Facebook marketplace
Discussion
littlebasher said:
Thing is, this reminded me of an incident a couple of years ago. This time it was a Tech 2 clone I was selling on FB, once again very popular and a chap arranges to come around and buy it off me.
He turns up as arranged and asks if he can test it to make sure it works (not unreasonably) and then proceeds to turn off his airbag light and then tell me he doesn't want it any more.
I had something similar. Selling the rollerblades/pads/helmet belonging to one of The Vikingettes which I'd cleaned and prepped. Well to do woman and her daughter buy them. I even ask if the daughter wants to try them on - "No, they'll be fine". Then after the weekend I get a message saying they don't fit, my daughter used her own money to buy them, can she have a refund? Being a soft sHe turns up as arranged and asks if he can test it to make sure it works (not unreasonably) and then proceeds to turn off his airbag light and then tell me he doesn't want it any more.
te, I don't want the little girl to lose out. I'm at work so I tell Vikingette that someone will be around to return the stuff, £30 on the hall table is hers. When I get home, the money is gone and the blades and stuff are there. I check them out and it seems there's a few scuffs that you wouldn't expect if the blades don't fit. Vikingette was really good at rollerblading and never fell over so never damaged them and they were pristine. I check on the the womans FaceBook profile and there's loads of photos of her daughter happily using the rollerblades at a roller disco party. b
h!vikingaero said:
littlebasher said:
Thing is, this reminded me of an incident a couple of years ago. This time it was a Tech 2 clone I was selling on FB, once again very popular and a chap arranges to come around and buy it off me.
He turns up as arranged and asks if he can test it to make sure it works (not unreasonably) and then proceeds to turn off his airbag light and then tell me he doesn't want it any more.
I had something similar. Selling the rollerblades/pads/helmet belonging to one of The Vikingettes which I'd cleaned and prepped. Well to do woman and her daughter buy them. I even ask if the daughter wants to try them on - "No, they'll be fine". Then after the weekend I get a message saying they don't fit, my daughter used her own money to buy them, can she have a refund? Being a soft sHe turns up as arranged and asks if he can test it to make sure it works (not unreasonably) and then proceeds to turn off his airbag light and then tell me he doesn't want it any more.
te, I don't want the little girl to lose out. I'm at work so I tell Vikingette that someone will be around to return the stuff, £30 on the hall table is hers. When I get home, the money is gone and the blades and stuff are there. I check them out and it seems there's a few scuffs that you wouldn't expect if the blades don't fit. Vikingette was really good at rollerblading and never fell over so never damaged them and they were pristine. I check on the the womans FaceBook profile and there's loads of photos of her daughter happily using the rollerblades at a roller disco party. b
h!I had one good experience recently, managed to buy a vintage 1980's Peugeot 979 Duralinox bike frame for a fiver...the guy said he's had better offers (I'm not bloody surprised!) but I was first so it was mine...
One weird experience recently...a guy was selling an X-box Series X, well under the going rate, apparently brand new and unopened but "he had decided he wanted a PS5 instead". He told me his address was down some deserted rural lane and to meet there, it just seemed odd. I could not see anything on Google maps and I was genuinely worried I was going to be mugged or something, I'd even left my posh watch at home just in case! Turns out he was a teenage lad, the address was correct, his parents' house was absolutely enormous, various nice cars including a brand new Defender in the driveway and I exited the property through a different set of electric gates to which I'd entered! The Xbox really was still sealed and works perfectly.
Lastly I was after a GoPro for track days, one advertised at a very good price, seller happened to be a pretty lass. I enquired and the replies were clearly written by a bloke, turns out the item was not located remotely where it said it was, but actually much closer to me. The "girl" had had a lot of interest and obviously couldn't hold the GoPro without a deposit/payment, that's fine I said you're just down the road, I'll be with you in 15 mins, what's the address? "She" immediately goes quiet, listing removed, FB profile disappears. What is it with these people?
Hard-Drive said:
vikingaero said:
littlebasher said:
Thing is, this reminded me of an incident a couple of years ago. This time it was a Tech 2 clone I was selling on FB, once again very popular and a chap arranges to come around and buy it off me.
He turns up as arranged and asks if he can test it to make sure it works (not unreasonably) and then proceeds to turn off his airbag light and then tell me he doesn't want it any more.
I had something similar. Selling the rollerblades/pads/helmet belonging to one of The Vikingettes which I'd cleaned and prepped. Well to do woman and her daughter buy them. I even ask if the daughter wants to try them on - "No, they'll be fine". Then after the weekend I get a message saying they don't fit, my daughter used her own money to buy them, can she have a refund? Being a soft sHe turns up as arranged and asks if he can test it to make sure it works (not unreasonably) and then proceeds to turn off his airbag light and then tell me he doesn't want it any more.
te, I don't want the little girl to lose out. I'm at work so I tell Vikingette that someone will be around to return the stuff, £30 on the hall table is hers. When I get home, the money is gone and the blades and stuff are there. I check them out and it seems there's a few scuffs that you wouldn't expect if the blades don't fit. Vikingette was really good at rollerblading and never fell over so never damaged them and they were pristine. I check on the the womans FaceBook profile and there's loads of photos of her daughter happily using the rollerblades at a roller disco party. b
h!I had one good experience recently, managed to buy a vintage 1980's Peugeot 979 Duralinox bike frame for a fiver...the guy said he's had better offers (I'm not bloody surprised!) but I was first so it was mine...
One weird experience recently...a guy was selling an X-box Series X, well under the going rate, apparently brand new and unopened but "he had decided he wanted a PS5 instead". He told me his address was down some deserted rural lane and to meet there, it just seemed odd. I could not see anything on Google maps and I was genuinely worried I was going to be mugged or something, I'd even left my posh watch at home just in case! Turns out he was a teenage lad, the address was correct, his parents' house was absolutely enormous, various nice cars including a brand new Defender in the driveway and I exited the property through a different set of electric gates to which I'd entered! The Xbox really was still sealed and works perfectly.
Lastly I was after a GoPro for track days, one advertised at a very good price, seller happened to be a pretty lass. I enquired and the replies were clearly written by a bloke, turns out the item was not located remotely where it said it was, but actually much closer to me. The "girl" had had a lot of interest and obviously couldn't hold the GoPro without a deposit/payment, that's fine I said you're just down the road, I'll be with you in 15 mins, what's the address? "She" immediately goes quiet, listing removed, FB profile disappears. What is it with these people?
I imagine the GoPro one is a payment/deposit scam - get the scores of people to pay a deposit full amount by bank transfer and blank them afterwards. The fact that you were neighbouring them spooked them.
But like you I've had plenty of fantastic purchases and met some really nice people.
vikingaero said:
Then the guy dropped the bombshell. The car was in daily use. Fine. But I would need to hand over the money first, so he had the money to buy his next car, and I could collect the Amica when he had found something. No. No. No. I'm buying your car, not being your bank.
I had an eejit try this with me once. I knew he was tight for cash and always robbing Peter to pay Paul. He was cutting around on K4 GSX-R worth a few grand and mentioned selling it to me as I had the older K1 model. His suggestion developed into a scheme where I give him the £4000 or whatever it was and he continued to make the monthly payments on the bike. He baulked at the suggestion of me just paying off the finance over the phone and taking the bike. It transpired later that the bike loan was actually taken out in his flatmate's name and I'm not entirely sure she knew either...vikingaero said:
But like you I've had plenty of fantastic purchases and met some really nice people.
Yeah, there are good people out there. You just have to be switched on as to who is a potential scammer but also be willing to just ignore the people that you shouldn't be wasting time with such as those who come up with 20 different collection scenarios. As for giving stuff away, rather than deal with the scavengers I sometimes list a small enough item on eBay and so long as it sells for my costs I am happy to give it away without dealing with face-to-face interaction.vikingaero said:
Hard-Drive said:
vikingaero said:
littlebasher said:
Thing is, this reminded me of an incident a couple of years ago. This time it was a Tech 2 clone I was selling on FB, once again very popular and a chap arranges to come around and buy it off me.
He turns up as arranged and asks if he can test it to make sure it works (not unreasonably) and then proceeds to turn off his airbag light and then tell me he doesn't want it any more.
I had something similar. Selling the rollerblades/pads/helmet belonging to one of The Vikingettes which I'd cleaned and prepped. Well to do woman and her daughter buy them. I even ask if the daughter wants to try them on - "No, they'll be fine". Then after the weekend I get a message saying they don't fit, my daughter used her own money to buy them, can she have a refund? Being a soft sHe turns up as arranged and asks if he can test it to make sure it works (not unreasonably) and then proceeds to turn off his airbag light and then tell me he doesn't want it any more.
te, I don't want the little girl to lose out. I'm at work so I tell Vikingette that someone will be around to return the stuff, £30 on the hall table is hers. When I get home, the money is gone and the blades and stuff are there. I check them out and it seems there's a few scuffs that you wouldn't expect if the blades don't fit. Vikingette was really good at rollerblading and never fell over so never damaged them and they were pristine. I check on the the womans FaceBook profile and there's loads of photos of her daughter happily using the rollerblades at a roller disco party. b
h!I had one good experience recently, managed to buy a vintage 1980's Peugeot 979 Duralinox bike frame for a fiver...the guy said he's had better offers (I'm not bloody surprised!) but I was first so it was mine...
One weird experience recently...a guy was selling an X-box Series X, well under the going rate, apparently brand new and unopened but "he had decided he wanted a PS5 instead". He told me his address was down some deserted rural lane and to meet there, it just seemed odd. I could not see anything on Google maps and I was genuinely worried I was going to be mugged or something, I'd even left my posh watch at home just in case! Turns out he was a teenage lad, the address was correct, his parents' house was absolutely enormous, various nice cars including a brand new Defender in the driveway and I exited the property through a different set of electric gates to which I'd entered! The Xbox really was still sealed and works perfectly.
Lastly I was after a GoPro for track days, one advertised at a very good price, seller happened to be a pretty lass. I enquired and the replies were clearly written by a bloke, turns out the item was not located remotely where it said it was, but actually much closer to me. The "girl" had had a lot of interest and obviously couldn't hold the GoPro without a deposit/payment, that's fine I said you're just down the road, I'll be with you in 15 mins, what's the address? "She" immediately goes quiet, listing removed, FB profile disappears. What is it with these people?
I imagine the GoPro one is a payment/deposit scam - get the scores of people to pay a deposit full amount by bank transfer and blank them afterwards. The fact that you were neighbouring them spooked them.
But like you I've had plenty of fantastic purchases and met some really nice people.
I'm in a few local reuse / recycle groups, there's a chap who keeps offering up a load of DVDs, and as I like to have stuff to watch, I keep replying with "I'll take these, let me know when I can collect." It usually then goes through a cycle of "which ones do you want?" (he just says 'boxes of DVDs' in the post, so I've no idea, I'd just take them all and pass on the rest), me asking him what he has, him promising to make a list and then it all goes quiet for a few weeks, when he puts a new post up with the same "boxes of DVDs".
Other than that, I've had a lot of success with free stuff. Even paid stuff has worked out OK, I've had a couple of monitors for about £15 each, that sort of stuff. I've sold some furniture as well, not for much money but better than nothing. All (both) my buyers have been fine.
Other than that, I've had a lot of success with free stuff. Even paid stuff has worked out OK, I've had a couple of monitors for about £15 each, that sort of stuff. I've sold some furniture as well, not for much money but better than nothing. All (both) my buyers have been fine.
It’s easy to work out what stuff you’re going to sell easily and meet nice people, and what’s going to be an absolute pain in the arse.
Scale runs thus….
Scum of the earth - you’re getting robbed: motocrossers, quads
Timewasters: crap cars (see: vauxhalls)
Pains in the arse: consoles, garden furniture
Unmarried mothers: free wardrobes, tvs
….
Nice people: encyclopaedias, pianos, telescopes, tiles
Scale runs thus….
Scum of the earth - you’re getting robbed: motocrossers, quads
Timewasters: crap cars (see: vauxhalls)
Pains in the arse: consoles, garden furniture
Unmarried mothers: free wardrobes, tvs
….
Nice people: encyclopaedias, pianos, telescopes, tiles
droopsnoot said:
I'm in a few local reuse / recycle groups, there's a chap who keeps offering up a load of DVDs, and as I like to have stuff to watch, I keep replying with "I'll take these, let me know when I can collect." It usually then goes through a cycle of "which ones do you want?" (he just says 'boxes of DVDs' in the post, so I've no idea, I'd just take them all and pass on the rest), me asking him what he has, him promising to make a list and then it all goes quiet for a few weeks, when he puts a new post up with the same "boxes of DVDs".
Other than that, I've had a lot of success with free stuff. Even paid stuff has worked out OK, I've had a couple of monitors for about £15 each, that sort of stuff. I've sold some furniture as well, not for much money but better than nothing. All (both) my buyers have been fine.
He's burning knock-offs to order.Other than that, I've had a lot of success with free stuff. Even paid stuff has worked out OK, I've had a couple of monitors for about £15 each, that sort of stuff. I've sold some furniture as well, not for much money but better than nothing. All (both) my buyers have been fine.
I've never had a bad experience selling on Facebook, and I sell stuff all the time, including the usual chav magnets, ie: bicycles, consoles, dirt bikes etc.
Sure, some strange folk turn up, but they've always been polite and seemingly happy with their purchase.
In fact, I've only ever had one bad sale, when a guy from ebay came to view my R1 and got aggressive.
Maybe I've just been lucky.
Sure, some strange folk turn up, but they've always been polite and seemingly happy with their purchase.
In fact, I've only ever had one bad sale, when a guy from ebay came to view my R1 and got aggressive.
Maybe I've just been lucky.
Ok it’s an old tale but a good one and in the right thread
A friend was given a Granada Scorpio 2,9. Puts it up for sale with an mot for a few hundred ( maybe they’re worth something now, but not 20 years ago they weren’t )
Right scruffy bloke turns up in a knackered fiesta. Not even bothered about a test drive, agrees to buy it.
Then starts unloading lots of stuff from his fiesta into the Granada.
It takes a minute to click and then we spotted him moving not only clothes, but lots of bedding
“ what are you doing”
“ well I need a bigger car, I’m living in it: can’t wait to stretch out in this Granada “
“ hang on, what are you doing with the fiesta?”
“ oh I’m leaving it there….”
“ like f you are”
So this guy really was planning on dumping his fiesta outside my mates house in the village and just driving off !!!!
So he was sent on his way.
A friend was given a Granada Scorpio 2,9. Puts it up for sale with an mot for a few hundred ( maybe they’re worth something now, but not 20 years ago they weren’t )
Right scruffy bloke turns up in a knackered fiesta. Not even bothered about a test drive, agrees to buy it.
Then starts unloading lots of stuff from his fiesta into the Granada.
It takes a minute to click and then we spotted him moving not only clothes, but lots of bedding
“ what are you doing”
“ well I need a bigger car, I’m living in it: can’t wait to stretch out in this Granada “
“ hang on, what are you doing with the fiesta?”
“ oh I’m leaving it there….”
“ like f you are”
So this guy really was planning on dumping his fiesta outside my mates house in the village and just driving off !!!!
So he was sent on his way.
Joey Deacon said:
Can anybody tell me why I keep seeing Random adverts on Facebook market place for beds or clothing with a very attractive girl in the picture?
Seriously am I missing something here?
Ads are based on your browsing history, they will normally be an advert for a prostitute thinly disguised as a bed sale as you have already noted.Seriously am I missing something here?
scorcher said:
Joey Deacon said:
Can anybody tell me why I keep seeing Random adverts on Facebook market place for beds or clothing with a very attractive girl in the picture?
Seriously am I missing something here?
Ads are based on your browsing history, they will normally be an advert for a prostitute thinly disguised as a bed sale as you have already noted.Seriously am I missing something here?
not as fun they expected 
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