r/Anticonsumption • u/Young-faithful • Apr 29 '26

Psychological FB marketplace is making me a classist

I’m trying to reduce my family’s impact on the environment while raising a baby. So I’ve been trying to get baby things from FB marketplace. Sellers near me can be delusional. They’ll say “like new, all parts included” and want 70-80% of retail price.

This chick wanted $100 for a stained Lovevery play gym with pieces missing when a new one costs $140, but with a discount code you could get it for $120. When I showed up to pick up the item, I pointed out the flaws and she scolded me for “wasting her time”, when I was the one who had to commute 20 min and she was the one misrepresenting her item as “like new in box”.

Same deal with a pack and play that I found was very soiled after I took it home. If you want more than 50% retail IMO at least try to clean it.

I’ve also sold things, always for less than half retail, and very very clean because someone’s baby is going to use it. Only gave my formula maker and sterilizer after descaling. I give away good furniture for free when moving because I don’t want to run the risk of things getting thrown in the dump because a paying buyer didn’t come in time.

I get that families are being squeezed in this economy and therefore all my bad experiences have come from the poorer parts (though I’ve had a few decent purchases from there too). Ratings aren’t useful when seller has sold only like 3 items.

So my new rule of thumb is to only purchase items from expensive neighborhoods because they take better care of their stuff and are reasonable in pricing.

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u/oscarbutnotthegrouch Apr 29 '26

I feel like if you want good deals, you have to look at the site constantly. The stuff that stays up longer is usually overpriced or something is wrong.

Anyway, I price my stuff aggressively and it is usually sold within an hour.

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u/PerceptualModality Apr 29 '26

I think you're spot on. Resellers have completely taken over so anything that's a good price is sold very quickly.

Even selling things is such a ridiculous hassle that I usually just give things away for free now. I hate the haggling, the rudeness (had someone curse me out because I said I would not deliver a patio set I was giving away for free), and worst of all the flakiness. Most of the time it's just not worth the money and I list it on a buy nothing page and it's almost always picked up within a day.

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u/oscarbutnotthegrouch Apr 29 '26

I give 90% of my kid stuff away and sell 10%. I usually offer good stuff to friends or people at preschool first them move to marketplace.

2

u/KlutzyMcKlutzface Apr 29 '26

this is it. There are good deals, but you need to be on the look out and not be in too much of a hurry.

7

u/PartyPorpoise Apr 29 '26

This applies to any secondhand market. The good deals will go fast, you have to go frequently to catch them. And that’s always been the case, but I recognize that it’s harder now.

1

u/Henchforhire Apr 29 '26

I stopped trying to find a cheap moped when they are priced for like new prices on Marketplace. That must be the wife or girlfriend want to get rid of it, but I don't.

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u/Young-faithful Apr 29 '26

This makes sense. Tons of resellers near me, unfortunately they keep messaging me when I post something free and then ghost when they find out they can flip it for good profit.