Dealing with people on Facebook Marketplace driving me nuts!

My best message was some guy asking if I would exchange an item for a tattoo (would also require me to drive an hour away to deliver item and get said tattoo).

I don’t list anything for free anymore as that just attracts absolute idiots and time wasters.

I never ever deliver since once I drove quite a way to drop off and they were out. And asked me to come back later!

Now, I say not to ask for delivery because I don't have a car. And they get 1/2 an hour after pick up time or I don't answer the door.

It’s the stupid lies: instead of saying ‘I’ve changed my mind’ about a dreary bit of furniture they have to say ‘I’d still like it but can’t take it as my DC has just got cancer’. Yeah, right !

The only stuff that doesn’t attract weirdos, pisstakers and people who think you are a shop/retail outlet is Ikea Kallax units.
Nothing else is worth the hassle of Marketplace IMO

I started reading this thread then had to check your name as I thought I had written it and forgotten!
I am in EXACTLY the same position. Right down to a woman asking me if a single bed would fit in her car!!! And you are right it’s a friggin’ nightmare. I have found charging a small amount seems to work. People seem to think free = can waste your time.

So if the woman who wanted the free CD rack is on here, I’ve blocked you for time wasting. 😖

Hands off ladies, he’s mine

I never give stuff away on marketplace.
If im giving it away I either put it on the local FB page or charity shop it.

Even if you put it on for a fiver it cuts the timewasters

I refuse to do it anymore. It makes me completely despair at the state of humanity.

I must be lucky. The people who wanted to buy things I was selling turned up and paid the price I advertised them for. One lady did ask for the measurements of a peacock chair I was selling but I also said I once transported it in a Chevrolet Matiz. As her car was bigger than a Matiz she was fine. I did combined selling it to her with an overdue shopping trip to an out of town shopping park.

This is why I just got a skip at the start of 2026.

All sorted by Monday. Job done.

Yup YANBU.
Given up giving things away to CF on FB.

I'm (not actively) still waiting for someone to come to collect something. Initial contact last weekend, then silence. Then sorry I put my back out but I'll come on Tuesday. Didn't. Today is Saturday and I still have the item (still listed as available) and not heard a peep from the buyer. Manners are sorely lacking these days. Fortunately having had a massive clear out a few years back I only have a few things (mostly inherited) that I'm putting on marketplace and/or ebay.

I never bother with free stuff, you only attract CF
unless it's someone collecting for charity.

It's often worth asking on a public group if someone collecting for charity/ women refuge etc.. would be interested, rather than go on market place

When it's small enough, leaving it outside saves you headaches.

My neighbours have done garage sales, advertised everywhere locally.
They were moving so didn't care if people had a look at the property, kept it outside and garage.

I got this message in relation to a polo shirt I was selling, weirdo

OP, I feel your pain.

I put some items up on our local residents FB page for free. One went to a local person immediately, no problem. Two other items… I’d given the dimensions on the post. One of them was rather long. They turned up in a teeny tiny car, then they walked around the item - in our hallway - harrumphing and sighing. they took the small item, but would have to return for the other.

Contacted me the next day to say that they would have to take it apart. Fine. They turned up, without tools. Stood looking at me like a pair of lemons. To be fair, I managed to rip it apart quite easily because I was so angry. There were a lot of extras that went with it: I walked out to their car with them, as they said: no, we don’t want those. And drove off. Items that were useless without the original item. That ended up at the tip.