ANYBODY? ANYBODY ELSE?

Does anybody else have this issue?

Anybody … Please?

I seem to have this issue and it has once again surfaced in attempting to settle into my new home. I seem to forget about it till I need it and then it seems formidable. I can’t get it to work for me while others I know swear by it and have results that twinkle in my eyes.

Facebook Marketplace!!!

I can’t get it to work for me!!

In our last house, I was the seller.

My first listing, I had three people interested in 24 hours. You guessed it … all three were scams! Three different types!!! It’s a long story! You don’t have to tell me twice or three times! That ended my selling on FB. I don’t have time or stamina to deal with all the nonsense and potential harm it could bring.

I donated or gave away what we couldn’t use. Enough of that craziness.

Mind you, I have plenty of friends who sell on Facebook with satisfying results. What is my problem? Why do I attract all the crazies? 😵‍💫

Currently, my situation …

I want to be a buyer: I need a buffet/sideboard for my kitchen.

According to my Real Estate Agent, the kitchen was designed for a table and chairs. At least, that’s how the builders staged the models.

Imagine my kitchen as a square. I can’t capture it all in a photo. Two walls are cabinets and appliances. Third wall is blank. Fourth wall is a half wall open to the hallway; very open!

I considered an island, but after being in the space a few weeks, I decided I didn’t want to work around the corners of an island.

Of course, I don’t want just ANY buffet. I’ve measured and measured and have very specific perimeters!

Besides measurements, a few different colors could work. I’m tending toward white.

I’ve searched online and haven’t found one I LOVE at a reasonable price. Believe me when I say, I can always find the most expensive thing possible in any store! Some magnetism/ gravity propels me. Same thing happens on the internet!

“Oh, here’s one I love!” “How much is it?” Large gulp, “only $10,000!” Precisely, my story!

Everyone asks me, “Have you tried Marketplace?” “You should try Marketplace!” My husband, “Honey, look on Marketplace.” (He only knows about it from other people talking.) Me to myself, “I should look on Marketplace.”

Me: proceeding to check Marketplace for a week spending many hours weeding through listings and measurements and maps and seller reviews, etc. head spinning and very few options, wades ahead wishing upon a star that the gold nugget will surface after all my digging …

Then, it happens, I spot a potential!

I text the pic to my daughter who is my advisor and keeps me within my predetermined boundaries. She replies in the positive!!

“Houston, we have a viable option!” The announcement is broadcast. I’m gritty as a school girl, clapping my hands … “Hercules, Hercules!!”

All the measurements, the construction, color, distance, seller, pass the test and FREE Delivery!! I get hopeful!

I message the seller about wanting this piece.

Hours pass, no response.

8 hours pass, no response.

I send a second message. It is a Saturday, maybe it sold already or he’s busy.

Overnight, no response.

Sunday late afternoon, I message again.

No response!

I’ve been ghosted! 

This is not the first time!! People list things for sale and then never respond to your willingness to hand over your money and purchase it!!

Why??

What? Isn’t this a place to buy and sell? Don’t play here if you don’t follow the rules of buy and sell … show me a picture, I respond, you respond, purchase secured, pick up/drop off puts the merchandise in the buyers ownership. Done!

What is with the silence game? Acting like you don’t have an account here or are interested in me responding to what you are selling? Are you real or just post fake pictures to frustrate the hunters? Is that your game here?

Monday morning my daughter suggests I put a picture of the piece in Google images to see if it’s sold anywhere else! She’s so smart. I do it … nope just points to this FB listing and the name of the furniture business which is a place where they refurbish old pieces.

This encourages us, we start digging up reviews and listings and now, we are suspicious of this ghost. Is it a scam? Is it a front? My husband, who said, “you should look on Marketplace!”, becomes an FBI agent: spouting out all the scam possibilities.

“Why did you tell me to spend all these hours looking here?
Now, you’re mister skeptical.”

I found a phone number. “You should call!”

What am I going to say, “Hello Mr. Ghost, I found your listing online, are you a scam???”

Now, all I can think about is how that piece could really work. I do per usual and put it in a photo with my kitchen …

Getting back to reality, I start looking on the internet again for the under $10,000 buffets.

Monday 1 pm … silence is broken.

The GHOST appears …

(Exact correspondence)

Mr. Ghost over messenger … “Yes, it’s available, sorry for the late response. We were stuck dealing with a flood over the weekend.” “I do deliver to your area.”

Me: “Do we pay upon delivery?” “Was this piece involved in the flood?”

Mr Ghost: “No pieces were involved, just the shop and tools.” “The pieces are in a different building.” “Yes, you pay on delivery! Let me recheck the inventory to make sure we still have it.” “Yes, we still have it in stock.” “Are you interested in setting up a delivery.”

Me: “Yes, we are.”

…

Mr. Ghost vanishes again. Just like that in thin air. We were making progress with meaningful back and forth conversation and he, poof, goes missing again. Out of nowhere.

So close!

It’s now over 24 hours later.

Mr. Ghost is invisible again.

Silent!

Maybe sales is not his forte!

I’m baffled!!!

Marketplace continues to be consistently frustrating and non-productive for me!!

You just can’t make this stuff up!!

Any suggestions welcomed!

Anybody else have my experience?

I sincerely hope I am not alone on this one!!

Over here … staring at a blank wall!

I’ll keep ya posted …

Buffet Dreamin’,

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