To think that Marketplace is harder than it needs to be?

[butlerk93]

I was new to Facebook Marketplace earlier this year, managing to pick up a few great things second hand for my newborn (baby monitor, UV steriliser etc). Each transaction was simple, going like this:

• I would find an appropriate item, checking I was happy with the proximity.
• I would message the seller to let them know I'd like to buy it, with my availability to collect.
• They'd tell me their address.
• I would go and collect at the designated time.

With my positive experience as a buyer, I decided to list a few things to sell. Wow, talk about hard work. Of the 5 things listed only one transaction has gone like the above with so many time wasters! Very few people seem to read the actual listing, one person sending their husband to collect a dog crate used for a Yorkshire terrier (dimensions listed) before saying it wasn't suitable for their German Shepherd. Another asked several questions before then saying 'I'm not driving 20mins for a £20 TV'. Countless others arrange to collect then don't turn up.

AIBU to think it shouldn't be such hard work? Interested to know the experiences of others!

And Marketplace itself is annoying! Upload photos and it decides which category to offer you to list it in - sometimes it's right but when you list a similar item it offers you a different and utterly wrong category. Hunted online for information on how to choose the right sub category but nothing.

So many time wasters and scammers too! My favourite to date was the guy who tried to beat me down on price (I refused as I was pretty sure he was not a legit buyer) and he said OK give me your PayPal details. I said no PayPal and he then sent endless messages demanding I set up an account ('its easy') and his final message was 'why don't you have PayPal '. My response before blocking was 'because I choose not to' 😂

YANBU. I’ve given up selling now. It’s not worth hassle. I tend to just leave things at the front of the house with a big sign saying “FREE”.

Just lower you expectations or sell items that you can post on vented.

Items clearly listed as cash on collection only..

'Can you deliver'
'Can I have your PayPal'

We had someone come to collect a corner sofa in Ford Fiesta 🙄

It's full of scammers now.

And the odd automated messages you get too.

I listed a baby toy and I got an automated messaged asking if it was still available from another school mum, I responded saying yes.

Then the school mum whatsapped me asking what was I on about, I hadn't realised it was her initially and I showed her a screenshot of the original message but she hadn't sent it.

I find marketplace very annoying.

That sounds about right!

I've found it annoying both ways tbh. As a seller, it's just constant scammers and time wasters. Or people ask questions then just radio silence.

As a buyer, a few times I've asked to collect and they say 'I'm not in now, I'll message you later' then never hear from them again! Do you want to sell or not

I gave up trying to sell stuff. Now I just put things outside and it all gets taken 🤷‍♀️