If you’re still new to online marketplace shopping, the professional thrift hunter and reseller, as well as the author of the Instagram page “Ridiculous Thrifter,” which showcases the wonderful, bizarre and insanely overpriced items found at secondhand points from Facebook marketplace to secondhand stores and charity shops, Fowlow shared some great advice.
First, expect to encounter strange and difficult people, as well as don’t be surprised if someone really wastes your time, Fowlow says. “For example, driving a long distance to someone’s house to buy an item at the agreed time and price… only to find out they just sold it to somebody else without notifying you.”
Moreover, “often other interested buyers will swoop in and offer a higher price than you without your knowledge, stealing the item from you,” the professional thrift hunter and reseller told us.
Another very important thing, Fowlow argues, is to remember to never email transfer money to a stranger. “Only pay once the item is in your hand. There are a lot of scammers & con artists out there who will accept your money to hold an item, then disappear when it’s time to arrange pickup.”
“Now these are worst-case scenarios… most sellers are actually great to deal with, but there are many out there who don’t respect verbal agreements and who wish to take advantage of you,” Fowlow warned. Therefore, he urges everyone to be wise and cautious. “Always bring a friend or family member when buying an item and try to do so during the day. Never meet at a strange place.”
When asked about his experience with selling things on online marketplaces, Fowlow said that he’s made “a substantial amount of money selling on Facebook in the past decade.” Having said that, he agreed “it’s hard work navigating through the low-ballers, no shows and the people who generally waste your time.”
“It can really be frustrating when I delay plans with family/friends in order to meet someone to sell an item… only for them to bail on me. This has happened countless times over the years.”
However, Fowlow has adopted a mindset to always expect to be inconvenienced by buyers and that way, he’s never surprised when they do. “The buyers who are honorable, respectful and easy to deal with are refreshing. Those people are tremendously appreciated and keep me in the game.”
Moreover, Fowlow added that if you have low patience and are easily angered or frustrated… selling online isn’t for you. “You will not last long!” he laughed.
When it comes to unusual and weird things people sell online, Fowlow has seen it all. His Instagram page “Ridiculousthrifter” and his Facebook page “Ridiculous Things Found At Thrift Stores” are devoted to featuring weird things he has seen “(and what my followers have seen and submitted)” while browsing online marketplaces.
Some of the best examples would be things like “a used sofa/couch from a 'pet-free home' with a cat in the background of the picture”; “a 3D-printed set of plastic 'Hulk Arms' to put on your pet chicken/rooster”; “the longest McDonald’s french fry ever for $120.4.”
Other incredible cases Fowlow mentioned were “a stainless steel toaster with the reflection of the seller in his underwear on the side taking the picture” and “a used refrigerator with the description ‘everything works except it doesn’t get cold.’” Check out more of these crazy finds on his Ridiculous Thrifter pages!
