Gumtree / Facebay / Marketplace etc. etiquette

[redglobox]

I couldn't find a suitable sub-forum for this. It's an easy question:

I've just started selling some things on Gumtree and Facebook selling pages, Marketplace etc. and I'm unsure about a key piece of etiquette.

If someone wants to come out and look at the things that's for sale, or even agrees to buy it and arranges to collect it in a number of days time, should you then hold it for that person until they come and decide to buy it, or should you agree a price/viewings with everyone who is interested and then actually sell it to the first person who turns up and hands over the money?

I'm trying not to upset anyone but at the same time have read plenty of stories of people not turning up repeatedly and have already had one person come to buy it and then offer less and leave without buying it.

I've also already had someone ask me to deliver the £20 item to them in a place that's a 45 minute drive from here!

I only sell on Gumtree (not as a business, just to get rid). I only sell to people who offer full price (or close), cash on collection, and can collect quickly.

You can tell a lot by the responses - I ignore "is it still available?" and go for the ones that say e.g. "If the item is still available I am happy with the price/ would you accept an offer of £5 less? If so I can collect Friday from 6pm or Sunday."

Once I have a firm arrangement I tend to take the ad down - my items are as shown, and nobody has ever backed out. (Unlike on Freecycle, where I just gave up trying to give stuff away).

If someone wants to look but hasn't given a commitment I would say "No problem, I'll let you know if it sells in the meantime", and do so of course. Obviously be safe when people are coming to collect.

I sell a lot on Facebook, also just things I want to get rid of rather than for profit. I only sell relatively low value items, as higher value items don't sell well in our local groups - though it may be different elsewhere.

This means that I'm really never selling anything that a buyer might need to view before committing - they either want it based on the photos or they don't. I'm always honest with the description and photography.

If multiple people enquire, I'll give each person in line 12 hours (or so) to confirm they want it before moving to the next, in time sequence. If someone says they definitely want it, I'll give them a similar amount of time time to at least engage with me to agree a collection time before moving on. Once I've agreed a collection time, I'll hold the item until then and not line up anyone else. You do risk time wasters, but it isn't usually that bad. I won't deliver anywhere, and I only accept cash on collection.

I think I've messed up already. I had multiple people offer on an item. A few then went quiet. Two were making arrangements to come and get it. One arranged to come on Thursday and the other came today. Told the first one it had sold and they're not happy . I've apologised!

Ok. It sounds like I need to hold things for a certain amount of time and make it clear to anyone who can't come soon that I'm not holding it for them.

This is much more stressful than continuing to hoard things

It is, OP, but rewarding once it's gone. It's a learning curve at first, but once you get a system going it starts to be worth while, I promise.