Not sure of gumtree etiquette?

[ssd]

If im selling something big on gumtree that i definitely need rid of for a certain date as moving house, and am getting someone on gumtree wanting it kept for them, whats the etiquette?
Sorry for being dim.

Im selling a bed i need rid off but i cant sell it until i move in 2 weeks time. Someone wants to come see it. So if they want it do i turn away all other offers? I cant ask for a deposit can i? Im just worried they say they want it and dont turn up on my moving day and im left with a big bed i cant take with me.

Just dont know what to do, dont want to mess anyone around but dont want to shoot myself in the foot either.

Whats the best plan when selling on gumtree?

Ask for a deposit

First to collect. I kept advert on and honest re first to collect. Yes I'm happy for you to view but if someone can view before and buys it I'll let you know. People understand that. Allow the viewing but don't give address until that day as might have sold by then.

I wouldn't rely on someone who says they'll take the bed on a certain date. If they want it, they take it there and then or as soon as possible afterwards. You can just sleep on a mattress until you move.

Can you do without the bed for a night or two? If so get them to pick it up slightly in advance so you know it's gone! Also if they come and see it and still want it ask for a deposit, they may or may not be willing to give one, sellers are also known to renege on deals and it would worry me if someone was moving, when I had given a deposit.

It is normal not to hold something for someone, theirs is an unusual request.

Sorry to tar the genuine people with the same brush, but I would say it is more like that not they won't show. They may be thinking 'oooo I want that but I don't have a way of collecting it/not a really ready to have it yet'.

Ask for a deposit.

When we were clearing MIL's house we had several people who arranged to come and see furniture advertised on gumtree who never turned up.

To be on the safe side can you get rid of it a couple days before you go and sleep on floor? Any cushions around? I had to do this when moving once many years ago as my furniture left the day before and I had to spend last night in a very sparsely furnished flat. I slept on top of my duvet and under my coat

I agree with first to collect. People are fickle, don’t trust anyone.

People are chancers

I keep my options open with this and FB marketplace and anyone who wants it is a contender, first to collect gets it and once it’s gone it’s gone.

i would especially do this if you need it gone on a specific day.

Let them view and if they want it ask for 50% payment to hold and agree collection time.

Two examples of common behaviour

1. we had a guy do this with a £600 2 year old bed I listed for £150 he tried to give me £100 as he saw I pregnant and assumed I was desperate/needed it gone. i told him to get out of my house and sold it to another lady whose 7 year old loves it….
2. Yesterday we had some arsehole collect our £150 2 year old microwave (it’s was £15…) he messaged once he had my address and before collection to say actually he wanted to pay £10 I said whatever he came and then started making noises about wanting it for £5 I said no it’s £10… take it or leave it and decide now as I have an appointment I need to go to. Needless to say he took it…

separately I would rather sleep on a blow up for a few nights and have it sold and gone rather than risk doing a “day of” as that can cost a lot more (financially and in stress and time) but it’s your call.
if you sell to someone who is a dickhead and knows you need it gone urgently they often try to screw you at the last minute.

If you agree to hold it for someone, get a deposit.

Would people be happy to leave a deposit though? There's no guarantee for them either.

We've been badly stung on gumtree, its hard to know whats best to do. I hate the thought of letting down someone genuine but recognise the world is full of chancers too.

I cant sell the bed early.

@ssd sell it and get rid as soon as someone can collect is my advice. Sleep on a blow up bed or mattress for a week or so!

Gumtree is full of chancers who won't turn up and you'll still have to get rid of it, so if you have a genuine buyer then sell sell sell!

I think people are assuming the buyer wants you to keep the bed, when in facts it’s you who doesn’t want to sell yet?

You can’t have it both ways, via Gumtree at least. Sell it, cash on collection, and sleep on a mattress until moving day.

I recently got a nice bed and clean mattress for free, after someone had “sold” it in advance and then the buyers didn’t turn up on moving day.

They won't want to leave a deposit as that is a risk to them. Supposed you moved a week earlier and they turned up and you were gone.

You want the convenience of using it up until the last minute then selling it on the exact day you need to sell it. So if you do that, you live with the risk that nobody will take it.

Or to minimise that risk, you sell it early on a first to collect basis. And you live with the inconvenience of not having a bed for a few nights.

A third option could be to book a large items rubbish disposal collection for the day you move (if your council does them, ours does for £30). Then you take the risky option of selling the day before, if nobody comes it's only cost you £30 to get rid of it.

Do you have to sell it from the old location? Any chance that you can include it with all the other removals and then sell it from the new location.

Yes possibly could sell it from the new location ..will see how it goes..

I say first come, first serve otherwise you end up with time wasters

Always first come, first serve. Vast majority will waste your time and you don’t owe anything to a stranger.

I would just do first to collect it, there’s no way on earth I would leave a deposit!

Plan A is to try to sell it from the old location, insisting on your stipulations regarding date. If that doesn't work then you go to Plan B: sell at your leisure (i.e. don't be knocked down on price) at the new location.
You could even be upfront about it in the advertisement and say pick-up from A location on X date (exactly) or B location from Y date (onwards). Showing two locations might mean you get twice the interest and stops chancers from trying to gazunder you on moving day (which will be stressful enough already without people haggling or turning up late or some other calamity).
Good luck with the move.

Thats a great idea @senua

My advice would be to just sell it as soon as you can and sleep on the floor (or something else) until you move. This is the last sort of thing you need hanging over you right up to moving day. We got rid of a lot of things via Facebook Market Place and Freecycle when we moved and people really do mess you about, even when you're giving things away. I found all that almost more stressful than the actual move because people were so awful. Our furniture was taken by the removal firm three days before we vacated - we just camped in the empty house. Sleeping on the floor for a few days isn't the end of the world.