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This thread appears to have served its purposes and found its Internet graveyard. So perhaps I can take the liberty of repurposing it for general FB and Gumtree issues?
My post is more a rant than seeking a solution. Why do people sell on Marketplace, when its a closed community and is extremely difficult to access? It makes absolutely no sense. I've eyed an ad out for ages. The seller hasn't provided much info and the ad has been online a good while. I specially joined FB to contact that person, but FB won't give me access to Marketplace. I'm guessing because I don't have 'friends' and all the rest of it. Who knows. Then I tried reactivating an old FB account and FB had the nerve to ask for my ID, which I don't think the corporation has a right to.
These ads should be on ebay, Gumtree or bike forums. If I have to set up a whole active FB account before I can contact someone, and still don't automatically gain access to Marketplace and never even wanted to be active on FB in the first place...well!
For all of Gumtree's or any other classifieds website's faults, I can join and make contact. Simple.
Marketplace is a truly daft idea.
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I mean all the steps you outline seem to suggest processes of user protection. Whether you agree with them or not is a different matter.
Potentially caters for more niche places with sub groups for buy and sell with overlap into events like track, hill climb, cross, TT etc. it needs to be listed in marketplace to then share to such groups. -
it needs to be listed in marketplace to then share to such groups.
Does it though? I don’t sell on fb much but one of the times I did I put up a general marketplace ad and got inundated with the stock “is this still available?” response. Posting in bike parts for sale groups doesn’t seem to generate this kind of response.
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I stand to be corrected but I think so, you create the listing, you can then click which groups to share to?
Also you only have to see some of the mega dredges here to see is it still available occurs everywhere lol -
Fair enough then.
I usually make a listing in one group and it’ll give me the option to share to the other groups I’m in (plus some I’m not) and doing it that way I seen too have avoided the flood of standard responses but maybe I’ve just been lucky or was just unlucky with the marketplace listing that did get them.
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Oh interesting maybe I’ll try that way next time
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Firstly, please excuse my rant! I meant to delete the post, because it seemed so futile. And who wants useless negative vibes?
You make good points - for active FB users.
In the mean time, I've joined three bike groups, made a friend request, took time to add profile photos. And was finally allowed to access Marketplace. Great, I thought! So, I composed a message wanting to know size and other info. But then FB wanted my mobile no. in order to send it. It basically already has it through whatsapp and instagram, but I really just wasn't in the mood to feed this marketing machine any more. I'd have no problem giving it to a classifieds site, lfgss or another bike forum.
I've tried to contact the person personally. It should be pretty obvious by my message that I am sincere and real.
However, I am starting to give up now. I still think Marketplace is a terrible idea for bike people. If you don't want a regular selling site and you want real people and bike enthusiasts - sell on a bike forum. And if you want selling feedback, go to ebay. I am sure there are many others out there, especially younger generations, who can't be bothered with FB and MP. And so much faff to make contact. Instead of putting a 'for sale' sign on your bike out on the front yard, you've put in the shade in the back yard.
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About
My recent Facebook marketplace and gumtree experience
Posted by
@user145538
So, trying to save a buck, I was hunting down a new bike on facebook and gumtree.
I had 2 experiences which were clearly not legit. I asked one seller to confirm the bike wasn't stolen before making the journey whereupon he assured me it wasn't and that doing up bikes in his spare time was his hobby. That was what I wanted to hear and so I took the plunge and made the trip across London. The bike was exactly what I was looking for and a good price. The problem was after I asked a couple of questions it was clear he didn't have a clue about bike mechanics. So this set my alarm bell off as he was already contradicting himself. So I politely declined and went about my merry way. The seller still has listings on FB and GT with descriptions like 'the 58cm Allez - a rare model, grab yerself a bargain'.
Another seller was advertising Allez bikes for £75. So I messaged and was given this message:
'Bargain!' I thought, and I even tipped but I'm still waiting....LOL.(sarcasm)
I eventually found something which was a good deal and I don't think the seller was crooked. However, the seller did tell me he was sold a written off motorbike (frame damaged) by someone who lied to him about its condition and so there's another story FWIW. The point is I don't normally spend much time on facebook marketplace or gumtree looking for deals but just this little foray has clearly exposed something here.