Got Scammed on Facebook Marketplace, What to Do Now?

nikoris on 29/05/2020 - 03:16
Last edited 29/05/2020 - 03:18

Went last Tuesday to inspect a washing machine, ended up liking it.
I paid $170 on the spot and said to the dude that i will come back with a ute and pick it up Friday (the day i moved to my new house). Washing machine was working fine, he tested it in front of me.
He was like a technician, he had like 50 washing machines around his property(and many more parts) and about 6-7 of them working and clean and ready to sell. I went to this dude's home.

I went back Friday, collected the washing machine and brought home. He had left the washing machine outside for me (big property with lots of space)
Two days later wanted to wash, boom, drum not spinning. Washing machine will fill with water but will never start spinning. No error messages, belt seems to be working fine, probably motor issue.

Called the dude (first time he saw my number), he answered and said he will sort out the matter the next day. He didnt seem surprised or ask how it happened or whatever.
Ever since he has not replied to my text messages or my calls or Facebook messages.

Both my and my wife think that he actually gave us a different washing machine, the one we saw Tuesday had some distinct mark on top (that i had forgotten about but my missus reminded me of)
It's very possible the dude had the same model somewhere there and swapped the good one with the broken one.

I went by his home today, he wasnt there, but all those machines were still outside (most of the good ones were not there)
I can see his profile on FB and all his friends and relatives, even his SO

How to proceed from here? Go to police? Will police even care?
Add all his relatives on Facebook and ask to know what's the story? Go there and load a couple of washing machines and call it even?

I'm really frustrated as it was A LOT of trouble for me to bring the washing machine inside the home only to find out that i got a lemon

I'm really salty and will do anything for justice as i was 100% robbed of my money

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Comments

  • zombrex on 29/05/2020 - 03:21
    +14

    You purchased a second hand item and it broke.
    That's the risk you take buying second hand. You have no warranty and no recourse.
    The police would laugh at you. Best thing to do is be persistent and try and work something out with the seller.

    • nikoris on 29/05/2020 - 03:23
      -7

      You purchased as second hand item and it broke.

      Was already broken, obviously. He is hiding now, he knows, he didnt try to defend himself

      That's the risk you take buying second hand. You have no recourse.

      It never worked, got sold a lemon
      If it had broken in 2 weeks, it would have made sense.

      • Hybroid on 29/05/2020 - 11:51
        +2

        Was already broken, obviously.

        Can you prove it didn't break during your transportation or moving it inside? Probably not.

        He may well have sold you a lemon but that's indeed the risk you chose to take. Shouldn't have paid and come back later and should have asked to check it was working before taking it home. Once you've taken it, it's your responsibility now.

        There's no real recourse you have except chasing him and hoping he'll do the right thing. Otherwise, it's your word vs his.

  • ssquid on 29/05/2020 - 03:54
    +39

    Sounds like he's hung you out to dry.

    • djkelly69 on 29/05/2020 - 06:32
      +21

      And now washing his hands of it.

      • EightImmortals on 29/05/2020 - 08:19
        +14

        You guys spin me around some days.

        • bloom on 29/05/2020 - 10:20
          +3

          Drumroll please.

        • Baysew on 29/05/2020 - 10:37
          +9

          How do you deter gents like this making soapy puns?

    • Heaps for Cheaps on 29/05/2020 - 11:40
      +4

      I think the OP will have to spend less time on this message board and more time on the wash board

    • summit on 29/05/2020 - 13:26
      +4

      Yep, you've definitely been taken to the cleaners

    • SBOB on 29/05/2020 - 18:03
      +1

      Sounds like he's hung you out to dry.

      <insert opening theme tune to CSI :Laundry>

  • Melb69 on 29/05/2020 - 04:53
    +7

    Another one of those lessons to be learnt. You are meant to pick up on payment. Not pick up next day. It's not a store. No warranty. The guy saw you coming. All you can do is hassle him through FB now, but he can probably block you. There is now nothing you can really do. Can you prove he swapped it. The thing might of worked when he showed you and then not when you took it home. That's FB market place. It's used its buy at own risk. You want a warranty buy new from a store. Oh you didn't want to pay retail. Look for a store sale.

    • SirFlibbled on 29/05/2020 - 18:23

      Depends. By the sounds of it the guy is doing it in 'trade and commerce'. If so, second hand or not, the ACL applies including warranty. Based on the OP's description this is possible.

  • OzCheapo on 29/05/2020 - 04:56
    +3

    OzBikies.

    • Melb69 on 29/05/2020 - 05:07

      No bikes required. Just a lesson in how not to buy on FB which are all over this site with similar stories.

  • garetz on 29/05/2020 - 04:57
    +8

    Cheap lesson to be learnt. You weren't robbed, you practically gave it away.

    Why would you pay for anything and not take it with you there and then. Or then come back with the money and pay for it when you pick it up.

    Something in this story makes no sense, either you did something so monumentally stupid you are 100% at fault, or some part of the story is missing.

    Like zombrex said you have no recourse, buyer beware.

  • Diggins on 29/05/2020 - 07:27
    +5

    some machines have travel bolts in the back of the unit. that could be the issue.
    Not likely because he probs would have told you he put them in

    • obit11 on 29/05/2020 - 09:23
      +4

      Sounds like no travel bolts in transit.

  • newak on 29/05/2020 - 07:52
    +1

    Seeing lots of other washing machines would have been tell-tell signs that the guy could swap the machine.
    The best thing was to test on pick up day and not assume it was the same machine. Even if it was same machine something could have been removed rendering it useless.
    Being a private sell there is no recourse. Any other method apart from negotiating with this guy could actually end OP in trouble.

  • screensaver on 29/05/2020 - 08:26
    +1

    My advice, either call a technician, or call the council to come pick it up. Use the laundromat, save up for a new one with delivery and warranty, appliances online has free delivery. Dont start a war over this. Notify facebook he is a scammer

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 29/05/2020 - 08:31

    Caveat Emptor.

  • Ryanek on 29/05/2020 - 09:05

    We all make mistakes but I feel these kind of life lessons should be taught in school. Like street smart kills 101.

  • Porker on 29/05/2020 - 09:14
    +1

    Going to be hard to prove it's not the one you saw and hard to prove that it didn't break under your own use.

    Only saving grace, if any, is that at least you know where he lives and can knock on his door to address the issue. But you'll like encounter a response that it was working when it left the yard.

    The distinct marks etc will mean nothing - he'll simply say 'I don't remember that'.

    No one here can say the seller indeed screwed you or not, and/or that you didn't break when it was under your care. Just chalk it down to a life lesson and buy beware when it comes to these types of purchases.

  • pegaxs on 29/05/2020 - 09:42
    +3

    Police won’t care, it’s a civil issue. Pretty sure ACL doesn’t cover used washing machines from dodgy guys on Facebook either.

    • saintpotter on 29/05/2020 - 09:47

      Nah it does - read carefully

      • pegaxs on 29/05/2020 - 09:59
        +33

        Oh, you’re right… well, I’ll be…

        Facebook Used Washing Machine Guarantee:

        • Used washing machines sold on Facebook must be sold fit for purpose and must operate at manufacturers specifications for no less than a period of 12 months from purchase.
        • All used washing machines sold on Facebook that are fit for sale must have an identifiable mark made on the lid of the machine as to determine that this machine complies with this rule.
        • Upon machine failure within the warranty period, the buyer is entitled to enter the sellers premises and select up to 6 random washing machines to take with them. The seller does not need to be at the premises when the buyer is selecting and/or removing the replacement machines.
        • Police shall only be required it the amount exceeds $119, the washing machine was already moved into the buyers property (and only if it was really hard to get it into the property), and if the buyer feels particularly salty about the whole ordeal.
  • HeWhoKnows on 29/05/2020 - 10:37
    +1

    Unfortunately you cannot prove anything and police wont get involved.
    You paid for a washing machine. You got one. End of story

    GOLDEN RULE
    Never pay up front.
    Always pay cash on DELIVERY/PICKUP once you are satisfied.

    Probably the dude didnt even know there is a problem with the machine.
    Sounds like he goes around collecting dumped ones, tests them quickly and then sells them.
    Id just follow him up and tell him that he gave you the wrong machine.
    Same model or not, it wasnt the one you checked.
    He has nothing to loose by sorting things out with you

  • Downvoter on 29/05/2020 - 10:57
    +5

    Please don’t contact the police with this trash civil matter ffs

  • apsilon on 29/05/2020 - 11:18

    I can't be bothered searching but I swear there's been an identical thread to this in the last 6 months. Washing machine sold via Facebook by a guy who repairs them etc etc. It was either here or Reddit.

    • pegaxs on 29/05/2020 - 11:46

      The seller bought the washing machine off this user and then sold it to OP for $95 profit??

  • brokenglish on 29/05/2020 - 13:18
    +2

    I paid $170 on the spot and said to the dude that i will come back with a ute and pick it up Friday

    Learn from this mistake and not do it again in the future

  • Webber000 on 29/05/2020 - 17:51
    +1

    Call him and say you want to bring it back and either get your money back or get a different machine.
    If he doesn't answer call from a different phone and see if he answers.

    He's not going to give your money back, but from what you said I don't think he's nessecarily a scammer given you know where he lives and he has so many machines. Give him the chance to take the easy option and just let you take a different machine. He can fix that one again at no cost to him.

    Remind him you called the same day so it never worked on day 1.

    If that doesn't work then when contacting his Facebook friends make sure you stick to the facts so you don't get in trouble. Maybe start politely 'I'm trying to get hold of him as he sold me a machine that doesn't work' - if you have the time to waste and want to even consider doing that.

  • wei13 on 29/05/2020 - 22:41
    +6

    On the brighter side, $170 is actually very cheap for a life lesson on these forums. Many on here have paid a lot more to learn the same thing.

    I actually think this will save you a lot more money down the track.

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