How long would you hold something you advertised for a potential buyer?

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I had three nibbles on an item I posted on a local FB online garage sale page. The first person that contacted me asked that I hold it for her until she could pick it up. That was 10 days ago, so two days ago I posted to the FB ad page and asked when she intended to come and get it since other people were interested. She said that she is very busy now and couldn't say when she would get around to it, but was still wanted it very badly, so keep holding it for her. I answered back that since she was so indefinite about a date, I would have to give the others a chance. So far, no reply.

I also ran into this when FreeCycle was in operation (it was an Internet service for people to give things away locally); people would ask me to save things for them and then never show up. Why do people ask to hold things for them from classified ads when they have no intention of coming to get them?
 

I don't hold things because in my experience, people who ask you to hold something, rarely ever show up to get it...I put it on Craigslist because I'm ready for somebody else to store it at their place, not so I can continue to store it until THEY are ready for it!
 
NanaSarah said:
When did you lose FreeCycle? We still have it here. I'd sure miss it if it were gone. I've given away and received quite a lot via FreeCycle.
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Can't say for sure. I hadn't used it in a while. When I went to look for it, the link I had to it said the page was no longer available. It was through Yahoo which did away with many of their "services" a while back.
 
I think a day is fair..expecially if you want cash payment. Gives person a chance to get the cash and get to you. 10 days very generous, tells me buyer is not as interested, and saving it any longer may lose you a sale to someone actually interested in the item.
 
I wouldn't hold the item. If a person REALLY wants the item, they'll come get it. Not coming to get it for 10 days means (to me, at least) that they really don't want the item or are still trying to make up their mind. Go ahead and sell it to someone else.
 
We have a local Facebook sales page and several people have lost friends over this very thing. I will hold something long enough for someone to drive to my house and get it. If they call from work, that's fine, I'll give them enough time to get off work and drive to my house. I haven't had to unfriend one person so far.
 
Deb if you don't have FreeCycle look for Trash Nothing.

For a large item that requires a truck I would allow 24 hours and for smaller things I would tell them it is first come first served.
 
It's just that I had a problem a few years ago where a woman contacted me about something I advertised. She hemmed and hawed so long about coming, I went ahead and sold it to the next person that had contacted me. Five weeks later she showed up and was miffed I had sold it. She told me that she said she was coming to get it. I asked her how long was I supposed to wait for her. She replied, if she was the first person that contacted me, then if it's 10 minutes or 10 months later she showed up, I was obligated to save it for her since she had "first dibs". I said it didn't work like that with Craigs List sales. That did not appease her. She said I hadn't heard the last of it as she stormed away, but that was years ago and I've not had any backlashes of which I am aware. All bluster and drama!
 
Debodun...It seems too many people are all bluster. They want what they want when they want it, the rest of us be damned! I think that some people think that if they get loud or obnoxious they are going to end up gaining something. I don't play that game.
 
If a large item requiring a truck or u-haul trailer, I would give a week if a weekend might be involved, otherwise, 5 days IF I had the space or wanted to keep the item protected. If no space to protect the item, I would not hold it at all.

This would be only after a CASH deposit for half the amount was paid! On the receipt it would give the date the waiting period ended, and state that the deposit was not refundable, and they would sign it; copy kept. (In truth, I would probably refund the deposit if asked, but that's between you and me.)

For a small item I'd tell them 24 hours. I wouldn't ask for a deposit but if they wanted to give one to hold it for 24 hours, fine, but conditions should be in writing. LOL, that small item would probably not be back on sale until the next yard/tag/garage sale!
 
debodun said:
It's just that I had a problem a few years ago where a woman contacted me about something I advertised. She hemmed and hawed so long about coming, I went ahead and sold it to the next person that had contacted me. Five weeks later she showed up and was miffed I had sold it. She told me that she said she was coming to get it. I asked her how long was I supposed to wait for her. She replied, if she was the first person that contacted me, then if it's 10 minutes or 10 months later she showed up, I was obligated to save it for her since she had "first dibs". I said it didn't work like that with Craigs List sales. That did not appease her. She said I hadn't heard the last of it as she stormed away, but that was years ago and I've not had any backlashes of which I am aware. All bluster and drama!
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That woman was way out of line. Holding the item for months for someone isn't realistic or reasonable. Would a store do that? NO!! You were right to do what you did, no matter what that woman thinks.
 
Lesson learned....make no promises even if the first person never shows up. Read them the riot act - place a time limit. After all, these are just verbal agreements with nothing in writing.
 
I've tried to put pressure on people like that saying that others have contacted me about the item and unless they come within two days, I will sell to other interested parties. Usually they will say something like. 'Oh, well, then, go ahead." That makes me think that these individuals weren't that interested in the first place.

Like the old Indian said, "Sometimes the method works, sometimes it doesn't."
 
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Camper6 said:
If someone asks for a hold, ask for a deposit no matter how small. No deposit. No hold.
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I had a problem with that, also. One time a woman stopped at one of my sales, saw a chair and wanted it. She didn't have enough to by it then, but gave me a $10 deposit. She never came back, so I was stuck holding it indefinitely. I waited a few weeks, then put it back out for sale. She never did come back, so I don't take deposits. either - it puts me in an awkward position if they don't return. Now my policy is "cash and carry". I just wonder what happened to her.
 
So may lame excuses I've heard from people: forgot, had family emergency, car problems, etc. Maybe they think if they wear me down, I'll deliver. I do not do that after one bad experience.
 
The woman has stopped responding to my emails to come and get it. Now she'll probably say I'm harassing her. Would one email reminder a week be considered harassment? I didn't see her in church this week, either. I know her daughter is very sick, but she should have not responded, then, to my ad knowing anything could happen, or at least contacted be to say she changed her mind.
 
I would just give up on her. Clearly, she no longer wants the item and is avoiding you. I think you are at the point where you just need to let go. IMHO, by ignoring your attempts to contact her, she has most definitely indicated she no longer wants the item.
 
I agree that 24hrs should be the maximum to wait for someone. You should state that, the next time you post something - first come, first serve or take a paypal deposit to hold it longer and make sure you are clear you will only hold it 24 hrs then the next person in line gets a shot! Most people are vague when they post so other people infer whatever they want. Don't let them get to you!!

I assume you are making progress on clearing out the house you inherited? Wishing you luck!
 

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