Beware the Facebook Marketplace Tire-Kickers, Seller Advises

by: annon123

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

by: BargainzBabylon

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.  

by: Chicago48

Does anybody use Craigslist anymore?

by: Momcat55

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.  

by: Flying Childers

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.  

by: Flying Childers

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

by: Modlcitizn

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.  

by: NYSteve

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

by: danny

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.  

by: DRA

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.  

by: Sierra

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.