We have lived in our house for almost 20 years now. When you live somewhere for 20 years, you tend to acquire a lot of stuff. We have acquired A LOT of stuff. A lot of it is really good stuff, but we just don’t use it and it’s sitting here collecting dust (and dog hair). Also, I need to find some fast money because Adolpha passed her driving test (SO MUCH APPLAUSE) and I need to buy her a car. I decided that this is the spring/summer I get things out the door and add to my car fund.
Adolpha has a side business where she sells people’s stuff on Ebay for a cut. I might give her a few things to sell but Ebay kind of bugs me. I don’t like the fees and I hate shipping anything that isn’t a book. Plus, I’m trying to move some big items and shipping isn’t even an option for a lot of it. And on the flip side, I’ve got a bunch of little things that would cost more to ship than they’re worth.
So, like most people in the ‘burbs, I turned to Facebook Marketplace as my spot to find people who want my junk…I mean need my treasure.
I usually have good luck and sell quite a bit on Facebook Marketplace but it does take some work to find the gems out there who are serious shoppers. Here’s an example of the messages I received this month regarding my listings:
2 Bedside Tables:
FB buyer: Is this a set?
Me: Yes. Two bedside tables.
FBB: How tall?
Me: The dimensions are in the listing.
FBB: Are they black?
Me: No. Did you see the pictures and description? They’re brown.
FBB: I want black.
Me: Ok.
FBB: Will you take half off since they’re brown?
Me: No.
FBB: I want black. I’ll keep looking.
Me: OK.
Storage Basket:
FBB (Monday): Is this still available?
Me: Yes.
FBB (2 hours later): Is this still available?
Me: Yes. I can meet you today if you want it.
FBB (2 hours later): Is this still available?
Me: YES. Do you want it?
FBB: Maybe. I will let you know Friday. Hold it for me please.
Coffee Table:
FBB: How much weight can this hold?
Me: I’m not sure. It’s a coffee table, so I’m guessing not much.
FBB: Could it be used for additional seating?
Me: It’s a table.
FBB: How much can it hold?
Me: Not sure. I have a chair for sale too. Maybe you want that instead?
FBB: No. I need a table that can be used for seating too.
Me: OK. I don’t think this is the one for you.
Desk Chair:
FBB: Is this still available?
Me: Yes.
FBB: I want it. I can meet you in 30 minutes.
Me: I can’t meet that soon. I could meet you in 1 hour.
FBB: Give me your address. I will come to you.
Me: I don’t give out my address. I meet in a public place.
FBB: Can you bring it to me? I don’t think my car is big enough.
Me: No. Sorry. I can only bring it to a public place.
FBB: Let me see if I can borrow a truck.
Me: OK.
FBB: Here’s my address: XXX. Bring it to me and I will give you $5 more.
Me: No.
FBB: I guess you don’t want to sell this chair!
Me: [Block]
Coffee Table:
FBB: Will you take 10?
Me: No. That’s way too low. It’s listed for $125.
FBB: 12?
Me: No.
FBB: 100?
Me: OK.
FBB: Nevermind.
Wagon:
FBB: Can this hold 2 kids and 2 dogs?
Me: At once?
FBB: Yes.
Me: Maybe? Depends how big the kids and dogs are.
FBB: 2 normal toddlers, 2 normal dogs.
Me: I’m not sure. The dimensions are in the listing.
FBB: It says it can hold 250 pounds.
Me: Yes.
FBB: Can it hold an adult?
Me: I guess so.
FBB: Can I come and see it and put my kids and dogs in it?
Me: No. I’m sure it can hold either 2 toddlers OR 2 dogs, but probably not all 4.
FBB: OK. I’ll take it. Where’s the meet up spot?
Curling Iron:
FBB: Hello sexy lady. Here is my phone number. Please will you call me to arrange a pick up for this very nice item?
Me: [Block]
For every 3 people like these on Facebook Marketplace, there’s a guy like Pete:
Pete: Hi. I want this tool.
Me: Great! I can meet you today. My meet up spot is XYZ.
Pete: Awesome. How about 3 PM?
Me: That will work.
Pete: The price is $45, right?
Me: Yes.
Pete: I will bring cash.
Me: Perfect.
Pete arrived at our meeting spot at 3 PM on the dot with 2 twenties and a 5.
5 stars for Pete.
People on Facebook Marketplace remind me of the feedback we got selling our first house. ‘It’s a beautiful house but it’s 3 bedrooms’. It was listed as 3 beds/2 baths 🤦🏻♀️
We're doing a massive clean out in preparation to move overseas. I'm grateful my husband is the organizer of all items on FB marketplace. Because I would constantly be like "Fuck off. I'll throw this in a landfill before you wind up with it if I am going to have to jump through all these hoops for 10 bucks." I realize this makes me a terrible person.