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The Kitchen Table

FB Marketplace messenging

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I just messaged a seller. I didn't want the auto questions and low and behold YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THEM! I had two questions for the seller and "is this still available" was not one of them. In my opinion, if the ad is up and doesn't say "sold" it's still for sale. Before hitting the wrong button when asking about an item, look for this:

Then you can either write your own questions, or use the options FB gives you:

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Comments (5)

Alisande
5 years ago
I didn't know that, and if I'm ever interested in an item for sale on Facebook I'll remember it--thanks! Right now I have six items for sale. Happy to have sold two others on Friday.
Alisande
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I have a question. I've been getting messages asking if my items are still available, but they're asking in Spanish. This gets my antenna up for two reasons: One, we don't have a lot of Hispanics in this area, and I think it would be unusual if they spoke no English--although of course I don't know this for sure. The other thing is that all except one have non-Hispanic names. Most names are strongly Irish.

Is this some kind of a Marketplace joke for St. Patrick's Day? A scam? Something else? Or am I being overly suspicious?

Oh, wait . . . Is there a language option when you contact a seller? Maybe some of these people are clicking the wrong button.
User thanked Alisande
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I think it just depends. One never knows. I had a nice albeit totally inappropriately located deck at the back of my last house. It was a nice deck, just not nice in that location. I wanted to tear it out and put in a patio, which I ultimately did, but I couldn't see wasting all the treated lumber and value of the old deck. Also, I was not much into "deck demolition" and I would have probably had to pay someone to do it or at least help. I didn't even have a screwdriver with enough torque . . . So anyway, I put an add in the local paper advertising it for $50.00. FB was just coming on the scene so it and Craigslist were not big players at that point. This was also before the big lumber shortage, but still. I was just hoping to find one person who might want it. I ended up getting 50 yes FIFTY calls about it. I had to go "first come first served" so I also kept track of names and numbers in order. They guy who got it came with his nephew and disassembled it all for me, and carted it away in his truck. Took him a couple hours so I ended up saying "we're good" on the 50 bucks. I know I lost a bunch of money on that deal, but it was worth it to me for the deck to be gone and being able to get going with the replacement. I am a big fan of the principle of Craigslist, FB Marketplace and also Freecycle. But yes, it is possible for it to be a avenue for some contact with weird and unpleasant people too, so you just have to develop a system. A little OT, but I belong to a local moderated fb group with features local event and sales advertisement, plus requests for recommendations. It's kind of weird, because some folks on there will just post to see their own posts I guess, they will post information that is total baloney, to put in nicely. Like tell you someone or someplace sells something when they do not and never did, not even close. You can get sent on some wild goose chases that way . . . so that's tough, separating the wheat from the chaff . . .
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If bought, people would pay to "borrow." Depending on size, it would be a fun and interesting coffee table in the right room. Also could repurpose to do a raised TV thing at end of bed, or even in a living room.
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User
Original Author
5 years ago
That's strange! I would just ignore those ones. Why would someone respond to an English speaking ad in another language?? If they can't be bothered to translate what they're asking, I wouldn't bother replying. Just delete the message.

On a good side note: I bought the most beautiful L shaped desk with a spare side table for only $50 yesterday!!! I have been watching the ads like a hawk for several weeks and this was the best one yet. When I went to pick it up, I asked, "You ONLY want $50 for it???" He looked puzzled. lol It's from Costco and very sturdy. Now we have to play the Swedish game of Ikea and put it together. When I asked if it was going to be apart, I didn't think he was going to completely pull it apart. He did, however bag all the screws and hinges into different baggies and labeled which section they were for, AND he still had the instruction book! I was so impressed!
Alisande
5 years ago
That's a bargain and a half, Debby! You're lucky he didn't say, "Oops, I meant $150." LOL
Rose Pekelnicky
5 years ago
I was selling some snow tires a couple months ago. Someone sent me some questions about them and I answered. It then turned out he lived in Ontario Canada, I am in NW Pennsylvania. Don't people look to see where an item is located. That's one of the first things that I check.

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