To Buy Or Not To Buy

Louise McCourt - 14 Dec 16

Not long after I had my first child, a friend of mine invited me to join an online trading group she was using to sell baby stuff she no longer needed. She explained that to join the group you had to be recommended by an existing member (presumably, I thought, to keep out the riff raff!). After saying yes, I was in. I have been a member of this local (mainly mum’s) group for about seven years now and it’s been interesting to say the least. Here’s a little insight..

Let’s start with the ‘crap stuff’ sellers. Is that unfair? Ok, let’s call it slightly dubious items. Like clothes that wouldn’t look out of place in Chelsea Girl circa 1985. These items are usually posted with an optimistic selling price, then when there is no interest the item is ‘bumped’ up the selling page (once or twice a day) for about the next two weeks. You have to admire the persistence, or be slightly intrigued that these sellers think that people ‘missing it on the news feed’ is the issue.

Another aspect I find particularly fascinating are people who genuinely seem up for a fight. Despite the initial ‘vetting’, there are people who will jump on a post that might be slightly controversial (like when someone has previously got an item for free, then a week later re-posts it asking for a fiver), and things will literally kick off. I have watched this result in over a hundred comments raging back and forth. I hate to say, but it’s a bit of a popcorn moment. Then eventually a voice of reason will bravely intervene in this cyberspace pub brawl without the booze (presumably anyway) and things will go quiet. There may be a few more snarls back and forth then it will fizzle out. Show’s over folks.

There are also the ‘regulars’. One lady springs to mind who jumps on anything half decent within about a minute of it being on the site. I often wonder how she does it. Is this her actual job? Recently someone responded to a selling post by asking a question about the item. This particular regular (let’s call her Maggie) swooped in and said ‘yes, please!’ Then a few seconds later, ‘I said yes first so it should go to me,’ followed by, ‘check the rules, it says you have to say yes. If you want to ask questions, say yes then ask questions.’ I have seen this more than once with Maggie. Sometimes the other (poor) interested party will back down. Other times the decision falls on the seller. Good luck with that.

Then there are people like me. I sell good stuff (I know I would say that), but it’s true! What I sell is ‘like new’ as I’ve described. I ask reasonable prices for a straightforward sale, ha ha, almost never happens… I advertised some Thomas the Tank Engine wellies recently, hardly worn, £2. Bargain! Within a couple of hours, I had not one, but two people ask me if I would be able to post the boots to them. What? Let me get this straight, for two quid, you want me to go all the way to the post office, stand in a queue and post you some kids wellies? That I would also have to package up. One of them even suggested we could do it via paypal. No thanks pal.

However there is another side to this site. It has been amazing in ways I would never have expected. For three years now I have had the most fabulous birthday cakes made for my daughter by a lovely lady (she introduced me to rainbow sponge), I have two gorgeous paintings in my son’s room by another talented mum and this is my third year of ordering personalised hot chocolate and reindeer food for the Christmas Eve boxes. I’ve also sold plenty, and bought some super bits and bobs (when Maggie has dropped the ball).

So, all things considered I would definitely recommend giving a local buying and selling group a try if you haven’t already. Just take a few deep breaths and prepare to be patient. Then again, nobody said making a fast buck would be easy..

Louise McCourt

Mummy of two and freelance writer. My words have made people laugh, cry and be inspired - it doesn't get much better than that.

View profile for posts, events and more info