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AIBU?

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Original poster

Sold item on facebook marketplace WWYD?

48 replies

Aussiegirl123456 · 10/03/2020 15:09

Hi, just a quickie! What would you do?

I listed a sofa on facebook last Thursday. I listed it at a cheap price for a quick sale, stating I needed it gone asap. I had over 140 messages from people wanting to buy.

One lady came to view Friday morning and paid there and then. She asked if i could deliver, stated no as have a small car and a newborn. She said she wanted to buy it and would sort out a way to collect it. Reminded her I need it gone over the weekend. She kept asking if I could store it in the house until she could collect, told her twice no as I need it gone asap hence why it's been listed cheap. She paid $150 in cash and left. I gave her my phone number so she could let me know when she is collecting.

She messaged Saturday afternoon asking again if I could deliver. Again I said no. She said her husband would hire a trailer Sunday to collect. Waited in all day on Sunday in case she turned up, but she didn't. I have not heard from her since.

What should I do. I've messaged her twice and she's read the messages but not replied.

OP posts:
tobedtoMNandfart · 10/03/2020 15:15

Well she's a right total PITA but you have both agreed a contract. She has paid, the sofa is now her property.
All you can do is give her fair warning of disposal, eg in 2 days I will be leaving it outside.
You can't sell it to someone else, but equally you have not agreed to store it for her indefinitely.

Worst case scenario you end up arranging disposal of sofa and subsequently have to repay her the $150.

MsVestibule · 10/03/2020 15:18

I'd just relist it (or ask one of the other people who showed an interest). Hopefully she'll see it and get her arse into gear. If not, sell it to the first person who turns up with a van/trailer, and make it clear in the advert that you won't be taking any cash until that happens.

Obviously you'll have to give the original woman her cash back if she comes round for it!

gamerchick · 10/03/2020 15:20

Relist, keep her money for a refund. She's making you store it until you either cave and arrange delivery or she sorts her shit out.

Don't pander to it and when you relist. Put can't deliver in block capitals.

MsVestibule · 10/03/2020 15:21

Well she's a right total PITA but you have both agreed a contract. but part of the verbal(?) contract was that the PITA would collect it over the weekend. I think that makes the sale contract null and void. Which is only relevant if she actually takes if you court!

Did you give her a receipt for the $150?

Owlypants · 10/03/2020 15:21

I think there's a way you can send money through Facebook messenger. Send back her money and sell it to someone else

drinkygin · 10/03/2020 15:22

I would relish and refund her money if she asks. She’s a cheeky cow!

drinkygin · 10/03/2020 15:23

Relist!

Original poster
Aussiegirl123456 · 10/03/2020 15:23

Thank you!
Yes she's a total PITA. I had a feeling she would be. I told her time and time again while she was here to just pay when she collects but then the baby started crying as hungry and the woman just left the cash on my dining table despite my protests.

I should have known then she'd be a CF. Like, who asks a woman with a 3 day old baby to deliver a sofa?!!!

I'm going to message her to let her know if it isn't picked up by Friday that I will be re-listing the sofa and she can come by and collect her money. That's what my original plan was but I didn't know if it was too harsh or not (sleep deprived and absurd hormones at the moment are making me doubt myself haha)!

Thanks :)

OP posts:
TheresNothingIWantMore · 10/03/2020 15:24

Text her and tell her you're going to re-sell it and she can collect the $150.

Jokie · 10/03/2020 15:26

We had this with a pram. After giving fair warning, the relist pushed them into gear and they suddenly found transport for it. Hope it works out

MsVestibule · 10/03/2020 15:33

I wouldn't give her until Friday! Why not do it straight away? At least that way you should be rid of it by the weekend either way.

tobedtoMNandfart · 10/03/2020 15:36

Yep good point @MsVestibule

bingbangbing · 10/03/2020 15:36

Relist and tell her she can come get the cash

tobedtoMNandfart · 10/03/2020 15:36

What a mess! This is why I just give stuff away now!

TheReluctantCountess · 10/03/2020 15:37

Relist it now. Have the money ready for her to collect.

Original poster
Aussiegirl123456 · 10/03/2020 15:38

Yeah I've just messaged her, she'll get it in the morning (it's 1:30am right now!). I just told her I am selling to someone else and to let me know when she's in the area to collect her cash. I'm not even giving her until Friday. Bet she will come and collect her cash pretty quickly!
I stated clearly in the ad I needed it gone asap and that I'm unable to assist with delivery or lifting. She was the strangest human I've ever met too, so I'm curious as to what her reaction will be!

OP posts:
Circe32 · 10/03/2020 15:50

Charge storage fee of £25 per day Wink

MauriceandAlec · 10/03/2020 15:52

Yeah, just give her back her money. Hate it when people ask for delivery after you state clearly that the item is for collection only, no delivery and they will need to arrange to pick up the item. You post all three of those and still get fucknuggets who ask if you can deliver. 'I'm not Argos. Goodbye.'

Genevieva · 10/03/2020 16:01

Your verbal contract is for collection by the end of the weekend. She hasn't collected, so she has breached her contract. You are free to sell to someone else who can collect immediately. I would tell her that she has 24 hours to collect. I don't think you have a legal duty to reimburse her, but if someone else pays you in full then you might feel morally obliged to. Up to you.

HollowTalk · 10/03/2020 16:02

I'm intrigued by "she was the strangest human I've ever met" - tell us more!

Kimbaland · 10/03/2020 16:19

She asked you to store it and you said no. By not contacting you and leaving the money guess what you are doing...storing it.

Put up for sale and keep her money to one side for when she is really to collect it

Felyne · 10/03/2020 16:22

If she put the cash on your table and left your house I am guessing you didn't have a chance to give her a receipt. From her point of view that's risky - what proof has she that she even gave you money at all? I hope it all works out without any hassle OP.

Original poster
Aussiegirl123456 · 10/03/2020 16:25

I will give her her money back, I couldn't be that mean! Though she just left the cash on my table despite my protests (I just had an instinct then not to accept the money as had a feeling she would be a pain with collecting it). I asked her not to pay until she collects but the baby was screaming by this point as needed feeding (this woman had been in my house for about 20 mins at this stage just sitting on the sofa!!!). So with the crying baby, I didn't have my wits about me and wasn't fully aware she had even left the cash until she had actually (finally) left. She didn't even ask for a receipt.

She was like Mr Bean, female version. She kept sitting on the sofa she was buying in all different positions, which is all good, just some were strange positions. But who am I to judge about how one would sit on a couch?!!

Then she rung her husband and then her brother to tell them she was here and that she was buying a sofa. Then she kept saying her life was difficult because she couldn't work out how to get the sofa to her house (alarm bells, so was then trying to talk her out of buying it at this stage!).

Suggested hiring a man with a van from facebook or hiring a trailer from bunnings. Instead of going with one of those suggestions she said she will find someone before the weekend. So that's when I reminded her again it needs to be collected over the weekend. Then she said "perhaps you could store it for me against that wall there or over in that corner".... I said for a day or two, yes, but I need it gone over the weekend. She said "oh yes, over the weekend". As she was leaving she said "let me know how you get on arranging delivery", to which again I told her "that's something you need to arrange" and she said "oh yes I will over the weekend". It was like having a conversation with dory. Had I'd known she had left the money on my table at this stage I would have given it to her and locked her out. It wasn't until I walked back in and saw it on the table that I thought 'fu*kkkkkkkkkkkk'!

Should have trusted my instincts. Hindsight!

OP posts:
Justsaynonow · 10/03/2020 16:50

It was like having a conversation with dory.
GrinGrinGrin

NewName54321 · 10/03/2020 16:54

Make sure you give her the exact same notes back, just in case any are fakes and she ends up waltzing off with good cash.