[GpaVader]

Just thought I would share a recent encounter. Recently posted some items on FB Marketplace to sell. In this case it was Bicycles. I had just reposted the items when a got a FB Message from an interested buyer, the buyer claimed he was out of town but would have his cousin pick up the items and asked if I accepted Zelle? I do, because I've used them for a long time and like PayPal, I will use it to buy and sell items. We agree on a price and he sends me his payment only instead of seeing my payment in my Zelle account I get an email saying I don't have the right Zelle account. I am confused at this point because I've never had this issue before, and I've received more money in the past than this transaction. The seller is very assertive that he has sent the money and wants to schedule the pickup or he wants me to send his money back. I explained that I am not doing either until the money shows up in my account. I checked with my bank and they don't see anything pending or otherwise. I went back to the email and started to review it when I noticed that the email address wasn't from Zelle but a Yahoo account.

Long story short, it was a scam. Pay attention to your emails and look them over carefully before accepting them as real. If you need to take action on something, never click on a link in the email. Go to the website directly, the link may look legit but often times it will send you to someplace where they are going to try and harvest as much information as you are willing to provide them.

After confronting the buyer, I was promptly ghosted and I've never heard from him again.

[JGibson]

The first problem is dealing with strangers on FB or even using FB at all, it's spyware and censorship to the fullest.

Be glad some weirdos didn't show up at your house and take more than the bike.

This applies to Craiglist also. People are hurting for money these days and expect the scams to increase.

EBay may be the only reasonable place to sell stuff at it has protections in place like all transactions are done through eBay.

[MsPCGenius]

Originally Posted by JGibson

EBay may be the only reasonable place to sell stuff at it has protections in place like all transactions are done through eBay.

True statement, however not everyone has the resources to complete the shipping process that might be involved. Also, shipping would not be an option for large items.

Once I settle in to my TV home, I suspect I will have "overflow" and intend to test the waters with Market Place.

[LAFwUs]

...or you could simply state in your ad "cash only, at time of pick up" and meet at a public place if the potential buyers is giving off a bad vibe.
Seems to work for 99% of the transaction done thru CL, FBMP, OU, LiG, etc.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I tried to have a FB Marketplace "tag sale" when we were preparing to move to the Villages. I took a lot of photos, had solid descriptions and prices of each bundle of stuff, and was very specific - Cash At Pickup Only. Within 10 hours I had three responses, in Spanish, asking if the stuff was still for sale. Since I actually understand written Spanish I responded that yes it was. They asked how much it would cost to deliver it. I told them - no delivery. Cash at Pickup Only. One of them replied with some perfectly American-English curses. The other two disappeared.

They were replaced in the following days by around two dozen requests, asking if they could pay by check, if I delivered to another state, what my Venmo account number was, etc. etc.

I had one legitimate hit on my tag sale the entire two months it was posted. I was so glad to be rid of the bookcase I undercharged her and offered to deliver it, since her house was only a mile away and she gave me the address and I confirmed it was an actual house in the next neighborhood.

Turned out she didn't actually live there, the house was vacant but she had a key, she had all kinds of tag sale stuff in her garage - it was clear she was getting stuff super-cheap and reselling it for a profit at a flea market somewhere. I took the sale off the marketplace the same day. But hey at least I got rid of the one bookcase.

We practically gave away everything we needed to get rid of at an actual physical tag/garage/yard sale (whatever you call it where you come from). That included loading up our pickup truck and hauling our bedroom furniture and living room couch to Habitat for Humanity. In the end, we paid for the privilege of getting rid of our stuff.

I'll have to learn a better strategy for next time but honestly - I plan on my current furnishings to remain mine, until they break and I have to throw them away. Most of them are antiques, but I don't believe in "display only" furniture. I prefer to actually use them.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by JGibson

The first problem is dealing with strangers on FB or even using FB at all, it's spyware and censorship to the fullest.

Be glad some weirdos didn't show up at your house and take more than the bike.

This applies to Craiglist also. People are hurting for money these days and expect the scams to increase.

EBay may be the only reasonable place to sell stuff at it has protections in place like all transactions are done through eBay.

Thank you, good post, I will remember to use ONLY E bay.

[Caymus]

Zelle offers no protection. Only use it for people you know.

[keepsake]

Don't use Zelle.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by JGibson

The first problem is dealing with strangers on FB or even using FB at all, it's spyware and censorship to the fullest.

Be glad some weirdos didn't show up at your house and take more than the bike.

This applies to Craiglist also. People are hurting for money these days and expect the scams to increase.

EBay may be the only reasonable place to sell stuff at it has protections in place like all transactions are done through eBay.

Re: ebay
People both buyers and sellers do not realize the expense. Outrageous how can you evil seller charge so much for shipping. Well ebay charges the seller their listing fee on the shipping and then everyone pays with paypal and they take their cut on gross sale including shipping. I've not sold on ebay in quite a while but total fees were like 20%. Now you need to collect tax as well. I expect that people pay the tax using paypal. So you pay that fee on the tax as well.
Even feedback has changed. The seller cannot leave negative feedback for a buyer. So the buyer from HELL will have great feedback.

[MsPCGenius]

Clarify for me... how is Zelle a risk? If someone shows up to buy something for "cash only" and I give them my Zelle account name -- they complete the transfer of funds while on site -- I confirm it's in my account, how is that a risk?

Help me to understand how this form of electronic transfer is risky. Thanks.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I tried to have a FB Marketplace "tag sale" when we were preparing to move to the Villages. I took a lot of photos, had solid descriptions and prices of each bundle of stuff, and was very specific - Cash At Pickup Only. Within 10 hours I had three responses, in Spanish, asking if the stuff was still for sale. Since I actually understand written Spanish I responded that yes it was. They asked how much it would cost to deliver it. I told them - no delivery. Cash at Pickup Only. One of them replied with some perfectly American-English curses. The other two disappeared.

They were replaced in the following days by around two dozen requests, asking if they could pay by check, if I delivered to another state, what my Venmo account number was, etc. etc.

I had one legitimate hit on my tag sale the entire two months it was posted. I was so glad to be rid of the bookcase I undercharged her and offered to deliver it, since her house was only a mile away and she gave me the address and I confirmed it was an actual house in the next neighborhood.

Turned out she didn't actually live there, the house was vacant but she had a key, she had all kinds of tag sale stuff in her garage - it was clear she was getting stuff super-cheap and reselling it for a profit at a flea market somewhere. I took the sale off the marketplace the same day. But hey at least I got rid of the one bookcase.

We practically gave away everything we needed to get rid of at an actual physical tag/garage/yard sale (whatever you call it where you come from). That included loading up our pickup truck and hauling our bedroom furniture and living room couch to Habitat for Humanity. In the end, we paid for the privilege of getting rid of our stuff.

I'll have to learn a better strategy for next time but honestly - I plan on my current furnishings to remain mine, until they break and I have to throw them away. Most of them are antiques, but I don't believe in "display only" furniture. I prefer to actually use them.

Confession I am a pack rat. Our move to the villages was sort of a two year plan. I did 4-5 garage sales. Typically got 2-3,000 per day. Original post mentioned bikes. No fib I sold 7-8 bikes. Wife screamed get a dumpster and throw it out. Truth I made roughly 40,000 on my stuff. On ebay, I did not tell the buyer but I was shocked at what people paid for some stuff.
I had a pair of old brass doorknobs. Seems people collect old door knobs. There is even a collectors guide. Mine are on page ??? in the guide. They sold for over $100 on ebay. It was a lot of work. It was both fun and aggravation. I do regret selling some of my STUFF-wife does not. Money is far lighter, and takes less room then STUFF.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by MsPCGenius

True statement, however not everyone has the resources to complete the shipping process that might be involved. Also, shipping would not be an option for large items.

Once I settle in to my TV home, I suspect I will have "overflow" and intend to test the waters with Market Place.

As stated in another post, I sold a lot of STUFF before moving. I sold a HUGE bandsaw.

A nice guy bought it, he had a small Japanese car. I still can't believe he moved that thing strapped to his car. Teasing a little. I got CASH and told him I do not guarantee it past my driveway.

I sort of regret it but I sold a seven and a half foot antique wooden airplane propeller to a teacher, He sent a student in a small car to pick it up. Another strapped it to the car. I could not help saying it might fly off at high speed. Of course no guarantee on delivery.

I do not know what market place is. I used our town newspaper for garage sales, they had a regular section for them. I used ebay, listed in another post. It is not as easy as it once was. I used craigslist it is free-I would be more aware of scammers there. I sold my boat on craiglist and I think a couple of bikes.

I would suggest you go to a couple of garage sales and flee markets to get an idea of what to ask for your STUFF. You can call one of the tag sale pros they will cost you 30-40% of what they get for your stuff and will not be interested if you do not have enough that they can sell.

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by jgibson

the first problem is dealing with strangers on fb or even using fb at all, it's spyware and censorship to the fullest.

Be glad some weirdos didn't show up at your house and take more than the bike.

This applies to craiglist also. People are hurting for money these days and expect the scams to increase.

Ebay may be the only reasonable place to sell stuff at it has protections in place like all transactions are done through ebay.

ebay is not immune to con artists. I bought a gift hardcover book collection ( harry potter) at a very low price then received an email from ebay saying be wary of this transaction. As it turns out the seller was a known fraudster to ebay yet he was on there selling. I received my refund so be forewarned, the scammers are everywhere

[villageuser]

I have used Marketplace and Craigslist plenty of times in the past, selling even high money items, successfully. The thing is not to flee from it, but to be careful sellers and buyers. Scams, and scammers are everywhere. There is no platform that is immune. Learn to spot the red flags. If your gut tells you something is wrong, listen to it.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

We practically gave away everything we needed to get rid of at an actual physical tag/garage/yard sale (whatever you call it where you come from). That included loading up our pickup truck and hauling our bedroom furniture and living room couch to Habitat for Humanity. In the end, we paid for the privilege of getting rid of our stuff.

Before we moved, we sold items for about 10% of what we paid for them. And when we got here, many people were asking about 100% of what they paid for items - except for golf clubs. They are usually a bargain down here.