Good morning friends!
I'm just popping on here to share my experience in something that you might be familiar with or not...Facebook Marketplace. What a nightmare!
This past weekend I decided to list some items on Marketplace. I had a grill, a bed, a toy train table and some enamel top tables for sale. All reasonably priced.
The first day or two I had a few inquiries, but nothing crazy. By Tuesday afternoon, I had some solid interest in the grill, bed and the tables. They each told me they would come the following afternoon to see the items and even though I had plans with my little girls the next day, I allotted the time for each of those pick ups to occur.
Then Wednesday came along and my phone never stopped dinging with notifications from other people asking about these same items. It was chaos! I was having to tell people that I would get back to them if the items didn't sell that night and keep track of who was first, who was a real person and who looked sketchy, etc.
This is the life of listing something on the Marketplace.
A lady told me she was "for sure" coming to get the bed the next day. She even went so far as to tell me that her daughter was so excited to get it and that she would come after work on Wednesday. In the meantime, the man who wanted the grill was also coming, as was the lady wanting the tables.
Here's how it all played out:
The lady wanting the tables showed up and that went fine. Great!
The man wanting the grill showed up and decided it wasn't exactly what he was looking for, but he enjoyed meeting us. No problem.
So around 4:30 I sent the "bed" woman a message asking what time she would be here, because I needed to schedule a time to get the girls back home.
It was at this point that she writes back and says, "Oh, we decided not to get it and we bought a new one instead."
Keep in mind that all day I was putting off other people who were interested in the bed!
I replied to the "bed" lady that I wish she would have had the courtesy to let me know earlier, since other people were interested in it and then she called me rude. Mind you, if I had not taken the time to message her, she would have never even contacted me to tell me she wasn't coming.
I had already stripped the bed and thankfully we had not taken it apart. But it's just the principle of the thing.
After that conversation, I was done. I had spent so much time on this, that I was just done and didn't care about selling anything at that point.
I took the girls home and the minute I got back, I had another person text me to ask if they could come see one of the items. It was already 7:00! I said no.
In fact, I ate dinner, fixed me a strong cup of decaf coffee and proceeded to delete every single listing off Marketplace and called it a day.
I don't think I will be doing that again!
Have you ever experienced selling or buying on Marketplace? Share your experiences, if you dare.
Inquiring minds want to know 😬
Until Next Time...
Blessings!
I appreciate reading about your experience. I am not on facebook so was not aware of what marketplace was like. It sounds terrible! I would have deleted all listings too! In the midst of it all, I hope you were still able to enjoy the grandbabies!
ReplyDeleteI have never done this - but have heard other horror stories. It is so disrespectful of people to just 'not show' after promising. I guess my worry is strangers coming to my home. That just isn't me!
ReplyDeleteMy husband has tried to sell some tools on marketplace and had similar issues. However, my daughter does it a lot. She buys things, fixes them up and resells them. She does ok, but she lists things as first come, first serve. So whoever comes and picks it up first gets the item, and then she deletes it. That way she's not constantly waiting for someone or telling others she will let them know.
ReplyDeleteI was stalked by a creep who wanted my listed items. Scared the crap outta me. Never again.
ReplyDeleteI know many who have had very similar experiences. My son sat in a parking lot for over 30 minutes waiting to meet someone...who never showed up or said he had had changed his mind. Maybe he should have known after 10 minutes that he was not coming but we just assume people are going to do as they say, etc. Silly assumption on our part, I suppose. But, I'm with you, and don't think it is worth to me.
ReplyDeleteI have put a few adds for the Pecan Nursery during the selling season and oh my...it is a terrible nightmare. First of all..everybody wants a DEAL. what I found was the would message me several different times wanting to know the smallest detail...I wanted to just say..."Hey..these are trees, we grow them and you buy them if you are interested. If they die, it's most likely because you didn't water them or didn't take care of them." I did not have a good experience. Sorry this happened.
ReplyDeleteI sold things on FB Marketplace a few years ago. My experiences were okay but it was still a trying experience and I have since then not done it again. Thanks for sharing your story. Originally FB Marketplace was a pretty good thing, but like so many things in our culture today, it's become scary with lots of potential for problems.
ReplyDeleteI sold quite a few things five years ago when we were getting ready to move. For the most part things went well. I wonder if Marketplace has changed since then?
ReplyDeleteGeesh - what an ordeal! I know Matt has sold some things on there and I think, thankfully, his experiences were a bit better. Lol I hope you have a wonderfully blessed (& restful) holiday weekend ahead. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI am sorry 😞 that you had this experience. I am 68 years old, retired and live in Montreal, Canada and I have never bought or sold anything online or through social media. I am just glad you are okay. Take good care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteNo, never on the Marketplace, but I have sold items on EBAY. Wishing you a lovely Sunday.
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