"It could do with a clean"

[Groupoff]

AIBU to think that if you're selling something on Marketplace, Gumtree, etc. you should clean it before the buyer collects?

The amount of posts I've seen where people are selling, for example, a mirror, plastic suitcase or child's toy and they state in the ad, "good condition, just needs a clean". Well f*cking clean it then! Even worse are the ones who don't say that it's filthy and you find out when you pick it up! I couldn't embarrass myself by giving someone something that was dirty. Even when I advertise things for free on my local Facebook page I ALWAYS make sure they're clean before giving them away. I don't understand why people wouldn't.

I got rid of half my house on a Facebook freebies site. I was moving out of my marital home and didn't have the time or energy to clean anything.

Surely you just don’t to buy something the vendor say ‘needs a clean’? You’re the one with the choice in this scenario.

If something is for sale at a fair price then yes, the seller should clean it. But if they are giving it away, then I don't see why the taker shouldn't clean it. Sometimes people just want rid of things, and offer them in case someone else can use them and they won't go to landfill.

The cheek of some people on freebie sites amazes me. Asking for delivery when the giver has said it's collection only, wanting more photos, not turning up to collect - all of that pushes the obligation and effort onto someone who is giving things away. Expecting them to scrub garden furniture or shampoo a rug is enough to make it all too much trouble.

Yep, I turned up to buy an oven - it was minging. I made an excuse. I wasn't going to buy it then spend a morning cleaning it.

YABU, they are warning you it needs a clean so it's caveat emptor.

People may never get rid of anything due to the added burden of cleaning things they don't want.

If you don't want it, don't buy it.

It's more about the seller having the brass neck to advertise something in that condition. Some of the things I've seen have been filthy, but others have just needed a spray and a wipe (the mirror). It's just laziness for the seller not to do that IMO.

I'm a beaten down lone parent working full time and I am permanently exhausted. I'm not wasting my prescious downtime cleaning things that I am getting rid of. If it's not for you, don't buy it.

this happens in Vinted too ‘has stain but should come out in the wash’ I mean either just wash it or admit that it’s not likely to come out. People obviously can do what they want and no one is forced to buy but it’s as grim as fuck

If I want a good price I clean it. If I’m really busy and I’m selling cheap it goes as it is. I might give it a wipe over but that’s it
I just don’t have the time.

It depends how cheap it is surely. Many people just want to get rid and don't have the time hence a low price. If you want to make a decent buck then clean it up etc

Depends whether the price reflects the condition. They might be willing to take less money to save themself the effort of cleaning it, and are hoping for a buyer who is willing to clean it themself in return for a lower price.

YABU - the seller means “I can’t be arsed, and this is the price so if you want it, you’ll need to scrub it. Otherwise it’s off to the tip.”

When having a massive clear out, cleaning everything would take me another week and I just want rid. I price to reflect that. (Sometimes I’m offering it for free)

An item of value is worth cleaning. 5 kids’ rid-on toys for a tenner, not so much.

Clothes, yes

Anything else, no - priced accordingly

I'm sorry but if the option is spend an hour cleaning something in order to give it away then I'm afraid it will go in the back of the car to the tip. My time is too precious to clean for others.

If I'm making money from it- that's different.

It depends, if I’m getting something for free or very cheap, I’m happy to clean it myself. If I’m paying a decent price, yes I’d be annoyed if it wasn’t presentable. Buyers can sometimes be pains though, I usually give things away for free but the buyer wants to know the ins and outs of a ducks arse! I literally don’t even bother answering a lot of these questions about my FREE item anymore and move on to buyers who aren’t as fussy.

I agree OP, i think it's scruffy . I wouldn't buy it and would definitely never sell anything in a dirty condition either.

Vinted annoys me too when people list something with a stain that might come out in the wash.

I’ve seen some really minging things to be honest, I’d be a bit embarassed to put really dirty stuff up for sale.

If I'm giving something free I'll give it a wipe to get the dust off but that's it.

I think it depends what they mean by "needs a clean".

One person's needs a clean can be very different from another's. For instance I'd probs buy a mirror if it was a bit smudgy and just needed a wipe, or a suitcase they had some attic dust on it.

However my Godson worked in a CeX for a bit and people would bring things in to sell and cheerfully say they just "need a clean" that were absolutely rank. Controllers covered in what he described as "hand jam", VR Headsets that stank of sweat and weed, dvd cases with crusts of God only knows what all over them, computer keyboards full of hair, crumbs and toenails, and in one instance a Wii console that contained live maggots and spiders.

So, it depends exactly how much of a clean said item needs!

Completely depends .. I sell stuff for £1-£5 that cost originally £50+, so no I’m not cleaning them, you’re getting a massive bargain as is. If I’m selling something for £30+ then yes I’m definitely cleaning it first and you’ll get a good clean item.

But as pp have said, YOU have the option whether to buy the ‘needs cleaning’ item or not 🤷🏻‍♀️

Well, go to a shop, pay a full price and then you'll be guaranteed pristine condition and customer service if it fails your standards. As my gran used to say, you pay more when you pinch.

Double post by accident, apologies.

If they're clearing out the garage they may have mountains of plastic to get through. Most won't have time to scrub each and every toy but I'd imagine it's reflected in the price. I've found some real bargains for the DCs for the garden that just needed abit of TLC, and that's fine.

I always laugh at the ones selling bikes who say "needs air in the tyres". Well pump them up then. I might want to test the bike when I come to look at it and I'm not going to ride it with flat tyres!

This post is about sellers, not buyers. I personally wouldn't sell, give away or buy a dirty item.