GARBAGE FOR SALE?

I know you’ve seen them.  There are tons of groups and pages on Facebook for people wanting to sell and trade all sorts of stuff.  If you aren’t familiar with them (what, do you live under a rock?), it’s a virtual yard sale chock full of new and used furniture, phones, cars, houses, guns, clothes, jewelry, lawn mowers, and everything else under the sun.  The seller posts a picture of what is for sale or trade and lists a description, price, and any other details necessary.  Easy enough.

But when I scroll through the various posts and pictures of what people are selling, I’m amazed at what I   What I see is that people are trashy.  Sorry, no sugar coating it here.  People are dirty and they live in filth. Image after image shows the item for sale sitting amidst clutter and with garbage in the background.  And often, the item for sale/trade is still dusty and dirty.  For that person thinking of selling/trading online, here are a few tips that come to mind:
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Tip #1:  before you snap that picture of the bed you have for sale, clear off the bed and fix the sheets, pillows and bedspread.  I can see that you sleep under a pile of clothes, toys, and candy wrappers at the edge of your bed.  Yuck!  And if you are selling a fabric chair or sofa, do not bring it out in the yard to snap a picture.  Where the ants and bugaboos can crawl all over it and a nice layer of dust/dirt can get into the fabric.  Makes me think of that hoarders show on TV.

Bonus tip:  pick up your dirty underwear off of the floor or make sure not to include that area in the picture.  Seriously, please do this.

Tip #2:  If you plan on selling any baby items, please do not lay them on your floor to snap pictures.  This tells me that the only place in your house that is clean/clear enough to take a picture is your floor.  Also, these are baby items.  Even though I’m going to sterilize any second hand stuff I purchase, I still want my baby’s items to be as clean and sterile as possible.  Snapping photos of them on the floor hinders the sale to people like me who like clean stuff.

Bonus tip:  make sure that any shots of baby stuff do not include a dog, cat, or any other pet in the background.  Pets = germs = no sale.

Tip #3:  When selling your dining table, clear it off first so that we can see the surface.  This means removing plates left over from dinner, mail with your name and address on it, and assorted pens, scissors, etc.  Sometimes, I can’t tell what’s for sale until I read the description.

Tip #4:  Price your stuff appropriately and don’t lie about the description.  I can tell that the white laminate press wood bookshelf that you have listed as “barely used” (uh, huh) for $50 is in fact, a cheap laminate bookshelf that I can buy brand spanking new for $30.  And you wonder why your stuff doesn’t sell.

Tip #4:  “Asking $50, but will go as low as $40”.  Really?  You’re just going to put that right out there from the start?  And people are going to offer you $35.  Just saying.

Tip #5:  Please learn the difference between the word “sell” and “sale.”  It is beyond irritating to see someone post “I need to sale this item.”  Ugh!

So to sum it all up, clean your house, clean your stuff, and check your spelling and math.  You might just sell more and make more money!

This Can't Be Good

Face·book Ob·ses·sion

noun \äb-‘se-shən, əb-\

Definition: When you start the water for your morning shower, dash to the computer to read last night’s late posts and tend your crops and livestock, then realize 15 minutes later that the shower is STILL running and there probably isn’t much hot water left!


:::sigh::: What have I gotten myself into…

Look Out Paul Bunyan

In my newly found venture called Farmville, I’ve discovered that I don’t like all the waiting. My farm has a small number of crops, two foals, and a pig (I sold the cow and bought the two new animals), a bale of hay and a rest tent (both gifts I received), and a newly purchased barn. The barn is really in the beginning stage of being built –mostly only framework –as I do not yet have the hammer and wood needed to finish the job. It’s a slow process and I get bored easily.

But I’ve discovered another Facebook offering: Frontierville!! Yep, I’ve got my own homestead. A plot of land covered with trees, brush, rocks, and critters –just waiting for me to clear it all off and start a home. This offers more to do, but at a cost. Each activity cost an energy and you only get so many at a time. It’s grueling work, but it has to be done. I’ve cleared about a fourth of it, have a small garden going, and even planted a few cherry trees. My house is just a frame but I have a few chickens and a sheep that gets lost in the brush now and then. Somebody get me an ax!

Look At Me! I'm Farming!

It all started with a harmless post on Facebook. Last Saturday afternoon was the first time I really got into exploring my new Facebook account and how it works. I was only on for a short while before I saw it. It was an innocent post by my sister and I really didn’t know what it was. Something about her getting a great deal on pumpkin bushels at the market. Huh? I thought maybe she was using them for something at work, but what do I know. So I thought I was being funny when I replied “Now don’t you go all Martha Stewart on me.” Then a short while later, another odd post about harvesting her pumpkins. WTH? Now I know my sister doesn’t have any pumpkins growing in her garden. I don’t even think she planted a garden this year! So this time I simply commented “Who are you and what have you done with my sister.” Well, that prompted her to respond by laughing at me and then she explained that it was part of a game on Facebook. What? Facebook has games too? So I head off to explore Farmville –where you get a piece of land (your farm) and you basically tend it. You can plant crops and trees, build houses and barns and all the while you earn money and climb in the rankings. The higher you rank, the more things you can do. And people share rewards they earn with their Facebook friends which creates this whole community thing. So I begin by planting some crops which have to be harvested when they are finished growing. And repeat, this time with more crops. Someone sends me a gift –it’s a foal and then I receive a brick (to use when I start building). Another friend has a lost cow up for adoption so now I have livestock. And then it’s time to plant more crops. Hey! This is actually kind of fun.

I Only Did It For The Freebie

Truthfully, I registered months ago, but I only did it for the freebie. A freebie that I have yet to receive. But I digress. I have taken the leap and am now one of the millions of people that have a Facebook account. It’s not that I didn’t like Facebook. I just didn’t feel the need to participate. Why? I guess I just didn’t get it. But my sister mentioned that an old friend was looking for me on Facebook and had contacted her for help in reaching me. I believe the message was –tell your sister that she needs to get on Facebook –or something along that line. So when the freebie offer came around, I justified signing up (the freebie was not a good enough reason in itself) by telling myself I was also doing so because a friend was trying to reach me.

Setup was basic –as little information provided as possible, no pictures, no location, and only the initial of my first name plus my last name. I located the friend that was looking for me, friended her, and instantly I could see all kinds of stuff from her on my wall. I really didn’t understand how it all worked, but there it was. I posted a quick hello message and that was it.

And after that, I really didn’t do anything –until my sister called last week. Apparently I have another friend that contacted my sister because she couldn’t find me on Facebook. So, I log onto my account and, to my dismay, find 30+ friend requests. But after scrolling through the first 5 or so, I realize that these people are my family and friends and I kind of got excited. I felt liked. I felt loved. I felt connected.

I can visit with my family and friends across the country by simply chatting. Most of it is fun and silly, but I’m beginning to feel like I’m part of something. Instead of having to get updates from my mother and sisters on how family members are doing, I can see and ask them myself. I’m thrilled to see my aunt on Facebook. With her grown kids spread out all over the states, she can easily stay in touch where a daily (or even weekly) phone call to each of them would be difficult and unrealistic. She stays involved.

So I am no longer on the outside of my family’s affairs. I am a part of the big picture. I’ve located a few other long distance friends that I usually only contact for holidays via Christmas cards. I have even edited my name to reflect my whole name and added a picture. And I get more and more friend requests each day. I’m off to a good start.

Facebook. I think I like it.