why marketplace can be frustrating

strawb_shortcake

For some reason when I list on marketplace FB decides I live in Hull, except it doesn't tell me that only others??

I was trying to give away a lovely Christmas tree one year, I'm pretty sure I could have got £30+ for it based on what others were selling for. But being season of goodwill thought I'd give it away. Had the can you deliver? Nope

We had a free site, but that gets nasty as the one admin person claims anything decent just as they publish the post. 

FFHillbilly

fair play to the people that ae picking up free stuff and reselling at a profit, thats business. if people want to give it away for free, other people will see an opportunity to make some money
I know I'd like to go and collect loads of stuff listed on my local FB page  for free and re-sell it at a profit, but I wouldn't have the face to do it, most say things like "for the people that need it, or donation etc"
think of t this way if you are a "giver away" of items, the person who collects and resells the item for a profit is making better use than you would have as they have put more effort in to it, and you would have likely sent the item to landfill or left it to deteriorate in a loft/cellar until it's worthless

theoretica

FFHillbilly said:

fair play to the people that ae picking up free stuff and reselling at a profit, thats business. if people want to give it away for free, other people will see an opportunity to make some money
I know I'd like to go and collect loads of stuff listed on my local FB page  for free and re-sell it at a profit, but I wouldn't have the face to do it, most say things like "for the people that need it, or donation etc"
think of t this way if you are a "giver away" of items, the person who collects and resells the item for a profit is making better use than you would have as they have put more effort in to it, and you would have likely sent the item to landfill or left it to deteriorate in a loft/cellar until it's worthless

Much of the stuff I give away I am very happy for anyone to take and do as they will with - so long as it stays out of the bin.  But I think honesty is owed - not false stories - and sticking to the rules of groups.  I also disagree with your last point, in very many cases if a dealer did not take the item now that it has been offered it would be taken by someone else, not sent to landfill or left in the cellar. 

TripleH

Not Facebook, but listed a fridge freezer on gumtree. Guy offers and fails to turn up twice to collect (he offered the times) no reason for not showing up.

Says will come a new time 3 days time. I later get a message from someone else asking if it's available.

They turn up next evening, pay cash and take item away. I message the other party to say item has gone.

I then get abuse telling me I need to provide him with a replacement myself as he is a serious buyer.

Yes, right for £10.

FFHillbilly

TripleH said:

Not Facebook, but listed a fridge freezer on gumtree. Guy offers and fails to turn up twice to collect (he offered the times) no reason for not showing up.

Says will come a new time 3 days time. I later get a message from someone else asking if it's available.

They turn up next evening, pay cash and take item away. I message the other party to say item has gone.

I then get abuse telling me I need to provide him with a replacement myself as he is a serious buyer.

Yes, right for £10.

I had something very similar recently, but mine was free, and I'm equally in disbelief with your tale. in my head the most logical explanation is they are winding us up for "content". nobody can be that stupid and entitled really

TripleH

It's people like that that put you off being courteous and saving people from making unnecessary journeys.

I do think the person may have been the kind so and so who tried to break into my flat assuming we'd only use the yale lock to secure it. There were indentations from where someone had tried to force the lock that appeared on the door frame, it did name me tighten up security and on any collection items I only now ever give the full address when I get a phonecall on the day of collection at around the expected time.

soolin

I thought I'd add my latest gem to this.

Back in early summer when I was having one of my regular clear outs I offered a box of glass ware, drinking glasses , carafes,  glass pimms jugs etc for free on marketplace. Had a fair bit of interest as is usual. A couple of people didn't turn up and finally I had someone who definitely definitely wanted it but couldn't come to collect for a few days. I agreed to hold and come the weekend when I didn't hear anything I messaged to say was she still coming. 

I got the 'sorry my child was sick' excuse and a request to hold until the next day when she was absolutely definitely coming as these were going to be perfect for a big event she was planning.  I messaged next day to be told she couldn't come until the weekend. (I don't give my full address until they confirm a time to collect).

Nothing happened at weekend , no messages, nothing at all so I finally decided to just load it in the car and take it to a charity shop.

That was approx 2 months ago . Overnight I got 2 messages, one saying she needed my address as she would collect today, the next at 6.30 am saying could I please respond as she needed to plan her day as her big event is this weekend and she supposes she is going to need to wash the glasses before she can use them and can't afford to mess about time wise.

I sent a very brief reply saying that unfortunately the items were donated back in May after she failed to collect and were no longer available , I was polite, was not rude at all. Just had a tirade back full of names and unpleasant words saying that I owed her big time as she was relying on my glass for her wedding and she can't afford to go out and buy glass now and what was I going to do about it?

I realise I should have completely deleted item rather than just mark it as sold as that removes the ability to send messages on an old thread, but I have a fair bit on there and don't always keep on top of the sales as sometimes deleting things doesn't work so I just mark them as sold and try and delete later. I have deleted now and I think I blocked her profile- but the cheek of it!

tightauldgit

Every single marketplace interaction I have now is one variation of:

Them: Is this available?
Me: Yes, do you want it?
Universe: An infinite void of nothing 

Them: Is this thing from 1948 still available?
Me: *Ignore*

I kind of yearn for someone to interact with me enough to be abused by them

AyJaydee

I have recently posted something for sale (a large and very heavy item of furniture) on marketplace and very quickly got a broad range of similar responses:
Two ask how much it is.
Another asked where the bottom half of it was (clearly mis-understood what it was).
One was beginning to turn into a game of verbal table-tennis (messages going back and forth) until I ended it by saying that if they are not buying, then I'm moving on.
One, a lady, did not seem to appreciate that because of it's size and weight, two strong men would be required to lift it.

I came to the conclusion that people just don't bother to read the entry listing; I was strongly tempted to reply "read the listing". 
Two, I identified as blatant scamming attempts. 

Just as I was resigned to contacting a local charity shop, someone we know responded saying that she was interested.  I replied saying that she was welcome to have it for nothing.
I am never going to try Marketplace again, my nerves can't stand it.