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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that no one has ever had a weirder selling experience than this??

156 replies

curiousgeorgie · 10/04/2014 09:52

I'm selling off some of my baby stuff (sob!) and had received an enquiry about my baby swing. Well, I say an enquiry, it was a 3 word email.

Is it clean.

I replied that it was, and a lengthy conversation ensued as to where I was, how much the item was (£45), if I had any other baby items. I said I did, crib, Moses basket, pram, bouncer etc. mostly with a pink hood / pink lining / pink blankets.

Oh no. I need blue. Can you get blue.

Well.. I'm not a shop, so no. I have what I have, I'm afraid. The swing is cream though.

Oh no. I will have a look and make the best of a bad lot.

I thought someone was winding me up, or that I was about to be PayPal scammed but sure enough, yesterday afternoon, the most colourful dressed woman I've ever seen in my life pulled up in front of my driveway. And when I say in front, in mean, she drove as if to pull on to it, realised it already had two cars and was full, and stopped her car there. And got out.

DH went out to tell her she would be blocking the road so she told him to move the car. Because obviously my baby shop has valet parking. My DH pulled it into a space right outside of our house (on a mostly empty residential street) as she walked by me into the house.

I took her into the living room and over to the swing. She said 'no, no, I need the toilet first!!' Okay, you're pregnant, I've been there... It's just across the hall. So I wait and wait. DH comes back in and so does the woman's older daughter (maybe 10) who she had left in the car. She flops (literally the best description for it) onto my sofa and puts her feet up on the coffee table.

I smile at her and she glares at me. She is a little bit scary.

DH abandons me and the woman comes in, I show her the swing. She asks if I can lift it. I say, it's quite heavy but my DH can take it apart and put it in your car. She ignores that and asks me again if I can lift it. I said that actually I've pulled my neck so can't, but have in the past as I'm the one who built it and put it here. She says if I can't lift it, she can't lift it. So she'll have to think about it.

What else do you have to show me?

Clearly thinking this is some kind of state visit to my house, I graciously lead her into the dining room, where all my baby stuff is laid on the table. I tell her briefly what things are and what they cost. She points to my daughters ride in Mini Cooper through the doors to the kitchen and says 'I'll take that, this stuff and the swing' thinks hard... '£40.'

Um... That's my DD1's beloved prize possession that's about 3 months old. It
was also hundreds of pounds and not for bloody sale. I explain this.

But look at your house! (She says, gesturing to my very average, slightly untidy semi) you don't need this car. I need it. My house is small. I don't have a living room or a garden. Or a bedroom.

Fighting the urge to ask her where she intended to put my daughters car when she clearly lived in a kitchen with ensuite bathroom I said again that it wasn't for sale.

How much for the car? She said again.

I was patient, I explained again that it wasn't for sale and she laughed and said that she knew that, she meant the one outside. The blue one.

My ford focus? Well.. That's my car, that's not for sale either.

She was annoyed by this, and being annoyed must make her thirsty because she asked me for water. I got it for her (noting that her scary daughter had moved into my DD's playroom and was emptying all the Barbie dream house furniture onto the floor.)

She asked for the toilet again. She stayed in there for about 15 minutes. Her scary child moved onto toy story toys. DH looked at me through the window looking puzzled.

She came back. 'Right, you want all my money don't you. I've come a long way and I don't need this. I'll take these sheets. And the swing. £65.'

Old sheets cost around the same as a Mini Cooper I see. I took the money, DH packed up the swing and helped her to the car. Came back in and started to empty the toys out of the basket under the high chair.

What are you doing??

She said you sold her the high chair?? I was just taking it to her car?

What??! Shock I went outside and she sped off. Like she'd made a killing.

At 8am this morning she sent a message to ask how long until she could pick up my DD's car. I said about 6 years. She said okay.

Anyone had stranger?? I've got someone coming for a Bumbo chair today and I'm a bit scared! Wink

OP posts:
TheArticFunky · 10/04/2014 10:56

I had a strange experience when we sold our first home. An oldish man arrived with his son and future daughter in law they looked about 16 but were about to get married and the father was buying the house as a wedding present for them he was also a cash buyer. He wanted to talk business with dh and ushered me and his dil into the living room so the men could talk money. Hmm The teenage girl was really and also lounged on my sofa with her feet up on the coffee table.

He got really arsey with dh because he wanted to bypass the estate agent which we obviously couldn't do. Got over that hurdle. Then he said that he would offer the asking price if the price included all of the contents this actually suited us because we were going travelling. Then he said he wanted the cars on the driveway we agreed to include my old banger but not dh's because it was a company vehicle that we didn't own. Cue lots of swearing and he left.

The next day he did actually put through a formal offer through the estate agent on condition that we use his recommended solicitor and lots of demands and conditions we had to complete within a few weeks, he wanted to come back to us and claim compensation if any of the household items broke within the next 5 years it was all very odd and we walked away.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 10/04/2014 10:56

I agree, I think she was dodgy. Do you have a house alarm and/or a fierce looking dog?

TheArticFunky · 10/04/2014 10:56

surly

feesh · 10/04/2014 10:57

I live in the Middle East and regularly sell things through a local Facebook group. ALL my experiences have been like this! They ask stupid questions, they come round (if you're lucky, at some point plus or minus four hours from the time you agreed), haggle HARD, inspect everything else in your house and make offers for stuff and then go home in a huff. I don't want to sound racist, but she wasn't from a different part of the world was she, by any chance? I have witnessed this sort of behaviour from a wide range of cultures here - they think we are just as weird by the way!

bumbleymummy · 10/04/2014 10:59

Bizarre! I too would be looking to see what else had been taken. Is all the barbie stuff there? Anything missing from your bathroom?

WomanScorned · 10/04/2014 11:01

Hilarious :)
I wouldn't be overly worried, tho. I recently did my first car boot sale and was shocked by the behaviour of some buyers. We we're in my friend's camper van and had people trying to get on and rootle through the stuff as we unloaded. People would ask the price if things, then say "no, I'll have them for such and such" At least one tried to pull the car seat out and to buy the tables, as well as the van! I suspect they were more used to haggling/bartering than most uptight Brits.

Suzannewithaplan · 10/04/2014 11:06

Surreal OP
Are you sure it wasn't a dream?

SouthernComforts · 10/04/2014 11:09

I think this thread is appropriate to roll out my favorite ever eBay feedback. I saw it on here a few years ago. A mnetter sold something completely unrelated and the sellers feedback was

"I hope your rabbits die and you can't sell the hutch"

If I recall the mnetter didn't have rabbits.

DownstairsMixUp · 10/04/2014 11:13

:O I would block on ebay to.. would be worried she was eyeing up the house to come back! Sounds dodgy!

susiedaisy · 10/04/2014 11:18

Op I would be wary of this women. Check you have all of your house keys and window keys etc. bringing a child to distract you is a typical ploy of tricksters.

SarahAndFuck · 10/04/2014 11:20

This is why I took photo's of everything I wanted to sell and put a poster up in the children's centre with the photo's on it.

Then, when people called about them, I arranged to meet them with the item in the children's centre coffee shop so they could have a look at it.

Because people are bizarre and this one sounds untrustworthy and scary.

It was a bit of a pain with some of the items and I still had my share of oddballs, but at least I didn't have all that going on in my house Grin

Weirdest one was a woman who wanted to buy the cheapest item I was selling (some Fisher Price Little People thing for £3.00) but have me throw in one of the most expensive things at no extra cost, just to 'take it off your hands, doing you a favour.'

She got very annoyed when I said "no, I'm not going to throw in the swing chair at £40 for free just because you are buying a thing at £3.00. I'll do it the other way, you can buy the £40 chair for £40 and if you do I will give you the £3.00 thing for nothing."

I was unreasonable apparently, and I didn't understand the concept of the free market, or the fact that children's centres are a charity and I was depriving her baby for my own greed.

When she turned up to collect the £3.00 thing she was driving a car that probably cost as much as our entire house.

She also still acted very surprised that I hadn't brought the more expensive thing with me as a gift to her and insisted that I had said she could have the £3.00 thing for nothing so she wasn't going to pay me for it.

Then when I reminded her that I had said I would only do that if she bought the £40 chair for £40 she practically threw the £3.00 at me with much "Lets give the lady your money DD, she obviously needs it far more than you do even though it is the money granny gave you and we had to take it out of your money box…" and snatched the item and walked off.

curiousgeorgie · 10/04/2014 11:26

I think the only thing missing is me potato head eyes. They're seriously nowhere! Seems a lot of trouble for plastic eyes Grin

I think she was just nuts!

OP posts:
curiousgeorgie · 10/04/2014 11:26

Mr.. Not me.

OP posts:
silverhyina · 10/04/2014 11:28

Lock down your house she WILL be back

curiousgeorgie · 10/04/2014 11:31

In 6 years I'll have moved, and she'll turn up and ask the new people how much the Mini Cooper is Wink

OP posts:
BuzzardBird · 10/04/2014 11:34

Check behind your TV for a hidden camera, I look forward to watching this episode Grin

Quinteszilla · 10/04/2014 11:34

Do you have any medicine, vitamins, or tablets in the bathroom?

I would not eat any of them, if I were you..... But I am suspicious.

zipzap · 10/04/2014 11:34

I'd be changing the locks, checking all the window locks and making sure the alarm was on as often as possible... Oh and marking everything with ultra violet pen, documenting all my valuables and so on. Maybe even ringing the police on 101 and seeing if it sounded familiar.

I'd also be marking my diary for 6 years time - if she is batty rather than criminally minded then I wouldn't put it past her to turn up again in 6 years demanding to be given the car and assorted other bits that take her fancy. In which case I'd say that the price is treble what they cost new in the shops because of the sentimental value it has to you... If your dc really have grown out of it at that point, that is - they/you might appreciate the money then to buy new toys to replace it. Obviously not if they still play with it!

Or maybe I'd just be moving instead Grin [scaredy cat smiley]

curiousgeorgie · 10/04/2014 11:36

She only went in the downstairs toilet, nothing in there but child step, hand wash and a Yankee candle.

She didn't go upstairs. Baby gate was shut the whole time as my dog was up there.

OP posts:
Atbeckandcall · 10/04/2014 11:44

That is terrifying, baffling, weird and hilarious!!!

Loopy lady needs sectioning!

FeelingLostJess · 10/04/2014 11:46

That would have freaked me out! You're a much more tolerant person than I lol

MrsBethel · 10/04/2014 11:49

Blimey, she sounds a bit 'Papa Lazarou'!

SarahAndFuck · 10/04/2014 11:52

Actually it's reminded me of the time I was wandering around the shopping centre, browsing more than buying, and a woman approached me.

Her: I like your bag
Me: Thanks.
Her: How much?
Me: I'm not sure, it was a present.
Her: No, how much do you want for it? I'll buy it.
Me: It's not for sale.
Her: Really? Because I'll pay you for it. How much do you want?
Me: Um. It's not for sale, but you can buy one just like it if you go to the shop just down there.
Her: No, I don't think so. Your loss.

And she walked off.

Cabrinha · 10/04/2014 11:54

Well I'd put money on your buyer not being white British.
It's very odd the first time you experience it, but haggling and offering to buy items you haven't proposed for sale isn't unusual in some cultures.
I'm baffled as to why you didn't tell the child to get her feet off the table though. That's not cultural!

kelper · 10/04/2014 11:56

Isnt there another thread running at the moment about a MNer who had half a potato posted through her letterbox? maybe theres a link —clutches at straws--