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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:
curiousgeorgie · 10/04/2014 11:58

Okay, she's bonkers... She's messaged me this...

Am glad to hear back from you....All you need to do now is to log on to www.paypal.co.uk to set up a new PayPal account...Kindly get back to me with your PayPal Email address ID once you set up the account so i can send the money into your account quick..Cos PayPal is very secure,safe and easy to receive in an online transaction.Hope to hear from you soon.

This has no relevance to anything. None. Maybe she messaged me in error? or she's a fruit loop

OP posts:
BuzzardBird · 10/04/2014 11:58

Anyone else got "I like it, I want it, I'll take it off your hands. You'll be sorry you crossed me..." playing in their ears?

Babymamaroon · 10/04/2014 12:01

Haha that is hilarious!

IWorshipSatin · 10/04/2014 12:01

I don't get why she just upped her offer by £20 for some old sheets, or am I reading it wrong? I couldn't even get £3 for unused sheets!

curiousgeorgie · 10/04/2014 12:02

Because she's crazy?? Wink

OP posts:
Suzannewithaplan · 10/04/2014 12:02

Can't say 10cc had occurred to me but now you mention it!

I'm thinking more Nigerian email scam tbh

fuzzpig · 10/04/2014 12:08

Errrrm... nope, no words Confused

SuffolkNWhat · 10/04/2014 12:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pippitysqueakity · 10/04/2014 12:12

I have now Buzzard!

curiousgeorgie · 10/04/2014 12:13

No, my keys are in my bag and DH's were outside because he was mowing and the shed keys are on his.

OP posts:
McPie · 10/04/2014 12:13

Maybe she wants to hold you to ransom for Mr Potato Head's eyes? Grin

Dillydollydaydream · 10/04/2014 12:14

Truly bizzarre Confused
I've got a baby bouncer, playmat, Moses basket and crib I need to sell but I daren't list it anywhere now!

curiousgeorgie · 10/04/2014 12:14

Little does she know I have a Mrs Potato head accessory kit... Eyes a plenty Wink

OP posts:
curiousgeorgie · 10/04/2014 12:15

If you do dilly, you're going to find when you're gone that your Mr Potato Head only has one ear...

OP posts:
SuffolkNWhat · 10/04/2014 12:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 10/04/2014 12:15

Anyone else got "I like it, I want it, I'll take it off your hands. You'll be sorry you crossed me..." playing in their ears?

Since you ask ... yes Hmm For god's sake, OP, make sure you're careful about locking your cars and answering the door for a while; with any luck she'll soon move on to someone else

I've also had my share of nutters, but at least mine have restricted themselves to some massive sob story to get a price knocked down ... and no, that didn't work either!!

MiscellaneousAssortment · 10/04/2014 12:23

Wow, so bizarre. Not sure whether she was casing the joint or whether to feel sad for the daughter with an unstable mother...

Suzannewithaplan · 10/04/2014 12:27

If a person was really casing the joint or trying to con you wouldn't they be more subtle, behave in an inconspicuous manner so as not to arouse suspicion?

Melonade · 10/04/2014 12:29

This is kind of wonderful in her way. I'd be a little worried she was casing the joint to come back with help at some point. Just be aware and take care. She honestly sounds as though she wouldn't manage anything if someone wasn't running around after her though!

Suzannewithaplan · 10/04/2014 12:37

Hardly master criminal material I agree!

zipzap · 10/04/2014 12:41

Maybe she wants to pay for Mr Potato Head's eyes by paypal? Or pay for the car in advance of picking it up in six years time. Or maybe she thinks that if she deposits a random sum in there, she will tell you that it is for the high chair, your bath mat, the sheets and your company car and she is coming to pick them up the next day...

Are you going to bother getting back to her or are you just going to ignore?

NurseyWursey · 10/04/2014 12:41

I'd have chucked her and her young one straight out.. wow.

GrumpyRedhead · 10/04/2014 12:43

Nothing constructive to add, but love how you told the story! Gave me a proper giggle Grin

Pawprint · 10/04/2014 12:46

Good god!

Reminds me of one time when an old lady knocked on my door and waltzed inside, sat herself down and demanded a cup of tea. After some confusion, it turned out that she had intended to visit the antiques dealer next door but had come to my house instead...

alltoomuchrightnow · 10/04/2014 12:49

I'm used to this sort of behaviour from working in retail, especially in charity shops.. but yours takes the biscuit. Glad your DH was there with you, OP.
I was once behind the till (charity shop) and dabbed some Vaseline on my lips.. you know the little green tins?? and a woman asked me, 'how much for your Vaseline?' I pointed her to Boots opposite and she said they were too expensive and how much was mine Hmm umm yes because in a charity store every single thing is for sale even the staff's possessions?! and I often got the, I'll give you £3 for your bag/ skirt etc etc..even my shoes which were an 8 ' i want yours but smaller can you get me some' (errr you can't order sizes)
I had people try and rip out the shelves/ fittings there and offer money. I had a plastic holdall on the door with our opening hours in and someone stole it
But back to you OP, she was casing the joint and nuts