Gumtree Idiots Seriously

LHopeM on 10/09/2024 - 21:54
Last edited 11/09/2024 - 09:56 by 1 other user

So I like to use Gumtree to buy and sell and sometimes find things you can't find on eBay or Facebook but more and more I've been dealing with so many people listing things that are either fake or the photos do not match the actual item or the phone model is not the same as they are actually selling.

So are people seriously that silly that they can't take photos of the item they own or do they not take a minute to see what the model number is. Many items advertised the photos do not match or the person doesn't even know what they have.

The other issue is that half of the people do not respond or if they do it takes them a day to reply? I'm not sure why as I get email every time I get a msg on Gumtree.

Also the worst are the ones who are not even prepared to negotiate. Everyone knows when you sell something you are always supposed to negotiate.

Nobody ever buys anything for the exact price listed unless it's the steal of the year please negotiate even slightly or be prepared to wait weeks. I usually have money ready to go and ready to buy something that day no waste of time.

I know when I sell anything I will take multiple photos of the item and list a bunch of specifics so there's no possible mistake being made and to not waste time. The other one is the people who put up one photo and one line like "car for sale" so very lazy.

I hope I'm not the only one frustrated with these people.

Thanks for your feedback

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Comments

  • MS Paint on 10/09/2024 - 22:01
    +28

    This is nothing new. Been happening for decades.

    person doesn't even know what they have.

    Probably stolen.

    I just saw some car wheels I like listed on FBM. The seller was banging on like he's the best wheel salesman in the world with this verbose sales pitch.

    I asked for the PCD and offset (the two main fitting specs) and the reply was….

    Huh???? They 4 stud mate.

    Unsaved and moved on. FFS.

    • HeWhoKnows on 11/09/2024 - 08:14
      +2

      No different to facebook marketplace.
      In fact FBM is probably worse!

    • noslappers on 11/09/2024 - 10:30
      +2

      Yes this kills me, how do people list wheels with no mention of the stud pattern, at least tell me what car they were on so I can work it out myself!

      • roguescholar on 11/09/2024 - 15:08
        +2

        Saw this when I was looking for a full size spare… Mug Wheel

        • noslappers on 11/09/2024 - 18:14

          Shut up and take my money!

        • Jackson on 14/09/2024 - 09:16

          Mug what? Mogwai?

  • Gervais fanboy on 10/09/2024 - 22:09
    +36

    Those weird ads and accounts you are referring to, most of them are scammers.

    Also the worst are the ones who are not even prepared to negotiate.

    Worst?

    Like you I am a consumer too but I have never felt off by a seller that’s not willing to negotiate, that’s quite common actually, some people start of with their best price so they are not haggled by anyone. Everyone’s different.

      • Gervais fanboy on 10/09/2024 - 22:24
        +22

        I think you are entering into the market (gumtree/fb) with an expectation that all sellers should be open to your negotiations, I personally don’t.
        I reckon this difference just comes down to our varied lived experiences, fair enough.

      • Aureus on 10/09/2024 - 22:28
        +37

        On Gumtree you can list the item as negotiable or not.

        You shouldn't expect people to negotiate on price when they have already said they won't.

        • dan76n on 13/09/2024 - 18:27
          +1

          I always list as a price that's not negotiable.
          If anyone messages with an offer I just ignore it.
          Everything I list sells as there's always someone who is smart enough to know the market value of the item which is always more than my list price as I don't sell for a profit, I sell to get rid of so I can make space for a new toy.

      • altomic on 10/09/2024 - 23:36
        +23

        i was once selling a pair of car ramps that were brand new. bought from SCA and never used . decided to get rid of them and listed them for $40 or something. they were $70 brand new and still being sold for that price - i was selling them at a loss and a great price. I wrote on the ad "selling for $40, they are brand new and never used and are currently selling for $70 at Supercheap. If you want to haggle then imagine the price is $70 and offer me $40, and I'll accept that and you will have saved $30 by haggling."

        some guy messaged me saying "your a fcuking dikkhead".

        i just wanted to sell the bloody things and they were already a great price. but I didn't want to deal with bell ends offering "$20 today cash".

        • MS Paint on 11/09/2024 - 00:05
          +23

          Is this still available?

          • altomic on 11/09/2024 - 08:05
            +8

            @MS Paint: sure , please send a deposit via western union.

        • randomusername2017 on 11/09/2024 - 00:21
          +13

          Would you do one for $20?¿

          • altomic on 11/09/2024 - 08:06
            +8

            @randomusername2017: yes, and I'll ship for free. but I've over paid the transport company. could you refund them by sending the $20 to them.

            • randomusername2017 on 11/09/2024 - 08:25
              +4

              @altomic: Please kindly provide your email address to allow myself to forward my previously prepared PayPal receipt.

        • DashCam AKA Rolts on 11/09/2024 - 07:47
          +6

          I need this for my son's birthday.

          • altomic on 11/09/2024 - 08:07
            +3

            @DashCam AKA Rolts: amazing, you can also have the car I was going to work on had I used these ramps.

        • ssfps on 11/09/2024 - 18:00
          -7

          if you don't want offers just say no offers and don't respond to them.

          write stupid adverts get stupid responses…

          • altomic on 15/09/2024 - 09:56

            @ssfps: If you don't want to receive neg votes on a stupid comment then just say no neg votes.

      • p1 ama on 11/09/2024 - 01:19
        +16

        Do you negotiate with the guy at 7-Eleven when you fill up your car?

        "Oh man, 161.9? How about we round it off to 160 and I'll grab the cash?"

          • Ughhh on 11/09/2024 - 06:45
            +17

            @HopeM: Can you reduce your post to 5 words?

          • Xyzzy on 11/09/2024 - 08:06
            +28

            @HopeM:

            that's the Australian way.

            Well now you're just making $h|t up.

          • rumblytangara on 11/09/2024 - 08:10
            +21

            @HopeM:

            Always be prepared to haggle that's the Australian way.

            No, that's your way.

            When I buy stuff secondhand, rarely I'll negotiate and most of the time I won't.

            Because whatever is being sold is already a great deal, and I don't want to signal to the seller that I'm some nickle and diming dckhead who is going to turn the transaction into a general adversarial PITA.

            I usually have money ready to go and ready to buy something that day no waste of time.

            Who cares? Many people selling stuff are not in a hurry, are not desperately strapped for cash, and have better things to do with their lives than waste time dealing with self-important hagglers.

          • smartazz104 on 11/09/2024 - 19:11
            +12

            @HopeM:

            Always be prepared to haggle that's the Australian way.

            Asian way more like.

              • randomusername2017 on 12/09/2024 - 01:17
                -1

                @Charmoffensive: We are one, but we are many
                And from all the lands on earth we come
                We share a dream and sing with one voice:
                I am, you are, we are Australian
                I am, you are, we are Australian

                • Charmoffensive on 12/09/2024 - 09:28
                  -2

                  @randomusername2017: The upvotes on the racist comments beg to differ.

                  • Aureus on 12/09/2024 - 09:50
                    +1

                    @Charmoffensive: Have you ever been to an Asian country?

                    • Charmoffensive on 12/09/2024 - 10:35
                      -1

                      @Aureus: Do you think the entire continent is a monolith and that all "asians" are the same?

                      • Aureus on 12/09/2024 - 12:04
                        +7

                        @Charmoffensive: No I don't. Haggling is common in Asian countries. Some more then others.

                        It isn't a bad negative stereotype and it isn't racist to point out.

                        You are just looking to be offended. 🙄

                        • Charmoffensive on 14/09/2024 - 15:02
                          -2

                          @Aureus: It's common in all poor countries, you won't see haggling in rich asian countries like Singapore, Japan or South Korea. Invoking the stereotype in this situation is just lazy racism and I think you kinda already know this.

                          It isn't a bad negative stereotype and it isn't racist to point out.

                          1. it was said in a pejorative manner, as something that is "unaustralian". Generally calling things unaustralian is a direct insult in this country.

                          2. It's racist to try and tar an entire continent worth of people with one brush because of your only experience with Asia comes from your yearly piss up in Bali.

                          Man, I keep forgetting this forum bends so far conservative that most posters would rather embrace casual racism than reflect on their own use of it.

                          • Aureus on 14/09/2024 - 15:59

                            @Charmoffensive: Stop trying so hard to be offended.

                            it was said in a pejorative manner

                            That is only your interpretation. You are making a bunch of assumptions to come to that conclusion. Also they never said "unaustralian", so you shouldn't be putting that in quotes.

                            It's racist to try and tar an entire continent worth of people with one brush because of your only experience with Asia comes from your yearly piss up in Bali.

                            More silly assumptions not even worth correcting.

                          • Gervais fanboy on 14/09/2024 - 16:36

                            @Charmoffensive: I am half Asian half African, grew up in Africa and Asia both.
                            So many of our cultural references and jokes were about how cheap we were as a people, middle class and upper middle class people indulged in them too, we even had jokes about our ‘Aunties’ in general being bargain queens, haggling with the poor street vendors etc.
                            Btw it wasn’t us being self deprecating or anything, we actually took pride in thinking we got the most out of our buck. (Also, don’t even ask about what we used to say about Western Blacks lol).

                            At the same time we also always joked about how reckless Westerners(white people basically) are with their money, paying way over the odds for basic stuff that we would buy for soo cheap. Buying basic stuff on EMI and then paying interest on it etc,
                            Even after migrating to Australia, me and my other broke immigrant mates working minimum wage jobs would joke about how so many white people would happily pay $5 for a bottle of water at a convenience store and most of us would never waste our money like this etc etc etc. And it wasn’t a rich - poor thing either, I have worked those jobs myself and our biggest customers were like the homeless/on the dole types that would buy a deck of Winfield blues for $30 (back then) rather than just walking a little further to the supermarket and get them for much cheaper.

                            Also, i dont want anyone to think that my people are hateful or anything, we just don’t subscribe to this fake PC nonsense that the West is now rife with.

                            My point is - worry about the intent and not the content. It’s okay to say Asians like to haggle in general when most native Asians openly embrace that themselves.
                            No one here said that Asians as a whole are poor and cheap people, it was just you who thought that. So chill out, I am sure you are striving to be virtuous but don’t think that everyone around you is a bigot, 99% of the native society here is good and peace loving.

                            Sorry for the long text

                  • randomusername2017 on 12/09/2024 - 11:58
                    -1

                    @Charmoffensive: Balanced out by your negative votes
                    on a dubious generalisation pot kettle

                    ❄️❄️❄️

        • rumblytangara on 11/09/2024 - 12:12
          +12

          Sure. And it's totally reasonable for the response to be "not going to move on price" which what OP seems to have problems with (along with a whole host of other issues, some of which are a result of an inflated sense of importance hence the negs).

          I mean, it would be just as valid for the seller to come back with "well cause you asked, the price is now an extra $20 just for you."

            • rumblytangara on 11/09/2024 - 14:56
              +6

              @dirtybigbjelke:

              Which is a negotiation is it not.

              That's pretty much exactly what I was saying.

              Fixed priced sales and stating "Firm" in any of those ads is a poor sales tactic.

              If the person isn't desperate to make a sale, then who cares if it's a good or bad tactic? It's probably factored into the decision on how to post- how much time the seller wants to waste with lowball or counteroffers.

        • p1 ama on 11/09/2024 - 12:37
          +8

          Used items privately sold are always subject to negotiation.

          Can you show me the statute which says that used items privately sold must "always" (your words) be subject to negotiation? If you can't, then there are no rules - people are free to negotiate or not.

          FWIW, I've been selling stuff for decades, I've bought and sold items privately where I've negotiated, and where I've not.

          The only buyers I've ever come across who get angry about the whole negotiating thing are those who are butthurt that sellers are not accepting their offers for significantly below what the items are worth (and always, in my experience, what the items actually end up selling for).

          • dirtybigbjelke on 11/09/2024 - 15:00
            -1

            @p1 ama: You guys are really butthurt by this. I too have bought and sold many times and often I buy without haggling when the deal is right but also I often see items listed as firm with price reductions later down the track. I list my items reasonably well priced but I always expect an offer and build in margin for what I am prepared to take. I still maintain stating "Firm" in your ad is off-putting to buyers.

            • p1 ama on 11/09/2024 - 15:13
              +2

              @dirtybigbjelke:

              You guys are really butthurt by this.

              How so? You're the one who is making a very strong statement about used items privately sold "always" being subject to negotiation. I'm just saying that there are no formal rules, so individuals can decide what they want to do.

              In this case, you are factually wrong, regardless of what anyone's butthole may like to think.

              I too have bought and sold many times and often I buy without haggling when the deal is right but also I often see items listed as firm with price reductions later down the track. I list my items reasonably well priced but I always expect an offer and build in margin for what I am prepared to take.

              Great, you're welcome to do that. The discussion has never been that you are not allowed to negotiate.

              I still maintain stating "Firm" in your ad is off-putting to buyers.

              Sure, then don't respond to any ads saying "Firm".

              Not sure what you're trying to argue.

    • gromit on 11/09/2024 - 22:26
      +7

      exactly, stuff I want to get rid of quickly I put my best price, non negotiable as I know it is cheap and will have no problem selling. I had a knob like the this guy get pissed when I wouldn't lower my price on a 5800X CPU I was selling at the time about 20% below ebay as I wanted it gone. while that guy abused me for not being willing to negotiate I sold it 10 mins later to the next person who had zero problems with the price, was amusing the extra abuse I then got from the first guy for not telling him someone else had agreed to my price as he was the first in so I should have given him a chance to match.

      • idonotknowwhy on 12/09/2024 - 09:46
        +3

        I got so tired of that sort of thing, I've kind of given up selling things for now.
        Now I've ended up with a hoard of shit in the garage, because it's too fatiguing dealing with those people, answering their questions, then they stop responding, get angry if you won't lower the price, or they show up and then try to haggle on the spot.

        • aragornelessar on 12/09/2024 - 09:54
          +3

          Its not even worth giving things away sometimes. Had some left over turf, said it was free on the driveway, first come best dressed and no holds. Got abuse for it being gone before they got there. Always the people with no proper profile pictures too - hiding behind a screen spewing insults.

          • rumblytangara on 12/09/2024 - 12:01
            +6

            @aragornelessar: At my old place (very different demographics), I figured that listing stuff for free was an invitation to be contacted by crazies- just wanted anything for free to resell or because they were a bit screwy or maybe hoarders.

            So what I ended up doing was listing for really cheap prices, like $5-10. That filtered out a lot of the nutcases and when someone turned up to pick up the item I'd just tell them I didn't want any money for it, just wanted to see it go to someone who'd make good use it. They were always really happy.

            PS: Good username.

          • eccaz on 14/09/2024 - 14:09

            @aragornelessar: Ironic.

        • gromit on 12/09/2024 - 10:25
          +1

          For anything reasonably cheap now I just don't bother and it goes in the bin, it is just not worth dealing with scammers and moron buyers that think I have to negotiate my already low prices.

          • Stalker on 12/09/2024 - 13:23
            +1

            @gromit: If it still has some value / usefulness, just drop it off at the Salvos ;)

          • idonotknowwhy on 12/09/2024 - 14:14

            @gromit: I guess this is what I need to do. Come up with a threshold and just throw them in the bin :(

            Some $35 item isn't worth the time dealing with all this anymore.

            • freekay on 12/09/2024 - 15:29
              +1

              @idonotknowwhy: @gromit, please don't throw things away—look for pay it forward pages in your area. I've only ever had positive interactions with people on those pages and they're genuinely grateful for the useful things that you no longer need.

              • gromit on 12/09/2024 - 16:18
                +1

                @freekay: searching for pay it forward it seems to be facebook based, so sadly I would bin it or salvos before going that route.

      • Brianqpr on 13/09/2024 - 17:16

        Had similar when selling a car a while back. Some clown lowballing and arguing I wouldn't be able to get any more and getting the shits when I wouldn't budge. Took great pleasure in contacting him after a genuine buyer turned up and paid $3k more than this fool was offering.

        • eccaz on 14/09/2024 - 14:10
          -4

          Your response is an indicator of your own insecurities.

          • Brianqpr on 19/09/2024 - 23:55
            -1

            @eccaz: Thanks for your input, very valuable insight.

            • eccaz on 20/09/2024 - 14:45
              -3

              @Brianqpr: What else do you take great pleasure in? Playing dodgeball against children? Walking faster than the elderly?

              • Brianqpr on 24/09/2024 - 13:01
                -1

                @eccaz: Probably about time you got over me not accepting your offer for the car tbf.

                • eccaz on 24/09/2024 - 20:06
                  -1

                  @Brianqpr: As long as it still brings you pleasure.

                  • Brianqpr on 28/09/2024 - 09:11
                    -1

                    @eccaz: Still triggered I see 😀

                    • eccaz on 29/09/2024 - 22:21
                      -2

                      @Brianqpr: Being sensitive will get you nowhere brain.

      • snackerjoe on 14/09/2024 - 08:21

        Lmao this is so funny. He already had the first chance to buy and didn't take it, and what was he supposed to "match"? He expected you to give him another first chance to buy after abusing you already? Seriously 🤣

        • gromit on 14/09/2024 - 08:48

          you would be amazed at some of the absolute tools on places like gumtree.

    • kaleidoscope on 12/09/2024 - 11:52
      +4

      I usually do my research and list best price for items on sale. Yet most of the people responding are starting with hard bargain figures from the listed price 😂. It is what it is and you’re not obliged to even respond to those. Just move on and deal with the next …

      Recently sold a pendant light with clear description and someone agreed with price and drops by to get and when i hand over the item he asks for a bargain… i asked why, then they say it doesn’t have a globe 🤷‍♂️. I doesnt come with a globe nor have i mentioned as such as you can screw in any globe of your liking to it. I said can’t do any bargain, they fellow leaves and comes back 5 mins later and grabs it anyway 😂. That was a fun day.

      • snackerjoe on 14/09/2024 - 08:23

        I've had idiots try to bargain when they turn up to buy, I just usually say something like take it at the agreed price or leave it, I mean I'm not the one driving all the way just to waste fuel if an exchange isn't made lol.

        • kaleidoscope on 14/09/2024 - 12:03

          Well yeah exactly… I don’t mind a small discount during chat stage but these cowboys ask for it during exchange and they just don’t think i may have said no to potential other buyers keeping the item aside for them.

  • randomusername2017 on 10/09/2024 - 22:13
    +19

    takes them a day to reply

    Nigerian business hours differ to local gumtree time.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 10/09/2024 - 22:30
      +7

      For royalty, time is money.

      • randomusername2017 on 10/09/2024 - 22:36
        +2

        24/7 industry… marketplace deals during business hours, romance catfishing overnight and inheritance/lottery to fill the gaps.

  • mskeggs on 10/09/2024 - 22:22
    +22

    Also the worst are the ones who are not even prepared to negotiate.
    Everyone knows when you sell something you are always supposed to negotiate.

    Next post is the seller complaining they state fixed price but buyers always demand same day responses and want to haggle.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 10/09/2024 - 22:32
      +17

      Think O.P. thought they were posting to wingepool.

  • SnowDragon on 10/09/2024 - 22:34
    +9

    I basically only use Marketplace at the moment but it's becoming just as bad. Constant Temu/Aliexpress ads while scrolling. Businesses selling products under personal profiles.

    Recently messaged someone about a backpack for my cat. It was $35 and brand new with only pictures from the web. I asked if he'd go to $30 to make it easier cash wise and he refused. Looked online and I could have gotten the exact one from Catch for $25 - so I did.

    When I sell things I price them to sell. Always $50-100 less than the nearest competitor. It's not worth the effort dealing with tire kickers - come and get it, give me my cash and if we see each other again let's just keep walking.

    • bloom on 11/09/2024 - 07:03
      +5

      How’s the cat backpack going?

    • MS Paint on 11/09/2024 - 07:23
      +10

      Is the backpack for the cat to wear or for the servant owner to wear to transport the cat?

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 11/09/2024 - 07:50
        +17

        messaged someone about a backpack for my cat.

        I thought they were looking for a straight swap.

      • SnowDragon on 11/09/2024 - 10:25
        +4

        I was hoping he would be motivated to do some Uber Eats or something but I'm struggling to teach him how to use the app.

        https://imgur.com/Fgtudir

  • Wiadro on 10/09/2024 - 22:36

    lol

  • SnoozeAndLose on 10/09/2024 - 23:06
    +13

    OP R U OK?

    • RiseAndRuin on 12/09/2024 - 15:27

      OP is ok, but gumtree has been severely traumatised…

  • eccaz on 10/09/2024 - 23:56
    +40

    You sound like the kind of buyer I hate dealing with.

    • pwnd on 12/09/2024 - 17:26
      +3

      Yup. Ad is six minutes old “what is your best price?”
      It’s on there bro. I just posted it.
      Or offer half price, but state it’s “cash”
      What else would you be paying with?

      I often look at what other items that are similar/identical to mine are and post mine at the lowest comparable price. That’s the price I want and am not negotiating, unless I really want to sell something due to taking up space.

      If people come across as a pain in the ass in their first message, I often don’t even bother replying.

  • p1 ama on 11/09/2024 - 01:17
    +29

    Are you sure you're not the problem?

    The other issue is that half of the people do not respond or if they do it takes them a day to reply?

    You know, people have lives - they have jobs to attend to, families to look after, friends to see…etc. Try emailing a business, most won't even get back to you within 24 hours, so why would you expect a random seller on Gumtree to?

    I'm not sure why as I get email every time I get a msg on Gumtree.

    How is this due to the people on Gumtree?

    Also the worst are the ones who are not even prepared to negotiate. Everyone knows when you sell something you are always supposed to negotiate. Nobody ever buys anything for the exact price listed unless it's the steal of the year please negotiate even slightly or be prepared to wait weeks.

    You literally just made up these rules. I've sold and bought plenty of stuff where I've not negotiated.

    You sound like the kind of moron who will continue to negotiate even when an ad says "price fixed" or "no negotiations".

    Again, people have lives - some people just throw up an ad and are happy to "wait weeks" if it means not having to deal with morons who are haggling over $10.

    I usually have money ready to go and ready to buy something that day no waste of time.

    Everyone who says this is basically expecting to be able to buy stuff for significantly less than what it's worth.

    Sure, you might find a desperate seller, but don't be offended when people don't care for what you're offering.

  • morse on 11/09/2024 - 05:03

    Marketplace is the way now. People get notifications straight away via messenger so they are more likely to be responsive. I only check my junk email (used for gumtree) once a day unless I’m really waiting in something. With marketplace you can click on their profile and see how many friends they have and what their profile picture is.

    I also put my expectations in the ad in a polite way eg
    Price is firm (if it’s not negotiable, and price should be realistic)
    Please don’t just ask “is this available” please let me know when you can pick up
    Cash only
    Pick up in ‘x suburb’
    Must have two strong people to carry it your own vehicle (if my husband isn’t home to help)
    You’ll need a suitable vehicle (if it’s something big)

    I saw an ad today that said NO TIME WASTERS OR LOW BALLERS, which comes across as aggressive as opposed to what I’ve written above. I didn’t go any further as it was overpriced and the capitals are off putting.

    This has worked pretty well for me. Like many people I have a job so I’m not dealing with buying and selling stuff when I’m working. I might respond to messages when I have a spare minute at work, but if it’s an email most of the time I won’t read it until I’m home and my kid has gone to sleep.

    You’re probably going to need to switch to marketplace if you’re doing a lot of this.

    • Stalker on 11/09/2024 - 09:20

      Sadly, many people don't read the ad and/or they are just shooting their shot to get a steal.

      I'm like you with my ads, and sadly most enquiries follow the same formula - "Is this available?", to which I respond "Yes", followed by "Where are you located?", which I answer (when I really want to say "It's stated in the ad"), followed by "Can you do $$?" being a figure well below the price I've listed as firm. Sometimes I grit my teeth and bare it, other times I block, delete and move on.

      Then there are the "Ok, my brother will come to pick it up later today. What's your email address?" type messages. Not today scammer. :p

    • eccaz on 12/09/2024 - 12:22
      -1

      Whenever I read NO TIME WASTERS OR LOW BALLERS, I automatically lowball like a moth to a flame - even if I have no interest in the item.

    • Windows7forever on 13/09/2024 - 06:49

      You get this all the time. Block and move on. My blocklist on FB is bigger than a fat family's grocery list.

  • CheapandUsed on 11/09/2024 - 06:09
    +3

    My favorite is seller's listing items where the dimensions are clearly important…like a dining table.

    Then they act all offended when you ask them.

    • altomic on 11/09/2024 - 08:25
      +2

      "Selling TV. need gone $120."

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 11/09/2024 - 09:39
        +2

        Is this still available?

        • SuperLate on 12/09/2024 - 06:45
          +1

          If the ad is still up that means it's still available.

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