prairiepedaler

I've noticed quite a few bikes for sale on Facehugger Marketplace as per the "are you looking for one of these?" thread. For those of us not onboard FB, is there a way to contact the people selling items there? I presume of course some of the ads have contact info embedded in the ad copy, but most not. Facehug MP has taken a bite out of Kijiji's (Canada Ebay Classifieds) turf.

mack_turtle

get on facebook and avoid using it for anything other than the marketplace. if you don't like that, too bad. your choice.

tiger1964 

I'm thinking of doing exactly that, despite getting this far along without using any "social media" (well, isn't BF a form of social media?) for any purpose. I have hopes that I might find stuff for less than eBay's astronomical asking prices. Any hopes of a decent search engine there and/or tutorial on how to shop there?

mack_turtle

not sure, but I have found that Craigslist is mostly a dump lately and FB marketplace is far superior for buying and selling now.

Mogens

I’m FB adverse but I need to have an account for business and find myself looking at marketplace from time to time. If, like me, you want to keep a low profile here’s how: 1. Create an account, 2. Go into privacy settings and lock it all up, 3. Set it so that only friends of friends can send you ‘friend’ requests, 4. Don’t have any friends.

SJX426 

Just started looking in Market Place. Made a, to me anyway, significant purchase of my first riding mower. Actually it is a garden tractor and not a lawn tractor. It was very reasonably priced and the transaction went well. Even CL didn't meet my needs on this purchase. At 18 years old it is probably more of a C&V than you might think!
P1040376 on Flickr

cudak888 

Facebook still can't figure out a gag name. Google Voice number on a spare, wiped phone for username verification.

Then log in with a virtual box on a VPN.

-Kurt

SoccerBallXan

Facebook recently made changes to their marketplace platform. To say the least, these changes where awful and made accessibility minimal.

Since this change was applied, I have yet to find anything worth even messaging about on the marketplace. Seems they scared everyone away with the new format!!

Craigslist has now picked back up in my area after the change.

cudak888 

Don't forget OfferUp. There are various aspects of that platform that stink too, but quite a few folks have migrated there.

-Kurt

Whit51 

One huge advantage of FB Marketplace: you have access to a potential buyer or seller’s Facebook profile. On two occasions I avoided getting involved in purchases from people who, based on their Facebook profiles, appeared to be dangerous wackos. Harder to tell who you’re dealing with on Craigslist.

jethin

That’s a nice looking riding mower. If you ever need to take it in for repairs I highly recommend that you select a reputable shop. You should also call in any gambling debts to make sure you have the funds to settle the bill. Failure to do these things may result in the need to curtail your C&V bike purchases.

alexihnen 

Same here. The only downside to having zero in your FB profile is that sellers sometimes will not respond. More than once I’ve sent more than one message, a link to LinkedIn, or an explanation that I only have FB for kid’s school and buying bikes.

gthomson

In my area at least, FB has way more listings then Kijiji or CL, they organize content and set algorithms way better than the others so I see brand new listings in my feed right away or show me only content I am looking for (instead of just bikes, it will show me vintage bikes or road bikes based on my search content) and the pricing seems to be more realistic than the others. I've bought a number of items on FB recently.

garryg

I find Facebook marketplace great for buying and selling. You send a message and often get an answer right away whereas craigslist you are often left in limbo. Also nice to see profiles

polymorphself 

I laughed out loud. Deeming this the post of the year for those who get it.

xiaoman1 

Great advice....I have already met criteria No 4.
Best, Ben

SwimmerMike 

I'm going to second the motion! When I saw the lawn tractor, I actually checked who posted it to see if it was the guy mentioning his riding lawnmower woes.

Happy Feet

Funny about some comments here.
I find CL to be a crap shoot most of the time, never knowing who you are dealing with and prefer FB marketplace for this reason. I look up the seller/buyer to see who I'm dealing with. If they are sketchy I opt out.
A blank or private account would be weeded out by me.

randyjawa 

This is such and easy and fun fix. Shut off the computer and then get into the field. I recently offered (once again) my methods for finding vintage bicycles (Where are you looking for your next barn find?)

When actively hunting, I could find a couple of hundred vintage bikes a year in a city of 120,000 people. Today, if I decided to do so, I would be willing to bet that I could find at least one (probably more) vintage road bike to bring home. But I am not really looking for another bike right now.

However, to be honest which is an ongoing pursuit of mine, my two latest acquisitions did come from the computer. I ran a Kijiji listing asking for a Torpado (did this two times so far this year and go two Torpado road bikes as a reward).

Torpado Professional - $100 CND - test ridden and now collecting what I need for a restoration...


The opposite end of the Torpado scale, this entry level steed came to me for free and is now my present restoration project...

SJX426 

Thanks! It has 20hp Kawasaki V twin, a 54" deck, and cuts through 3ft grass like butter!

Your comment concerning JD parts prices and service is valid, but when I look at unique fasteners for it compared to a bike, there is no comparison. Bike parts are way more expensive than most parts of a JD. A set of spokes is more expensive than replacing all the fasteners on the mowing deck! That includes the nuts and washers with part count being equivalent. The spoke price likely does not include the nipples! There are other options to the JD Dealer, like the Green Parts Store and other aftermarket parts. Then there is the used market that is not unlike the bike used market of old, but lightly used, at half the original price, unlike the bikes and parts I am interested in.

In terms of reliability, this is not your HD or Lowes LT, D or otherwise low-end lawn tractor equivalent to a Walmart bike. This is serious sht. With slightly over 500 hours on, it has another 1500 to 2000 hours to go before it is done. Just clean and lube routinely, just like a bike. The only weakness is a plastic hood that was designed with collaboration only between marketing and the bean counters. Doesn't break compared to getting flats on your road bike.

I have not had any issues with this mower. Being mechanically inclined, I can solve nearly every issue. I went through it much like I do a bike. This winter is the time for maintenance and refurbishment for the mowing deck. Like many used bikes, it too was maintained a little ham fisted. Found PO errors in assembly and the typical farm like solutions to fixing problems. There was even an adjustment which demonstrated that the PO didn't know how to adjust the deck. Just like the thread about bike owners only using one gear of a 10 speed bike.

I also work on my Jeeps with the 1990 XJ bought new and it being in the shop only once in 240,000 miles. The only assembly on the Jeep that has not been disassembled is the AW4 automatic transmission. The AW4 is quite durable since it was built to be behind the twin turbo Supra, BITD. It will likely go to the paint shop, however.

If you are like me, all you need is a parts list and an assembly diagram. Boom!

The most complicated part of the tractor is the circuitry for controlling the shutoff switches and maybe the hydrostatic transmission. Even the carburetors are effectively a FRU. The rest is bent up sheets of metal, weldments, castings or plastic molded parts. Most expensive parts are the engine, transmission then the deck, in that order.

If you can disassemble a bike down to its basic components without removing rivets and put it back together and returning to its former state without needing to take it to the shop, you can handle issues with a garden tractor.

I don't gamble I try to understand and mitigate risk including trying to know the unknown risks to me but known to others.

Well....that was fun rant!

viperocco

I send my wife the links and she reaches out to the sellers, so if you know someone with a FB account perhaps give them an ask.

bargainguy

If anyone decides to sell on FB rather than just buy, something to keep in mind.

FB uses metrics to decide whether you're a worthy seller. For ex., if you don't respond to PM's, or if you respond to PM's in a leisurely manner, it all counts against you.

The problem with being a seller on FB as opposed to CL - you pretty much have to answer questions at least once from each individual. If you don't, counted against you.

So on FB, I have to practice my politically-correct voice much more often. On CL, I simply don't respond when I get wacko questions, no matter where we are in the buying process.

If you don't like practicing your politically-correct voice, FB is not the place to sell. You will be tested.

Schreck83 

After using my wife's login to message sellers on FBMP, I broke down and created an account with minimal information. As a buyer, I'm seeing better deals on FB than CL. I don't really sell, so I have nothing to offer on that point.
I posted a link to FBMP for a $50 Schwinn Super Sport recently here on BF "Are you looking for..." thread. It just showed up on CL for $250, rusty chain and all. I think that casual sellers find FBMP much easier to use than CL, and they are much more responsive to inquiries.

prairiepedaler

I won't join Facebook. I can't do it. I'll forfeit whatever comes up, no matter how valuable or how badly I want it. I'll choose to bird the berg.

prairiepedaler

Yes indeed, that is a possibility. Using an agent is useful in many applications. I think it would become a burden for them though and I'd hate to impose. If it was a wife who was keeping an eye out for items their hubster enjoys then that is a different situation. Many hands make light work!