deal!
My rules are -
1. price it hard to resist so no haggling
2. no one has fivers so price 20 or 30 etc not 25.
3. If its low value I put it by the door and go out 'in an emergency'. If you want it put the cash in the letter box.
I'd say that with a couple of exceptions the eventual buyer was obvious from first contact.
Ebay might be the work of the devil but it does at least have a few mechanisms for filtering out the very worst of this kind of dumbfaffery.
i had the most elaborate involvement with FB market place recently, selling some Fox forks...
Listed for 580ish (trying my luck!)..
Some cahp was interested..offered £500 cash to collect the next day.
I said OK.. he never came, but said (get this) his mate works nearby, so will come ad get the forks off me, and will pay via paypal.
I thought..OK... whatever, but went along with it.
The mate DID actually turn up at the time agreed, and looked over the forks, and said if I'd reduce the price more (in a kind way). I told him I'd already reduced the price..he laughed and said fair enough..
Then THE MATE bank transferred me the money, and took the forks away...
I'm unclear why a) the buyer guy didn't just transfer the money to me
b) or why he didn't give his mate the cash (which clearly never existed)..
Odd..
But..
I sold them, so i'm happy!
DrP
They buyer who was definitely coming today, then messaged me to say she changed her mind got an earful off me pointing out just what I thought of her wasting my time. She just replied, I was expecting a torrent of poor spelling and grammar, instead she said she did want to buy it after all and could I hold on to it for her for a week or so.
That will be a no then
Sounds like the local tip is preferable to dealing with arses like this.... you get to an age in life where dealing with strangers and 'Joe Public' becomes very unappealing..
Our tip has a shop for anything mildly decent so I have always preferred dropping it in there and letting them sort it out, if not its into the big skips with it - though I admit our tip is only 10mins away so fortunate in that respect.
Just ignore the low offers, stupid questions and chancers. A couple of times I've put an item up for a good price and had a few buyers practically racing to be the first to show with cash. One sale was a set of tyres last summer and while the first to arrive was stood outside handing me the cash two other cars arrived, one getting all arsey about being beaten. I just treat it as a game now, most things sell in a few hours.
On one group an item has attracted about 15 comments, all taking the piss or the usual “you can get these yourself for free” type of response. The humour, and I use the term loosely, are the exact thing you’d expect from the bottom feeders. I know, I’m classing them all under a very small net.
If I see someone either way off the mark or down right taking the piss, I’ll just move along and give it no more thought. The comments are all from the same group of friends, or acquaintances, I don’t know any of them.
Why would you comment on someone else’s sale ad with no intention of buying? Is this breaking rule 1?
Trolls I suppose. I just don’t get it.
There's a 'scam' on my local Buy/Sell group going on, usually for games consoles or scooters, where an item is listed at a decent price. A load of people (it's the same names every time) comment saying it's too expensive etc then one of them will message the seller direct with a low offer, usually mentioning the comments of their high price to beat the seller down further. They then buy the item only for it to appear on a different Buy/Sell group for the original price. People are getting wise to it now but it's easy for the naïve sellers to get pulled in, especially as it all happens in the space of 30 mins or so. Been going on for a few weeks now and it's taken a few of the regular sellers to spot it across the various groups. Had them try it on me when I was selling my old commuter bike but I just ignored them and it sold for what I asked the next day.
Had the same with selling a sofa bed. lots of time wasters, can you deliver, we'll be round, changed my mind - finally sold to a guy who was delighted with it and finally restored my faith in the wider public in that moment.
Selling my sons pug 206 with a snapped cam belt....sheer joy.
There are many great lines but my fav
"How far away are you?"
The cam belts snapped it says so in the advert.
"What's wrong with it mate"
There's a selection of pictures,4. Not 20 but it's a 200 quid broken car.
"Can you send me more pictures?"
Yes what would you like to see?
"The car!"
"Would you take £60?"
No would you?
"Stick the car up your f****** ass then"
I haven't got a donkey
"?????"
It's been great
Never used it but it sounds like Gumtree meets freecycle. Used to have loads of fun with the idiots on those two sites. Can’t be arsed any more so use eBay for stuff that isn’t bikes and here and PinkBike for bike stuff.
This thread reminds me of emails from an arsehole. Loved that guy
Facebook Marketplace is a dickhead magnet. Even more so than Fleabay. Buyers, Sellers, whatevers, it is a 95% chance whoever you are interacting with is a serial timewaster or has the mental agility of a pebble.
In my opinion, life is too short to invite these people into it.
Well this evening I had half a happy ending!
The free bits I was giving away was a working washing machine motor and the control boards. I’d stripped an old machine for the drum to make in to a fire pit, and put the other working bits up for free. I’ve picked up bits like that in the past and thought someone else might make use of it.
The chap turned up when he said, happily took the motor. Then knocked on the door again and asked if he could have the remaining shell and all the associated bits for scrap. Yep, take them away. It’s saved me having to take it to the recycling centre.
here’s a ‘scam’ on my local Buy/Sell group going on, usually for games consoles or scooters, where an item is listed at a decent price. A load of people (it’s the same names every time) comment saying it’s too expensive etc
Shill bidding is not a new thing, it's been going on for decades. A work colleague tried to get me to make fake bids on his shit on eBay 20+ years ago.