AIBU - stop asking "Is this still available?"!!

[smittenkittennn]

Long time lurker, first time poster! We are having a clear out at home and there was various things we no longer needed. I put them on fb marketplace (and local mum's groups) as free. There were maybe 10 items in the single post (various small furniture and household bits). I don't drive so flogging on fb is a bit easier than trying to get the bits to a charity shop. The private messages are driving me bonkers. I must have received 50+ messages that just said that default - Is this still available? - without specifying what item they were interested in. I also updated the description to mark what was gone (fb wouldn't let me delete the pics for some reason), but people still messaged asking about the items marked gone. After waking this morning to another 15+ Is this still available? messages, I added a note at the top saying I won't reply to any Is this still available? messages if the item isn't specified. Still, I've gotten another 10 (2 more just while I type this!). Why on earth do people do this?? I know I could delete the ad but I've found this deletes the messages (and I'm waiting on someone to collect something tomorrow). Not really looking for advice I guess more wanting to vent.

[Skigal86]

I think a lot of the time it’s when people catch the button on the ad that sends that message automatically. It’s so annoying, I get loads of those and when I reply yes I get no response, often when it’s within a few seconds of them sending it if I happen to be on my phone at the time.

[guiltynetter]

so you listed 10 or so items on one Facebook post? I think that's your problem! if you had done them separately it would have taken a little longer but each message would have come through and you would know what item it was about. you'd also be able to change the posts so they said sold pending pickup at the top or even just sold. People don't tend to read descriptions!

[AdobeWanKenobi]

so you listed 10 or so items on one Facebook post? I think that's your problem!

Exactly what I was going to say. You need to list individually to keep track.

[smittenkittennn]

Everything was free so going for minimal effort.

[Curiosity101]

@smittenkittennn I literally did this exact thing to someone the other day. I was only viewing their add and somehow ended up sending them that message. I'm not sure it's even a case of accidentally sending that message, but it's an auto message that you send if you decide to contact the person?

I'd clicked 'contact' and then changed my mind so didn't message them but they responded to me later saying it was still available. That's when I realised FB had sent the pre-formed message.

Must very frustrating if you've got a multi listing.

[Curiosity101]

their ad , Must be very

(I really wish there was an edit option on here... )

[DieSchottin93]

It's very easy to accidentally hit those auto messages and there's no way of undoing it so YABU (and so is Facebook for making it that way )

[Scarletoharaseyebrows]

Why on earth do people do this??
I feel the same about ads with a million different items on them

[QuestionableMouse]

Could they think it's a job lot?

Facebook marketplace is kinda a pain though.

[BusterGonad]

This happens to be as a buyer because when you go into messager there is a picture of the item at the top of the page, so I automatically presume when I hit 'is this item still available' that it comes through at the sellers end with said picture. Not for one moment did I think it didn't link the item.

[RhymingRabbit3]

so you listed 10 or so items on one Facebook post? I think that's your problem!
Agreed
I hate when people do multiple items on one post. You think it's for one thing and then it turns out that's been sold, but the 9 other things are still available.
And You're less likely to sell stuff because people only see the first picture.

[SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing]

But doesn't it specify in messenger which item it's referring to?

You can't really complain about people asking if somethings available tbh. If it's sold/claimed then just amend to pending or SSTC.

[SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing]

Ohh.. You put them all in a single post? YABVU. List them individually (like most groups specify) and then when people message, itll specify which one they want.

Problem of your own making im afraid.

I listed lots of things recently, separate post for each one (and different groups, plus marketplace). Lots of messages, but that's to be expected!

At least if you list individually you can mark each one as pending or sold as they're claimed/collected.

[AllergicToAMop]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the marketplace!
It lets people experience what staff in service industry deals with all the time😂

[slipperywhensparticus]

You need to put them on in groups or individual unfortunately or tell them to specify which item they want in the advert

[BusterGonad]

SimeHalfHuman no it doesn't specify apparently as I always get a, reply saying which item, or what are you interested in. Its so annoying, I now send a screen shot too so we are all on the same page! 😁

[Cactusmum]

i get the same..i think people hit the auto send by accident but then after ive replied yes it is available or which item..they dont respond which is kinda rude. Ive done it by accident a couple of times and i then follow up with sorry..my bad after they reply.

[MrsDrSpencerReid]

We had the same just before Christmas!

Listed a couple of things, all on seperate posts, got HEAPS of “is this still available” and half a dozen no shows too, was bloody infuriating!

[QueenOfCatan]

A lot of it will be resellers, they go through marketplace hitting the is this still available button and then cherry pick what looks good from the responses that they receive.

[TulipCat]

To those saying don't list in a single post - my local fb group is the exact opposite - if you spam the group with 10 individual posts, they are deleted by admin. The rules of the group specifically state you must post all items in a single post. So I guess you can't win!

[EurghRedface]

The message system won't let you specify which item you want until the seller responds if the seller lists multiple things on one post. You should have listed them separately, it's on you not them

[Ishotmrburns]

Selling/giving stuff away is annoying. People are annoying. I started a little eBay business a few years ago and I stopped it because the small amount of money I made wasn't worth trawling through all the questions that people wouldn't have needed to ask me if they'd just read the info on the post. In fact, it probably would have been quicker for them to read it than it would have for them to contact me.

I'm afraid that this is just the reality of the internet.

[BlackCatSleeping]

I noticed as well that if someone writes “interested” under one item, it appears under all the items. It’s just the system is a bit crap and people do go crazy for free stuff!

[Creepster]

It's not them, it's Facebook.

[CheddarGorgeous]

If you're selling/giving away on Facebook you need to learn the art of not giving a fuck. I'm surprised didn't get a load of "do you deliver?" and "can you post it to me?".

June ignore the generic responses and try not to care.