FB buy/sell sites - does anyone else love/hate them? VENT

[daisy]

I have had great luck with these sites, on both ends - selling unused stuff as well as great deals.  Lately though, it seems like people are just being rude jerks.  In the last two days, I've offered to buy a vintage soap sign from a seller who failed to initially disclose their location, although she was posting on my local county buy/sell site...so the assumption (I know, silly me) was that she was local!!  Well, apparently not.  She's 2 hours away, several counties away and expected me to drive to her town to pick up the sign.  After I said, um, no thanks, she offered to mail it to me if I would cover postage.  My constrained answer to her was, "Well since you were posting in X County site, I figured you would meet me in a local town so no thanks".  

Then today, I jumped in on a great deal where the seller had 100 of the plastic file box cubes.  The first poster said she'd take a dozen, I said I'd love 2 dozen and about 5 other people jumped in asking for 6-12 each...then someone posts, "I PM'd you" and I just KNEW what was going to happen!  You guessed it, 5 minutes later the post was completely deleted.  Guess when someone says they'll take all of them it's immediately necessary to just the post and everyone else who was in line ahead of the Pm'er.  At least, I'm ASSUMING that's what happened, the whole 'secret' PM to preempt everyone else.  Jerks.

Sigh, this is just a vent thread for me.  I'll keep buying and selling, I'm just in a funk today I guess.

[HoneyBBQ]

We have a "free" neighborhood FB site, and I swear some people just sit at home and F5 ALL FUCKING DAY because they same people claim item after item after item. It's rather irritating. Most of the time if I see anything good (usually something for DD) about 12 people are on the list already. 

[TheHaitian]

My town has one and after join with the goal of de-cluttering ... I had to un-join.

When I posted people that wanted the items were like 3 cities over... Ummm, I joined my town because I wanted to get ride of things easy peasy.... Not drive 3 cities to give you something I am giving away for free!

[chiver78]

we have multiple in my area, but they are all of Cape Cod. that gets interesting, as I am in the farthest possible northwest corner of the Cape. lots of meetups in Hyannis, for sure.

I have done pretty well in scoring deals, but haven't sold many things yet. I had planned to just do an actual yard sale this summer, and then the hustle and bustle of starting a new job derailed that! I think I need to just start throwing things up on the FB pages when I unpack them, and see how I do. yesterday alone, I scored a dog crate, a 12-bottle wine fridge, and an almost brand new pair of Sperrys for $65.

[daisy]

Aug 10, 2015 12:49:51 GMT -5 @southernsusana said:

I've made more than one person angry because I will post items as a lot and refuse to break them up.  It's not worth multiple meetings.  That is what happened in the OP's case, I'm sure.

Our trading sites have new rules where you can sell to whomever you please.  No more "first in line."  Too many people were no-shows or left people dangling.  It also cut down on the people saying, "I want" just to have a place in line when they really hadn't decided yet.

No, because in the initial posting she said she had the files out of 10 and would be working to empty the other bins as the day went on - in fact the first response and the only one she responded to was from a buyer who wanted a dozen.  The seller answered and said "Sure, let me know what time you can come pick them up".  

It was the next 3 or 4 of us who wanted 6-24 of them that she never responded and then POOF the whole post was gone.     I respect people who want to sell as a lot and find it ridiculous when buyers jump in with, "well I only want 2"....um, please read the seller's post thoroughly please.

Funny your experience - the local ones here have all clarified that once someone states "I want this" or "Me" or some other indication of interest in purchasing, they have 6 hours to set up a deal with you and only after that can you go on to the next person. It's frustrating because she specifically stated that she would break them up, that buyers were expected to pick them up at her house, etc.  Then BOOM, gone.  Gee, thanks honey, I'm sure I will want to buy from you again.  

All I expect is that people will be fair.  I had several people who wanted an old china cabinet from me and I was back and forth on times with the original person who responded all the while people kept posting that they would take and it even offering me more than I wanted....the jerky thing to do would have been to bump the first woman and go with a 'higher' bidder...instead I waited until she could come pick it up and put "ppu" on the post to be fair.  I guess I expect too much of the rest of the world in terms of honesty and fairness.  

[chiver78]

well, I think I lost out on the firewood post. I can't find it now    a guy who owns a landscaping company posted last night - 1/2 cords for $145, full cords for $275. seasoned hardwood firewood, split. I had to talk myself into it overnight, it's for fire pit or beach use.

oh well. next time.

[daisy]

Aug 10, 2015 14:28:14 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

well, I think I lost out on the firewood post. I can't find it now    a guy who owns a landscaping company posted last night - 1/2 cords for $145, full cords for $275. seasoned hardwood firewood, split. I had to talk myself into it overnight, it's for fire pit or beach use.

oh well. next time.

See, it's the thinking about it overnight thing....I do that too and then tell myself I won't be disappointed if it's gone.  In fact, if it's gone, it proves I didn't need it after all !

[chiver78]

well, that's the thing. I do kind of need it, but I wasn't really planning to buy that much at once. that's why I needed to sleep on it.

now I know, jump on that next time!

[daisy]

We do have a lot of groups here (SE WI) - and I'm also a member of a dozen groups in another state where my mom lives (I am there every couple of weeks).  I scanned the rules of some of the groups, I can't find the one where they said a seller had 6 hours to respond and that may have changed anyway.  Some of them change the rules almost constantly, mainly because of no-shows or other nonsense like that.  Yes, everything is cross-posted, which, to me, means even MORE confusion as to who had first dibs although most of the rules state that you have to SAY you are cross-posting but I'm not sure if that helps.  Below are some of the random rules I found; I make no claims as to the veracity of the grammar.     



If someone posts there zip code for shipping quote or someone posts (me, sold, I want, etc) you must give them first chance to buy. It does not matter if someone else posts there email address. The first person to comment interest gets first dibs. If you overstep them and sell to someone else you will be banned from the group. No exceptions.  Now if someone inquires about a item you are selling you have 15 minutes to respond (dont post when you are going to bed or need to run errands). If you do not respond appropriately your post will be deleted.


*First person to comment has first rights

*Interest must be made by public comment not PM's

*Buyers have 12 hours to respond

[sarcasticgirl]

We have neighbor hood groups and the people who run them are NAZIs... but in a good way. each group covers 3-4 neighborhoods and if you post an item on the site and don't live in one of those neighborhoods, you must be willing to meet in one of the hoods. No shows get reported and those people get banned. they had a ton of rules and if you don't follow them... BANNED! 

[TheOtherMe]

We have a Freecycle group that I stay in for the laughs for the most part. 

The main rules is that it is not a charity, you don't have to give in order of response and no selling or reselling of items obtained there because you got them for free.

I have gotten rid of some things that nobody would have bought.  I had been trying to get rid of a recliner for a couple of years on that site and it's finally gone.  I've gotten a few things I want. 

When I give, I do not go in order and the group moderator has a horrible job because of all the people who request items and somebody tries to sell to them.  That gets them banned.  There is a lot of drama there and I feel for her. 

I put in my offer that I will not be going in order and I don't get that many responses.  I also will not deliver and that ticks some of them off.  I will meet in a public space during the day, but I'm not going to our downtown area any time of day.  There are shootings down there at least once a week. 

I am in one selling site and someday when I declutter, I will try to sell stuff.  They will have to pick up.  I've had to pick up everything I've bought. 

I won't join the ones that say that you have to go in order.  The Freecycle group has some people who are "very much in need" of everything or "very interested" in everything.  They don't get what I have if it's the same people.  My guess is they are reselling.

[sesfw]

I have sold a couple of things on CL and no problems at all.

Last thing was a free item and had someone from 30 miles away want me to deliver them.  She got a little ticked off when I said no ..... and finally gave them to a local person.

Freecycle was a real PIA ..... this group was run by micromanagers and as of today .... closed.  Guess I'm not the only one that got mad so people just stopped using the site.

[cronewitch]

I used to use Freecycle and got some nice things and some other things. Now using a free Facebook site mostly giving, I did borrow a suitcase for ISO to go to a funeral. I enjoy giving stuff away more than selling. I used to get free firewood on Freecycle or Craigslist. Last week I gave away all my rhubarb and some plant starts and gave to a family who had a house burn down. I have a few boxes of free stuff to give now may go to the fire family. I gave the rhubarb lady all my canning jars and pressure cooker while she was here. She invited people to her home tonight and tomorrow to learn canning or just hang out she cans 500 jars or more a year all organic and mostly Asian food she is American but looks Korean. but can't speak Korean.

[daisy]

Aug 10, 2015 19:28:26 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

I got rid of some stuff from the store closing this way, but I broke the rules when I did it.  The first response gets dibs thing is bullshit. I specifically said in my post that I'm not moving or helping load any of it. My prices were firm, and lower offers wouldn't even be responded to. First person that can pick it up gets it. I stuck to that. If I ruffled any feathers I never heard about it.

A few of the things I posted did get morons immediately posting interested, or want, or whatever. I ignored any of them that didn't contact me to make pickup arrangements. I was already selling the stuff at amazing prices, I'm not wasting my time with jackasses, no-shows, and looky-loos to boot.

I agree with a lot of this - most people who have stuff on the curb say "come get it, first one takes it" etc.   Too, on FB I see a lot of back and forth "When can you get it, I work until 5, how about next week?" and it sounds really annoying.  Like, you said, good prices, come get it and be done.  

[TheOtherMe]

I don't bother with curb alerts.  I'm 20 miles away and it's not worth my time to go there and everything is gone.

Had an unusual post yesterday that isn't there today.  A woman posted that she and her boyfriend needed an apartment and nobody would rent to them due to their criminal backgrounds.  She asked if anybody would give them a break and rent to them. 

I can only imagine the conversation I missed.

[daisy]

Aug 13, 2015 18:01:37 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I don't bother with curb alerts.  I'm 20 miles away and it's not worth my time to go there and everything is gone.

Had an unusual post yesterday that isn't there today.  A woman posted that she and her boyfriend needed an apartment and nobody would rent to them due to their criminal backgrounds.  She asked if anybody would give them a break and rent to them. 

I can only imagine the conversation I missed.

Just imagine if that was posted here!  I can't begin to imagine the conversation; well maybe a little bit. 

[TheOtherMe]

I was so tempted to say something, but knew I was risking getting banned and I enjoy the humor.

[Deleted]

I haven't tried the FB approach- I just list my things on Craigslist under Free Stuff, first person to arrive gets it, it's at the end of my driveway.

I get a bit annoyed when (apparently) the first person to arrive picks up not only whatever I listed, but everything else I listed separately, too.  Yesterday I listed 2 pairs of curtains, unused, a set of fireplace tools, a keyboard that didn't work with our computer, a box of surplus office supplies and a portable Weber grill (used but still in good shape).  Everything disappeared- except the keyboard. 

[whoami]

We have bulk trash pickup on the first Monday of each month here done by the city. On Sunday before, the trash pickers are roving through the neighborhood with trailers looking for metal or anything they can sell at flea markets. Rarely does anything that has been put out, make it to the actual city picking it up. If its something I actually care about, Ill call Goodwill to come get it, but most of it is junk that I just want gone. 

I never sell anything. Not worth the hassle. 

[Deleted]

Aug 15, 2015 11:32:49 GMT -5 whoami said:

I never sell anything. Not worth the hassle. 

If something is light enough to ship at a reasonable price and marketable, I sell it on e-Bay even if I don't raise much.  I'm not as interested in in-person sales after reading about no-shows, people who do show up but then haggle, etc.

[daisy]

Aug 15, 2015 6:27:13 GMT -5 Ratchets said:

I signed up for one in England and it was mostly just crap for sale for like 2gp...who wants to go to that trouble for that amount of money?

We signed up on one here on facebook, and still bicker back and forth about it. My wife hates throwing stuff away. So she listed stuff that we had in storage, and it's always a pain-in-the-ass to sell it. Nobody says "I'll buy it" and then comes to buy it. It is nowhere near that easy. We had a shelf. I said "throw the shelf away."  She put the shelf on the website, dude says I want it and he'll pay the $10.  But then asks if I can deliver it to Nogales?  Oh yeah buddy, I'm going to load this bookshelf into the truck and drive it 45 minutes to the freakin Mexico border for $10...you either want it or you don't and if you want it come get it with your $10 in your pocket.  So he gets to the house, and then asks if we'll sell it for $2.  That kind of nonsense makes my tourettes go into hyper-drive.  Holy shit man, I've already spent way more than $10 worth of time dealing with this when throwing it in the trash would have been so easy.  No, you can't have it for $2.  So I lost interest and walked away, and him and my wife are bartering back and forth for like 15 minutes.  So I got interested again and walked back to the conversation and said it's $10 and started to walk him outside, and then he said he'd take it or whatever and paid the $10.

That's a lot of hassle for $10...I'm still a member of the group I think but hardly ever see posts.  Usually it's for some crappy kitchen thing for $2 or something.  What is the point of advertising something for $2 and going through all that hassle.

Agreed.  WAY to much hassle for $10 much less $2.  I think people think that "hey, I'm here to pick it up, I'm going to haggle now and they'll give it to me just to get rid of it".  And yes, the 'crappy kitchen item' and also the 'crappy baby toy' that looks like it's been dragged to Nogales and back and played with by every kid in between.  Just throw it away!

[daisy]

Aug 15, 2015 7:35:07 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

I haven't tried the FB approach- I just list my things on Craigslist under Free Stuff, first person to arrive gets it, it's at the end of my driveway.

I get a bit annoyed when (apparently) the first person to arrive picks up not only whatever I listed, but everything else I listed separately, too.  Yesterday I listed 2 pairs of curtains, unused, a set of fireplace tools, a keyboard that didn't work with our computer, a box of surplus office supplies and a portable Weber grill (used but still in good shape).  Everything disappeared- except the keyboard. 

DH just put about 10 buckets of driveway sealcoat at the end of our driveway, no advertising other than a big FREE sign.  One guy stopped and took 3, someone else took a couple, now there is only one left.  I LIKE this way of getting rid of stuff.  Much easier for a lot of items...we are farm country and folks will take most anything - either the Amish or the farmers can find a use for it.  I've gotten rid of junky furniture and other stuff this way.  

I'm not surprised about the keyboard...   

[daisy]

Aug 15, 2015 17:37:10 GMT -5 Ratchets said:

Aug 15, 2015 16:32:09 GMT -5 daisy said:

Agreed.  WAY to much hassle for $10 much less $2.  I think people think that "hey, I'm here to pick it up, I'm going to haggle now and they'll give it to me just to get rid of it".  And yes, the 'crappy kitchen item' and also the 'crappy baby toy' that looks like it's been dragged to Nogales and back and played with by every kid in between.  Just throw it away!

That part of the rant came from the lady who was selling a blender for $2...and it got so many comments!  I never got into reality shows but this was real reality shows live LoL!

The blender honestly looked like something Hannibal Lecture used.  It was NASTY!  But these people started fighting over it!  And the drama went on and on, about people who didn't show up to buy it, and it's relisted, and insults and everything.

I definitely got $2 worth of entertainment out of it though...you've heard of the Housewives of New Jersey, Housewives of Los Angeles, etc...that was like real time Housewives of Tucson !!

I know what you mean.  We see that here over the most innocuous stuff, like a blender that Hannibal Lecter had used - grungy, nasty clothes, a MATTRESS! Um, ew, bedbugs anyone?  But people will duel to the death over who gets it first.

In Madison this weekend they are having 'Moving Days' where most of the city's apartment leases are up due to the college student population and EVERYTHING goes out on the curbs and it's actually ILLEGAL to take stuff.  Doesn't stop anyone from doing it of course, but you have to be super sneaky.  I guess there are some great finds, but couches, mattress and that ilk are just too icky to take.  Lice, fleas, bedbugs.  No thanks.