To think the cheaper the item you sell the dumber the questions are from buyers

[Gotosleepeveryeffingone]

January has been the longest month ever and I found myself selling lots of perfectly good items that had been forgotten about for bargain prices just to get rid of them.
What I have increasingly noticed is the lower priced items seem to be the most hassle with silly questions or people not turning up.
E.g a video doorbell , it includes the doorbell and a monitor, it's still in it's packaging and unopened, was bought 7 years ago I think and I posted it up to sell for just £6.
Questions:
What is this?
How does this work?

Is it fairly simple to set up? If so, I'll take it!

I answered clarifying it's not a smart doorbell, no internet.
Reply: so can I just connect it to my phone?
I responded saying I don't think this would be suitable for her, explaining it sounds like she wants a smart doorbell.
Her question: so how does it work then?

Why on earth would you expect to get a smart door bell with video monitor unopened for £6?

Before fb marketplace I listed the kids 2storey wooden playhouse on various fb selling pages. A woman commented quickly on one page saying she wanted it, she made no attempt to contact me, and didn't reply when I sent her a message, she did spend all day replying to anyone else that commented saying she had first refusal as she commented first.

Someone else contacted me on another page and came, dismantled it and paid full price whilst she was still arguing on the other page.

She wasn't happy when I told her it was no longer available and sent me a long message saying how she didn't want my crappy playhouse anyway 😂

Ha ha! Made me laugh because I've looked at some things for sale, but because the 'advert' has been so badly written I've just scrolled past, can't buy from them!

People who don't put measurements on, I'll just guess then!

People who offer a ridiculous number but then ask/expect delivery as well, gor free!

I have had some lovely buyers/collectors who have really appreciated the items but also some 'aggressive/demanding people, I just ignore them/don't interact!

I use a FB account with a fake name for marketplace and only give the area I live in rather than the address until about an hour before collection is due. Never chase or reply to questions that make it clear they haven't bothered to read the description. Block, leave conversation and then delete chat quickly as required. Used to drive me up the wall before I had this policy!

I'm afraid I'm with toy chest lady on this one!

I could catch flies, as I've been reading this thread open-mouthed!!

I've had so many people send me messages for items I'm selling on Marketplace asking where collection is from. At the end of each listing I always put 'collection from XXX near XXX (first half of postcode) near XXXX pub.

I still get people messaging asking where collection is from. I couldn't be more specific without giving my actual address!

People that don't turn up annoy me too. I've given my address to a complete stranger, waited in for them and they're a no show.

@InDogweRust I have no issue with people picking up my free stuff and selling it on, I just don’t want the hassle of that, and I’d far rather someone took it to sell than it ended up in landfill.

A recent favourite... selling one of DS's toys for him. V cheap price just to get rid on FB marketplace. I clearly wanted someone to come to the door.

'Can you put this on Vinted so I can pay via that site and you can post it'.

Agree re generally poor levels of manners and literacy.

In life I don't use the word 'nutter' but when selling on FB I find it's the only word I can reasonably use to describe 90% of the people who contact me.

Charity shops can be just as bad for stupid questions. Take this week for example. I put out 4 of those space saving clothing hangers - the type that you can hang several pairs of trousers and a couple of shirts on & it takes up less space in the wardrobe. All 4 were brand new and priced at £1.50 each.
Man enters shop and picks up a hanger:
"What's this?"
"It's a hanger for clothing"
"but what is it?"
"You can hang lots of clothes on it in a wardrobe and it takes up less space"
"Why?"
"So you can hang several trousers + shirts on one hanger and it will take up less space. It's brand new and unused sir"
"Oh - can I have it for 50p?"
"Sorry no - it's only just gone out and £1.50 is an excellent price for it sir"

Man throws hanger back on the shelf (missing so it falls behind the shelf) and walks towards the door.
"Is that a no then sir????" - cue tumble weed 💨

This is not an unusual event. I don't mind the questions but it's the rudeness that I don't need 😡

It's the

?
???
????
Hello?

When you give up replying to their stupid questions, that rages me.

I put items outside my house wall (street side) and attach a sign saying ‘free’. Every single thing I’ve put there has gone, sometimes within 30minutes. Occasionally I get a knock asking if it’s free, yes go ahead and help yourself. I’ve saved so many things from going to the tip!

Have you stll got your video doorbell? I'd buy it? 😁

Selling something worth £30 for £5.

Buyer: In this available?
Me: yes
Buyer: would you take £3?
Me: no, it's £5 and in great condition.
Buyer: would you wait until payday?
Me: yes
Buyer: where do you live?
Me: in such and such town
Buyer: that's too far away (15miles). I don't have transport. Can you drop it off?
Me: no 😫

Why? I said suitable as a small toy box so obviously the lid lifted up 🙄

This!! 💯

I put a washing machine on FB Marketplace for free...just wanted rid before new one arrived. Fully working order, I just needed one with a bigger drum. I stipulated 'collection only'.

Them: How much is it?

Me: Like it says on the advert...free.

Them: Yes, but how much?

Me: Nothing...it's free!

Them: So when can you deliver?

Me: I'm not delivering...you'd need to collect it.

Them: But you said it was free..that should include delivery. Can you bring it today?

Me: No. If you want it you'll need to collect it yourself. Do you want it?

Them: (lots of expletives calling me ALL sorts of names for 'wasting their time'!!! 😨)

There's a very good solution to that ... instead of listing the item, put it outside your house with a £20 (or whatever) label on it and watch it disappear

Yep @LostMyLanyard - that's the measure of it 😂

I now do something like this (well I may let it go one more step, depending on how much interest I have had/likely to have):

Them: How much is it? [which falls under 'asking a question clearly answered in the description']

Me: go to their profile - block them (they then can't see any of my marketplace listings). Go to the conversation - leave it and then delete.

Spare myself the rest of the predictable way it goes from then on. Pretty ruthless but I got rid of three items very pain free last week. My 'rules' got rid of the time wasters/entitled right at the very start.

The worst I've had was a lady who came to collect some puzzles and games I was giving away. Apparently they were for a tombola stall to raise money for charity. They were stored in the garage. She followed me right in to the back, picking things up and asking if I was giving this, that and the next thing away, including our bikes! I honestly thought she and her friend might just start taking stuff. People are weird

The Olio app is pretty good.
There seems to be a certain level of manners and intelligence on there.

https://postimg.cc/LYjhK37D

This just came up in my FB feed 🤣

😆 Maybe she thought it was solid all the way through - like you'd whittled down a tree stump and were just trying to trick her 🪵