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Sun May 5 2024 00:11:38

Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Seller Advises

By: Reader

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Dear Ina,
Have you considered any seller beware articles on Facebook Marketplace? I realize it's a free platform unless one offers shipping. It used to be a good place to sell furniture and other things of value. Now it's been taken over by scam artists. They first ask, IS THIS AVAILABLE? Secondly, they act really interested, coordinate a time to come see the piece and purchase, then they never show after I've marked the post as "PENDING".

I noticed that these potential buyers have profiles, but there's no info on where they live, town or state. I found out that scammers usually reply, "Is this available?' right after the post goes up.

One can report to Facebook about no-shows and other scammers, but I'm now forced to stay off of FB Marketplace after posting some items to sell in the past two months. I also changed all of my passwords due to these insincere tire kickers most-likely, scammers.

I was told it's safer to only post in local buy, sell FB groups and I'm trying that now but have deleted my posts in FB Marketplace.

Thank you for your time.
S.



Comments (11) | Permalink

Readers Comments

Perminate Link for Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell   Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell

by: annon123 This user has validated their user name.

Sun May 5 15:22:12 2024

There are plenty of no shows on other platforms too. I get that fairly frequently on nextdoor.

Perminate Link for Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell   Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell

by: BargainzBabylon This user has validated their user name.

Mon May 6 01:04:29 2024

These scammers aren't sneaking into your computer, but I suppose better safe than sorry. I know there are a lot of time wasters on Fakebook. In fact, Fakebook itself is a complete time waster.  

Perminate Link for Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell   Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell

by: Chicago48 This user has validated their user name.

Mon May 6 05:51:05 2024

Does anybody use Craigslist anymore?

Perminate Link for Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell   Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell

by: Momcat55 This user has validated their user name.

Mon May 6 06:56:28 2024

We still use Craig'sList.

We always add  ''...please include phone number for any questions or to make pick-up arrangements''. If someone replies without a phone, I answer the question then repeat phone request.

We always meet somewhere, usually McDonald's, which is about a mile from here. Obviously, this is not applicable for larger items.

We've had a pretty good sell rate with CL.  

Perminate Link for Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell   Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell

by: Flying Childers This user has validated their user name.

Mon May 6 08:48:16 2024

I have been a satisfied CL user for many years and it is tops in my book for local selling.    I have rented apartments, sold cars, store inventory, furniture, you name it on Craigs.

On the other hand- ALL my experiences with FB marketplace have been duds.  I have yet to have even one legitimate buyer.    As soon as I post something, no matter what it is, I get contacted by people who offer me an insulting amount of money for the item.

Example- I had a used Subaru I selling for $2500.   It was a great deal for the right person and the price was more than fair.   I listed on both FB and CL.    I got immediate responses on FBM and they were ALL offers for around $200-$250.

It took longer, but I eventually got full price on FB from a young mechanic who felt he had gotten a bargain.

As Babylon B. says above, Fakebook is a total waste of time.  

Perminate Link for Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell   Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell

by: Flying Childers This user has validated their user name.

Mon May 6 08:49:24 2024

Sorry- I made a mistake in my post.   I eventually sold the car on Craigs List, NOT
FB as I had accidentally written.  

Perminate Link for Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell   Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell

by: Modlcitizn This user has validated their user name.

Mon May 6 09:15:37 2024

The guys offering $200-250 are scrappers looking to resell the car to a junkyard for scrap value.

Years ago I was selling a classic 1960 Buick Electra 2 door hardtop there needed a complete restoration. I believe I had it up for $2500. A guy shows up with a car trailer behind his pickup. He takes one walk around the car and offers me $250.

I ask him what the heck his angle was.. he was kind enough to explain that folks selling cheap cars generally just want them to go away. So he offers scrap money and enough people take the offer to make it a business.  

Perminate Link for Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell   Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell

by: NYSteve This user has validated their user name.

Mon May 6 11:16:38 2024

why do you call them 'Scammers'? asking someone availability then not following thru sounds more like a bad shopper, not a scammer.

Perminate Link for Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell   Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell

by: danny This user has validated their user name.

Mon May 6 13:14:38 2024

Ghosting happens on all sides especially on the buying side.  Get used to it.  There is no malicious intent.  People are busy.  I am not going to call up every car dealer I met to tell them I am not buying a car from them.  There is also no short of  postings on craigs list or other platforms that are orphaned because it doesn't cost anything and they use email aliases.  

Perminate Link for Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell   Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell

by: DRA This user has validated their user name.

Mon May 6 14:22:47 2024

In our area of both type of sales and region of sales, Craigslist is a dying venue.
We have the same issue with immediately after listing on FaceBook Marketplace, the scammer "It this Available" issues.  
We place verbiage in every posting "Due to an increase in FaceBook Scammers, we will not respond to Auto-generated Questions. . .For More Information Call us at . . . ".   Of course, not everyone READS anymore...so we check to see if they allow access to their profile to see if they are legitimate or not.  

Perminate Link for Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell   Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Sell

by: Sierra This user has validated their user name.

Wed May 8 21:22:31 2024

I had 2 tire kickers on Marketplace last weekend. One had a good (and believable) story about buying fabric for his daughter to make pillowcases for a local children's hospital as her senior project. He used the name of a local high school and also the children's hospital, so I thought he was legit. He wanted pieces that were at least 1 yard, so I sorted them out of the pile (which had many smaller pieces too). I suggested she ask if the hemmed edge of the pillowcase could be a contrasting fabric (makes 'em more interesting!); he didn't reply.  



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