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Original poster

Facebook selling- why are people so stupid?

26 replies

flitwit99 · 20/03/2019 10:58

I often use a local facebook selling site. Recently I have been really frustrated by the amount of idiots on there. I'm giving up.

A few weeks ago I wanted to sell an Ikea toddler bed for £5. So not exactly lots of money. I put on the ad that it's in good condition but getting a bit too small for my average sized 8 yr old. Put a link to the bed on the Ikea website, a photo of the bed built up, the bed taken apart and clear photo of the instruction book with the name clearly visible.

I kid you not, someone messaged me to ask exactly what type of bed it was. Someone asked me if it would fit a 15 yr old. Someone asked me if it would fit a standard single mattress. Someone asked me for the exact dimensions. Can they not click on the link? Would they like me to wipe the bum for them while I'm at it, for the grand price of £5? I took it to the charity shop.

Today I have been trying to sell on a huge box of Fireman Sam toys, good condition, £5.
Conversation as follows:
Buyer- "Hi, can I buy the Fireman Sam toys?"
Me- "Sure, this is where we live, when would suit you to pick up?"
Buyer- "I live at xyz"
I have waited maybe 10 minutes to see if any further info might materialise but nothing.

I want to reply saying "That's very interesting, do tell me more about where you live" but I won't.

Seriously, how much spoon feeding do these people want for hardly any money?

The toys are now also going to the charity shop, which I should have just done in the first place and saved myself the hassle.

OP posts:
TapasForTwo · 20/03/2019 11:00

On the other hand, some people don't know how to market what they are selling. Someone put some running shoes up for sale yesterday and didn't state what size they were.

TroysMammy · 20/03/2019 11:01

It's frustrating. I've seen detailed information about an item including the price and the first question invariably asks "How much?"

It's the same as MN when people don't RTFT.

MadSweeney · 20/03/2019 11:01

I gave up.
The final straw I was giving away a table, I had so much hassle from "where are the chairs and how many are there?" read the fucking advert to "will this fit in my 3 series BMW" and "Delivery to X?" with no please or thank you.

Everything now goes to the charity shop without exception. I consider my time worth more than dealing with idiots.

Moneymanifestor · 20/03/2019 11:01

I feel your pain.

I run online training programs and clearly advertise the date and time including the eleventybillion American time zones.

Last week I had an American ask me what PST, CST and EST meant Hmm

Finfintytint · 20/03/2019 11:02

The posts that make me laugh are the type asking for a brand new IPhone - must deliver , can pay no more than £50.

Original poster
flitwit99 · 20/03/2019 11:06

Would you reply to the message about where the person lives or just ignore? I don't want to be rude, it's a local group,who knows when I might come across this person again. But I really can't be bothered.

OP posts:
Finfintytint · 20/03/2019 11:08

If you made it clear it was for collection only then I would just ask when they would be picking it up.

BooksAreMyOnlyFriends · 20/03/2019 11:23

I would reply 'This is collection only, are you able to collect?'.

I rarely sell online nowadays. I used to much too accommodating and at the mercy of piss takers. Driving out of my way to deliver something for a couple of quid, sitting home all day waiting for no-shows, answering stupid questions, putting up with cheeky offers, dealing with idiots fighting over my listing, giving out very detailed directions to my house from their house and still having phone calls asking for further directions because they've got lost. Such a ballache. It all goes to friends or charity shop now.

ShadowsInTheDarkness · 20/03/2019 11:25

This is a v well timed thread! We are moving next week so I've been selling some bits we dont need to take with us. A man turned up to collect our shed, which was listed with clear pics and descriptions. He declared it too short and got a strop on because he thought it was taller!!

Another couple came for a sideboard, ummed and ahhed and then said they didnt like it. I uploaded several detailed pics and a full description.

Am also fed up of the millions of "is this available" messages. I always reply and then they never get back to me. Why enquire if you arent even interested?

And some infuriating person messaged and said "I'll let you know when I'm coming to collect" without even a hi or anything else. I gave it to someone else who actually asked when would be convenient to collect!

tectonicplates · 20/03/2019 11:25

These Facebook groups seem to have very little actual buying or selling going on.

Doyoumind · 20/03/2019 11:31

This is why, although you pay fees, I stick to eBay.

MadSweeney · 20/03/2019 11:36

Would you reply to the message about where the person lives or just ignore?

I'd just ignore.
If they are incapable of reading 'what time do you want to pick up' then I don't much fancy their chances of navigating themselves to an address.

OriginalGeordie · 20/03/2019 13:00

I have given up selling things after a whole list of disasters.

Most recent ones are a pram and a car seat. The pram is a very expensive brand, 3 yrs old and excellent condition. We listed it for £120, we then had a woman message to say that she could only pay £30 and when could she collect? We said no not a chance. She came back with £45 my husband then said £90. Cue most of her friends and family messaging us abuse saying how money grabbing and tight we were! Totally dumbfounded.

The car seat was clearly listed as an extended rear facing seat which came with an isofix base. Two absolute numptys then turn up at my door with an infant seat that isn’t even the same brand wanting to try the base in their car to see if it fitted. They then got shirty when I pointed all this out to them. Would rather give to charity now.

Oblomov19 · 20/03/2019 13:14

Ha ha OP
Grin
People really are thick as Shxte aren't they? Hmm Drives me wild, on the rare occasion I do FB selling.

outpinked · 20/03/2019 13:15

It can be the same on eBay too. Collection items seem to be the trickiest. You always have people trying their luck offering a lot less despite you not having a ‘best offer’ option for a reason. Then there’s people asking for extra photos despite you having six from every single angle on the listing. Also had people asking to view items first, I’m not a shop!!

It seriously is a minefield and can be more hassle than it’s worth.

paisho · 20/03/2019 13:20

Don't get me started on online marketplaces!

A few months ago, I was clearing out my bookshelf and decided to just give away a couple of books I have no intention of ever rereading. Posted them on an online marketplace, with a description saying that whoever replies can have them FREE OF CHARGE as long as they meet me either at my place or at this coffeehouse I frequent. Both locations are right smack in the middle of the central business district so it's not some remote, hard-to-find corner of the earth. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Nope.

The first person that contacted me wanted me to mail the (hardcover) books to him (with me paying the postage) because he was busy. Second person asked if I could hold the book for 5 months till she came back from her student exchange programme in another country. Third person wanted me to make a trip to some random location because it was more convenient for them.

Deleted the app straight after that and donated them all to the library. Have not been on an online marketplace ever since.

Sorry for the rant.

KatharinaRosalie · 20/03/2019 13:32

I was selling a used pram. Had described in detail hwo much use it has had and that it's still in decent condition etc. As you do. Price was a fraction of what I paid.
Buyer asks me to deliver. Oh well, guess I can. Buyer changes the date and time several times. So we finally meet, I start getting the pram out of the car and buyer goes: 'Oh, no, I don't want it. I thought it was new. You should have said'.

Which part of USED would give you the idea the thing is new?

(Had anothher buyer who came to pick it up when they said they would, so not all bad)

Thatsnotmyotter · 20/03/2019 13:42

I’m trying to buy a sofa bed at the moment. I can’t afford to buy new currently but am more than happy to pay a reasonable amount for a good quality secondhand one. It’s bloody impossible though when people don’t state the dimensions (a link would be fine!) or post photos that accurately show the condition (or even describe it!). The worst are posts that have one or two photos, a price and no description at all!

BlackCatSleeping · 20/03/2019 13:49

You can pick up some great bargains on Facebook and get rid of some stuff quite easily, BUT there is so much hassle and shit out there too.

This is the conversation I had with someone last week:

Me: Is X still available?

Him: Yes, it is.

Me: Great. Can you let me know when and where I can pick it up?

Him: Sorry, it's sold.

Twat!

Someone has listed some used baking bowls on my local page for 40 quid. Shock

StarlingsEverywhere · 20/03/2019 13:51

My favourite so far was a selling post entitled "Selling my bag". One photo, a close up of part of the bag. No text describing it, just one photo and the price (£50, if anyone is interested).

ooooohbetty · 20/03/2019 13:55

I gave up selling on fb after a few people asked where my street was. I was selling on our local fb page, my fb page states the area I live in and isn't that what google maps is for?

Foonababoonalagoona · 20/03/2019 14:01

I had one bloke asking me to deliver a mini trampoline I was selling for €10. I said I couldn't and he persisted then said he would pay for a taxi there and back (which would cost around €40) ...you could obviously buy a new one cheaper ! I decided I wasn't selling anything again on a site, too many weirdos and time wasters.

paisho · 20/03/2019 14:02

I gave up selling on fb after a few people asked where my street was.

That's a build-up question to "I don't know how to get there how about we meet at x instead?" Wink

HopefullyNameChanged · 20/03/2019 14:02

Shpock is the same. The number of pairs of shoes for sale on there that don't state the size.... it's not like one size fits all is it!

FookMeFookYou · 20/03/2019 14:19

I had someone recently who was interested in a pair of shoes I was selling. I'd given all the info inc the width/length of the shoe. The jist of the cheeky fuckery was that she wanted to come to my house and try them on before committing to buying them! I was also selling them on eBay and obvs those buyers wouldn't get to TBYB - these items are described as well as possible, sold as seen.

When I said I'll leave it thanks she got really shirty and said "but I'll only be 5 mins as I need to get my DD to an Appt"

So intrusive and to bring your poor kid along while you try some shoes on outside a strangers house Hmm bloody strange

I'm with you OP, for such little money you just wanna scream at these ppl