Hey everyone. I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me as to why some people like to ask if what you're selling is still available instead of simply making an offer. Is it a strategy of some sort?
It seems like a waste of time to me, especially when they don't respond when you say it is.
It's a canned response
It is! I'd wondered about this until I went to buy something and saw that it was an option to press.
especially when they don't respond when you say it is
I agree with this. I mention in the ad that if ad is live, that means it is still available. Most of people will ask if it is available. After answering, they will never come back. Rarely they will offer $15 for a $100 item.
I have wondered this as well. It seems like 99% of the time they never reply when you say the item is still available.
Trolls.
Easy solution, don't list your items for sale on Gumtree.
I think you need to settle down if you think people if asking if a listing is still is:
- some kind of strategy
- 10 seconds count as a waste of time
In the end you got no idea why they might not be interested anymore. Besides you'd probably brand them even more time wasters if they were more polite and replied they weren't interested anymore; "then why ask if it's still available in the first place?!"
Next up, OP is going to ask why people go on to GumTree if they don't buy something every time they visit. Seriously, man.
I do that because most of the time the item is not available any more. I don't want to come up with a price that I want to offer if the item is not available any more.
Also, if the person takes a while to respond, I may have already found another item by another seller that is available and have purchased it already. Although, I do respond to say that I am not interested any more.
Why do people message me on ebay asking "Does it work" when the listing has AS IS FOR PARTS *NOT WORKING in the title and description?
Tell me about it. I offered an item for free, only requesting self addressed sachet or pickup and yet I got messages asking if it's available, and no followup. One AH kept telling me the sachet was on the way. After I disposed of that item I decided I'd rather use Freecycle or e-waste recycling than Gumtree.
Why Do People Still Type With Capital Letter In Front Of Every Word?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Naming_conventions_(capitalization)
Because that's how you do titles. Ozbargain even suggests and changes it for you.
becauseICanSoWhyShouldn'tI
i do this all the time because you never know if the item is sold or not.
Well if it's sold and you just made an offer, they would either not respond (happens whether it's sold or not anyway) or respond with "sorry, sold". You get the same answer/response, except the useless foreplay. Cut the useless questions.
It's a buying technique to also gauge sellers urgency. Not useless
its a buyers market out and you could miss out . I always ask first and then follow up with a voice call and take it from there.
@Ughhh: I report sellers like you who don't respond you are the problem and why people message to see if shit is still available.
Someone took time to ask (obvious interest) and you don't reply how the hell do you know if they are interested or not.
You wont type three/two letters (Yes/No) but you want them to type a bloody essay to get your damn attention to reply.
Not everyone wants to make an offer so many times i just want to pay the sellers asking price but only have one question is it still bloody available whatever is there to ask unless it's poorly described.
Today alone i messaged 3 people for items first 15 minutes after it was listed and it was gone, second 14 minutes after it was posted no reply and third seller replied and im picking up tomorrow.
i asking one question every times (Is it still available).
Please let me never see an item you are selling.
Rolf you obviously forgot about the amount of buyers who ask "is it still available" then after saying "yes, when you want it etc etc", they don't reply. On top of that, the amount of buyers who agree to meet but don't show up and don't bother to msg or call. Did the seller not take time to reply and arrange pickup/meeting? You're completely ignoring the sellers perspective.
Not everyone wants to make an offer so many times i just want to pay the sellers asking price but only have one question is it still bloody available whatever is there to ask unless it's poorly described.
Asking a question like "is it stil available" does not imply you are a genuine buyer. When I have other buyers who appear more genuine and ask more detailed questions like "when can I pick up if it's still available?", why would I bother with the mass sent "is it still available" when the ad says "item still available".
If you can't read, I have no interest in dealing with you.
If I have many buyers who message me, the one with a more detailed question like "is it still available? when can I pick up/[question about something not listed in ad]?" gets the reply and transaction usually goes smoothly. I usually either give them a discount they didn't ask for or give a freebie. Would be different if it was a business, but I only have 1 of that item and I only need 1 buyer.
@Ughhh: because there's a huge problem of sellers not removeing sold items so it's almost a must question to ask before asking anything else. It's a simple and straight to the point question no use typing other questions if the item isn't even there.
I know exactly what your saying which is why when I sell it's always pick up and no meet ups I don't go out of my way to sell something if they won't pick up I'm not meeting up anywhere. Besides what about sellers who want to meet up and then won't show up this goes both ways.
No replays are apart of selling isnt any problem nor is s it's hard to type three or two letters. If they don't say anything after then who cares move on.
Just because the listing is still up means literally nothing so many listings not deleted after item is sold.
Hope you get banned for not responding.
Haha, been using it for 5+ years :D Keep hoping, don't lose too much sleep.
What do you think is the ratio of no shows between buyers and sellers? I bet that the no show buyers is wayyy higher.
No point replying if buyer can't read, got other buyers who can actually read to reply to.
@Ughhh: I couldn't tell you i stopped all meet ups in random places after like 3 buyer no shows and about the same seller no shows not worth the hassle.
Unless you are actually stating something like (if add still up item still available) in the description then i consider you part the problem of why the question needs to be asked.
Ughhh 3 hours 16 min ago
Tbh, as a seller, I ignore all those messages as I assume those are illiterate people, those people are time wasters who can't read = possible trouble in lead up to transaction (especially when stated in the ad that it is still available)Ughhh 1 hour 29 min ago
Asking a question like "is it stil available" does not imply you are a genuine buyer. When I have other buyers who appear more genuine and ask more detailed questions like "when can I pick up if it's still available?", why would I bother with the mass sent "is it still available" when the ad says "item still available".
This is why reading is important.
I think ignoring those mass sent questions actually helped me filter out those time wasting no show buyers.
@Ughhh: That is very unfair and unjust. Gumtree is no different from business, both are about selling. If someone messages you first they get the 1st preference to buy the product. If you buy a product from a shop and someone after you is more interested they miss out.
Gumtree is different to business, gumtree is for private sales. ACCC doesn't even apply to private sales. Regular loyal customers and reputation is not a main feature on Gumtree (unlike eBay).
If someone messages you first they get the 1st preference to buy the product
You're saying it like it's the law, it's not. On top of that, if you think asking if its available with no other comments automatically gives you first preference, then I'm sorry but you're very wrong. First person who I feel is a genuine buyer gets first preference. As others say, first person to pick up with cash gets it, not the first person who ask "is it still available".
I hope you don't waste your time replying to all those oil rig scammers and I hope they don't report you for not responding.
Lol at the people getting so upset at my comment and the fact they know they are powerless in this matter. Only thing they can do to press a red button, which results in nothing.
Don't understand all the negs, so + voted.
I regularly sell (often freebiies) and 98% of people who ask 'is it still available' don't respond beyond that.
This is despite an item being free and clearly stating, please contact with a day and time you can collect.
The majority of people who use the automatic question are time wasters, so if you are actually asking this take a few seconds to add more, and sellers may take you more seriously. ask a question about the item, or where you can meet to collect etc.
@Ughhh:how can you classify someone as a buyer until they have bought something from you… stop being a tool and answer the question. as soon as i sense attitude from a seller i get the feeling that their upset about being caught out selling useless stuff to people that isn't worth the listed price. something isn't worth 10 dollars just cause you say so… tool.
You have the right to send "is it available" message, and sellers have the right to ignore you as they see fit. Stop whinging. Buyers have the right to ignore sellers follow-up, well sellers have the same right.
i sense attitude from a seller i get the feeling that their upset about being caught out selling useless stuff to people that isn't worth the listed price. something isn't worth 10 dollars just cause you say so… tool.
Yes, I'm selling useless overpriced stuff, that is why I get 10+ messages within the hour of posting ad. If it's rubbish, why are you messaging the seller "is it still available"?
If the seller missed the honour of selling it to you and sold it to another person, well that's their right and choice.
Because the buyer wants to line up all the possibilities for the item, and then choose the best currently available NOW. Sold items with still-current ads make this difficult.
Well you feel silly when you put thought into making a perfect offer and they just tell you it's not available. Or they just don't reply at all and you get anxious waiting for a response.
In my experience people do this to elicit a response, and make sure you are a legitimate seller, and not someone who doesnt reply to people when they make an offer. It is not some kind of negotiating strategy. If you think people messaging you is a waste of time, then either dont reply, or dont use gumtree to sell things.
every single item ive listed on gumtree has attracted the dumbest buyers
Bottom barrel website attracting bottom barrel buyers.
My wife and I try to buy all of our furniture on gumtree, generally get very nice pieces as well, some just need a sand and a coat of lacquer. We aren't bottom barrel buyers (Im a masters qualified trade analyst and she is a doctor), we just dont see the point in buying new if we can get it second hand, it isnt even about cost. I think only 4 or 5 pieces have been brought new where we absolutely wouldnt buy second hand (beds & sofas).
I usually ask if it's still available if the listing is over a month old or has plenty of views, but I don't just say is it available. I also say I'm interested and give an offer.
I do kinda see why some people would simply ask if it's avail. a lot of sellers don't reply to decline an offer. So asking if it's available, getting a response and then proceeding to give an offer without receiving any further response at least makes you aware to look for another listing
Good afternoon. I thought these wee time wasters before I realised that this is the standard message pre-written by gumtree if you try and contact the seller.
Take it as a sign of interest much like at a bar where I walk up to someone and say "Are you a termite? Cause you’re about to have a mouth full of wood." I mean, it's just a conversation starter, I know you're not a termite!
It is a scumtree strategy to show the seller how desperate you are
I find it a bit wierd, asking if something is available and when you they you never hear from them again. Latest one asked if available, then after I replied asked if it was negotiable and I replied again and no more contact. It's an unfortunate part of gumtree.
Quite frankly as a seller and as a buyer I prefer to use phone call contact.
If no one answers then I will send a text saying I tried to ring and asking if the item is still available. The number of times I have contacted a seller who has said you are the first person actually to ring me, it is my opinion (and when I'm a seller it's how I feel that I do not want a text or message) if you are serious about the item then ring up about it!
Also I have used buy it now on ebay only to find out the seller sold it the day before but didn't remove the item and I have contacted sellers on gumtree who have sold the item weeks ago but haven't been bothered to end the listing.
Extremely frustrating but I still think if you are really serious then you'll ring up.
I completely agree, especially for the big ticket items (cars/motorcycles etc). If you are really serious about forking out $1000's on a purchase then why can't you spend the minute or so it takes to pick up the phone and call someone? If I were ever to sell a vehicle on Gumtree I'd probably say something along the lines of "calls only accepted, all other forms of communication will be ignored" - if I happen to lose a chunk of the market, then so be it.
Nothing like some flawed logic to cut out a good portion of the market and final offer amount. Brilliant.
I don't care if they send up their offer on smoke signal. If it's ready to go with the highest price you get the item!
Hi All. A lot of what was said hadn't occurred to me, so thank you for the responses.
I really was curious as to why people did this as it just didn't seem efficient to not make the offer straight up.
Thanks again :)
Because there's a lot of DF sellers and a lot of DF buyers on Gumtree hence the need for stupid questions and stupid answers.
Dried Fruit sellers?
Is this a trick question ?
Yes. You have been tricked. Bye.
When i lowball people the don't respond. So is it available first? Wait for response. Then a lowball.
ROFL, I do that too.. because so many people do it to me.
Politeness?
"I would like to buy it" doesn't sound right imo
I listed a children's toy and in the first week got nothing but constant "is it still available?" messages, and I would respond and never hear from these people again. No one ever contacted me again. Felt like such a big waste of time.
I listed it again after the month ad expiry and mentioned I will not reply to "is it still available?" messages, and that the ad will be removed as soon as it goes out the door. I still had idiots messaging me and asking the same thing, and I ignored them. Eventually a few people asked for a day and time to come and get it, and after the third such enquiry it was sold.
Huh, I used to do that out of politeness. It felt bit off for me to start a sentence with an offer, especially when I am not sure whether the good is still available or not.
I usually go something like, "I saw the ad, I'd like to talk about purchasing it, is it still available?". I didn't realise that gave off "I am a time waster" kind of vibe to people, just looking at people's comments on this.
Perhaps the thing is that such a large number of people are doing it and that is the problem.
I guess so. That explains why some people never replied back.
You don't have to straight up say "I offer $xx", you can say something like "hi, is it still available? If so, I like to offer $xx/can I pick up this week etc".
I usually go something like, "I saw the ad, I'd like to talk about purchasing it, is it still available?". I didn't realise that gave off "I am a time waster" kind of vibe to people, just looking at people's comments on this.
I would reply to that, because it doesn't appear to be a mass sent spam copy and paste message ie. Is it still available (especially when the ad specifically says it's still available, not sure how many times I have to state that).
@Ughhh: I am just sharing my experience? I've had fair few people who've never replied to that.
I found that some people just leave the ad up, be it due to it being on hold or some other reasons. So the ad being available really doesn't tell me whether it's available, ironically.
I usually respond 'Yes still available, but please call before you come to check it out as a few people interested'.
Usually just creating this sense of urgency there is more action from them. People want things they can't have ;)
I prioritise lower or remove these sellers. Can't be bothered dealing with a seller if there's a chance they'll just sell it before I get there.
Ive dropped gumtree and now post on Facebook marketplace instead. When comparing the number of views and activity my ad got between Gumtree and Facebook. Facebook kills it! But, you still get the same 'time wasting' questions asked that you get in Gumtree.
Eg. After 1 week on Gumtree my ad got 70 views. After just 1 night in Facebook, I got 250 views, and 5 people asking time wasting questions :)
I think people know it's annoying.
I've tried putting up the top: "If you're seeing this ad, the item is still available"
That only seemed to increase the number of useless comments.
I post stuff on Gumtree and have a significant number of them sell. I also buy stuff off gumtree. When a listing is more than a few days old, I always ask if the item is still available because I recogize that not everyone instantly takes a listing if it's sold. It's just being polite. And if I find out it isn't available, then I don't have offer and arrange pickup or arrange inspections.
Now, regarding stuff I've put of for sale, I realise that there will be some people who will ask questions and not get back to me, or those who will lowball and then ignore me. It's never bothered me because I understand that this is par for the course. I'm not saying that I expect bad experiences from people who on gumtree. I'm saying that since it's gumtree and available to anyone with an internet connection, that it also means that just like in real life, there will be time wasters or lowballers or unreasonable people or jerks - just like there will be lovely people, considerate buyers, etc. I just take the good with the bad and not get annoyed.
I mean, I can't really complain about certain kinds of people when I put something up in for sale to the general public. That's the whole point of the general public - you get all kinds. I just have to take it as comes.
Just like @Hello said, it's just like going to a bar or club. If the club is open to everyone then someone can expect to be hit on by anyone eg. nice guys, blokes with potential as well as rude pricks, sleazebags. You can't choose and say only a certain kind of person can approach you.
This is how it works with most buyers and it saves a lot of time for both sellers and buyers (at least for buyers who do think about their purchases).
1) Make a shortlist of ads with listing stuff that you want to buy (based on value, budget distance etc)
2) Mentally rank items according to preference
3) Send a message asking if item is still available (short template message easily blasted out to all shortlisted ads
4) Ask questions about product if ads lack detail
5) Mentally rank AVAILABLE items according to preference and additional detail
6) Only message the top 2-3 AVAILABLE ads to make an offer.
If you're getting too many "item available?" messages with no follow up, do a follow up yourself (You can take it for $____ if you pick it up today). Or if the item has been listed for a long time drop the price on your ad.
Sometimes when you ask people if the item is still available, you don't get a reply either.
Its a free market man. Do whatever you want to get rid of your items.
I do it to check how responsive the seller is… I'm testing you.
I made two offers with two different sellers today, both replied with "sorry sold".
That's why people ask first, because of dip shit sellers.
I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me as to why some people like to list their sold items instead of simply delete it. Is it a strategy of some sort?
It seems like a waste of time to me, especially when they respond "it's sold" when I pay the effort to message and make an offer to them.
Only if being lazy and dumb is a strategic choice
I once listed a bag of used vacuum cleaner dust, for $1000 with photos as a joke. i did have a small amount of dust from our vac, just in case i got lucky!
I still got the usual "is it still available" questions
i would respond politely with a "yes, would you like to collect or have it posted"…
they never respond….
REALLY??? cant people see it was a piss take… proves that that people just press the auto button on anything…
Because people do not remove sold items.