"Scumtree" anyone else had the pleasure....?
Discussion
So I've recently been having a clear out and decided to post a few items on that well know local selling site of Gumtree.
Does anyone else get the feeling that it's full of absolute weapons grade time wasters and t@ssers?
Firstly, I'm convinced that after posting a few ads for various stuff, like a pressure washer and motorcycle jacket for example, I'll get a call from either a bloody ambulance chaser regarding my "compensation" or someone from "Microsoft" claiming my PC has an issue!
Why?????
Secondly I'll get a message from via the "Scumtree" app asking is an item still available? then promptly reply saying yes, then.............. Nothing!
Why would anybody bother engaging in a conversation in the first place?
Grrrrrrrrr!!!
Admittedly I have sold a few items without issue but why the total messers?
Am I just too old school or missing some point whereby I don't bother wasting my time (or anybody else) if I'm not interested in following up an inquiry?
Someone suggested to me I should try Facebook Marketplace but having recently deleted my account I can't help thinking that if I created a new one, I would suffer the same messers, muddlers and time wasters as before!
Rant over......
Carry on.
Does anyone else get the feeling that it's full of absolute weapons grade time wasters and t@ssers?
Firstly, I'm convinced that after posting a few ads for various stuff, like a pressure washer and motorcycle jacket for example, I'll get a call from either a bloody ambulance chaser regarding my "compensation" or someone from "Microsoft" claiming my PC has an issue!
Why?????
Secondly I'll get a message from via the "Scumtree" app asking is an item still available? then promptly reply saying yes, then.............. Nothing!
Why would anybody bother engaging in a conversation in the first place?
Grrrrrrrrr!!!
Admittedly I have sold a few items without issue but why the total messers?
Am I just too old school or missing some point whereby I don't bother wasting my time (or anybody else) if I'm not interested in following up an inquiry?
Someone suggested to me I should try Facebook Marketplace but having recently deleted my account I can't help thinking that if I created a new one, I would suffer the same messers, muddlers and time wasters as before!
Rant over......
Carry on.
You get it everywhere tbh, i've had plenty of messers and timewasters on FB marketplace and Ebay.
I used to use gumtree a few years back without too many issues, the free listing and no sales fees being the obvious advantage over Ebay.
I think you just have to accept that it's part of the process and hope that a genuine seller will be along in the end, they usually do come up.
I used to use gumtree a few years back without too many issues, the free listing and no sales fees being the obvious advantage over Ebay.
I think you just have to accept that it's part of the process and hope that a genuine seller will be along in the end, they usually do come up.
I've bought and sold a few guitars on Gumtree with no issue, and recently bought a perfectly nice mid century cocktail cabinet for £30. I can't say I've noticed any more spam emails and I purposely haven't put my mobile number on any adverts that I place, and even if I did, I don't answer numbers that aren't stored. If it's important they can leave a message.
I haven't had that much issue, no. Like you, cleared out lots of old stuff after we moved house, then after our wedding we had loads, and then before our daughter was born had loads. You get some messers but nothing that put me off .
I also sort of think you have to tailor the type of thing you're selling to the platform you are using - with Gumtree I'm mainly selling the kind of thing that people locally would want and if you weren't local to me, it wouldn't be worth coming all that far to get it because soon enough someone local to you will have one? It isn't for specialist kit, IMO, just stuff that you're selling because its usable to someone else, and saves them a few quid buying new
I also sort of think you have to tailor the type of thing you're selling to the platform you are using - with Gumtree I'm mainly selling the kind of thing that people locally would want and if you weren't local to me, it wouldn't be worth coming all that far to get it because soon enough someone local to you will have one? It isn't for specialist kit, IMO, just stuff that you're selling because its usable to someone else, and saves them a few quid buying new
Edited by Shakermaker on Wednesday 12th February 14:21
Hell is other people.
We've been through it recently after moving house, we found ourselves the proud owner of a spare 6 month old washing machine and matching drier.
Posted them for sale on FB market place £100 each, within minutes "take £50 for the pair mate, I'm desperate?" "ow much?" "what's your best price?"
I'd just ignore them, but Mrs was dealing with it - some got pretty aggressive that we wouldn't take their stupid offers, especially the one who pretty much demanded I delivered them 40 mins down the motorway in exchange for half the asking price. It was a collection only sale.
But in the end, a decent Bloke and his Son turned up in a Van, we loaded them both together and I accepted £180 for the pair because he was decent and was taking both at the same time. We still got messages demanding to buy them for less even after they ad was changed to 'sold'.
We've been through it recently after moving house, we found ourselves the proud owner of a spare 6 month old washing machine and matching drier.
Posted them for sale on FB market place £100 each, within minutes "take £50 for the pair mate, I'm desperate?" "ow much?" "what's your best price?"
I'd just ignore them, but Mrs was dealing with it - some got pretty aggressive that we wouldn't take their stupid offers, especially the one who pretty much demanded I delivered them 40 mins down the motorway in exchange for half the asking price. It was a collection only sale.
But in the end, a decent Bloke and his Son turned up in a Van, we loaded them both together and I accepted £180 for the pair because he was decent and was taking both at the same time. We still got messages demanding to buy them for less even after they ad was changed to 'sold'.
P-Jay said:
Hell is other people.
We've been through it recently after moving house, we found ourselves the proud owner of a spare 6 month old washing machine and matching drier.
Posted them for sale on FB market place £100 each, within minutes "take £50 for the pair mate, I'm desperate?" "ow much?" "what's your best price?"
I'd just ignore them, but Mrs was dealing with it - some got pretty aggressive that we wouldn't take their stupid offers, especially the one who pretty much demanded I delivered them 40 mins down the motorway in exchange for half the asking price. It was a collection only sale.
But in the end, a decent Bloke and his Son turned up in a Van, we loaded them both together and I accepted £180 for the pair because he was decent and was taking both at the same time. We still got messages demanding to buy them for less even after they ad was changed to 'sold'.
"son's crying now, thanks"We've been through it recently after moving house, we found ourselves the proud owner of a spare 6 month old washing machine and matching drier.
Posted them for sale on FB market place £100 each, within minutes "take £50 for the pair mate, I'm desperate?" "ow much?" "what's your best price?"
I'd just ignore them, but Mrs was dealing with it - some got pretty aggressive that we wouldn't take their stupid offers, especially the one who pretty much demanded I delivered them 40 mins down the motorway in exchange for half the asking price. It was a collection only sale.
But in the end, a decent Bloke and his Son turned up in a Van, we loaded them both together and I accepted £180 for the pair because he was decent and was taking both at the same time. We still got messages demanding to buy them for less even after they ad was changed to 'sold'.
Butter Face said:
I messaged someone at 6.54am this morning and collected the item at 8am and it’s home now all setup and ready to go. Nice and simple. Most of my gumtree experiences have been spot on.
This has been mostly my experience too. Got rid of a lot of things including some large furniture items really easily. And over the last few years have bought various bits locally with minimal fuss and often from quite pleasant people who just want to get on with it.Always a few frustrating assholes when selling who either never contact back or keep pushing their luck with "will you take 20p for it" messages. But there's usually someone else interested who's quick and easy and will collect immediately as long as your price is right.
Wife has a facebook account . although only uses it for running meets etc. Put a car on there.
Guy offered me £3000 less than its advertised for, but is on the Forum begging for someone to sell him one with my colour ,specs etc, in fact he told me he was just about to pay for one when he saw my Ad....still on there asking ...Boredom ?
Guy offered me £3000 less than its advertised for, but is on the Forum begging for someone to sell him one with my colour ,specs etc, in fact he told me he was just about to pay for one when he saw my Ad....still on there asking ...Boredom ?
Edited by Gerradi on Wednesday 12th February 16:39
I had a gaming PC for sale on Facebook, had several enquiries, all well under the asking price (which was too low anyway, I didn't realise that it had kept it's value as I had stopped gaming), then came along what seemed like a genuine guy. He offered £20 under the asking price, which was okay, so we agreed a price, I gave him my address and phone number as it can be a pain to find. Then I got a message off him, he wanted me to deliver it to him, in North Devon and I'm in west Cornwall, so it takes about 2 hours either way. In that same message, he also said that he needed me to deliver it on a Tuesday evening, for his son's birthday on the Wednesday, then when his son got his birthday money, he would transfer the money to me. He couldn't understand why I didn't agree to driving to him and driving away, minus PC and also no cash. He called me three times asking why I wouldn't do it. Ended up selling it on eBay to a guy around the corner for twice the money I put it on Facebook for.
I used to rant and rage at the absolute idiots on Gumtree whenever I tried to practically give away items.
A wise friend told me off for ranting, and said, "You don't know these people or their problems. Try to treat everyone as though they have learning difficulties, or communication issues, because for all you know they do, and they're just trying to negotiate a difficult transaction."
I felt quite chastised by that, because he was right, my attitude towards them wasn't great. So, I changed my attitude.
It didn't work. The general public really are complete assholes.
I just dump anything the charity shops and recycling projects won't take.
A wise friend told me off for ranting, and said, "You don't know these people or their problems. Try to treat everyone as though they have learning difficulties, or communication issues, because for all you know they do, and they're just trying to negotiate a difficult transaction."
I felt quite chastised by that, because he was right, my attitude towards them wasn't great. So, I changed my attitude.
It didn't work. The general public really are complete assholes.
I just dump anything the charity shops and recycling projects won't take.
Scumtree, flebay, and marketplace are all much of a muchness in my experience, all have a mixture of tryers/beggers/timewasters along with some sensible buyers and sellers. I've bought and sold successfully on all of them successfully with genuine people.
From my experiences I'd say technology (especially mobile phones) and cars attract the worst.
From my experiences I'd say technology (especially mobile phones) and cars attract the worst.
Between my wife and I we have sold about 60 items on Facebook Marketplace, the timewasters can fairly easily be filtered out by their very first message and almost everyone without fail has turned up exactly when they said they would and paid the agreed price without haggling.
The amount of hassle and timewasters seems to greatly depend on exactly what you are selling. Some items seem to attract a disproportionate amount of idiots, cheap cars in particular.
The amount of hassle and timewasters seems to greatly depend on exactly what you are selling. Some items seem to attract a disproportionate amount of idiots, cheap cars in particular.
I've used it in the past with mixed results and currently have a few things for sale on there. The most annoying thing is people offering you 50% below what you are asking like they are doing you a favour. I've had quite a few dead end enquiries but I just checked and "is this still available" appears as a pre filled message right at the bottom of the page so it's probably easy to hit it by accident.
Edited by kuro on Wednesday 12th February 17:20
opieoilman said:
I had a gaming PC for sale on Facebook, had several enquiries, all well under the asking price (which was too low anyway, I didn't realise that it had kept it's value as I had stopped gaming), then came along what seemed like a genuine guy. He offered £20 under the asking price, which was okay, so we agreed a price, I gave him my address and phone number as it can be a pain to find. Then I got a message off him, he wanted me to deliver it to him, in North Devon and I'm in west Cornwall, so it takes about 2 hours either way. In that same message, he also said that he needed me to deliver it on a Tuesday evening, for his son's birthday on the Wednesday, then when his son got his birthday money, he would transfer the money to me. He couldn't understand why I didn't agree to driving to him and driving away, minus PC and also no cash. He called me three times asking why I wouldn't do it. Ended up selling it on eBay to a guy around the corner for twice the money I put it on Facebook for.
Will be benefits brigade, everything done for them, magic stuffP-Jay said:
Hell is other people.
We've been through it recently after moving house, we found ourselves the proud owner of a spare 6 month old washing machine and matching drier.
Posted them for sale on FB market place £100 each, within minutes "take £50 for the pair mate, I'm desperate?" "ow much?" "what's your best price?"
I'd just ignore them, but Mrs was dealing with it - some got pretty aggressive that we wouldn't take their stupid offers, especially the one who pretty much demanded I delivered them 40 mins down the motorway in exchange for half the asking price. It was a collection only sale.
But in the end, a decent Bloke and his Son turned up in a Van, we loaded them both together and I accepted £180 for the pair because he was decent and was taking both at the same time. We still got messages demanding to buy them for less even after they ad was changed to 'sold'.
Was selling a car stereo for £160. That’s bang on for what they sell for used. Bloke offers £90 as it had no box!? Wtf. We've been through it recently after moving house, we found ourselves the proud owner of a spare 6 month old washing machine and matching drier.
Posted them for sale on FB market place £100 each, within minutes "take £50 for the pair mate, I'm desperate?" "ow much?" "what's your best price?"
I'd just ignore them, but Mrs was dealing with it - some got pretty aggressive that we wouldn't take their stupid offers, especially the one who pretty much demanded I delivered them 40 mins down the motorway in exchange for half the asking price. It was a collection only sale.
But in the end, a decent Bloke and his Son turned up in a Van, we loaded them both together and I accepted £180 for the pair because he was decent and was taking both at the same time. We still got messages demanding to buy them for less even after they ad was changed to 'sold'.
Sold my mx5 on there, couple of 'best price bruv cash today' chancers who I didn't bother with, few genuine people who could actually type and spell, ended up selling to the first viewer only a few days after listing it for £150 less than I was asking but i was ok with that. Would deffinelty use it again, free aswell so cant really complain at all.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff