Another Scumtree/Gumtree Story

bich.light on 26/09/2020 - 14:03
Last edited 28/09/2020 - 23:18

I listed an item on Scumtree and for the first time in 8 years of using it, decided to listen to the request of a buyer to deliver.

He constantly messaged me asking for more details (warranty, receipt, date of purchase) and asked me to provide pictures of it next to my upgraded item.

He sounded like a genuine buyer and asked me to deliver. I only decided to since I've had a few people over the years offering me the same deal. Unfortunately, this time I was let down.

I've attached a screenshot of the end of my conversation.
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/61335/83193/sad.png

I became heated at the end =\

tl;dr
never deliver on gumtree

Edit: Yes I was late. It just felt unreasonable that after 'delivering' to him at his request and schedule he leaves without a word. And it makes no difference since I was late regardless, but I arrived there 1-2 mins before I sent the text "here" since I was looking around outside and inside of EB Games.

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Comments

    • 2024 on 27/09/2020 - 20:09

      It was exactly that, an ETA. What does that E stand for again?
      The seller left on a half hour trip, maybe you don't drive/commute/leave the house too often but it does not take much to throw the eta on navigation out.

      If the buyer was actually legitimate, and did genuinely have an appointment that they had to leave for at 12.30 on the dot then why was that not communicated when making the time, or at worst message the seller to enquire where they were when the ESTIMATED time of arrival had passed?

    • chriskq on 27/09/2020 - 21:11

      by that logic the buyer should have said they needed finish the trade before 12:30…. getting told 12:30 is ok to meet and then hearing they in fact had an appointment (cop out imo) at 12:30 doesnt really add up.

  • ankor on 27/09/2020 - 23:33

    Well, a dude leaving early is probably better than the "im a single mother in a rural area and don't have much money so please discount it and pay postage on the item you are selling" enquirer I had the misfortune of coming across.

    • AustriaBargain on 28/09/2020 - 04:22

      If he left after 12.30, he didn't leave early. He got there early. OP was late. Possibly he was never at the store in the first place, maybe he slept in, but that'd just be speculation.

  • roastchook on 28/09/2020 - 01:51

    I used to do service calls to repair security systems in houses. If we arranged to meet at, say, 10.00am, and nobody was home, we would bail out straight away. Not wait a minute. Too many times we sat about waiting for a no show, which pissed off the boss. Onto the next service call. They can rebook.

    • knk on 28/09/2020 - 09:27

      Yeah, used to do residential IT support when I was going through uni. Learnt quickly that if they don't answer the door in 30 seconds they're not coming out lol.

      People are dicks

  • Aerith-Waifu on 28/09/2020 - 01:53
    +1

    So what item is it? Very interested to know

    • bich.light on 30/09/2020 - 12:56

      It was a graphics card (not the new ones).

  • AustriaBargain on 28/09/2020 - 04:16
    +1

    I had someone deliver for me, and give me a discount. I don't drive so it was super nice of them. I'm still using the keyboard I bought right now, Apple wired keyboard with numpad, they practically gave it away. This was Facebook Marketplace actually. Maybe because on Facebook it's tied to your real public account people feel the need to act with their public persona, and not their ugly private one.

  • AustriaBargain on 28/09/2020 - 04:19
    -1

    Also, were you eight minutes late? And your "just parked" message was four minutes late?

    Why didn't you send a "I'm running late but I'm on the road and will be there in 10 minutes" message before 12.30?

    Your "leaving google says 12.29 arrival time" is kinda cryptic. Sounds like you don't like being upfront about being late. Despite what Google says, surely you knew it'd take you 9 additional minutes to get to the store? You told him Google says you'll be there at 12.29, but you didn't get there until 12.38. What is this guy to think during those 9 minutes? Does he need to wait for the next clue as to when you'll actually be there, is it going to turn into a treasure hunt.

    • EyyBanane on 28/09/2020 - 07:41
      +7

      Why didn't you send a "I'm running late but I'm on the road and will be there in 10 minutes" message before 12.30?

      Hmm.. because he was driving?

    • [Deactivated] on 29/09/2020 - 09:53

      Oh, so he's supposed to text while driving to let the guy know he's going to be late?

      Also he said google says ETA ( ESTIMATED time of arrival) is 12:29, its barely 9 (profanity) minutes.

      Would you like him to draw you up a (profanity) map of the exact route he's taking? Give you a play by play on the traffic?
      Jesus christ you sound like an entitled prick.

      • bich.light on 30/09/2020 - 12:58
        +1

        I love this comment, thanks haha
        Ill use MS Paint.

    • andresampras on 29/09/2020 - 14:09
      +1

      So as the buyer, you're happy to have someone not just give you something for a pittance but actually deliver it to you like they're Amazon or something, but if they were a few minutes late you would've told them to bugger off?

      I'd say you need to improve your ability to see things from the other person's perspective.

      • AustriaBargain on 29/09/2020 - 14:33

        They were selling two keyboards for $15 each and I bought both and they offered $5 off, or $10 off I can't remember. And they offered to deliver them. I was at home, they delivered to my home. I guess she needed the cash?

        The only thing I hate about the keyboard is I'm probably going to have to pay over $100 for another one in good condition if this breaks. It'd probably be time to graduate to the $175 extended wireless magic keyboard anyway.

  • Cusack on 28/09/2020 - 07:14
    +4

    Shrug it off as a no-show. It sucks but it happens…. often.

  • knk on 28/09/2020 - 09:26

    A business wouldn't deliver an item without payment upfront including postage.

    Neither should you.

    • bich.light on 28/09/2020 - 23:43

      I did consider this but it's Gumtree right? Seems too sketchy.

      • knk on 29/09/2020 - 09:12

        Well yeah most people won't agree to it and will come to you.

  • ozaym on 28/09/2020 - 09:45

    Its possible he REALLY needed to leave at 12:30 for an appointment… I have being in the same situation, I rather piss 1 person off than 2.

    Although both could do a bit better.

  • Heracles on 28/09/2020 - 12:05

    Food for thought,

    Why only use E when E.T.A is simple?

    Anyway, first world problems. Nothing lost but your time and patience 😉

  • mini2 on 28/09/2020 - 12:29
    +2

    Reminds me of another mum's group sorta thing, Mum #1 got into the Ooshies game late then Woolies stopped the program early and came up with a creative way to trade with old Ooshies/Coles little coles or whatever that's called, Mum #2 agreed to the trade, deal was going to go ahead but Mum #2 apologised and called off the trade (I suspect Mum #2 got cold feet about the weird trade on offer). Mum #1 got all offended and shit then started ranting online, doxing Mum #2 everywhere to seek revenge.

  • OzBarAnon on 28/09/2020 - 14:59
    +1

    Was selling a keyboard on FB marketplace once and agreed to meet the guy outside a train station (only a single entrance/exit so no chance of missing the guy). Got there a few minutes early, waited around and messaged them that I was there already. He no-showed and never even responded from that point on. Fortunately, there were a surprisingly high number of interested buyers for that item

  • SelfMade on 28/09/2020 - 17:27

    Seems like this happening was a big issue for you…count yourself very lucky if these are the biggest types of issues in your life.

  • kaio on 28/09/2020 - 18:53

    Absence of meeting is just another day of gumtree. I let them pick up at my home and do my own stuffs until they’ve really arrived at my door with chime.

    Your case wasn’t the worse than trusting a fake payment then posting your item, or if they paid via PayPal and claimed back once it has been received. PayPal has absolute inclination to buyers and refunds on almost every cases of dispute.

    I require bank transfer in advance for postal. Either that or pick up and no PayPal.

    • ankor on 28/09/2020 - 22:09
      +1

      I've arranged exchanges in cafes, so if they are a no-show I still get to sit and enjoy a coffee.

  • oz-eh on 28/09/2020 - 23:22

    will never ever do delivery for anyone who hasn't paid.

    Have had enough bad experience from trying to give away good condition free items from my office that they not turning up after the schedule time or simply went missing etc.

  • slow on 29/09/2020 - 08:14

    I'm over gumtree, prefer ebay as once someone clicks to buy (or vice versa) it is done and final

    2 recent experiences

    • Bought a reasonably rare quite high value item that I had been looking for a while, spoke to the guy, arranged a time to pickup and pay cash the next morning (was quite far away). In the morning as I was about to leave got a text saying that he had just sold it to someone else as "they showed up before me". He didn't say anything about this possibility when I spoke to him, I would have gone immediately even though it was inconvenient

    • Sold another quite high value item, guy was coming in the evening to pick it up and pay cash. Someone else called, told him that it was sold but I would take his number an call him back if the first guy didn't come. Second guy then told me he was coming now to pick it up and pay cash and demanded I give him my address. When I told him again I would call him back he got really abusive and started yelling over the phone. First guy came as arranged

    • [Deactivated] on 29/09/2020 - 08:21

      Should have given him your address as some random fake location heaps out of the way for him, as a big fuk you.

      Then block his number

    • cheng2008 on 30/09/2020 - 03:54

      Ugh your experience reminds me of mine except it's on Facebook. I saw a rare vintage camera (for Aus at least) that was advertised, seller agreed to hold it for me until the next day. Next day I tell him I'm ready to come over, and he said another guy who was there to pick up something else saw it, wanted it and he just gave it to him instead. Ended up having to buy a newer model overseas for almost $1000 more which included $4-500 of shipping and tax.

      Just bad luck running into seller s like this I guess, but I didn't have a choice to switch to ebay as the camera was quite rare and doesn't come up for sale very often on any platform.

    • bich.light on 30/09/2020 - 12:59

      I ended up selling it on feebay more than this guy offered anyway.
      But i might be like you now and done with selling on Gumtree.

  • ireadtermsofuse on 29/09/2020 - 08:41
    +2

    You would defiently hate the “is this still available?” And then they never respond

  • Reddich24 on 29/09/2020 - 09:14

    How far out of your way did you go?

  • OzBoganYeah on 29/09/2020 - 09:34

    Stories like these is way I avoid selling anything there-which leaves me with eBay, which isn’t all that great and pretty much the same experience, ughh

  • gimme on 29/09/2020 - 11:05
    +1

    I've delivered a number of times (and charged for delivery) without any issues. Also never had an issue with gumtree in general, probably 50+ transactions over the years. Moral of the story = due diligence and a nose for timewasters/scammers.

    • andresampras on 29/09/2020 - 14:24

      yeah but how many times have you had to use your nose

      • dlovep on 29/09/2020 - 21:13

        On average, you take 20,000 breaths per day …. source

  • sena86 on 29/09/2020 - 12:22

    My personal rules (not to say they are correct or should be followed)

    • Always reject offers from people to deliver (even if they offer to pay first)
    • Offer a time where I can be at least 10 minutes early, e.g. I'd have said let's meet at 12.40 and aim to get there by 12.30
    • Never use Gumtree as a seller (prefer FB Marketplace as you can put a face to the name and check their profile to determine legitimacy)
  • Dack Smith on 29/09/2020 - 13:08

    In this day and age you gotta be wary of anyone, human trash is everywhere and especially on poorly policed sites like Gumtree, it is all at your own risk.

    FB marketplace is probably a better, somewhat safer alternative.

    • zombrex on 29/09/2020 - 17:03

      Gumtree and facebook have different users.
      I manage to sell things on gumtree that I get no replies for on Facebook and vice versa. So it's best to be on both to get the most publicity.
      You get time wasters on both unfortunately. Ebay is best for serious buyers.

      • ankor on 29/09/2020 - 20:09

        But you get absolutely smashed with fees, especially on camera gear.

        • zombrex on 29/09/2020 - 20:25

          I agree the ebay fees suck but they sometimes do no fee deals.
          i got none for ages but I got 3 x sell 5 items for free deals in the last 2 months.

  • TightAl on 29/09/2020 - 15:04

    Always take a small deposit before you decide to drop something off, he would have definitely stuck around if you had.

  • shockme79 on 29/09/2020 - 19:12
    +7

    I had a couple inspect my car when it was for sale, they were keen but said they wanted to think about it and would let me know.. Literally another potential buyer contacted me after they left and asked if it's still available… he came that evening to inspect and deposit paid, sold…

    Next day I got a text from the original couple who decided they want to purchase, I replied and advised that it was sold. I then received paragraph after paragraph sms's about how disappointed they are with me… Some people have no clue.

    • fredk1000 on 29/09/2020 - 22:35
      +1

      They snoozed, so they lose.

  • netsurfer on 30/09/2020 - 10:25

    OP, you were selling on Gumtree (or Facebook Marketplace) and arranged a meet up with the potential buyer, you expect everything to be perfect every time?

    Don't jump up and down with 1 sale gone pear shaped. No show, and change of mind at the last minute can happen.

    for the first time

    That's the issue. Lack of experience and a bad sale experience to start with would frustrate you.

    Honestly, that's nothing compared to buyers screwing you over with fraudulent transactions, not paying, not knowing how to use the items and insist on a full refund with return postage paid for.

    • bich.light on 30/09/2020 - 13:01

      Delivering for the first time, Ive sold plenty of items and bought things in the past. Thought he was genuine because he replied at 12:16.

  • darkmattersunB6c0MV on 30/09/2020 - 12:24

    I had a story, where I bought a Sony PSP, and some games from someone on ozbargain - apparently the man's wife/ g.f did not want him to have it.
    I drove over 30 KM, and waited 25 min and numerous messages ( every time he said he is arriving in two min), and then when I told him that I had been waiting for 25 min, instead of apologising, he got aggressive!
    Anyway, the sale went fine, and the deal was good. This was over 10 yrs ago. What was surprising is that people do not seem to value time.

    • bich.light on 30/09/2020 - 13:02

      I'd be scared to meet up if he got aggressive, glad it worked out for you

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