To HATE selling secondhand stuff??!!

[monkeymamma]

ARGHH!!! I have to admit I usually drop stuff off at the charity shop or give to friends instead (only if they want/need it obvs) but for the one or two items we really splashed out I know it's the right thing to do to sell them and try and recoup a bit of money. But OMG I hate it so much.
First you post the stuff online. Nice photos, write a good description. Flag up any scratches or bits missing. All good.
Then a few people are interested. Hurray! Then the questions start. Is it in good condition? Well it's been used. So look at the photos (always very clear and candid) and decide!!! Can I send more photos. Can they come and look at it. No-one ever gives an exact time so you're hovering around at home for hours wondering when they'll show. Will you take less money. Hmmm I wasn't expecting it to have any marks on it (WTF? It's been used by two toddlers!). Can I deliver the item to [insert name of location on the other side of town]. The number of people who message saying "is this available", "can I come and look" then NEVER MESSAGE YOU AGAIN. Why why why?
And endless questions about accessories and manuals and then you're searching your attic for bits of stuff that go with it. Only for them to go quiet/turn up and not want it/try and knock the price down to the point it's really not worth the time you've now put into selling the sodding thing.
Aaaand breathe. Perhaps I'm just not good with people?!

I'm the same.

I've given up. People are wankers. Everything now goes to charity unless it's something I can make more than £25/£30 on (sometimes my threshold is £50 - depends on my patience).

It's not like I have loads of money or anything but I get seriously irritated by all the issues you outlined OP....I've bought loads of stuff second hand and I've never behaved like those people you've described!!

I hear you! Here's some tips: always state in the ad "must pick up". Never plan your life around a viewing - pick a time that suits you, when you will be around anyway. Don't bother chasing manuals - just state, "sorry, lost" if you can't find it pretty quickly. Finally, don't be afraid of knocking a few quid off just to get rid of the thing!

I posted on a FB page recently asking for a standalone hob/hob plate and was offered....

Random furniture Including microwave, rug and tv unit... oh and a full gas oven (all for £££ Of course) despite the fact I literally said "hey, does anyone have a standalone hob in x location? Can collect in X area" it's not like I said I needed a host of random furniture!

A hob, sold by a seller 75 miles away (wayyy out of the location the group was for) who told me she "doesn't deliver". Erm, because I'll travel that far for something I could buy for £30 new anyway when I said "I'm sorry; it's just too far but thank you" she messaged me 13 times in the space of 12 hours, periodically dropping the price and asking me to "come now" when that didn't work she sent me messages full of insults (calling me a time waster and bitch, etc).

Then the one that really took the biscuit, had hers up for £15, I double clarified price and so I went to collect... then she said "oh but it cost me £45, can we do 40 instead?" When I said no (had seen it cheaper elsewhere) she slammed her door in my face

I finally got a hob plate from a pawn shop (I was not expecting to find one there) but ffs I hate Facebook buying and selling.
No useful advice but you have my sympathy!

Ebay and Buy in Now, cash on collection. It's the only way, and even that is painful.

I hate Facebook selling, it's always so flaky. 'can you post?' no, fuck off, it's a massive bloody high chair, of course I can't post.

'will you take £half the value', like fuck I will.

I can so identify with this! Having said that, I have made some good friends through selling on Facebook & have bought some great stuff too but the whole process can be WAY too much of a hassle!

I describe EVERYTHING to within an inch of its life.

Measurements - as many as possible.
Photo's - as many as possible.
Firm rules on buying - as many as possible.

Then any questions asked, I just say 'refer to description/photo's/rules.

That mostly works, unless you get a really irritating time wasting twat.

Or I just ignore them.

I still prefer to list on ebay though. Tried FB and Gumtree but gave up because of the numpties.

Most user manuals can be found online - so next time anyone asks say you have mislaid it, but you're sure they can find it online! Has worked for me in the past.

oh god this has reminded me of when I sold my pram on ebay. literally just wanted rid and someone bid about £10 and although i'd have liked more thats life, and it was a bargain for a silver cross 3d, with the newborn insert and a brand new hood because ours broke and the shop replaced it.

anyway....waited a day and messaged them as they hadn't messaged about collecting. they suggested a day so we waited in. they didn't turn up.
arranged another day....again didn't turn up.
Messaged and said we would be canceling the transaction as they hadn't paid nor arranged collection.... cue them paying by paypal and making it nigh on impossible to cancel.
In the end dh drove it to their house and literally threw it at them!!!

it wasnt worth the hassle for less than £9 (when you take off paypal fees and ebay fees)

Oh and another.... a tripp trapp high chair. listed and i said we've misplaced the strap which goes from baby bar to the seat between the legs.
lady comes to collect (after I refuse to deliver, or courier) "do you have the strap?"
"sorry I couldnt find it"
stands there looking sad/confused "oh, i really wanted the strap too"
"It did say in the listing I had lost it"
"i'll have to take it then"

seriously....they were getting an expensive high chair for a fraction of the price in good condition only missing a piggin strap you can probably buy replacements of!!!

YANBU. We sold a mountain buggy duet and so many time wasters, including one who turned up, pulled it completely to bits, took an hour of our time, at bedtime no less, whilst their kid pulled out and threw all our toys, then asked if we had a bassinet for it and wouldn't buy because we didn't. Could have asked that by email you know.

Eventually sold it to a lovely Gran who was having twins grandkids.

I really hate it. I deliberately price lower than average in the hope that makes for an easy decision. Then they dither. When I but second hand I just do it!

I think unless you really,really need the money much nicer and a easier all round to give to a charity/charity shop/person in need. Once did a car boot sale with the kids before moving house which was good fun - we sold everything (even the containers we’d taken stuff in and the tables we’d used for display). Happy to take offers and knock down the price - couldn’t believe how many people were packing stuff up to take home. No way could I be bothered with what you describe - how much is your time worth? YANBU.

My pet hate is when you state collection only (yes it is a bloody massive Victorian fire surround) and people ask if you can post it to Timbuktu or somewhere else equally far away.
NO

Or the annoying 'if I arrange a courier to collect is that ok?
NO I am not waiting in all fucking day for your shitty Yodel dude to turn up.

I hate it too but am so poor I have to sell stuff. I was ummmming and errrring about just going to cash converters tbh.

You're right, life's too short, all the careful description, answering dumb questions and finally trudging to the post office to queue up. Just for a few pounds.

This is my life right now. I tried to get rid of a baby walker for free and it was sooo much hassle. 10+ people messaged, 'is this still available' then no reply. Two people never turned up, then both messaged the next day asking for it again. Argh!

I've just sold a pram now and it's for someone 200+ miles away, at first she wanted me to arrange delivery, buy a box and wrapping stuff. I'd had enough of people so she's sorted it all out, I doubt it'll be the end of it when it goes though.

I just give to charity. I donate money to charity anyway but if you give stuff it also saves the hassle of selling so win win.

I'm about to take my old pram and pushchair to the charity shop as I can't bear the thought of having to deal with the crap that comes with selling them. I've even had issues giving stuff away: the amount of times I've offered something in great condition on Freecycle just to have brusque responses asking me to deliver it 20 miles away, or in a couple of instances, people have turned up to collect and asked 'what else have you got?' Er, nothing ...

If I can't give it away it goes to the tip. Can't be bothered with time wasters after the first time I tried.

Most of the time I send clothes to the charity shop. I know I should sell DS’ old stuff, as kids clothes tend to do well on eBay, but I just can’t be arsed. I see it as making a donation to the charity itself, as they will make decent cash for them.

Bigger items are just a nightmare to sell. People really do expect the Earth when they buy a £10 used high chair from you, and think you’re at home all day waiting patiently for them. I had a guy get the arse because I wouldn’t let him come round after his late shift - 11pm! - and collect. Luckily there is a nice furniture charity near me that collect stuff for you and actually turn up on bloody time.

I too only sell the items I'm going to make at least £20out of. I've recently sold a few items, one of which I'd had 60 comments saying yes please because I'd advertised it at a reduced but reasonable cost because I wanted it to go. One man even messaged me saying that if I ignored to fifty odd people in front of him then he'd pick it up immediately and give me an extra tenner
I told him that wasn't the way selling sites worked.
Another couple of items I could have sold fifty times over. But put clothes on there and like you the bastard haggling starts, I get pissed off and chuck clothes in the air ambulance bins because charity shops here literally turn their noses up at a lot of stuff.

Oh no I'm with you on this! Tbh I give most things to charity or give it away. I haven't got the space to keep loads of stuff while people make up their tiny mind about whether they want a bag of stuff for a fiver

It drives me nuts too. I gave away a few bits of furniture for free recently, put them on FB. What a palaver. People saying they'll have it then changing their mind. People not turning up or making me wait in all day... Why the flakiness?

I've only ever sold at car boot sales. I guessed that trying to sell online would be a total PITA. I now try not to buy stuff in the first place, it's easier.

I've just flagged mine as sold as I'm sick of the cheeky questions. Will you take half price? Can you deliver? etc etc. I'm taking the lot to the charity shop and they can buy it from there at probably twice the price I asked for it and the added bonus is they get to transport it home as well. I swear that one of these days I wouldn't be surprised to get a message from someone asking me to pay them after I've delivered the item for free at their convenience.