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Gumtree – your stories
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whiterabbit84Free Member
Posting some more things on gumtree and getting the usual mix of easy sales, time wasters and weirdos.
Not used it that much, but adding up the sales over the years actually not far off £1000 worth of sales which is brilliant.
My worst experience was when a family of weirdos rocked up to collect 10 wooden doors (free uplift). They had two tiny hatchback cars, 6 people and little intelligence how to work out getting the doors the 50 mile trip home.
Anyone had any crazy, funny or nightmare experiences?
jimjamFree MemberWorst was definitely selling an old Hilux. I uploaded the ad at 7am then went to work. Got to work and already have several missed calls. Started work and just got bombarded with calls from people with Indian, African and Irish gypsy accents.
An African gentleman in London assured me that he would come to see the truck (in Belfast) by 12.30pm. A gypsy even ended up putting a curse on me.
Probably the funniest too.
matt_outandaboutFull MemberBest – knackered Touran 10yr/160k (turbo playing switch off, clutch slipping, timing belt and service due, suspension knocking etc) was sold in 24hrs for £2.1k…. Yes I was brutally honest in the description. 8)
rmacattackFree Memberaptly named scumtree. text messages at 11pm , phoning up with some question so stupid you cant think stupid enough to give a reply.
jam-boFull MemberWife advertised a tent for sale. Someone asked if they could borrow it….
oldtennisshoesFull MemberUploaded an advert for our old caravan as I got on the train in Perth. I’d sold it with cash in the bank account before I got off in Glasgow.
The worst are those asking for your best price by illiterate text message before they’ve seen it – or wanting to swap it for an x box and knock off pack of Marlboro lights.
kelronFree MemberAdvertising some small animals for free as I needed to re-home them (not children). One guy was texting every 10 minutes to explain how he really really wanted them and asking why I hadn’t replied yet. I also got asked by multiple people to deliver them half an hour’s drive away for free.
Once I put a nominal price on the ad all that shit stopped and they quickly went to someone who already had pets and didn’t seem like he was going to breed or eat them.
kneebiscuitFree MemberAdvertised a massive knackered double wardrobe that had been living in the garage. Guy turned up with a little Suzuki Ignis and was adamant it would fit. Obviously it didn’t and in the process of vainly attempting it, it fell to bits on the drive. The bloke was adamant he still wanted it, and would be back in 30 mins in a bigger car. 3 hours later still no sign, so I smashed what was left of it up and took it to the tip. While I was there my neighbour saw said bloke arrive, look very perplexed then storm off. Reading all that back it sounds super boring. Think you had to be there!
funkmasterpFull MemberI made the mistake of advertising a bike on there. Best offer I had was a swap for some fishing tackle and (in the guys own words) a really good torch. Had great success selling bits of furniture though
tailsFree MemberHaha! I used wind up my colleague by advertising rare scalextrix job lots for silly low prices. She’d get about 20 calls over the weekend
gavtheoldskaterFree Memberadvertised a spesh roubaix and ended up with a guy constantly hassling me by text to hire it.
i actually think selling stuff on facebook is worse, the majority of people on there are just pikey beggars after everything (and free delivery) for nowt.
neilnevillFree MemberI made the mistake of trying to sell a car on scumtree once. It was a 10.5 year old mondeo in good condition and lowish miles for its age and priced keen to sell it without hassle, or so i thought, £950 iirc. Every caller wanted to bargain on price without seeing it, several wanted me to take it to them to view, one asked that I hold it for him to view which I laughed at, he later complained when I sold it to someone else! I wouldn’t bother with it again.
xoraFull MemberSounds like the Freetards on Freecycle do gumtree as well.
I ended up Freecycle just giving stuff to the first person who would turn up with suitable transport. So many many idiots who want to pick up large items on their skateboards (or seems that way as they have no bike or car).
chestercopperpotFree MemberDon’t give out your phone number unless it’s a sim you plan on chucking after.
Deal with the muppets via email only, ignore the worst arse clowns. Advertise at a realistic price (not a hyped barter price) with no offers.
Unfortunately as any business owner will attest, dealing with the British public is one of the most hateful experiences in life, they really are **** that deserve zero favours.
squirrelkingFree MemberFreeads is a similar nightmare, sold an air pistol on there (eventually) after fielding numerous texts from some guy who really wanted it but went quiet when an Air Weapon Certificate was mentioned. Genius thought I would be fooled if he emailed instead. I wasn’t. Nor when he phoned from another number.
Similar stories to others on Gumtree from the ones who promise to turn up then don’t to the ones beating you down on price on something being sold for an already nominal amount.
chestercopperpotFree MemberHave some fun with the scammers and ridiculous offer shit sniffers, up the price to them and/or agree to their silly offer and meet them at a motorway services. Obviously don’t go 😆
nickjbFree MemberI use it quite a bit and it works out. Loads of time wasters but they are easily filtered out if use email only. Never give a mobile number. Not had any issues once I’ve heavily filtered.
Had a couple of jokers with freecycle. One turned up to collect some topsoil without a spade or anything to put the soil in. I suppose there is no big issue with borrowing a spade but then what? I gave him a few plastic bags.
wigglesFree MemberPut a friend/enemies number on an advert for the latest iPhone for £100
SO MANY IDIOTS
My most successful prank, actually changed his number in the end
holdsteadyFull MemberI was trying to give away a flat pack bookcase for FREE on Gumtree as wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible. I included several photos, the dimensions of it when built and dimensions of each of the pieces and mentioned that it could be easily taken apart using an allen key and should fit in most cars when disassembled.
I got hit by a deluge of emails from idiots .. these are genuine quotes from some of them
“y iz it free – wat da **** is wrong wiv it”
“I am interested in your bookcase but what is an allen key?”
“will it fit in back of a 1998 Peugeot 205?” – also got asked same question about 4 other cars
“can you deliver to Sevenoaks?”. (about a 2hr round trip for me)
“I will take it off your hands but only if you deliver and assemble it for me”. (about an hour round trip for me)
“how many books does it hold?”
“moving house at some point in next year, would it be possible for you to keep it aside for me until then?”
Also had several people who said they would pick it up and never did or even apologised, had it in car ready to take to dump on saturday morning and finally got someone genuine to take it .
poolmanFree MemberI ve bought loads on gummy but you do have to be careful. Lots of dodgy sellers too. I ignore anything ghat looks too good to be true, also i always ask a few screening questions that a thief would probably not know the answer to.
pictonroadFull MemberI’ve had some unbelievable idiots but mostly genuine sales. You learn to ignore the ‘ can u deliver m8?’ Morons.
Had a long painful text session with a total divot over some forks. After a painful hour I worked out he had no credit so couldn’t call or see photos. I eventually agreed a sale and he then asked if I could look up train times from Birmingham for him. Blocked.
I’ve just advertised Three 22” alloy wheels, I await the inevitable ‘do u ave the other one?” My guess is it will be by 6pm.
CougarFull MemberPut a friend/enemies number on an advert for the latest iPhone for £100
SO MANY IDIOTS
My most successful prank, actually changed his number in the end
Not quite the same, but back in my teens I once advertised my mate on the free ads board in ASDA. “For sale: one completely useless youth” it started, and continued equally hilariously with a paragraph of description that I’ve long forgotten now.
A reporter from the local newspaper later rang the number and asked his mum why she was selling her son. She may have said a rude word.
CougarFull MemberI’ve just advertised Three 22” alloy wheels, I await the inevitable ‘do u ave the other one?” My guess is it will be by 6pm.
“Will they fit a Reliant Robin?”
Who the hell buys three alloy wheels?!
bencooperFree MemberUnfortunately as any business owner will attest, dealing with the
Britishpublic is one of the most hateful experiences in life, they really are **** that deserve zero favours.95% of people are lovely. the other 5% drive me spare 😀
giantalkaliFree MemberI’ve sold a couple of bikes and a nice condition futon, no hassle, no bartering, no fuss. All buyers arrived when they said they would and weren’t morons.
Weird, as my experience of the general public lead me to expect the worst. Even Freecycle people have been reliable and legit. A better class round here you know…
Actually, one recent purchase I made (a guitar) the dude gave me the wrong postcode, it was about 5 miles wrong, and I was on a bike. He was a sausage, though it was a new build property and the postcode was listed wrong on google.
jam-boFull MemberActually, one recent purchase I made (a guitar) the dude gave me the wrong postcode, it was about 5 miles wrong, and I was on a bike. He was a sausage, though it was a new build property and the postcode was listed wrong on google.
Yourguitarhero?
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/myhermes-divide-by-zero
JakesterFree Memberpictonroad – Member
I’ve had some unbelievable idiots but mostly genuine sales. You learn to ignore the ‘ can u deliver m8?’ Morons.Had a long painful text session with a total divot over some forks. After a painful hour I worked out he had no credit so couldn’t call or see photos. I eventually agreed a sale and he then asked if I could look up train times from Birmingham for him. Blocked.
I bought some musical equipment off Gumtree. Chap agreed to post, I paid by ‘normal’ PayPal so no worries on that score, but despite saying he’d post the next day nothing arrived for a week or so. I got a touch cross by this point and he agreed to send it next day delivery. It finally arrived as agreed – and then I got a series of text messages asking for some money because the postage had cost him more than he thought… dunce.
CougarFull Member😯 Is that one of yours, MacCruiskeen, or something randomly found on the Internet?
pictonroadFull Member“Will they fit a Reliant Robin?”
Who the hell buys three alloy wheels
We will find out, I shall report back.
NZColFull MemberAdvertised a double glazed door panel for buttons. Some guy wanted to rent it ?!?!?
butcherFull MemberNot sold anything on Gumtree but looked for cars before. Most of the cheapest ones seem to sell within the hour then appear back up for sale from a different seller at twice the price later that day…
Phoned up about one and the guy was clearly stoned at 9 in the morning. Said I’d have a think about it, and hung up.
kormoranFree MemberWho the hell buys three alloy wheels?!
I was looking for wheels on gummers recently, I couldn’t believe how often three wheels come up for sale. And also one one alloy on it’s own. Which are clearly nicked spares as they are always unused.
I’ve sold all manner of stuff over the years, it is hilarious what people ask. Will you swap for a piano? No
On a £600 quid motor- Will you take £200?. No. And they take offence!
maccruiskeenFull MemberIs that one of yours, MacCruiskeen, or something randomly found on the Internet?
Something I happened across on the internet earlier today. Slightly too close to home though!
esselgruntfuttockFree MemberHaHa! Loving the one off Macruiskeen, I wouldv’e answered ‘Leatherhead, named after you pal’
poolmanFree MemberI once advertised a flat to rent on gummy, I was spammed to death by people with stupid offers in terrible English. Anyway, I gave a few the benefit of the doubt and arranged viewings. Potential tenants had to bring I’d. Guess how many turned up….none. vowed never to Diy let on gummy again.
NorthwindFull MemberI’ve never sold anything on it but I buy quite a lot, most sellers are completely amazed when I actually turn up and pay the agreed amount. I started asking and more often than not you’re at least the third person to have “bought” the item
downhillfastFree MemberSold a double-glazed window (with exact measurements) on Gumtree.
Chap came and picked it up.
Later that day I get shitty messages from the guy saying it doesn’t fit his “window hole” and he’ll be calling Trading Standards. Apparently he thought all single pane Windows were the same size!! 😯Sold a shed of an old Rover 600, buyer came with a full-on car transporter, tried to haggle on the already agreed price, and said he was exporting it to Poland! I sent the V5 off pronto and never heard anymore.
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