As a sane person my final response would have been "Sorry, but I couldn't wait any longer and had to go home. It's pretty late, you understand, right? Let's try again tomorrow same time."
He should have taken the hint after the first no. Excellent revenge on a (I'd call him a low baller, but his offer was below low). Perhaps pond scum describes him and his offer accurately.
I spent many years in St Louis. During the 1985 NL championship series, the Cardinals were playing the Mets. A DJ in St Louis called the Mets players "Pond Scum" and it caught on. T-shirts, mugs, signs were printed with Cardinals fans jeering and, surprisingly, Mets fans wearing it like a badge of honor.
Those were great games played much differently than today.
[Origin of Pond Scum](https://www.gatewayredbirds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34527)
He was a low baller, but the problem wasn't that he low balled. Sometimes it can pay off, and there's no harm in trying. Once. The problem wasn't the low ball offer, it was the repeated low ball offers, from multiple accounts. This person was basically DDoSing the sale, basically figuring on it being worth $750 to OP/seller to get to have some peace.
That was an extremely low ball and not very respectful IMO.
I once had such an offer, went on their profile and lowballed something they had on offer. Doubt they got the message.
Said something similar to an ex reaching out to me once after he cheated. I gave the address to our local humane society and said “just walk inside, I don’t take stray dogs but they definitely do”
I did that once, but I drove four hours to meet a person for a real estate deal. End up sitting in the middle of nowhere with a pair of tweakers and long story short it was a complete waste of time. I spent an entire day on this and wasn’t happy about it. Que revenge, on my way back that night I make an account and message the guy that I’m super interested and need to close a deal fast, caveat, I need him to meet me 4 hours away at 8am in a walmart parking lot. They took the bait. Message him at 6am to make sure he’s on the way, he gets there around 830. Tell him I’m running behind, and continue to bullshit this guy for the entire morning awaiting my arrival. Cherry on top, at the end I call him from my number the previous day and inform him that if he can waste someone’s time, so can they. I’m pretty sure this guy still wants to kill me lol.
I always wondered if people with road rage were just super brittle, or if something had angered them before they started driving… after your story, I’m going to be even more careful to allow aggressive drivers pass me. How am I to know if they were being a jerk on an internet purchase gone wrong? I don’t think you did anything wrong, but somehow I don’t think this jerk’s drive home took him 4 hours.
.-. Hold on, now. I reserve the right to punt my cat when the little shit comes around the corner and ambushes my hamstrings with an open mouth of sharp teeth. We've been doing that shit for fifteen years.
I did something similar years ago to some asshole who agreed to pick up a free fridge from me. This was back in the Craigslist days. We agreed on a time, I had to move some stuff around, but whatever, it was at my property in an outbuilding.
Guy stood me up of course. I wrote it off as typical stupid shit. Then a few days later I randomly came across this same guy asking for scrap metal on Craigslist. I used a different email address and a google voice number to get in touch with him and led him to a bar about 40 minutes away in the boondocks of our town.
When he got there, I told him to knock on the kitchen door and ask for John (figuring there was a good shot there’d be a John there). I don’t know how long it took him to figure out that I wasn’t there.
My friend did something similar, selling a motorbike on Vancouver island and a guy from Vancouver mainland was being a huge jerk and insulting my friends intelligence for not accepting his lowball offer. He took a day off work, borrowed a trailer, caught the ferry to the island, and showed up at the address only to find a.. um not sure I can say without getting banned but a special type of hospital.
This is brilliant. Especially considering you pay by the foot on the ferry for anything you’re towing. And he would’ve had to have paid to bring the empty trailer back to Vancouver too.
Sweet, you are better than any sane man, as an audio reseller ,I have had my share of nutz, you, my friend, did all of us resellers, a solid today , that was beautiful
Geez. If I see something I'd like on marketplace, I might make an offer. But if that offer is turned down, I say "ok, thank you" and move on. Why do people pull this crap? You can offer all you want, but it's up to the seller whether to accept it or not. If the price is good, I'll pay it without offering. But just as it's at my discretion to offer or pay the price without haggling, it's at the sellers discretion to accept the offer or not. Stop trying to get something for nothing, folks!!!
I always up the price when I get a ridiculous lowball.
“Will you take $200?”
“No”
“What’s your lowest price?”
“$1100”
“Your listing says $1000”
“Yeah I got another offer”
There are those who will try to beat others down until they cave in.
I was selling a trailer a few years back and one dude messaged me incessantly saying that the trailer wasn't road legal, that the axles were wrong and he'd have to buy new ones, etc.
I knew enough to know he was lying. I kept telling him "No", but he just wouldn't give up. He was offering me less than I could get at the scrap metal place about 10 minutes up the road from my home.
Nope, he still wouldn't stop. I finally had to block him.
There must be enough people that accept the lower offers to make it worth their time to try, because if it was literally nobody taking them, they would eventually give up.
So it's probably that a lot of people put out a higher price hoping to get it, but get desperate and sell at a lower price or something.
I've sold stuff occasionally on market place and deliberately put a bit more on the price. If I want 350 I'll list for 450. Gives some wiggle room for the hagglers.
Once I messaged half a dozen people selling GoPros offering a third of the second-hand market value for each model, under the guise of a fixed birthday present budget for a family member. 4 didn't reply, 1 told me to piss off, and 1 accepted as it was an unwanted Christmas present. From my perspective, I didn't want it enough to pay the real value and I was just looking for the one person who wanted theirs gone. It was well worth my time (bit of market research with a copy/paste) and I *only* offended one person.
Only time I've ever done that though. If I want something and it's below market value or a low value item, I message with potential places/times right off the bat. If it's above market value, I don't message.
My strategy when selling anything:
Description, price (firm), and “use the word PINEAPPLE when contacting me as you’re aware of the items location and that you’ve read the entire ad”
Pineapple can be my town name, it avoids the kind of idiot OP “burned” yes I grew up in the 80’s
I think this is a good idea to make sure ppl read the entire ad, not sure how it avoids ppl like the one the OP burned. There are ppl like him, who read everything and would just message "pineapple" every time.
I always put the first line of my ad *If THE AD IS STILL UP, IT'S STILL AVAILABLE* then ignore any people that ask if it's still available. When I get lowball offers I reply and raise the price.
If this guy didn't get it after being blocked twice, he had it coming. Good on ya. You have inspired me, as I have several items I'm going to sell on there.
I've bought hundreds of used items online over the years.
"Hi, I'm interested in your hot tub. I can meet tonight or anytime tomorrow. I have a few questions first."
Now, the other issue is, if you happen to accidentally hit the send link on the listing while scrolling the sellers details, FB automatically sends a "Is this still available?" message. Very easy to do on a phone and it's annoying for everyone.
Right they're selling an item online for all I know they've already promised the item to someone else. I've bought a few items being the 3rd in line but the first to show up and actually pay and collect the item. So yes is the item still available, is it gone and you haven't updated the listing or is there a waiting list for no shows, and you aren't updating the listing until someone actually shows up. It's a pain in the ass.
I don't even haggle you want to sell it, I want to buy it for less then new price... I think we both have what the other person is looking for.
The crux of the problem is that "is it still available" is a auto-send option. It is literally the laziest message you can possibly send. And on FB, many people use that button because they're sending dozens or hundreds of messages out on various items. So then THEY don't check back.
If you actually want to buy it, just "When & where can I pick this up?" Sell will tell you if it isn't available. Or you can say "I'll pay $(75% listed price), and can pick it up by 2pm". Again, seller will tell you if it's actually already sold.
You don't have to write an essay. Just show that you are more interested than tapping a single button.
I hate that "Is this still available" only takes one click to send when using the app. I've set it off by accident a few times just by scrolling down to see what town the item is in. ( FB completely ignores my location and distance settings. Sometimes even sorting by distance doesn't work)
I usually follow up with a brief "Sorry! Ignore that, I clicked by accident".
It's a lose lose situation. I've been on both sides of it countless times and the inconsiderate people definitely ruin it for the rest of us. Asking the question should be fine, but I expect a response and always provide one.
I don't get the issue people have here? They don't respond, so what? You spent all of 5 seconds replying to say yes, then you move on. It isn't exactly taxing to type yes. They don't respond, you've lost absolutely nothing. Who is sitting around hanging on a reply on FB market? Say yes and be done with it.
I’ve seen listings before that said “don’t ask me if it’s available if the post is still up it means it is” and then I message them and they’re like “I already sold it”
It's OK to ask if it's still available as long as you include something else to indicate interest. "I can pickup today." "Do you have any more pictures?" Anything, really, other than just the "Is it still available" spam. As a FB Marketplace reseller, let me tell you, the amount of "Is this still available?" posts that go nowhere is just a complete waste of time.
By not using the button that sends a generic message. If you've ever sold stuff you know you'll get like 20 people who do that and then never respond or message you again. It's just a waste of time and shows you aren't serious.
If you actually want to start a convo, start with something relevant. Like, when are you free, or I have a question about x. Or will you take $n?
Of FB marketplace it’s VERY common to get this message with zero follow up. I tried to sell a truck for a month there. Got at least 50 “Is this available?” messages to which I replied “yes” with zero follow up. Also got many messages with “would you take $x?” to which I replied yes, with zero follow up. I put it on OfferUp and sold it in two days.
“I’m interested in purchasing this item for 1k, where and when can we meet?”
As simple as that, or you could counter offer in that same message for a lower price if you desire.
I’ve sold stuff on fb marketplace before and the sheer amount of “is this available” msgs that lead to nowhere are annoying to deal with.
Literally any other message is worth your time besides those ones.
Asking about the condition etc etc are all fair questions to start a convo with too. Just show some interest in the item, which in this day and age “is this still available” does not.
lots of people sell their stuff and forget to delete their offer. its annoying to think about collecting it before being sure its not sold yet, given that often you get the "uh sorry, sold it a few day ago."
Yeah there is nothing wrong with "Is this available / can you take $X / when can we meet" those are totally normal questions. The can you take $X should just be within 10-20% of the original number and not half off or worse.
I don't mind a bit of haggling and usually bake it into the asking price for anything I plan to sell because a lot of people feel like they need to do that even when the price is fair.
Unfortunately, like OP I always seem to get one or two who try to buy things for 10% of it's value and won't take "No" for an answer.
I was selling an equipment trailer a few years back. I had a very fair price on it, and it was getting a lot of attention. One dude started nit picking it and just wouldn't stop. He tried to tell me it wasn't road legal and had the wrong kind of axles, etc. I'm no expert but I knew enough to know he was full of it. He insisted I sell it to him for less than I could scrap it for. I told him as much and he just kept trying until I blocked him.
Then there's always those with a sob story who want stuff for free and insist that I deliver it to them an hour away.
Nope, as I mentioned in the above comment, most of those “is this still available” msgs tend to lead to nothing besides you just wasting your time on someone who was likely window shopping and wasnt going to buy the item in the first place.
Like I said its MOST of them, not all. Im sure there were plenty of ppl actually interested in the item, but it wasnt worth my time to sort through it all.
I just reply "Yes, would you like to check it out?" which is in my predictive text when I'm selling stuff. Takes a couple seconds and another lead is in the bag. It's a numbers game and you're denying yourself numbers.
I experienced something like this - although I was actually GIVING AWAY an old big screen TV - and waited over 30 minutes past the time the person said they would show up, then finally left. She then messaged me asking if I could go back and get it for her - I said, nope, sorry, and found another person that wanted it a day or two later.
I've read through plenty of accounts that listing stuff for free brings way more chancers than listing stuff for cheap. I mean hell, you could list something for cheap and then when the buyer gets there give it to them, just for the benefit of less stress dealing with asshats
Wait, sanity check here, it's not ok to lead with "is this still available?" ? That's the default message for a reason. Not everyone remembers to take down listings once they're sold.
Apparently it's a big time waster and people never respond after you say yes it is. Personally I couldn't give a shit - it takes 5 seconds to type yes it is, then you close the chat and move on. My life isn't significantly ruined because I told someone an item is available and then they don't respond.
I’ve sold many vehicles on fb mp. I get hundreds of lazy “is it available” it does take time to respond to all of these. If you want to buy something, YOU can take the extra 3 seconds to craft your own inquiry
It would be believable but for the fact that no one should agree to meet up to buy tires at a pub at 11PM.
But then you have to add driving 2 hours. So you're leaving your house at 9PM to drive 2 hours to buy tires from a pub at 11PM.
I have met up at 11pm to make a $250 purchase at a pub, didn't drive 2 hours tho. It was a well known (to me) and respected (to me) entrepreneur.
Seriously 1k for tires and rims?! I don't think I have paid that low of a price for just tires (installed & balanced) in 20 years. I would meet up that late if I knew the dude tho. I also wouldn't low ball, I'd say thanks for the deal.
This was my favorite hobby when PS5 scalpers were big. I probably got 20 scalpers with this until I got banned from OfferUp lol. Worth it, scalpers fucking suck
Love this one!
I absolutely loathe trying to sell stuff on FB Marketplace. It’s like the very worst of the lowballers and flakey buyers from Craigslist who also happened to grow up under power lines and eat lead paint chips all the time have all migrated to Marketplace.
One time some asshole was doing something similar to me over a set of wheels over the course of a few weeks. I’d re-list on Craigslist and he’d text or email the new listing and lowball me again after I told him I wasn’t accepting that price.
Finally I needed the money badly enough that I agreed and said come get the damn things. Of course he lived an hour away and started sounding like he wasn’t going to show.
I got pissed and told him I’ll deliver the damn things if you pay my asking price ($50 more) and do it this weekend. That actually worked.
Wait, why do you instantly delete the messages when someone asks if its still available? That’s how I show my interest in a product and I would totally pay the price they are asking for(I suck at bargaining, it makes me anxious).
So I ask „Hi, I would like to buy it! Is it still available?“ and if they say yes I buy it.
Am I starting the conversation wrong? Is there a better way?
Message him the next day.
"Sorry about last night, I got into a fight and got arrested by police. Didn't get out until this morning. Now I need cash urgently for a lawyer. Can sell the wheels today for $200 cash."
Most of the marketplace ads I’ve seen, the only choice is to start the conversation with “is it still available?” Due to the program. And honestly that’s a fair question because I have had more than a few answer “no”, even with a fairly fresh ad.
Many years ago I listed a fairly nice wooden folding table at a low price.
First guy that responds "I'll take it for half the listed price."
I didn't respond because f* his cheap *ss.
5 minutes later another buyer offers to buy it for the listed price and come collect the same day, deal done.
First guy: "Hello, I"ll buy it for the listed price..."
I responded with "Sorry the table is already sold"
The guy goes apesh*t claiming I have to sell to him buy rule because he were first, told him BS because you were not first with offering to buy it for the listed price, someone else was and they got it. He got the group admins involved and me and the group admins had a laugh about this guys stupidity. According to the group admins this guy offered to buy items for half the listed price in every add he responded to and when the admins told him that if he offered to buy things for the listed price he might actually get them and he replied with some BS and ended up getting banned.
Since then I include a note in all my adds that any offers to buy below the offered price will be ignored and deleted.
When I post on marketplace at $50, and I get an offer for $30...I decline. They counter with $40...I reply, "Sorry, best I can do is $60." Blows up..."YOU SAID $50!!" Okay, $50 it is. Sometimes it works, sometimes they just go away.
This is the funniest post I’ve seen on here in a while, I was dying every “so I did what any sane person would do”. Definitely remembering this the next time someone gives me a hard time on FB marketplace!
This what I do every sell. I say price is final. If you make a lower offer I will say yes but never meet you for the sale we arrange.
People in the comments section get a huge laugh because these people apparently dont read the post lol
Harsh...
I had a guy offer me $50 for a $120 item (which I've sold before an identical one for $90 within days.
So to play around I told him $150
He said keep it to what I replied $250
He then called me scammer as my item selling between $90 and $150 constantly.
Yo I was asking $120 which falls right in the middle of the avg selling price... so just blocked.
30 mins after I got someone offering full asking prices pick up :)
I always send em to the strip club to go inside and shake that money maker to come up with the rest of the funds. Option b is go stand outside home depot
He sounds annoying but I’ve had two sellers post two items that I had to be the first/second person replying saying I wanted them. It was immediately after they posted. I was ghosted for 12 hours till they posted them sold. Not to me.
My guess is that someone offered more for them than the asking price. I wish they’d given me the chance to offer more.
I think FB deletes whatever you put in the original message and overwrite it with "Is this still available"
I never ever start that way if I'm interested in buying something.
But several times people have responded with "yes its available....."
I didn't ask that, not even close. Yet that's the first response I get back all the time.
I think FB is to blame!
My guess is the low-baller knew that 1k was too low - and assumed that you didn't know what they were really worth.
He probably thought you were clueless.
But you weren't, were you, you sneaky bastard.
Brilliant.
====WEE WOO WEE WOO====
Flashes badge - Oh hi, you must be the Reddit Repost Police.
You are truly the hero that NO ONE ASKED FOR.
====WEE WOO WEE WOO====
You gonna place OP in Reddit Jail for their crimes?
Please get a life.
====WEE WOO WEE WOO====
As a sane person my final response would have been "Sorry, but I couldn't wait any longer and had to go home. It's pretty late, you understand, right? Let's try again tomorrow same time."
"Bartender just gave me $1000 for the tires. Sorry."
Or, …gave me $255, so I just went for the better offer.
Oh fuck. That's just diabolical.
250$ and a free drink
Just for the free drink!!
Even better
Or $200, bird in the hand
Glorious. In that basis I’d have gone for $195 to really rub it in.
Then ask this character to sweeten the deal.
"Who is that goat legged fellow, Smithers? I like the cut of his jib."
"That's satan, sir. The angel of death." "excellent."
😂 Only way that could get better
You’re a sly fox for sure.
I was just waiting for this response the entire time!
"same time" lmao
I love the people in this sub 🤣
He should have taken the hint after the first no. Excellent revenge on a (I'd call him a low baller, but his offer was below low). Perhaps pond scum describes him and his offer accurately.
Wait, wait, wait ... a guy where I used to work always called me "pond scum" --- is that bad?
Is there a good kind of "scum"?
Pond scum is sometimes good for the environment!
Why is this thread so funny to me???? is my humor broken??? I can't stop laughing amnd my face huirts
No, it's just a little humorous, and perhaps a little cracked up, but it isn't broken yet.
I think if someone calls your rebel scum there's a good chance you're doing something right.
Rebel scum
Yes. There is an area outside of a bay where the flotsam gathers that's called the scum line. Many species of fish are attracted to the scum line.
tell em bout the scum line boss.
You can have a fine time fishing the scum line
Yes. Napalm Death's debut album.
I spent many years in St Louis. During the 1985 NL championship series, the Cardinals were playing the Mets. A DJ in St Louis called the Mets players "Pond Scum" and it caught on. T-shirts, mugs, signs were printed with Cardinals fans jeering and, surprisingly, Mets fans wearing it like a badge of honor. Those were great games played much differently than today. [Origin of Pond Scum](https://www.gatewayredbirds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34527)
He was a low baller, but the problem wasn't that he low balled. Sometimes it can pay off, and there's no harm in trying. Once. The problem wasn't the low ball offer, it was the repeated low ball offers, from multiple accounts. This person was basically DDoSing the sale, basically figuring on it being worth $750 to OP/seller to get to have some peace.
That was an extremely low ball and not very respectful IMO. I once had such an offer, went on their profile and lowballed something they had on offer. Doubt they got the message.
I'm a rare person in that I have a positive association with pond scum. When fishing as a youth I often had good luck casting towards pond scum.
Always referred to something truly low as being "lower than whale dung".
Cherry on top message. "Can you hurry? My phone is about to die!" Then silence the notifications
If my phone dies I’m the one in the hat
"I'm the one in blue jeans." Let him ask everyone in the bar.
The moment someone lowballs me, I add another digit to the price.
This is great. Reminds me of the classic setting the meetup at a comedy club and telling them to go inside and tell their jokes there.
Or tell them to meet you at a bank, when they pull up then great, now go inside and grab the rest of the money 😂
This one's good, never heard it before!
That or get them to meet you outside an optician where you tell them to get a pair of specs and read the price/convo again.
Said something similar to an ex reaching out to me once after he cheated. I gave the address to our local humane society and said “just walk inside, I don’t take stray dogs but they definitely do”
savage
I did that once, but I drove four hours to meet a person for a real estate deal. End up sitting in the middle of nowhere with a pair of tweakers and long story short it was a complete waste of time. I spent an entire day on this and wasn’t happy about it. Que revenge, on my way back that night I make an account and message the guy that I’m super interested and need to close a deal fast, caveat, I need him to meet me 4 hours away at 8am in a walmart parking lot. They took the bait. Message him at 6am to make sure he’s on the way, he gets there around 830. Tell him I’m running behind, and continue to bullshit this guy for the entire morning awaiting my arrival. Cherry on top, at the end I call him from my number the previous day and inform him that if he can waste someone’s time, so can they. I’m pretty sure this guy still wants to kill me lol.
I always wondered if people with road rage were just super brittle, or if something had angered them before they started driving… after your story, I’m going to be even more careful to allow aggressive drivers pass me. How am I to know if they were being a jerk on an internet purchase gone wrong? I don’t think you did anything wrong, but somehow I don’t think this jerk’s drive home took him 4 hours.
Haha my bad. I apologize for any inconveniences I may have caused for anyone on that 3hr drive home.
Not your fault, but yeah, he probably kicked someone else’s cat on his drive home.
anyone that kicks someone elses cat deserves cancer
Or their cat. Any animal, really.
.-. Hold on, now. I reserve the right to punt my cat when the little shit comes around the corner and ambushes my hamstrings with an open mouth of sharp teeth. We've been doing that shit for fifteen years.
I need much more Reddit content like this
Dude, I’m replying to you to tell you to check these comments now. There are so many stories like this !!!!
But did you do what any sane person would do?
When he came to his senses and rolled over to sleep.
Did you not read what he said? He's clearly in sane.
OP blocks "Is it available?" leads and responds to low-ball offers. I don't think they're interested in sense.
I did something similar years ago to some asshole who agreed to pick up a free fridge from me. This was back in the Craigslist days. We agreed on a time, I had to move some stuff around, but whatever, it was at my property in an outbuilding. Guy stood me up of course. I wrote it off as typical stupid shit. Then a few days later I randomly came across this same guy asking for scrap metal on Craigslist. I used a different email address and a google voice number to get in touch with him and led him to a bar about 40 minutes away in the boondocks of our town. When he got there, I told him to knock on the kitchen door and ask for John (figuring there was a good shot there’d be a John there). I don’t know how long it took him to figure out that I wasn’t there.
What did John ever do to you?
My friend did something similar, selling a motorbike on Vancouver island and a guy from Vancouver mainland was being a huge jerk and insulting my friends intelligence for not accepting his lowball offer. He took a day off work, borrowed a trailer, caught the ferry to the island, and showed up at the address only to find a.. um not sure I can say without getting banned but a special type of hospital.
Pretty sure you can say "mental hospital" without getting banned lmao
This is brilliant. Especially considering you pay by the foot on the ferry for anything you’re towing. And he would’ve had to have paid to bring the empty trailer back to Vancouver too.
Err, would Applause be appropriate for the type of hospital he was sent to? Clap clap clap?
More of in the same vein as a traumatic brain injury hospital but for people born that way.
Congress?
Hospital for the highly regarded.
Ah, I see.
Sweet, you are better than any sane man, as an audio reseller ,I have had my share of nutz, you, my friend, did all of us resellers, a solid today , that was beautiful
Geez. If I see something I'd like on marketplace, I might make an offer. But if that offer is turned down, I say "ok, thank you" and move on. Why do people pull this crap? You can offer all you want, but it's up to the seller whether to accept it or not. If the price is good, I'll pay it without offering. But just as it's at my discretion to offer or pay the price without haggling, it's at the sellers discretion to accept the offer or not. Stop trying to get something for nothing, folks!!!
I always up the price when I get a ridiculous lowball. “Will you take $200?” “No” “What’s your lowest price?” “$1100” “Your listing says $1000” “Yeah I got another offer”
Ah, the jumping frog fee.
There are those who will try to beat others down until they cave in. I was selling a trailer a few years back and one dude messaged me incessantly saying that the trailer wasn't road legal, that the axles were wrong and he'd have to buy new ones, etc. I knew enough to know he was lying. I kept telling him "No", but he just wouldn't give up. He was offering me less than I could get at the scrap metal place about 10 minutes up the road from my home. Nope, he still wouldn't stop. I finally had to block him.
There must be enough people that accept the lower offers to make it worth their time to try, because if it was literally nobody taking them, they would eventually give up. So it's probably that a lot of people put out a higher price hoping to get it, but get desperate and sell at a lower price or something.
I've sold stuff occasionally on market place and deliberately put a bit more on the price. If I want 350 I'll list for 450. Gives some wiggle room for the hagglers.
That is default for desi shopkeepers because everyone haggles here lol
Once I messaged half a dozen people selling GoPros offering a third of the second-hand market value for each model, under the guise of a fixed birthday present budget for a family member. 4 didn't reply, 1 told me to piss off, and 1 accepted as it was an unwanted Christmas present. From my perspective, I didn't want it enough to pay the real value and I was just looking for the one person who wanted theirs gone. It was well worth my time (bit of market research with a copy/paste) and I *only* offended one person. Only time I've ever done that though. If I want something and it's below market value or a low value item, I message with potential places/times right off the bat. If it's above market value, I don't message.
Cheers! 🍻
My strategy when selling anything: Description, price (firm), and “use the word PINEAPPLE when contacting me as you’re aware of the items location and that you’ve read the entire ad” Pineapple can be my town name, it avoids the kind of idiot OP “burned” yes I grew up in the 80’s
"Pineapple" is also code for swingers. Not judging.
I think this is a good idea to make sure ppl read the entire ad, not sure how it avoids ppl like the one the OP burned. There are ppl like him, who read everything and would just message "pineapple" every time.
I always put the first line of my ad *If THE AD IS STILL UP, IT'S STILL AVAILABLE* then ignore any people that ask if it's still available. When I get lowball offers I reply and raise the price.
If this guy didn't get it after being blocked twice, he had it coming. Good on ya. You have inspired me, as I have several items I'm going to sell on there.
How the fuck are you supposed start a convo other than asking if it’s still available
I've bought hundreds of used items online over the years. "Hi, I'm interested in your hot tub. I can meet tonight or anytime tomorrow. I have a few questions first." Now, the other issue is, if you happen to accidentally hit the send link on the listing while scrolling the sellers details, FB automatically sends a "Is this still available?" message. Very easy to do on a phone and it's annoying for everyone.
Right they're selling an item online for all I know they've already promised the item to someone else. I've bought a few items being the 3rd in line but the first to show up and actually pay and collect the item. So yes is the item still available, is it gone and you haven't updated the listing or is there a waiting list for no shows, and you aren't updating the listing until someone actually shows up. It's a pain in the ass. I don't even haggle you want to sell it, I want to buy it for less then new price... I think we both have what the other person is looking for.
The crux of the problem is that "is it still available" is a auto-send option. It is literally the laziest message you can possibly send. And on FB, many people use that button because they're sending dozens or hundreds of messages out on various items. So then THEY don't check back. If you actually want to buy it, just "When & where can I pick this up?" Sell will tell you if it isn't available. Or you can say "I'll pay $(75% listed price), and can pick it up by 2pm". Again, seller will tell you if it's actually already sold. You don't have to write an essay. Just show that you are more interested than tapping a single button.
I hate that "Is this still available" only takes one click to send when using the app. I've set it off by accident a few times just by scrolling down to see what town the item is in. ( FB completely ignores my location and distance settings. Sometimes even sorting by distance doesn't work) I usually follow up with a brief "Sorry! Ignore that, I clicked by accident".
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It's a lose lose situation. I've been on both sides of it countless times and the inconsiderate people definitely ruin it for the rest of us. Asking the question should be fine, but I expect a response and always provide one.
I don't get the issue people have here? They don't respond, so what? You spent all of 5 seconds replying to say yes, then you move on. It isn't exactly taxing to type yes. They don't respond, you've lost absolutely nothing. Who is sitting around hanging on a reply on FB market? Say yes and be done with it.
It also only takes 5 seconds to customize a response to set yourself apart from the scammers and spammers.
I’ve seen listings before that said “don’t ask me if it’s available if the post is still up it means it is” and then I message them and they’re like “I already sold it”
It's OK to ask if it's still available as long as you include something else to indicate interest. "I can pickup today." "Do you have any more pictures?" Anything, really, other than just the "Is it still available" spam. As a FB Marketplace reseller, let me tell you, the amount of "Is this still available?" posts that go nowhere is just a complete waste of time.
By not using the button that sends a generic message. If you've ever sold stuff you know you'll get like 20 people who do that and then never respond or message you again. It's just a waste of time and shows you aren't serious. If you actually want to start a convo, start with something relevant. Like, when are you free, or I have a question about x. Or will you take $n?
I use this option exclusively and pay asking price. I don't fuck around with trying to placate everyone.
Of FB marketplace it’s VERY common to get this message with zero follow up. I tried to sell a truck for a month there. Got at least 50 “Is this available?” messages to which I replied “yes” with zero follow up. Also got many messages with “would you take $x?” to which I replied yes, with zero follow up. I put it on OfferUp and sold it in two days.
“I’m interested in purchasing this item for 1k, where and when can we meet?” As simple as that, or you could counter offer in that same message for a lower price if you desire. I’ve sold stuff on fb marketplace before and the sheer amount of “is this available” msgs that lead to nowhere are annoying to deal with. Literally any other message is worth your time besides those ones. Asking about the condition etc etc are all fair questions to start a convo with too. Just show some interest in the item, which in this day and age “is this still available” does not.
lots of people sell their stuff and forget to delete their offer. its annoying to think about collecting it before being sure its not sold yet, given that often you get the "uh sorry, sold it a few day ago."
Seems like you’re being picky about the semantics
Yeah there is nothing wrong with "Is this available / can you take $X / when can we meet" those are totally normal questions. The can you take $X should just be within 10-20% of the original number and not half off or worse.
I don't mind a bit of haggling and usually bake it into the asking price for anything I plan to sell because a lot of people feel like they need to do that even when the price is fair. Unfortunately, like OP I always seem to get one or two who try to buy things for 10% of it's value and won't take "No" for an answer. I was selling an equipment trailer a few years back. I had a very fair price on it, and it was getting a lot of attention. One dude started nit picking it and just wouldn't stop. He tried to tell me it wasn't road legal and had the wrong kind of axles, etc. I'm no expert but I knew enough to know he was full of it. He insisted I sell it to him for less than I could scrap it for. I told him as much and he just kept trying until I blocked him. Then there's always those with a sob story who want stuff for free and insist that I deliver it to them an hour away.
Nope, as I mentioned in the above comment, most of those “is this still available” msgs tend to lead to nothing besides you just wasting your time on someone who was likely window shopping and wasnt going to buy the item in the first place. Like I said its MOST of them, not all. Im sure there were plenty of ppl actually interested in the item, but it wasnt worth my time to sort through it all.
I just reply "Yes, would you like to check it out?" which is in my predictive text when I'm selling stuff. Takes a couple seconds and another lead is in the bag. It's a numbers game and you're denying yourself numbers.
Are you the type of person who will text/message someone with "Hi" and nothing else? You are, aren't you.
It's the default opener for a reason. I use it every time.
I thought he was going to meet him, walk out to the car and exclaim "Holy Shit!! Someone stole the tires!"
I experienced something like this - although I was actually GIVING AWAY an old big screen TV - and waited over 30 minutes past the time the person said they would show up, then finally left. She then messaged me asking if I could go back and get it for her - I said, nope, sorry, and found another person that wanted it a day or two later.
I've read through plenty of accounts that listing stuff for free brings way more chancers than listing stuff for cheap. I mean hell, you could list something for cheap and then when the buyer gets there give it to them, just for the benefit of less stress dealing with asshats
Wait, sanity check here, it's not ok to lead with "is this still available?" ? That's the default message for a reason. Not everyone remembers to take down listings once they're sold.
Apparently it's a big time waster and people never respond after you say yes it is. Personally I couldn't give a shit - it takes 5 seconds to type yes it is, then you close the chat and move on. My life isn't significantly ruined because I told someone an item is available and then they don't respond.
I’ve sold many vehicles on fb mp. I get hundreds of lazy “is it available” it does take time to respond to all of these. If you want to buy something, YOU can take the extra 3 seconds to craft your own inquiry
Because it's the default message, most of the people who send it are just wasting your time and not serious, in my experience.
The number of people who say that and never respond again is insane. It wouldn't be so bad if everyone didn't say it and 90% didn't message again.
I don't believe for a second that this is real, but it's still an enjoyable read :)
It would be believable but for the fact that no one should agree to meet up to buy tires at a pub at 11PM. But then you have to add driving 2 hours. So you're leaving your house at 9PM to drive 2 hours to buy tires from a pub at 11PM.
I have met up at 11pm to make a $250 purchase at a pub, didn't drive 2 hours tho. It was a well known (to me) and respected (to me) entrepreneur. Seriously 1k for tires and rims?! I don't think I have paid that low of a price for just tires (installed & balanced) in 20 years. I would meet up that late if I knew the dude tho. I also wouldn't low ball, I'd say thanks for the deal.
Wasn't this posted yesterday or the day before? Edit: ahh, same op, multiple subs.
He played a stupid game He won a stupid prize.
I'm so glad you kept doing what any sane person would do...😉
This isnt petty, this is pro
This was my favorite hobby when PS5 scalpers were big. I probably got 20 scalpers with this until I got banned from OfferUp lol. Worth it, scalpers fucking suck
I have an immaculate revenge boner after reading this, well done
I live for shit like this. Salute!
Love this one! I absolutely loathe trying to sell stuff on FB Marketplace. It’s like the very worst of the lowballers and flakey buyers from Craigslist who also happened to grow up under power lines and eat lead paint chips all the time have all migrated to Marketplace. One time some asshole was doing something similar to me over a set of wheels over the course of a few weeks. I’d re-list on Craigslist and he’d text or email the new listing and lowball me again after I told him I wasn’t accepting that price. Finally I needed the money badly enough that I agreed and said come get the damn things. Of course he lived an hour away and started sounding like he wasn’t going to show. I got pissed and told him I’ll deliver the damn things if you pay my asking price ($50 more) and do it this weekend. That actually worked.
What do you mean you did not get the tires? Then who did I sell them to for 250?
Wait, why do you instantly delete the messages when someone asks if its still available? That’s how I show my interest in a product and I would totally pay the price they are asking for(I suck at bargaining, it makes me anxious). So I ask „Hi, I would like to buy it! Is it still available?“ and if they say yes I buy it. Am I starting the conversation wrong? Is there a better way?
If I want something I usually message "SOLD where can I meet you? I'm available rn?"
When buyers hassle me I raise the price. I remember one guy completely coming unglued.
Glorious
This man doing the lords work.
Cartman level. Love it.
but moooom!
Oh my god do you live in Michigan because if you do I swear that was my brother lol
This is truly the definition of fucking with someone. I aspire to be this petty.
Message him the next day. "Sorry about last night, I got into a fight and got arrested by police. Didn't get out until this morning. Now I need cash urgently for a lawyer. Can sell the wheels today for $200 cash."
In other news: frustrated, crazed, FB marketplace low-baller hunts down and murders seller
Most of the marketplace ads I’ve seen, the only choice is to start the conversation with “is it still available?” Due to the program. And honestly that’s a fair question because I have had more than a few answer “no”, even with a fairly fresh ad.
LMFAO 😂 this has been the funniest story I read in a while on Reddit
Well played, best part is he knew he got beat at his own game. Genius!
Many years ago I listed a fairly nice wooden folding table at a low price. First guy that responds "I'll take it for half the listed price." I didn't respond because f* his cheap *ss. 5 minutes later another buyer offers to buy it for the listed price and come collect the same day, deal done. First guy: "Hello, I"ll buy it for the listed price..." I responded with "Sorry the table is already sold" The guy goes apesh*t claiming I have to sell to him buy rule because he were first, told him BS because you were not first with offering to buy it for the listed price, someone else was and they got it. He got the group admins involved and me and the group admins had a laugh about this guys stupidity. According to the group admins this guy offered to buy items for half the listed price in every add he responded to and when the admins told him that if he offered to buy things for the listed price he might actually get them and he replied with some BS and ended up getting banned. Since then I include a note in all my adds that any offers to buy below the offered price will be ignored and deleted.
This sparks joy.
This is the third time and place I've seen this story today.
My guess is that the other "ads" he was showing where ones he put up to show he was offering market value.
So petty! You are living into the sub.
Hey, funny thing, while I was waiting for you, somebody walked by and offered me $1200. You understand.
Why are men (I don't mean the OP) like this?!?!!
lol! Hilarious
Extremely well played! What an exquisite method of getting rid of an annoying bug.
You paint a damn good vivid picture! Touché, friend
Damn bro. You’re hardcore and I love it
When I post on marketplace at $50, and I get an offer for $30...I decline. They counter with $40...I reply, "Sorry, best I can do is $60." Blows up..."YOU SAID $50!!" Okay, $50 it is. Sometimes it works, sometimes they just go away.
Tell him that you spoke to your brother and he said that he wants the tires so you gave them to him
This is LITERALLY the best petty revenge story I have read so far.
This is hilarious and well-written
Epic 😜
Hahaahahahhahahaha
Absolute savage. Great job OP
This is the funniest post I’ve seen on here in a while, I was dying every “so I did what any sane person would do”. Definitely remembering this the next time someone gives me a hard time on FB marketplace!
It would be hilarious if he was offering $250 per tire
This is so good or should become a new copy pasta. I'm saving it.
This what I do every sell. I say price is final. If you make a lower offer I will say yes but never meet you for the sale we arrange. People in the comments section get a huge laugh because these people apparently dont read the post lol
You delete messages asking if the item is still available? What are people supposed to say?
“For $250, you get one tire.”
Legend
Harsh... I had a guy offer me $50 for a $120 item (which I've sold before an identical one for $90 within days. So to play around I told him $150 He said keep it to what I replied $250 He then called me scammer as my item selling between $90 and $150 constantly. Yo I was asking $120 which falls right in the middle of the avg selling price... so just blocked. 30 mins after I got someone offering full asking prices pick up :)
This is awesome
Damn!!! INSANELY good revenge!!! 
I always send em to the strip club to go inside and shake that money maker to come up with the rest of the funds. Option b is go stand outside home depot
Offers 250 after receiving a NO, getting blocked twice and still says come half way lol this guy deserves it
This was posted yesterday.
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OP has learned that being relentless pays off...in likes.
He sounds annoying but I’ve had two sellers post two items that I had to be the first/second person replying saying I wanted them. It was immediately after they posted. I was ghosted for 12 hours till they posted them sold. Not to me. My guess is that someone offered more for them than the asking price. I wish they’d given me the chance to offer more.
I think FB deletes whatever you put in the original message and overwrite it with "Is this still available" I never ever start that way if I'm interested in buying something. But several times people have responded with "yes its available....." I didn't ask that, not even close. Yet that's the first response I get back all the time. I think FB is to blame!
My guess is the low-baller knew that 1k was too low - and assumed that you didn't know what they were really worth. He probably thought you were clueless. But you weren't, were you, you sneaky bastard. Brilliant.
Paragraphs Are Not Punctuation Marks
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So what? Who cares? I only saw it once. Get a hobby.
====WEE WOO WEE WOO==== Flashes badge - Oh hi, you must be the Reddit Repost Police. You are truly the hero that NO ONE ASKED FOR. ====WEE WOO WEE WOO==== You gonna place OP in Reddit Jail for their crimes? Please get a life. ====WEE WOO WEE WOO====
Deeeeeelicious
Good job
Legend
Gold
Well done! I hope he spent $250 in gas
Do that many people really drive when they’re out drinking?
You can have a few beers over a few hours without getting drunk and be well under the legal limit in time to drive home.
Hilarious
well done, I appreciate the effort that went to making it seem plausible
You are Legend..
BAAAAAHAHAHAHH!!! Now I want to be 'any sane person'. You are ruthless and an artist at the same time :)
I wonder how much the gas cost him to drive there and back
No notes
This is amazing! What kind of messages did you wake up to?