To think people really are CFers when it comes to second hand items?

[TheIckabog]

I am selling an item on a local selling page. It cost me £280 which included the main item plus some extras. The item is in ‘as new’ condition, all original box etc, in fact I think I only used it a handful of times. These items don’t come up very often as they are expensive but they are desirable.

Anyway, I’ve had lots of interest in this item and have had at least four people agree to purchase it, right down to arranging to meet up. Each one of them have then said they won’t take it unless I lower the price! Someone wanted to pay £80 and said they could get it for £200 new. When I refused to lower the price I got a load of abuse!

AIBU to think this is CF-ery to the highest degree? I’m not about to practically give it away and it’s unlikely that they would be able to get this item in such a excellent condition for any less.

I sell a lot second hand on local pages so I know about pricing items at a reasonable price to sell however I think that given it was £280 new and I’m asking £150 it’s a bit cheeky to then try and undercut by another £70!

I think you’re on the mark @WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll. It’s that pushy approach and trying to make you feel obligated to sell to them, even though you weren’t looking to sell. Elderly people do feel obligated to be nicer when approached.

My BIL was selling his virtual reality headset that he bought but didn't use. He had a lot of chancers try to give him less money and/or break the elasyic at the back whilst they tried it on.

From Haviana: he’s really shot himself in the foot hasn’t he? I’m glad for your sake he did, you were doing far too much. He doesn’t sound much of a friend, especially as only inherited. Please don’t cave when he inevitably realises he realises how good he had it.

From CharityDingle: This sounds like an extraordinary situation. He was getting all that work done by you, for nothing. Wow.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

I feel rather sad now. He obviously didn't value either the security of having someone in the property while he was absent nor the cleaning or repair work.

I wonder if people who don't clean just don't understand the work involved when it builds up. Literally the first time I did it, I wondered why he had kapok everywhere until I realised that it was genuinely sheets of dust. Between that and the plumbing mould, I thought these were probably substantial contributions to his respiratory problems.

Let's just say it's an area which is having substantial rent cuts (the 'friend' was charging more than on the online sites and I'm sure most of those could have been negotiated down and for larger properties with access to outside spaces):

www.theguardian.com/money/2020/sep/20/private-rents-plunge-covid-19-decimates-lettings-market-workplace-space-gardens

I've had a big reality check now that I've realised his perspective v. mine and other people's here. I'd never do anything like this for someone again unless they are actually related to me.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

It is a bit unnerving, isn't it. A friend of our is (still) restoring his VW camper van - old style brick-shaped one. He loves it, and would probably sell his wife first. He lives next to a footpath, which has had a lot more action now, due to Covid. He has had numerous people offering to buy it, even one woman who was very pushy "But I've always wanted a red one like that!!") .

Thinking of your caravan and security, another friend used to park both his boat on a trailer and a caravan on the lane outside his home, but chock them up on brick supports and remove the wheels. Bit of a faff when he wanted to use them, but nobody was going to nick them and make a quick getaway!

It is equally annoying when people sell shit for ridiculous prices like half a bag of sawdust for £5.... I actually saw this the other day.

Thanks, SuitedandBooted

I really don't know what goes through people's heads to make them think that they would like to own something they've just noticed, but the person who has already gone out and bought one - often putting a lot of work into fixing up and restoring it, as you say - isn't actually bothered about owning one; and, whilst being 'clearly' eager to sell it, hasn't actually thought of advertising it for sale in any way.

They just make me think of Veruca Salt in the chocolate factory, demanding that her dad get her one of the cute squirrels - and it never for a moment enters her head that she might possibly not be able to have one.

It is equally annoying when people sell shit for ridiculous prices like half a bag of sawdust for £5.... I actually saw this the other day.

Was that in 'real life' or on eBay? If the latter, sometimes people will sell silly things like a bit of sawdust (I love that it's not even a full bag!) or a tin of beans and then get their friends to buy them for a low-ish price but still way over its actual value; and then they return the favour to their friends - just to get started and build up some glowing positive feedback.

....re our caravan, I don't think I could be bothered with removing the wheels - plus we use it as a kind of 'garden room' next to our small front garden (no back garden). However, I have today been looking online for bollards and barriers and also, in a flight of probable madness, a one-tonne rock to put in the corner of the garden and chain the caravan to - the seller says that any buyer will need their own crane and truck All this for a far-from-pristine ordinary 23yo caravan!!

When our TV broke we ended up putting it in the front garden to get it out of the way until I could take it to the tip at the weekend - My thinking was that someone might take it for spares or to try to fix it.

We had 3 separate people knock on our door and ask if it was working, when we told them no the they all said "Oh" in a tone that implied we'd misled them or let them down somehow. they they just.....kind of.....stood there... Ended up just saying a really awkward "OK, bye then" and closing the door on them!

Someone did take it in the end.

Currently selling a boxed BabyDan playpen and brand new BabyDan playmat which fits inside it.
New item is around £135.
I am asking £50 (it is almost new but has been in storage)
I got offered £10 by a woman who wanted it for puppies (she said: 'I want the mat as well, mind'). I declined.

also selling two car seats the Graco kind that grow with the child.
I was asking £25 each which was too high I think. Someone asked if she could them for £15. I said I'd rather take £40, but I would take £35 for the pair yes. Then she said £30 and I thought oh I'll just get rid for that. Then she said, sorry I meant £15 for both. Eh? NO....

This isn't a CFer, just annoying, but there's a guy who's posted on Freecycle three times asking for any vintage/antique/non-working old camera equipment. As it happens, I have a ton of 1960s camera equipment I need to get rid of. I've emailed him about three or four times but no response (and he's not ignoring because he's had good responses already, since he's posted the same ad twice since I emailed him to offer the items). Either he just never checks his email, or his email account is sending all Freecycle emails to spam and he doesn't check his spam folder.

If you post a Want on Freecycle check your bloody email!

It's amazing how many people are really desperate for something, but then won't even hold out their hand to take it when somebody offers it to them. Baffling.

Worth bearing in mind when pricing, if I'm looking for items second hand then it's generally a choice between the cheapest possible thing new, vs a second hand version, unless it's a more premium version with significantly different features.

So for example, a child's playpen as mentioned above - that specific option might have been £135 new, but I just looked at Argos and amazon, and I can get a playpen for £50-60 brand new, so I would not pay £50 for a second hand one. Unless, perhaps, it turns out that the £50-60 models are all tiny square ones and the hexagon shaped ones are all over £100 - then I would potentally look at a second hand £50 hexagon one.

(Actually all the examples were pentagon shaped).

New is usually preferable to second hand because you will have a choice of sizes, colours, styles, features, you can return it if it isn't right and many items come with a guarantee or warranty. I know a few people who would prefer to buy second hand for ecological reasons - but they are rare.

If you're offering something second hand and want it to be interesting to people you need to offer something different to what "new but basic/cheap" version of your item offers. Either a significantly lower price, or premium features for a similar price.

Whatever you paid new for the item doesn't matter to the second hand buyer, unless they are comparing whether to buy that exact specific model of thing new vs second hand.

@BertieBotts

Yes. I think I went with £50 as the BabyDan model is really sturdy quality, (why I bought the expensive version originally not a flimsier one as I wanted safety with climbing toddlers) so is a better buy @ £50 still. So I was cheesed off with the £10 for my puppies woman ;)

But I certainly agree with your points. People prefer new, esp for baby stuff & what you paid is largely irrelevant, it's what the market will pay.

I wonder if people who don't clean just don't understand the work involved when it builds up. Literally the first time I did it, I wondered why he had kapok everywhere until I realised that it was genuinely sheets of dust. Between that and the plumbing mould, I thought these were probably substantial contributions to his respiratory problems.

I would have been out the door as soon as I realised that. I definitely would not have stayed the first time around, never mind going back again.

Is it a paddleboard??

A few years ago, a lady posted on our local Freecycle that she had a virtually brand new child's electric car to give away. My DIL sent her a message asking if she could please be considered for it for my grandson. Despite the fact the woman had approx 200 messages (the item was worth about £200), she gave it to my DIL because, she said, my DIL was the only one who said please.......

I took my barely used spare car seat to a car boot a few years ago. It was a good make, in really good condition and had all the parts and instruction booklet. I had a couple come up and said they wanted it for their grandchild to use occasionally. I explained it's history and discussed price I was only asking a fiver but didn't want to go lower. The couple went away and then came back and told me it was illegal as it didn't have built-in straps. I explained that you threaded the seat belt through it but they kept insisting it was illegal and that I should give it to them and they would dispose of it safely. I turned down the offer and they walked away. Somebody then came along, asked the price and bought it without haggling. The couple came back for a 3rd attempt to get a free carseat and were very miffed that someone had bought it and stomped off muttering to each other

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

....re our caravan, I don't think I could be bothered with removing the wheels - plus we use it as a kind of 'garden room' next to our small front garden (no back garden). However, I have today been looking online for bollards and barriers and also, in a flight of probable madness, a one-tonne rock to put in the corner of the garden and chain the caravan to - the seller says that any buyer will need their own crane and truck All this for a far-from-pristine ordinary 23yo caravan!!

Can you not just buy a wheel lock? (or even two)

We have one for ours.

Can you not just buy a wheel lock? (or even two)

We have one for ours.

Yes, that's definitely on the list to get - I keep meaning to and will make sure I do! We do have a hitch lock. I've read a lot about the wheel locks being very easy to remove by somebody with an angle grinder who knows what they're doing, but I suppose it's still a deterrent - and anything that adds to the time it would take them, as well as make a really loud noise that would draw attention to them can only be a good thing. We have a lovely neighbour opposite us, but we do often joke about her having a direct connection to Moscow and reporting all her neighbourhood findings back - not a lot escapes her notice

A Nosey Neighbourhood Watch is as good as a crack SAS Battalion, Sausage