Marketplace can be a great place to get rid of old stuff. To Meta’s credit, it has cleaned up some of the rift raft and fraudsters which is great. Some things, however, remain a mystery. Why, for example, did they create the annoying “Is it available?” automatic question? One of the dumbest things to hit market place was this addition which effectively created needless user spam . If the ad is up and not pending or sold, its available – this is why the seller is able to mark items as pending or sold to being with – you already know if its available or not so don’t ask. Equally annoying or just plain stupid are people who ask if something is available and when told it is, never respond. Why even bother the seller to begin with? Don’t waste their time.
One has to wonder if some users are daft or too lazy to use their own brains. For example, the question “location?” When and ad is placed it asks for postal code or zip code so the approximate location can be shown on a map. Its simply a mater of looking for yourself instead of asking redundant and bothersome questions. If the area looks farther than you are willing to go don’t bother the seller. How hard is that?
Other equally stupid questions are “does it fit in my car?” or “Is it heavy?” If the seller provided some details or the item is relatively common and well known, you should already know if it will fit or if its heavy. The only time a question of size is relevant is if the seller neglected to include dimensions. But if the item is common, such as a queen bed – don’t ask. Those measurements can easily be found online so do your own research instead of thinking the seller should be your babysitter.
A buyer should not waste a sellers time. Not showing up on time, expecting the seller to always be available, or showing up and messaging instead of coming to the door when told what door to use are just some of the rude behaviours that shouldn’t be seen. The seller isn’t responsible for delivering an item to your car window like a drive thru unless they specifically said they would do that. Use common sense and go to the door instead.
Everyone wants a good deal but some take it too far. When negotiation a price, low balling can appear as an insult. If you offer 50% for an item in great condition that had little use and is already listed at half the retail price, it’s an insult. You may think its funny, but some would rather give it away to the needy or take it to the dump just so greedy people don’t have their way. Think about your offer before throwing low numbers out and if it risks insulting the seller, perhaps just don’t.
If something is only 20 bucks and you offer10 but then expect delivery? You may be short a few bricks. That is insanely stupid to expect someone to deliver an item when all you are willing to pay is $10 . No one is your slave to do your bidding – get off your duff and pick it up. Almost as bad are those who feel a need to argue the value of item or complain about some other detail with no actual intent of buying. Just shut up and move on. No one wants to hear what you have to say nor do they care. If you feel the need to argue with someone do that with your employer and let us know how it works out.
And last but not least are those who try and tell the seller they said something they didn’t. The whole basis or market place is messaging – figure it out – text doesn’t lie and the whole conversation is there for both parties to see and read so look at the text a few times before accusing someone of saying something they did not say. It isn’t the seller’s fault you can’t read or failed to do so.
For the normal people with a little a common sense and courtesy, market on. The rest, well, I would tell you but its likely you can’t read anyway.