Wow. Facebook Marketplace in Florida is challenging.

[disneysteve]

In the course of cleaning out my cousin's house, I've been selling numerous items on Marketplace, something I do from time to time at home as well.

I've been really surprised by the high number of people who respond to items and then ghost me. Either they ask if it's available, I say yes, and they never reply, or they make an offer, we agree on a price and set up a pickup, and then they don't show.

I've also been surprised by the number of responses I'm getting. Sometimes 20 or more replies to a listing. That's great, but not if I can't actually get one of them to follow through with the purchase.

I have successfully sold quite a few things, but sometimes to the 2nd or 3rd person I dealt with. I've got nothing else to do so it's not a huge inconvenience but it's still rather frustrating.

[ua_guy]

Extreme patience and a lot of free time is needed to make Marketplace work. The ghost hits are mostly bots, scammers.

I miss garage sales. Mom and a neighbor friend used to do them together and they could move a LOT of stuff. Both of them were very savvy merchandisers. I used to help them as a kid and it taught me a lot about how to work with the general public. lol

[disneysteve]

Extreme patience and a lot of free time is needed to make Marketplace work. The ghost hits are mostly bots, scammers.

Interesting. I wonder about the bots. I mean they are legit facebook profiles when I look so it's not anonymous. Kind of strange.

I miss garage sales. Mom and a neighbor friend used to do them together and they could move a LOT of stuff.

Yes and no. We've had several very successful garage sales, but they certainly aren't easy. It takes a few days to get everything ready. We have to be up at 5 to start setting up as people start coming by 7 or so. Then we're out there until 2 or 3 and then spend another hour or two packing up what didn't sell. It's a lot of work relative to the reward.

The alternative is to pack up all the cheap little stuff and take it to Goodwill and list the more valuable items on Marketplace at my own pace and have people come pick up the stuff and leave the cash. I don't even have to see them. Far less work.

[Nutria]

have people come pick up the stuff and leave the cash. I don't even have to see them.

Eh? Please explain.

[disneysteve]

Eh? Please explain.

I think this became much more common with covid. Leave the item on the doorstep. Buyer picks it up and leaves the money in the mailbox. Contactless transactions.

[Nutria]

I think this became much more common with covid. Leave the item on the doorstep. Buyer picks it up and leaves the money in the mailbox. Contactless transactions.

Deliverymen leave packages on my (very exposed, near the street, in a "rental" neighborhood) front door step all the time, and have never had anything stolen, but I can't imagine doing what you describe.

[disneysteve]

Deliverymen leave packages on my (very exposed, near the street, in a "rental" neighborhood) front door step all the time, and have never had anything stolen, but I can't imagine doing what you describe.

I’m sure it’s not a safe option everywhere but we live in a good neighborhood. It really became the norm thanks to COVID. I haven’t been doing it here in Florida. I’m doing it the usual way meeting people in person.

[ua_guy]

[/B]
Interesting. I wonder about the bots. I mean they are legit facebook profiles when I look so it's not anonymous. Kind of strange.


Yes and no. We've had several very successful garage sales, but they certainly aren't easy. It takes a few days to get everything ready. We have to be up at 5 to start setting up as people start coming by 7 or so. Then we're out there until 2 or 3 and then spend another hour or two packing up what didn't sell. It's a lot of work relative to the reward.

The alternative is to pack up all the cheap little stuff and take it to Goodwill and list the more valuable items on Marketplace at my own pace and have people come pick up the stuff and leave the cash. I don't even have to see them. Far less work.

The bots are sometime phishing, gathering detail or attempting to get you to click on a link - very real looking profiles. There are rooms of people abroad who operate the fake accounts - stealing information and credentials or running influence campaigns. The other part is, it's really easy to click on that dang button, and at one time, the message was automated.

You are correct...my memories of garage sales are probably more fond than not, since I didn't have to do any of the setup or takedown. It was probably something mildly entertaining to do for two stay at home moms in the late 80's

[scfr]

Can't the bots & scammers be mostly avoided if listings are limited to groups where you are a member?

[Nutria]

Can't the bots & scammers be mostly avoided if listings are limited to groups where you are a member?

Wouldn't that restrict the scope of available purchasers?

[scfr]

Wouldn't that restrict the scope of available purchasers?

It would. I guess it's a trade off each person has to decide about. I'd be curious to know how much opening listings to the broad Marketplace actually helped increase sales.
It's been a few years since I've sold on FB but when I did I always limited it and managed to sell most items if priced competitively.

[disneysteve]

Can't the bots & scammers be mostly avoided if listings are limited to groups where you are a member?

I’m not selling in a group. I’m selling on Facebook Marketplace. That’s open to everyone, bots and all.

[scfr]

I’m not selling in a group. I’m selling on Facebook Marketplace. That’s open to everyone, bots and all.

I see. So now you've got me wondering if bots and scammers are more active in some markets than others. For example, markets where there might be more elderly sellers? More wealthy sellers?

[disneysteve]

I see. So now you've got me wondering if bots and scammers are more active in some markets than others. For example, markets where there might be more elderly sellers? More wealthy sellers?

Maybe. I don't have nearly that much trouble back home.

[disneysteve]

Of course, it isn't all bad or I wouldn't do it. I made 3 sales on FB Marketplace today for a total of $85 cash and a few more items out of the house.

I've got a few more listed and will likely add more tomorrow.