Ridiculous CF fb marketplace woman or me?

[catgirl222]

Lighthearted kind of but saw an item I had been wanting on Facebook marketplace as part of a USED job lot - the job lot already looked quite overpriced to me but there was only one item in particular I was interested in so didn’t really care.
I contacted the woman and asked if she would sell the particular item separately. She said she would, for £100. I replied asking if it was used (I knew it was but wanted to highlight this to her) and told her they were selling brand new on Amazon for £80.
Her reply shocked me a bit as she said it was used and if I didn’t like it, I should just ‘buy it on Amazon then.’
AIBU or is this bizarre? I know she can sell things for whatever price she likes but it seems very counterintuitive to sell for more than it is new? It isn’t something that appreciates in value at all - imagine something like an air fryer. I feel like nobody will buy it so it’s a huge waste of her time.

So buy a new one. Why wouldn’t you?

I am going to buy a new one

So what's the problem?

Problem solved then 🤔

I imagine she probably paid a lot more for it, didn’t realise how much less it was worth now, and just couldn’t be bothered to deal with you asking her to split the bundle up. Just buy it off Amazon, this really wasn’t worth writing a thread about it

What is it to you if she wastes her time? She isn't a CF, and you should take her advice and buy on Amazon.

I once bought a shelf from IKEA and then decided to sell it because it didn't fit the space I wanted it for. I had asked for the same price that I paid for it but when the guy came to buy it, I didn't have change and he said to just keep the £20 (I had asked for £15). Sometimes on fb market place things go for more than they're worth because of the sheer convenience of it (can pick it up that day, don't have to worry about putting it together, don't have to pay delivery blah blah). So I think you cant always compare it to retail prices 🤷‍♀️

Sounds exactly like a response you’d get on MN.

You're very easily shocked.

She clearly didn't want to split it all up.

She posted it all together, probably because she couldn't be arsed listing separately.

Then you message, asking her to sell separately, which means she would have to take photos, adjust the price and relist, amd you think she's the CF.

Just buy the new one.

The seller was a bit grumpy/rude and delusional thinking she'll get a better price than Amazon. But her response was also pretty fair. I'm guessing she priced that item high because she didn't want to split the job lot.

Well that’s a good point to be fair

To the people saying she didn’t want to split the job lot surely she should have just said no she won’t sell separately?

‘That’s a great idea. I will! Good luck selling your amazing things’

Just trying her luck, I suppose! Is it the type of item that gets more expensive with age?

Sometimes you say that but people don't take no for an answer. You might have been the 20th person who asked the same thing that day.

Because she quoted you a price that would make it worth her while to do so.

Anybody has the right to offer anything for sale for whatever price they want to.

Anybody has the right to choose not to buy the item from them - possibly enquiring first as to whether they will negotiate - and go elsewhere if they want to.

The problem comes when it's an essential item and they have a monopoly on it, meaning that you have no choice but to buy from them at their (maybe very high) price.

It isn’t, it’s quite a basic household item like a microwave or something but a bit less common

She's the seller - she can choose to set the price wherever she likes. Entirely up to her - it isn't being a CF.

And you're the buyer - you can pay her price, or you can go elsewhere. No-one is forcing you to buy from her.

Because she doesn't have to? Because she was happy to sell it to you at £100? Because she doesn't answer to you? Why is this such a mystery to you

Well she would at a price, if it was the best bit of the job lot letting that go probably makes the whole rest of the lot unsaleable. So if you really want that item you can have it, but it won't be cheap.

She was weird OP. Nothing wrong in reminding her it's worth less brand new, surely?

She's a seller - of course it's reasonable for potential buyers to request something like a separate item to be sold alone

Reminds me of the strange FB place mob with their 'I want what I paid'

Yes, indeed. Some would-be buyers enquire politely as to whether you'd be open to negotiation; some are irritatingly persistent in pushing their luck; others are aggressive and genuinely scary. I'm not saying that OP is in the last category, but to me, it's always a red flag when somebody tells you of a better deal that they could supposedly get, and yet, instead of just going for the better deal and ignoring you, they want to pressurise you into matching/bettering it.

Also, people usually have a reason(s) for offering items as part of a job lot and won't want to split; I'm sure they're aware that they could offer the items for sale separately if that's what they wanted to do.

Reminds me of the strange FB place mob with their 'I want what I paid'

There's nothing wrong with people wanting that. Clearly, they won't find a buyer and will be left with the unwanted stuff unsold and no money for it; but it's still their stuff and their prerogative as to how much they will accept for it.

It's their right to set their acceptable price, just as it is your right to ignore them or walk away.