Ever been ghosted on by buyers on online marketplaces?

MSE_Molly

Hi everyone - hope you're well.

We were having a chat in MSE Towers recently about being 'ghosted' on online marketplaces or sites when selling, and it seems to have happened to a few of us! You may have read some such cases here on the Forum, or might've seen the TikTok sketches of people acting out their own experiences!

Each scenario seems to differ, but we've found the most frustrating one to be when people have an in-depth chat with you about the item you're selling, and then go on to agree a price, time and date for collection - only to never show up at the door without messaging to say they no longer need or want it.

It can happen to the best of us though, we know - we all have lives to live and more important things can get in the way last minute. But sometimes the situations seem a bit bonkers... one buyer turned up at my door over a month later without warning, and just said sorry for the delay!

Have you been ghosted? Or have you been the ghoster?! We'd love to hear your stories. Would be nice to be reassured it's nothing personal... haha.

MSE Molly

basill

It happens to me regularly especially on FB marketplace. I think it must be a "trend'  and they go and share screenshots of their hilarious activities online somewhere.

MSE_ForumTeam3

Several times on Gumtree for me - most recently a gaming chair, which no one turned up for.

Sea_Shell

Yes.  Buyers behaviour can be very strange at times.

I try not to give full address until a collection has been agreed, but even then you get the odd no show.   I just sell to the next person, unless they make contact to apologise.

The "auto message" button of "is this still available?" to me is a little red flag, which says they can't be bothered to compose a question, or they're not really interested, just surfing.

You develop a sense of who's genuine.

MSE_Molly

basill said:

It happens to me regularly especially on FB marketplace. I think it must be a "trend'  and they go and share screenshots of their hilarious activities online somewhere.

basill, I would love to think this is the case! Please let me know if you unearth any on your travels though the internet! Haha!

kiss_me_now9

Sea_Shell said:

Yes.  Buyers behaviour can be very strange at times.

I try not to give full address until a collection has been agreed, but even then you get the odd no show.   I just sell to the next person, unless they make contact to apologise.

The "auto message" button of "is this still available?" to me is a little red flag, which says they can't be bothered to compose a question, or they're not really interested, just surfing.

You develop a sense of who's genuine.

In (some) buyers defense, I have accidentally hit that when trying to share the item with my OH, not meaning to send the message at all! 

I've given up selling on FB marketplace because it's just full of scams.