To think that people purposely troll selling sites?

[cardamoncoffee]

I have dabbled a bit in buying/selling pages such as Gumtree, local Facebook, classifieds etc and for every item there seems to be someone who turns out not to want the item but asks questions that are very obvious, says they are coming, keeps postponing their visit but still wants it....

I posted a camping item yesterday, got a message at 3am to ask if it was still available and could they come now Another person texted today 'what are you selling? Send me a pic'. The item was listed very well with clear descriptions and pictures. In the afternoon someone texted asking if they could have it and how much was it. Again, stated in the ad. I'm currently waiting on someone who wants to collect it, texted them to confirm the time and they replied 'might be tomorrow'. This type of thing has happened with every item.

AIBU to think that some people purposely do this as a hobby?

It’s the internet- trolls are everywhere. I think, like you said, it is for some sad people a bit of a hobby.

I've hardly ever sold anything online, probably fewer than 10 items and every single time I've encountered an arse hole time waster clearly dicking about for giggles.

Trolls are everywhere but in the old days we used to just call them dicks... And dicks are definitely everywhere, in all forms and all walks of life.

Recently tried Marketplace on Facebook. Just full of timewasters that I've either waited in for or agreed to meet somewhere and they never turn up. I've found ebay is also a nightmare now. People wearing the goods and then saying goods not as described and need to return and of course ebay sides with them. Probably now going to just give away or do a car boot :(

I sell on marketplace and the amount of people who ask if my item is still available and where is collection. I reply (even though collection details are on the listing) and they come back with either too far or can I post? Seriously, unless I'm missing something, if you live in Birmingham why would you ask for an item in Somerset??

Then you get people who ask you to deliver and if not too far I normally quote a few £ for petrol. They then say item is listed for £ and I reply yes but delivery is extra. They then get mardy and say they'll pay price listed or forget it

I don't know if they're trolls or whether they're just really thick people. I get some really dim questions when I sell on Ebay and I've always just assumed that some people are just very dense and oblivious to how dense they are. To consider them trolls assumes a certain level of intelligence that they seem to be lacking.

Some people are just chancers I'm currently selling my son's little bike that he outgrew before he could use it properly,only asking for £10 a lady asked me if I'd consider £4 as £10 is a bit to much for a practically new bike.🙄

I have a rule now, if they ask any questions at all except the following in this order:

-is this item available?
-when can I come to get it?
-what’s your address?

Then I block them straight away.

I especially hate the people who want to negotiate the price, the best price I’ll sell it for is the one on the listing, I’m not Del Boy

@StripeySocks29 great rule using this from now on.

I don't know if they're trolls or whether they're just really thick people

This did cross my mind but surely people can't be that thick? Looking at an ad, getting my number or messaging me with the ad presumably in view and then asking what I'm selling?

I especially hate the people who want to negotiate the price

Last year in the run up to christmas I was selling stuff that was new for a very token amount, it was no good to me and I just wanted rid of it. It generated lots of interest, but every person came with a sob story about why they should get a reduction, most of which involved having cancer I vowed never to get involved in selling stuff again, but here I am.

@cardamoncoffee further to my rules above, if the sob stories start then just say you’ve got 5 other people interested so either they want it at the stated price or they don’t. It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, it always sorts out the time wasters.

As soon as someone arrives to look at an item I jump straight in with ’you were lucky, I’ve had loads of people asking about this’

I'm about to remove all my selling adds I can't deal with being called hun by strangers ( or actually anyone to be fair).

I think some people are just chancers and want something for nothing. Others are greedy bastards and yes, some are as thick as shit.

Not being able to see the seller has a lot to do with it, I think. If they had to deal with a seller in person, many of these eejits wouldn't be able to negotiate their way out of a paper bag. For them, the seller is just a name on a screen. Heaven forbid that you actually exist and have thoughts and feelings.