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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be pissed off with the number of people asking to pay even less for a secondhand item?

119 replies

AngeloMysterioso · 16/05/2023 21:13

Got a thing for sale on Facebook marketplace. £30, in great condition, not a mark on it- costs £65 brand new.

It’s only been a few hours, and so far I’ve had half a dozen messages asking if I’ll accept £20. That’s not just a couple of quid off, that’s a third of the asking price! AIBU to think there’s haggling and there’s just taking the piss?

OP posts:
ADHDDDDDDDBOOM · 16/05/2023 21:14

YABU.

I always offer less. And I always price my sales expecting to be offered less.
Everyone is broke, we all need to feel like we have a bargain.

OhmygodDont · 16/05/2023 21:15

If it’s up for £30 expect offers at £20 and to settle around £25.

SillyMe101 · 16/05/2023 21:15

I know what you mean, I find it’s good for practicing mindfulness and Zen!

It used to wind me up, now I just ignore. They’re not living in reality.

AngeloMysterioso · 16/05/2023 21:15

It’s in brand new condition, less than half the brand new price. That is a bargain.

OP posts:
ADHDDDDDDDBOOM · 16/05/2023 21:16

AngeloMysterioso · 16/05/2023 21:15

It’s in brand new condition, less than half the brand new price. That is a bargain.

Exactly, so you put the price at £40 and then someone will offer you £30.

Sale done.

ADHDDDDDDDBOOM · 16/05/2023 21:17

OhmygodDont · 16/05/2023 21:15

If it’s up for £30 expect offers at £20 and to settle around £25.

Exactly!

SiousieSoo · 16/05/2023 21:17

Not at all, things drop in value vastly once they are second hand. You cannot guarantee that the size/condition is appropriate for your needs, you cannot return etc. So you have to price accordingly. Just because you paid full price for it, it does not mean that someone else has to accept the value you place on it. I not think that many things online that I see are worth half the price, irrespective of what the seller thinks. There is almost an entitlement amongst some sellers that becuase you paid x amount it therefore means that you should be able to recoup half the costs. Nope, it is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Flopsythebunny · 16/05/2023 21:17

Its second band though no matter what condition its in.
You should always ask for 20% more than you are prepared to pay because it's perfectly normal to haggle.

SillyMe101 · 16/05/2023 21:17

OhmygodDont · 16/05/2023 21:15

If it’s up for £30 expect offers at £20 and to settle around £25.

Yeah that’s it really. You have to play the game.

I had a pair of sandals on Vinted for ages priced at £3 firm. No interest. Last week I relisted them at £7 and had an offer for £5 within a short time 😉😂

SmirnoffIceIsNice · 16/05/2023 21:19

Yep, always price above what you want as people will always haggle. They'll under value it, expecting to meet somewhere in the middle.

Alternatively, write on your post that you won't be accepting offers.

FitAt50 · 16/05/2023 21:19

I am with you 100%. I put my 2 year old tumble dryer on ebay for quick sale at £50. Sold is straight away but they never paid and I had to wait 4 days to relist it. Same thing happened again. I then stuck it on facebook marketplace. Someone said they would take it for £50 and come the next day. They never turned up so I messaged them and they said "would you take £30". Had a few messages from people saying they were single mums etc and offering £20 or asking if I would give them it for free. Eventually sold it for £40.

Bearpawk · 16/05/2023 21:21

Sorry I think YABU. An item is only worth what people are willing to pay for it.

TheRussiansAreComing · 16/05/2023 21:22

Your not obliged to accept the offer. Just tell them no thanks.
They’re entitled to offer what they want to pay for it and you’re entitled to wait until someone offers to buy it for the advertised price. If all you have are below advertised price offers, then you can decide whether to accept one or withdraw it from sale.

SillyMe101 · 16/05/2023 21:22

Someone said they would take it for £50 and come the next day. They never turned up so I messaged them and they said "would you take £30".

@FitAt50 that made me laugh. “Would you take 30 from someone who’s already wasted your time and will probably go on to waste even more of it?” 😂

AngeloMysterioso · 16/05/2023 21:22

I just couldn’t have the audacity to ask someone to take such a huge chunk off- not just 5 or 10% but a third off!!

OP posts:
stealthbanana · 16/05/2023 21:23

FitAt50 · 16/05/2023 21:19

I am with you 100%. I put my 2 year old tumble dryer on ebay for quick sale at £50. Sold is straight away but they never paid and I had to wait 4 days to relist it. Same thing happened again. I then stuck it on facebook marketplace. Someone said they would take it for £50 and come the next day. They never turned up so I messaged them and they said "would you take £30". Had a few messages from people saying they were single mums etc and offering £20 or asking if I would give them it for free. Eventually sold it for £40.

So basically what every other poster has said ie etiquette is to price c 20% over what you would like to get for it (listed at £50, sold for £40).

just ignore the proper chancers OP but it’s totally normal for people to make you an offer. And the rule of thumb I’ve always seen is that second hand sells for 30-40% of RRP new so I would maybe adjust your expectations price wise too.

SiousieSoo · 16/05/2023 21:24

But they obviously think that is what they are willing to pay for it, so maybe they think it is over priced? I looked at some stuff on Vinted recently that were labelled as 'good condition' and up for half price. They certainly were not what I would describe as good condition and no way would I pay that amount. I am not saying that this is the case but unless something is brand new from a shop there are so many variables that affect its value.

Thelnebriati · 16/05/2023 21:26

YANBU. Stick to the price you want and put 'no offers'. Its ridiculous to jack the price up by 20% to allow for hagglers.

mosiacmaker · 16/05/2023 21:26

This used to annoy me too, now I just whack £10 extra on everything and accept their cheeky offers 😉

User12310 · 16/05/2023 21:26

I was selling a really good brand of kids bike for £70. Someone offered me £20! When I told him it was a joke of an offer, he came back with ‘yes or no’! He then said ‘I am very poor, you would be helping me’ after I said no! The bloody cheek of it. Plenty of £20 bikes on there too.

EnglishRose1320 · 16/05/2023 21:27

I expect people to haggle but I do think some people take it too far and can be really cheeky.
Did a car boot at the weekend- hate the things but was doing a favour for a friend. Most things I'd suggest slightly higher than I was happy for it to go for and then we meet in the middle somewhere.
However by the end of the day, we'd stuck prices on somethings and were letting things go really cheap just to shift as much as possible.
Had a nearly new baby item, in full working conditon- retails between £30-£35 new. Someone asked for a price, we said £2 is the lowest we can go and they still tried to haggle, suggested 50p or £1.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 16/05/2023 21:28

They are allowed to offer and you are allowed to decline....

I always try my luck, but if I really want it I'll pay the asking price (if I feel it is fair) before someone else does!

gogohmm · 16/05/2023 21:30

If I'm buying secondhand I offer what I'm willing to pay. If that doesn't meet your expectations then say no. Just like with houses, it is only worth what someone is willing to pay

Corkcobain · 16/05/2023 21:31

I could have equally made a thread complaining about how people try and flog their old shit for ridiculous prices and think even though they don't want it that it's magically worth way more than it actually is.
Irrespective of what you paid for it OP second hand items are probably worth 30-40% max of the new price (even if you bought it yesterday)

Addymontgomeryfan · 16/05/2023 21:35

Facebook marketplace is a nightmare for selling things, everyone has a sob story of why they need it really cheap, or when you are giving things away for free you get the ones asking you to deliver it miles away from you.