Bad Ending to a Facebook Marketplace Transaction (Physical Assault)

Free Fall on 03/08/2024 - 00:46
Last edited 03/08/2024 - 10:02 by 1 other user

Having sold countless items on Facebook/Gumtree/Ebay in person, tonight must have been the worst ever end to a transaction for me.

For context I was selling a tool and had agreed a price with the buyer (so far so good, polite and cordial). As usual proceeded to text him my address and he said he would arrive at said time. After time had passed I get this angry message saying "I tried to call, ???, I'm in the area, where are you". My immediate response was I didn't get any messages from him nor a call (didn't give him my mobile # and FB messenger doesn't have a call function anyway).

So I then walked out to my driveway and I started hearing random yelling. Soon I saw this guy in high vis with tatts from neck up to his face and he started to curse and swear at me - clearly intoxicated. At this point my neighbour came out to see what was happening and before long the buyer spat at him. This all then descended into a short tussle with pushing and shoving before a vehicle arrived to pick the buyer up.

While no one was hurt this has been an extremely unpleasant experience and I am hoping that by sharing this experience people will be more vigilant. Going forwards I will definitely be much more thorough in reviewing buyer profiles (his profile certainly has red flags). Are there any actions I can take to minimise such incidents in future?

General Discussion Facebook Marketplace

Related Stores

Facebook
Facebook

Comments

  • snapper17 on 03/08/2024 - 01:11
    +77

    dont meet at night and dont meet at your house. Meet in front of police station they have a safe zone. Or at a maccas bunnings ect. dont meet at a petrol station.

    • joka on 03/08/2024 - 07:27

      I’m curious, why not at a petrol station?

      • neoleo on 03/08/2024 - 07:46
        -6

        People can take your stuff and run away with car? Imagine you are selling an expensive phone and people run away with the phone without paying. This story is not uncommon.

        • mapax on 03/08/2024 - 08:00
          +17

          How is Bunnings any better though?

          • Agarwal on 03/08/2024 - 08:13
            +239

            @mapax: They will always stop to buy a sausage so you have time to sort them out

            • macola51 on 03/08/2024 - 16:58
              +4

              @Agarwal: I don't often get a laugh out of Ozb, but this one definitely cracked me up. :)

          • Jimothy Wongingtons on 03/08/2024 - 08:29

            @mapax: Trying to read between the lines I think he means petrol station usually easy to just peel right out if there’s a getaway driver as there’s no obstacles usually. Bunnings during the day will have a whole heap of in flow and outflow into car park, a lot harder to speed out and onto the main road. Unless the maccas is at the servo, kind of same deal. High chance of speeding driver to crash.

            • mapax on 03/08/2024 - 09:28
              +7

              @Jimothy Wongingtons: Considering how many scumbags steal stuff at my local Bunnings and then peel out of the parking lot I’m not sure if traffic is that much of a deterrent.

              • Munki on 04/08/2024 - 21:16
                +1

                @mapax: The buyer is probably already there!

          • theHMASfriendship on 03/08/2024 - 08:36
            +26

            @mapax: Because the lowest prices are just the beginning

          • snapper17 on 03/08/2024 - 18:26
            +1

            @mapax: during the day when its open you can meet in the garden or cafe section where they cant just take off. nd have a mate wait near the entrance.

        • fitr on 05/08/2024 - 12:32

          Happened to me and I get him arrested & charged. Turn out his is on bail too.

      • snapper17 on 04/08/2024 - 18:38

        alot of dodgy people hang out there especially at night. They try to bum a ciggie or a few bucks or ask for a pack of chips ect.. but some will try to get in your car if you leave it unlocked.

        • paloverde88 on 05/08/2024 - 03:02

          esp on a gumtree night - creatures night out, trick or treat

    • 87percent on 03/08/2024 - 08:26
      +25

      Yeah I would think it’s common sense to NEVER meet at your house.

      • EightImmortals on 03/08/2024 - 08:42
        +8

        What if you are selling a fridge?

        • Ughhh on 03/08/2024 - 09:49
          +6

          Avoid giving our your address when you can.

        • star-ggg on 03/08/2024 - 10:05
          +7

          It does depend on the item. Phones, tools and vehicles have a lot more scammers and low ballers because they're easy to re-sell.

        • marcozmitch on 04/08/2024 - 07:13

          do you do that every week?

        • cashews on 05/08/2024 - 06:18
          +7

          Rent a temporary house to sell the fridge from.

      • Ughhh on 03/08/2024 - 09:48
        +3

        There were quite a lot of people disagreeing with this in an old gumtree/FB marketplace related thread. Baffles me. Your safe place isn't really safe if the idiot knows where you live.

      • outlander on 03/08/2024 - 16:23
        +12

        Not sure I'd buy from someone who refused to give their address, unless the price was VERY good.
        Presumption is that it's either broken or stolen

        • bobs burgers on 03/08/2024 - 19:35
          +7

          Goes both ways. We shall never transact therefore

        • gromit on 03/08/2024 - 20:09
          +5

          Personally someone that demands my address rather than meeting in a safe location to exchange I wouldn't want their business to begin with.

          • OzBarAnon on 05/08/2024 - 11:31
            +1

            @gromit: I think it depends on what it being sold. For example, a desktop PC or monitor will require an external power source to show that it's even working properly. Can't easily do that at a McDs parking lot.

        • Tuukmaak on 04/08/2024 - 10:01

          Why would you just assume that? Just because they want it on different terms doesn't mean they are necessarily dodgy. I never have anyone come over unless I have vetted them with licence details etc. They don't get to know my address without me knowing who they are. Would you have a stranger over at your house? If yes, then you're not as security conscious as you think you are. If no, then why can't you understand their reluctance?

          • t_c on 04/08/2024 - 11:48
            +4

            @Tuukmaak: Lol, nobody giving you their license details for a $10 used clothes hanger from kmart.

            • Tuukmaak on 04/08/2024 - 12:28

              @t_c: Easy, then meet away from your home. Why would anyone risk their home's security for a $10 clothes hanger lol!

          • rumblytangara on 04/08/2024 - 15:11

            @Tuukmaak: People are sending you their drivers licence info? Go on, pull the other one.

            • Tuukmaak on 05/08/2024 - 00:34

              @rumblytangara: As if I would lie about this.
              I almost always meet elsewhere.

              On the rare occasion that the item is too large and we have to meet in the garage, yes I do get their licence details, with license number and expiry crossed out.
              I've never had a refusal from memory.

        • 87percent on 04/08/2024 - 14:02

          You tell them that you aren’t comfortable giving out your address to random people online and would rather meet at whatever place

      • paloverde88 on 05/08/2024 - 03:02

        I always pick a busy place with CCTV all strategically zoomin's where I meet

      • mecusherb on 05/08/2024 - 14:58
        +3

        Scaremongering at its finest

        I have sold/given away so many things via marketplace and guess what? Zero issues with them coming to my address to pick up an item.

        • moar bargains on 05/08/2024 - 15:30
          +1

          IKR. If you're that paranoid about security WTH are you doing on Farcebook and Scumtree in the first place?

        • derrida derider on 05/08/2024 - 15:57

          Ditto. But I do have a very visible camera on my front porch and that is where the item is put and where the transaction takes place.

          It's no protection against a meth zombie like OP's guy but they are fortunately rare, at least where I live.

    • Pinchy on 04/08/2024 - 21:05
      +1

      Where is there a safe zone out the front of a police station lol?

    • Bankster on 04/08/2024 - 22:22
      +2

      Police Station is a safe zone?

      "A police station is located about 500 metres from where the father was allegedly attacked. Bui said he was disappointed it took more than 20 minutes for help to arrive after he had called Triple Zero to report that he had found his stolen car."

      • beltdrive on 05/08/2024 - 13:36

        link to the story?

      • McFly on 05/08/2024 - 17:16

        About 500 metres from police station <> at police station car park

      • kiriakoz on 05/08/2024 - 18:39

        Do you realise how far 500m is? In every direction? That's like a circle with a 1 km diameter. I live literally 20m from a police station. I wouldn't expect them to instantly know what's happening 500m down the road.

    • donman92 on 05/08/2024 - 12:48
      -1

      Meet at the mall #breakingbad

    • mauricem on 05/08/2024 - 13:54

      Bunnings, hmmm. Would you buy a tool from someone inside Bunnings? Especially if its advertised as brand new in box? Could be a good business model! Sorry Bunnings door person I've already paid for this, see my hand written receipt from Omar's Rip and Run ….

    • Ziggy28 on 05/08/2024 - 18:48

      Lol I once suggested the same thing, ie meeting at maccas, some people here was against it as they said it would look like you're selling a stolen item.

    • JakeyJooJoo on 06/08/2024 - 08:11
      -1

      Surely the people making this comment and upvoting it don't use marketplace / gumtree? Meeting publicly really isn't practical as a seller.

      I've bought and sold hundreds of items, and only ever had one public meet, the rest are at houses.

      People more often than not pull a no show. You'd spend so much time waiting around, rendering the sale not worthwhile.
      I'm not flogging off a $50 vacuum if I have to dick around driving to car parks at scheduled times.

      I usually screen someone, then give people the address, organise a time and put it outside by the front door, then go about my day. Contactless if away or quickly pop out if they happen to turn up.

    • zorrt on 06/08/2024 - 13:21

      I thought petrol station would be better than Bunnings as there's camera everywhere, at least non independent one would anyway

  • bargaino on 03/08/2024 - 03:02
    +6

    Did you call the police?

    • Free Fall on 03/08/2024 - 10:09
      +3

      Yea I did - I reckon this was the only thing that stopped the tussle as his partner was on speaker phone all this time. She must have heard the commotion and sped in with a rescue. But my neighbour decided not to pursue further so I ended call.

  • MS Paint on 03/08/2024 - 06:21
    +7

    Sounds like an ozbargain bikie purchased your tool.

    • BOGOF on 03/08/2024 - 07:27
      +12

      Tats make insensed cheers

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 03/08/2024 - 08:01
      +11

      Interaction was intense. Cheers.

    • pegaxs on 03/08/2024 - 08:23
      +5

      Drunk bikies make rants, cheers.

      • derrida derider on 05/08/2024 - 15:59

        Might have been drunk, but with that psychotic aggression I'd bet he had something else too. Meth; it really is a bastard of a drug.

  • holdenmg on 03/08/2024 - 07:26
    +1

    Bikies…

    (unless the Buyer was one already, in which case "other" Bikies).

    • Forfiet on 03/08/2024 - 07:41

      I'm picturing the escalation as follows Bikies > Mafia > Yakuza > Triad or a variation of such… like the "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" childrens ryme and looking like this simpsons scene: https://youtu.be/cte8bG9Bl-Q?t=104

      • holdenmg on 03/08/2024 - 07:47
        +1

        The Yakuza are so polite.

        Just wait until the Politicians arrive and wreck the place (by doing nothing).

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 03/08/2024 - 08:03
        +3

        Finally, John Wick.

        • Gunnar on 03/08/2024 - 08:48
          +2

          What if you want an innocent taken out? I’d be calling Ben Roberts Smith first

          • pupdog on 03/08/2024 - 12:51
            +1

            @Gunnar: Looking for a defamation suit, are you?

      • ak47wong on 04/08/2024 - 01:56

        -> Brazilian street gangs -> Mexican cartels

  • neoleo on 03/08/2024 - 07:43
    +5

    Fb messenger app in my phone has call icon for calling in the chat. Maybe you only use your computer?

    Agree with snapper17. Better not to meet at night if possible or at least in public area like maccas, etc.

  • BOGOF on 03/08/2024 - 08:41

    So, did he buy the tool after all?

    • El cheepo on 03/08/2024 - 09:22
      +34

      Plot twist.

      Buyer was the tool.

      • Forfiet on 03/08/2024 - 15:19

        Fit for purpose then!

  • El cheepo on 03/08/2024 - 09:27
    +1

    Are there any actions I can take to minimise such incidents in future?

    The first thing you should always do is start by thoroughly…

    reviewing buyer profiles

    In case

    (his profile certainly has red flags).

    Then establish phone contact and skip messenger chats, as people who give out their phone numbers don’t generally cause issues as they don’t want people having easy contact with them. (Not fool proof, just a generalisation)

    Then pick an appropriate time and place.

    Night time at your house was stupid…

    • kmwa on 03/08/2024 - 12:47
      +5

      Agree, this is good advice.
      I always say "Message me your phone number and I will text you my address".
      This means that the buyer is no longer an anonymous person online, but can be tracked down by the phone number by the police, if necessary.
      If they won't give you their phone number, you don't want them anywhere near your house.

      • El cheepo on 03/08/2024 - 14:11
        +3

        Yep, thats 100% the principle i work on too.
        Especially for market place sales.

        Its too easy to use aliases or fake accounts on FB…

        The phone number is a good little identification method if things go south during the transaction.

        Even if the police were to reject following up an incident with the phone number, I am petty enough to make it my lifes work to sign that number up for so many things the person will have to abandon it - thus giving me some self (deluded) satisfaction. 🤣

      • Mukhlou on 03/08/2024 - 19:44
        +1

        What if they're using a burner phone ?

        • El cheepo on 04/08/2024 - 00:39
          +1

          Its always a possibility, but realistically who bothers to use a burner for minor sales and rip off attempts?

          Even if so, it’s gonna be annoying enough to kill their burner when they get 1000 phone calls/messages about the free massages i have been offering on gumtree with their number.

        • kmwa on 07/08/2024 - 13:25

          Is a burner phone really a thing in Australia?
          It is in America, where you can just buy phones and minutes over the counter for cash, no name no packdrill.
          In Australia, you can buy cheap phones and SIMs for cash, but to register a SIM and be issued a phone number, you need to show ID to the phone company.
          Unless I'm missing something.

          • Mukhlou on 10/08/2024 - 18:26

            @kmwa: Yep, they sure a thing. You can easily source places selling activated sim cards.

  • screensaver on 03/08/2024 - 09:32
    -2

    This is very dangerous. Never ever give out your address. Meet INSIDE maccas where they have security cameras. Tell them its warm in there and they have good lighting to see the item.

    • MS Paint on 03/08/2024 - 10:12
      +3

      My shower thought for yoday….

      Someone here has probably met up with Pam at a maccas and never realised it.

    • Cusack on 04/08/2024 - 21:42
      +2

      I’ve sold heaps of stuff picked up from my home. And same when buying stuff picking up from their home. Haven’t had any issues. ….knock on wood.

  • Free Fall on 03/08/2024 - 10:19
    +1

    Thanks everyone - admit I got complacent - definitely will use external / crowded locations in future and do better due diligence. Phone number is a good extra layer of protection. I managed to save his FB profile before blocking him, in case he pops up again.

    • centrelink on 04/08/2024 - 09:24

      What if he says “I’m coming over to KILL YOU!” At least you will get a heads up to call the ambulance for yourself

  • Tee Rex Arms on 03/08/2024 - 10:21
    +8

    I might be in the minority but I always meet at my house for Facebook items cos I cbf arranging to meet elsewhere and I probably wouldn’t meet some random anywhere other than at a house/apartment complex.

    • Free Fall on 03/08/2024 - 10:24

      Since I live in a cul de sac - at the very minimum I should have just used my neighbour's address….

      • Pidapipo on 03/08/2024 - 16:52
        +3

        I buy and sell on Marketplace often. Last time I bought an office chair, the guy gave me his neighbour's address and met me there, saying he had got some shady buyers. At least you get to observe them from a distance and decide whether you want to deal with them or not. I think it's a good idea, just make sure to tell the buyer not to ring the door bell, because I did that to his poor neighbour lol.

    • BigBirdy on 03/08/2024 - 10:59
      +3

      A seller being secretive about their phone and address looks dodgy, like they’re selling stolen goods.

      A walk-up buyer (eg meeting in McDonalds) similarly looks up to no good, rather than arriving in a car where you can see their rego.

      For really cheap stuff it may make some sense, but buying eg an iPhone from an anonymous seller is asking for pain (stolen, locked, fake, faulty), and selling likewise is risking a snatch and grab discount.

      • rumblytangara on 03/08/2024 - 15:48

        Women selling stuff are quite frequently wary of giving out their phone number and especially their address. Which is totally understandable.

    • Minimum chips on 03/08/2024 - 21:54
      +8

      Yeah I'm generally selling stuff just to get it out of the house. I'm not driving it to a police station to make $40, especially when Facebook buyers sometimes flake out.

  • Baysew on 03/08/2024 - 10:26
    +1

    I am hoping that by sharing this experience people will be more vigilant. Going forwards I will definitely be much more thorough in reviewing buyer profiles (his profile certainly has red flags).

    What should you look for and what were the red flags in this case?

  • MrThing on 03/08/2024 - 11:15
    +5

    cheap stuff just gets thrown in the bin / council pickup……no point in dealing with the scumbags in our society to earn $10

    • MS Paint on 03/08/2024 - 11:49
      +13

      That's why I charge $11 minimum. Filters out the scum bags.

    • brad1-8tsi on 03/08/2024 - 15:10
      +3

      $50 or less and I leave it in the driveway near the gas meter and they can either leave the money in the letter box or PayID.

      I figure if they steal it they are in desperate times and worse off than me or a-holes and karma will get them.

      • Ciderfizz44 on 03/08/2024 - 19:02

        I attach to a bike lock in a safe bag, let's play a game

    • outlander on 03/08/2024 - 16:24
      +2

      why not OP shop if it's worth something?

  • Oofy Doofy on 03/08/2024 - 11:17

    Everyone I've ever dealt with has usually been cool.

    Unfortunately I've found a lot of women lie about the items they're selling, aka they know what's up but they play dumb. Burned a few times there.

    Other times I've had people on the spectrum buy things from me. I even give them advice and support, ask about their specific needs etc, all on my own time and even potentially costing me a sale, then if they're not happy with the item they bought for whatever reason (it works fine, not broken etc), they'll show up to my place and start abusing me if I don't refund them, as they're expecting me to be like a store where they bought a new item under warranty with ACCC laws in place. I had a guy abuse me after helping him out with tech support for ages, then he proceeded to honk his car horn in my street for 5 minutes straight whilst shouting to his clayton's therapist.

    These days I usually just donate things, freecycle, or give stuff away.

    I'm following the new "underconsumption" trend instead.

    • rumblytangara on 03/08/2024 - 15:49
      +2

      I'm curious- what sort of things are you selling if your buyers skew towards being "on the spectrum"?

    • outlander on 03/08/2024 - 16:34
      +4

      "On the spectrum"?

      There's only person I've sold to that was clearly on the spectrum. He stayed talking to me for an hour while I was doing an oil change on the car, telling me about a computer program he wrote for supermarkets in the 90's. Then he went on to explain how he was starting to experiment with sexuality, and offered to give me a backrub.

      He was very pale, had fingernails that hadn't been trimmed in 2 months, and from the white clothes and the way he floated along he mainly reminded me of Mr Burns in the FBI simpsons episode.

      From the sounds of it you and I are operating with very different parts of the spectrum.

      • Oofy Doofy on 03/08/2024 - 18:45
        -2

        It was pretty entertaining to see a middle aged man having a mental breakdown over a router. He acted like he was mentally unstable the whole time, and kept showing up to my front door unannounced. I was charitable and overextended myself to help him out. I really don't know what his problem was. I just know he acted like a spoilt brat and seemed like the kind of person who had to have his own way.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join