Thread: Ebay, Gumtree or Facebook marketplace?

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Heather, when you had the business running, you were my first choice of supplier. I always had my order next day (AP Express) to regional Queensland. I don't recall ever signing and definitely never had a non delivery.

I put signature and insurance on our big priced items, like propshafts, radiators, etc. As I tracked all our orders in the morning to see if they where being delivered, or I will keep tracking until they are delivered, I even message people to tell them it is going to be delivered. I would copy and past off Aust post site on what they say. And would mark it off in the book where we kept the number, as been delivered. Just a side note we always paid the insurance and signature which could range from $10 dollars to $20+,depends on the value of the item, our customers only ever paid the postage

I use FB but my lord I often wonder why…

This is a decision I also need to make. Some stuff might need a wider audience than FB. For example, I have a set of casting for a Stuart-Turner 10V vertical steam engine I started to build back in the mid-Eighties. I never got far and if I croak, my family wouldn't know what it is or what it's worth so I ned to sel it.

evilbay or FB? I sold a motorcycle manual recently on evilbay and got a buyer pretty quickly but, by heck EB take far whack of the funds - about 13.5%

I have far too much stuff to sell, especially model cars that will go into a skip if I die.

Originally Posted by p38arover

This is a decision I also need to make. Some stuff might need a wider audience than FB. For example, I have a set of casting for a Stuart-Turner 10V vertical steam engine I started to build back in the mid-Eighties. I never got far and if I croak, my family wouldn't know what it is or what it's worth so I ned to sel it.

I have a number of steam engines to sell, I gave up on Facebook & Gumtree.
I asked one person if he was a serious buyer and got a torrent of abuse, so I'm guessing he probably wasn't !

Young bloke some years ago selling a pushbike.
A lad is coming to buy it, young bloke gets a text message "I'm here", look outside and he wasn't there.
Text message "where are you ?" reply "at the railway station" ?! Young bloke sends our address again.
Text message " I'm here", no he wasn't. Young bloke sends text "where ?" reply "at the end of your street".
After many texts he finally turns up.
"I want to take the bike for a test ride", OK says young bloke leave the full amount with me and if you don't want the bike I'll give you the money back. After a drawn out discussion he leaves the money, test rides, comes back say's "I'll have it...do you have a helmet, I need a helmet ?"

Another time he was selling a small engine, for $50. Bloke turns up says he wants it but doesn't want to pay the price advertised. Young drops the price to $45. bloke comes back with "I've only got $35", young bloke says "no problem I'll hold it for you till you come back with $45" After whinging & whining the guy goes to his car and gets a $50 note !

I put a couple of old mowers up for spares parts, one seized and one leaking fuel from the carby (explained in the advert) total $30
Bloke messages and offers $25 and I accept.
Turns up over two hours after the time he said he'd come. Complains that one is seized and one leaks fuel, offers $10
I asked him politely if he could read because that was explained in the advert, he stayed at $10.
I said "absolutely no problem there are three more blokes interested" I got my phone out started dialing and he gave me $25.

I don't remember it being like this when people phoned & spoke with you first.
Nowadays they hide behind text messages & emails, don't turn up on time, make an offer then want to negotiate down further when they finally turn up.

To be fair I have also sold stuff to some decent people recently.


Colin

Do not know why but normally sensible intelligent people go crazy when buying things

Selling some stuff that had sat in the shed and needed some space and cash to buy stuff to fill the new space selling stuff would create. A little circular but think most of us have been there

Had one who said could buy something similar for a very slightly cheaper price. Showed me the add so I could see was genuine and wanted price dropped to match. Pointed out these were second hand so no way to compare actual quality and lower price may be an indication. Even then just the cost of fuel for the trip there let alone the return would exceed any saving on something he was telling me was hard to get so it might be sold when got there. Could see what I had was like new so did he want it? Said only if I matched price. Let him go and sold it the next day to someone who also said they were hard to get and in demand and was surprised it was not already sold as was a good price

I saw an ad on FB for something recently and the chap had a sign behind whatever he was selling with his phone number and it said call Jim, no SMS’s.

I just sold my camper trailer after 2 years of advertising, last week a bloke contacts thru gumtree and we make a date for viewing.
Night before i hadnt heard from yet to confirm the time, did not get a peep from him not even a reply to my txt.
Last friday i get another wanting to view it and we make a time for Sunday am, late Saturday get a call from a bloke wanting to come in 30mins.
He turns up has a look and a chat says he needs to show the partner, 3o mins later calls back and says he'll take it and transfers the funds within 10mins - notification from banking app so all good.
I replay to the other guy and say sorry its sold and then he starts whinging saying why did i make a time with him to view and ends with, disappointing - like f right off.

I think fb marketplace these days is the easiest one. I've put a fair few cars there for my dad, always weeding out the.scammers, timecwasters and rude folks who I then refuse to sell to.
I've bought from a lot of genuine folks there as well.