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?

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Comments

  • snapper17 on 03/08/2024 - 01:11
    +23

    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
        -2

        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
          +3

          How is Bunnings any better though?

          • Agarwal on 03/08/2024 - 08:13
            +50

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

            • macola51 on 03/08/2024 - 16:58
              +2

              @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
            -2

            @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
              +3

              @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.

          • iforgotmysocks on 03/08/2024 - 08:36
            +5

            @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.

    • 87percent on 03/08/2024 - 08:26
      +5

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

      • EightImmortals on 03/08/2024 - 08:42
        +2

        What if you are selling a fridge?

        • Ughhh on 03/08/2024 - 09:49
          +1

          Avoid giving our your address when you can.

        • star-ggg on 03/08/2024 - 10:05
          +3

          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.

      • Ughhh on 03/08/2024 - 09:48

        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
        -1

        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

  • bargaino on 03/08/2024 - 03:02
    +4

    Did you call the police?

    • Free Fall on 03/08/2024 - 10:09

      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.

  • Muzeeb on 03/08/2024 - 06:21
    +3

    Sounds like an ozbargain bikie purchased your tool.

    • BOGOF on 03/08/2024 - 07:27
      +6

      Tats make insensed cheers

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 03/08/2024 - 08:01
      +7

      Interaction was intense. Cheers.

    • pegaxs on 03/08/2024 - 08:23
      +3

      Drunk bikies make rants, cheers.

  • holdenmg on 03/08/2024 - 07:26

    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

        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
          +1

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

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

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

  • neoleo on 03/08/2024 - 07:43
    +3

    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.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 03/08/2024 - 08:01
    -7

    I’ve heard some bullsh1t stories in my time but this one is up there

  • BOGOF on 03/08/2024 - 08:41

    So, did he buy the tool after all?

    • El cheepo on 03/08/2024 - 09:22
      +7

      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
      +1

      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
        +1

        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. 🤣

  • 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.

    • Muzeeb on 03/08/2024 - 10:12

      My shower thought for yoday….

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

  • Free Fall on 03/08/2024 - 10:19

    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.

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

    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

        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

      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.

  • Baysew on 03/08/2024 - 10:26

    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
    +1

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

    • Muzeeb on 03/08/2024 - 11:49
      +4

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

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

      $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
      +1

      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

      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

      "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

        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.

  • randomusername2017 on 03/08/2024 - 11:35

    No happy endings from randoms on fbm 🤔

    Bring back cracker 🎇

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

      Usually you pay double for that kind of action, Cotton

  • eccaz on 03/08/2024 - 12:13

    This is quite an odd story. Did you write down the license plate of the getaway car? Who got the better of the tussle, your neighbour or the “bikie”?

  • ihfree on 03/08/2024 - 12:36
    +2

    I always do pick up at home for any easy to sell items without issue. Anything more difficult goes straight to eBay with postage only. I've had a few oddballs show up but no issues. Generally, I'll check profiles and come up with an excuse not to still to anyone with red flags.

    I've had people refuse to come to the door which I find strange. In one case, I had a buyer message and say no one was there however I was next to the front door at the time.

    Most of my pickups from other people are from their homes. My favourite pick up was for a computer case in a funky dimly lit car park at about 9pm at night.

  • Ughhh on 03/08/2024 - 13:25
    +3

    I've had a buyer who bought an item from me (item worth around $240 brand new), after inspecting it in person, he later wanted a refund because it didn't have a feature from a higher end model. Model number and specs were all stated in the ad, and the price is in line with the lower end model. Nutjob asked for my address and threatened me if I didn't accept his return, and kept spamming my disposable number.

    Because we didn't meet at my house and I didnt use my regular phone number, I didn't need to entertain his request or pay any attention to him.

  • plmko on 03/08/2024 - 13:49

    So like did you end up selling the shit? Because who cares what someone does as long as you've sold. Retail workers face this type of shit everyday.

    Also you should've just walked away as soon as someone moves on you, bad move no matter right/wrong to retaliate as you were at your home address.

  • cheesecactus on 03/08/2024 - 13:51
    +2

    "FB messenger doesn't have a call function anyway"

    It definitely does.

  • outlander on 03/08/2024 - 16:49

    It sucks that that happened to you OP. Really shakes you up

    You didn't do anything wrong. People will tell you 'do this or that' but there's no way to perfectly screen out nutjobs. If you can keep them to >1% I feel like you're doing well

    Some lessons I've learned
    - don't bother with cheap items (<$10). You attract cheapskates that are just the worst. They will steal things and beg for freebies. From experience these are mostly well off women driving nice cars who aspire to be rich. Dudes do it too but they tend to jerk you around in the messages, so you screen them out pretty easy. Just OP shop it or give it away
    -don't do things at night. Limit of 6pm for collections. People can't see and they're scared (but refuse to admit it to themselves), so they'll grab items and run. Then later they see some defect and try and claim you scammed them
    -Give out your mobile so you can keep in contact? Nothing irritates me more than someone who sells something, but then is coy about the address. The (profanity) are you, a spy? Feels like you're simultaneously implying I'm a criminal, and also that you're planning to ambush me
    Use a second sim if you want to keep you're main number a secret

  • josepet on 03/08/2024 - 18:20

    I always meet in front of a business I know has cameras. Just in case. If they have a problem with that, then bye.

  • H3R34TH4C0MM3NTS on 03/08/2024 - 18:23

    Don't Sell anything of significantly "High Value" on the FB marketplace , its should be a treated as a flea market. how high is high you may ask. I'd say less than $200

  • Dabbler68 on 03/08/2024 - 18:25

    For those who advocate not giving your address, have you actually sold somethin on Gumtree/Facebook? How many times have you been jerked around by someone who agrees a time but does not turn up, or is an hour later?

    I have sold a few things and find no shows are common as are those being late. I now ask them to "Message me as you are leaving so I can confirm I am home. I will give you my address then." That helps a bit.

    I agree that giving your address does have an element of risk but I have had no problems so far. I remember one potential buyer sent a few messages including a couple that did not make sense. Gave me a bad vibe so I said it had been sold. The response told me I made the right decision. Another one made several really lowball offers and kept trying. I finally said "There has been a lot of interest so I decided the asking price was too cheap. I have increased the price". And I did so on the listing. That worked. Electronics, phones, cameras probably have more risk than homewares, etc.

    As others have said, don't bother with cheap stuff because that seems to bring out the bogans. NEVER offer stuff for free.

    • Herbse on 03/08/2024 - 19:07

      Imagine driving to the local police station every time you think you've sold something then wait there with your dick in your hand for 30 minutes for the 60% of people who never turn up

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