The (fun?) adventures of selling on FB Marketplace…

[Klutch9]

First off, I really like FB Marketplace. You can find great deals from great people, and it’s quite easy to sell things I’d otherwise throw away and make a few bucks. But, as always, dealing with the general public is… interesting.

I recently sold a set of 4 OEM wheels and winter tires from my recently sold 2008 Kia Sedona. That vehicle uses an odd 6-bolt pattern with a large hub size, and only fits the Sedona/Entourage from that era. I clearly stated this on the post, along with many pictures, showing the bolt pattern, DOT codes, etc. I stated all this in the description. Now comes the fun part. I start getting messages asking me if these wheels would fit their small hatchback? Are they 5 or 6 bolt? Like… did you even read the description or look at the picture?! I even had a nice gentleman show up to buy the wheels. When he arrived, he said he had to pass because he thought they were 5 bolt. I kindly thanked him for coming out. But I’m thinking… “Why? Did you not look at the post? What 5 bolt pattern are you looking for? Do you know your vehicles hub size? Tire size? etc”.

I finally got someone who was looking for a winter set for his Sedona. It all worked out. But this experience has made me further terrified of the people I drive next to every day and what they are doing to their vehicles.

 

[tbm5690]

I don't reply if they ask a question that is clearly answered in the listing.

 

[Vercingetorix]

How long is a foot long sub?

 

[John105]

I don't reply if they ask a question that is clearly answered in the listing.

There are a lot of folks, such as my in laws, who feel it's the job of someone else, to do all the research and thinking. Really. They would say in the OPs case, ask if these rims would fit a Honda Odyssey, along with a trillion details, then ghost the OP.

 

[John105]

How long is a foot long sub?

this also made me think of my in laws. They will take home what they can't finish, on a buffet. Really. It's so embarrassing, like they are challenging the wait staff to charge them for not finishing what they took.

 

[GON]

There are a lot of folks, such as my in laws, who feel it's the job of someone else, to do all the research and thinking. Really. They would say in the OPs case, ask if these rims would fit a Honda Odyssey, along with a trillion details, then ghost the OP.

I even quit giving really good stuff away for this reason. I would write a very detailed advertisement to give a quality item away, provide a location, pickup window, condition, if I was able to help load, etc. The responses I often received led me to wonder if the responder actually read the listing. And more often than not the responder would not show up.

For excess items at first, I started just throwing really good stuff away. Later, I found a thrift store in the area that gladly accepted the excess items. No more selling excess items for me "the juice wasn't worth the squeeze".

 

[cptbarkey]

Selling vehicles is similar. It doesnt matter how detailed you are, the buyers dont read or complain that their mobile view doesnt show the details. You get used to it after awhile and ignore the non serious folks.

 

[eljefino]

Selling vehicles is similar. It doesnt matter how detailed you are, the buyers dont read or complain that their mobile view doesnt show the details. You get used to it after awhile and ignore the non serious folks.

This is a moron filter. I put in half a dozen good quality photos with good lighting and call it quits. Someone who wants more is going to be a waste of time. The ad is an invite to come look at something in person; I'm not listing it on eBay sight unseen. The communications I expect as a result of my ads are inquiries as to when someone can come take a look, and that's it. If I overlook an important fact that gets pointed out by a shopper I reply to them and update the ad.

 

[panthermike]

Agree with you, overall some really good experiences but oddities as well. Most common thing for me is people who reach out and after you respond, nothing...

 

[THORROMIG]

I have come to the conclusion, there is not even a word invented to describe what FB Marketplace is....

 

[Barkleymut]

Oh, there is a word for it...but BITOg mods do not like these words

 

[D60]

I recently sold a set of 4 OEM wheels and winter tires from my recently sold 2008 Kia Sedona.

Is this still available????

 

[D60]

The other one that amazes me is how some people have zero concept of perspective. There will be a VERY close-up shot of a door, a grille, a wheel and maybe a quarter panel. They must be blurry with poor lighting. Then maybe one turned 90 degrees that shows like 65% of one side of the vehicle.

These people aren't trying to hide anything, they just truly have broken brains that think they're posting good pics.

 

[Klutch9]

The other one that amazes me is how some people have zero concept of perspective. There will be a VERY close-up shot of a door, a grille, a wheel and maybe a quarter panel. They must be blurry with poor lighting. Then maybe one turned 90 degrees that shows like 65% of one side of the vehicle.

These people aren't trying to hide anything, they just truly have broken brains that think they're posting good pics.

No lowballers either. I know what I have.

 

[daves87rs]

No lowballers either. I know what I have.

Response I got first for a car for sale: 50 bucks and a 20 piece McNugget

 

[dlundblad]

Is this still available????

Then completely ghost him for a few days and complain when it sold because you were “first in line.”

 

[GON]

I am amazed that Facebook marketplace is so popular.

Advanced search functions are essential non existent, can take extensive efforts to find a item that happens tobe for sale locally.

Much hated Craigslist is significantly easier to find items.

Maybe I am a old coot and just don't get how marketplace works, but it is very frustrating. Biggest bad experience with marketplace was about 18 months ago, I was spending the night in Boise, ID. I was searching for a certain color Ford dually bed. I found numerous beds 300+ miles away, but not the right color.

I returned to Seattle and continued my bed search. Low and behold, the exact bed I wanted was in Boise, ID. The bed was listed for over six weeks. This bed never came up on my search while I was in Boise, but the next day when I was in Seattle, there it was.

 

[andrew_j]

Conversely asking a simple question of a seller lacking decent picture (front seat) and not getting any direct response is annoying. Excuses car is dirty however refuse to buy any vehicle with front seat tears in upholstery.

 

[Owen Lucas]

No lowballers either. I know what I have.

Sold a 2005 CR-V a while back. Posted price $6000. I immediately get people responding "$5000, $4000" with no other comment or reason for the discount.

I ended up selling the car on Craigslist. CL is was wonderful because they have instituted a pay to post model so no spammy sellers. I had multiple serious offers and sold for full price.

 

[dnewton3]

When I post something on FBM, I believe I do an excellent job of describing the items, and post several good photos of the items. Some folks are very attentive to my listings and know exactly what I have, and their interest is genuine. Other folks apparently put zero effort into their search and can't (won't) read even the most basic things in my FBM posts.

I have used FBM extensively and found that it's just a reflection of society as a whole. There are lazy folks and motivated folks; why would FBM have anything but a full representation of your local area? You're gonna have a slew of deal-seekers looking to rip you off. And you'll come across a few grateful people needing that "one thing" they have been looking for forever. You'll certainly have people that hit "Is this still available" and when you answer, they ghost you.

My biggest pet peeve is when people actually make an appointment to see something I have for sale, and then don't show up. They can't even muster the courtesy to call/notify me that they're not coming. Or, occasionally, I've showed up to buy something and the person didn't have the courtesy to call/notify me that they sold it after we made an agreement for me to go view the item. That's just rude either way. You're not going to hurt my feelings if you sold something FCFS before I get there; that's just life. But if I'm driving 2 hours away to see "it", you could at least save me the time and gas if you sold "it" in the morning before I leave to meet you. I ALWAYS contact a potential buyer if they are on their way and I sell an item. Treat others as you'd want to be treated; the golden rule.

But in the end, it's not really any different than CL was, before FBM came along. And before that, there were local paper-printed advertisement magazines (here in IN there was something called "The Trader" and you paid up front to publish your ad for X number of days).

Technology changes, but it doesn't seem to affect the broad sense of potential buyers and their attitudes to shopping.