More Facebook Marketplace Loonies

Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson

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Staff member
When Andrew totaled his Honda I pulled the subwoofer/amp out before it went to the salvage yard. It has been taking up space in my shop ever since so this week I listed in on Facebook Marketplace. I did this in spite of knowing car stereo equipment would bring out the "finest" facebook has to offer. The pics below are the ad, which includes pretty clear expectations on my part, and just one of the dialogs I've been a part of. I like Marketplace for finding old tools and machinery, but in my experiences anything to do with autos brings out the worst kinds of folks.


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I know the feeling. Wife has been selling some baby and house stuff. Same deal as you- ?I?ll take it. When/ where can we meet?? ?Ok see yo then but I?m only paying 50% of your heavily discounted price.?

Idiots.
 
I have to wonder, how often do these strategies work? Too bad losing behavior doesn't fade from existence.

Eric
 
Eric Patterson said:
I have to wonder, how often do these strategies work? Too bad losing behavior doesn't fade from existence.

Eric
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no - instead it grows - anti social media feeds it

and from the other side - it doesn't take any effort to offer a fraction of what its worth- so even at the lowest success rate is not a deterrent
 
Eric Patterson said:
I have to wonder, how often do these strategies work? Too bad losing behavior doesn't fade from existence.

Eric
Click to expand...

His response was a fairly common one, from what I've seen in my limited experience selling online. Apparently it's a winning strategy to bait sellers into coming back and dicker.
 
SJ Fairbank said:
Eric Patterson said:
I have to wonder, how often do these strategies work? Too bad losing behavior doesn't fade from existence.

Eric
Click to expand...

His response was a fairly common one, from what I've seen in my limited experience selling online. Apparently it's a winning strategy to bait sellers into coming back and dicker.
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I deleted the dialog with him. That strategy won't win with me. I prefer dealing with people that read and don't bother me by doing the very thing I asked them not to do. I won't deal with people like that. Since it isn't about the money, but rather just getting rid of crap, I'd rather toss it in the dumpster than let assholes work me over.

Eric
 
That's the only way to deal with people like that Eric. Too darn annoying otherwise. I'm sure some of these guys don't really want to buy, just get their jollies by messing with people.
 
Lets face it, Eric, your just a real jerk!

[smile]

Its not just Craigslist:
When we were calling around about refinancing when interest rates tanked a few months back, we made it clear we weren't going to make a decision that day and we had specific questions we wanted answered.
One guys started giving us a hard sell and lecturing us.
When I told him "hold on, this is not our first rodeo, please answer my question", he said " I don't like your attitude, I don't think I want to handle your mortgage."
He didn't get out another word before I hung up.
The next day I called our original loan officer with Colonial, who was amazing the first time around. He got us 2.62% on a 15 year, no closing costs, no hassles, no BS.
 
You guys have some real winners down there. I?ve never experienced the 50% price, except on Andreas western red cedar canoe (which I just realized I should throw on here), where someone offered me $0.02.

Regardless, Eric, you?re right. Anything auto related always brings Out the sharpest tools in the shed on a rock farm.
 
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In the last two weeks, I have bought a milling machine, a flap sander and a drum sander. All of them I paid their asking price.

Guess I have been doing it wrong, can I go ask for some of my money back?
 
Wow. Nice dude.

When I?m looking for something I usually know what I should expect to pay for it. If I see something listed that I have an interest in but it is higher priced than what I think it to be worth, I will ask up front in the first correspondence if they would be willing to sell it at such and such a price. If not, I have a decision to make. Pay what they are asking or move along. Most people accept this, some don?t. I have also offered full price when the offer is fair and have offered over the asking price if I think they are low and will be getting many other offers.

And I don?t mind people asking me if I would take less either. With that said, I would be a little miffed at the attitude of the person you were dealing with. Sometimes you just want to text them back and say you sold it to a human being for $75.

For what it?s worth.
 
I really dislike dealing with people via online sales, but I have to admit his last reply would have made me laugh... and also discontinue the conversation.
 
Wow! I've had my share of deplorables when selling online but just wow. I've had some high end music gear for sale online, guitars, amps and PA systems and a lot of low ball offers but never had a replies like that. I love the ones that can't take the time to read the description where I write cash only and local pickup. Then I get the message "do you do paypal and will you ship?" Just have to shake my head. Good luck with your sale.
 
Update: The items sold. I just kept deleting messages from people who didn't read the ad until I got a question from someone who actually took the time to read it. He came to my shop and left happily with a new sub. Nice guy.
 
I had someone send me an offer of $30 on something I was asking $10 for on Market Place. I accepted the offer.
 
Yep. I was curious how this would play out and she took 3 of them for $10 each. When I post something on Marketplace I put it in my car. When people say they are coming to get it I give them my office address and tell them I am available from 10 to 4. That way when they don't show up (which is often) I have not had to rearrange my schedule to meet with them. One ploy I often encounter is that they will drive a long way to come get the item and when they arrive they are $5 short. I say "Well... you are not getting it today" as I turn and walk away. Suddenly they will find a $5 bill they forgot about. Sometimes I would have accepted a lower offer if they had asked before they came. Once they are here and play the "I don't have it" game...I'm getting full price.
 
Ron Smith said:
Yep. I was curious how this would play out and she took 3 of them for $10 each. When I post something on Marketplace I put it in my car. When people say they are coming to get it I give them my office address and tell them I am available from 10 to 4. That way when they don't show up (which is often) I have not had to rearrange my schedule to meet with them. One ploy I often encounter is that they will drive a long way to come get the item and when they arrive they are $5 short. I say "Well... you are not getting it today" as I turn and walk away. Suddenly they will find a $5 bill they forgot about. Sometimes I would have accepted a lower offer if they had asked before they came. Once they are here and play the "I don't have it" game...I'm getting full price.
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I like that Ron. Makes sense to me, and yes, I'm sure they always find the missing $5 somehow. I've bought and sold a number of things on Craigslist. I don't lowball, but I don't think I've ever paid the full asking price for something. However, I always haggle over e-mail or on the phone (or text) rather than in person. No sense in wasting both of our time with a meeting if we can't agree on a price.
 
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