selling on FB Marketplace

[lust2hart]

I decided to try selling an old lamp on FB Marketplace. Within 20 minutes, I've had 3 "I'm interested" messages. I was NOT anticipating that! So, you know, the first one asked if it was still available, I said yes. The second asked if it's available, and I said yes, but another person has expressed interest. The 3rd person has now asked if it's still available. 

I haven't heard back from the 1st or 2nd person, despite answering them within a minute. 

I don't really know what the protocol is here for how to move forward...do I tell the first that there are other people interested to give them the first chance? 

OMG, in the time it's taken me to type this post up, I have 3 more "interested" messages. Maybe I should have listed it for more money!!

[jinkies]

"Is this still available" is an automated response option for people. Some people click it by accident, a LOT will click it and not follow up.

Do not hold anything for anyone. Facebook marketplace buyers are notoriously flakey. Tell everyone that yes it is available. If they follow up, say that you've received a lot of messages, but the first person who can pick it up gets it.

If you are letting people come to your house, give them a rough idea of your location (closest major cross-street or landmark), then tell them to message when they are on their way for your exact address.

We sell a LOT on facebook. You'd be amazed at how far people will go into the process, and how specific they will be about their need for an item and plans to pick it up, and then ultimately ghost.

[bunnies]

^^ everything Jinkies said!

[lust2hart]

Thanks jinkies. I recognize a couple as the auto-response, but the others customized their message, used my name, say they want to pick it up today, etc. Thanks for the advice to tell everyone it's available and see how it all plays out.

[heygrey]

I reply with, "It's available. There are several people interested, but no one has committed to pick up yet." That lets them know that if they take hours to get back to you, someone else may have committed in the meantime.

I will not hold for days on end. My preference is always same day pick up, but if I list something in the evening it's reasonable to hold it until the next day. If it's Monday and someone says they can pick up Friday, I say "Okay, I can let you know Friday if it is still available."

I try to be as specific as I can in my ad, but still get tons of dumb questions. I will list it as "pick up only in XYZ neighbourhood, city." Still tons of 'where do you live?' questions or if I'll meet in next city over. Read the ad and No.

[pizzaandtulips]

When I get more than one person interested in something, I try to go in order of who was interested. But if I haven't heard back from first person, I typically send a message similar to "I have other people interested, please confirm by x time to let me know, otherwise I'm moving on to next person." Depending on situation, I set the time to be about 4-5 hours from then, or early next morning if it's it night. It either motivates them to respond, or there is a set time that I know I can move on to the next person. For most things, I'm not in such a hurry that I need to get it out same day, so this works.

I've also found that people seem to be less flaky if I sell something for even a tiny bit of money rather than offering it for free.

[polarbearfans]

I don’t consider an a deal done until cash in hand. I will absolutely talk to others until that happens. I hold nothing. So many people flake out. People are the worst when an item is free.

[sent]

I've bought many things and I've given away many things via Facebook. Occasionally I will sell something. I find it's best to interact with people through the hyperlocal buy/sell/trade/giveaway FB pages if possible rather than the main big FB Marketplace. If I make a post on the local pages of something I'm giving away or selling, I go in order of who replies on my post. I tend to ignore the people who DM without posting on the main post. The local people are more responsive about picking stuff up timely. I think I've only once had someone flake on me and it was so weird because I was giving away some extra passes to an amusement park. They seemed like a pretty valuable thing because I had a lot of responses and she was the first one to comment.

[puppyluv]

I follow up with giving them an approximate location and ask when they want to pick it up. If anyone makes concrete plans with me, I usually stay with that person

[sarahsays]

I've started putting in my postings that I won't hold the item and that priority will go to first available pick up. I've dealt with too many flaky people to mess around.