POINT OF VIEW
LEMENADE
by June Lemen
I’m spending my weekends selling things on Facebook Marketplace.
It’s an odd experience, selling possessions that you have owned for decades. It’s uncomfortable, and as I like to make uncomfortable experiences as comfortable as I can, I have developed a pleasant process for this odd experience.
It begins with a weekend morning wander through the house, sipping from my second cup of coffee (the first is necessary just to wake up), searching for five things that I can list that day. I try to make it interesting — to me. I like to a find mixture of big and small items, expensive and not-expensive items, and of course, a quirky piece.
The last time I used Facebook Marketplace to downsize I was nearly buried in the deluge of stuff that was transported from my parents’ house to my house after my mother moved into assisted living. I had a yard sale, which was NOT successful, and after I put things back in the garage, I managed to sell some of them through Facebook. And when I listed those items, I quickly realized that there are things that are never going to sell (hell, there are things that you cannot give away), but I decided to give it another whirl. I reasoned that my stuff is way cooler than my parents’ stuff, so I should be able to sell it.
After the weekend wander, I persuaded my daughter to take pictures of each item, because Lucy’s a better photographer than I am, and more thorough. I take front and back views. Lucy takes front, back, and side views. She includes close-ups of any particularly nice details or of any flaws.
The first time I did this I decided on five items:
- A large (and expensive) thing: an antique, tiger mahogany dresser with mirror
- A medium thing: a gorgeous wooden Victorian plant stand with a crack in it
- Another plant stand, in perfect condition, with lots of cool details, like curly legs and carved decorations
- A small and quirky thing: a pair of lion statuettes from the former Facsimilies, used as bookends. Each lion weighed about 12 pounds.
- A freebie: a Corgi mug, with a wooden cover.
After making the decisions, I went online and started entering information about each item (size, condition, color), and describing them in as appealing a way as possible and adding the photos.
I edit as I go, reminding myself that this is supposed to be a brief description, not a novel, so there’s no need to describe the auction I bought the piece at and the person I was bidding against. And oh — I forgot to point out since the first thing you have to enter to create a listing on Marketplace is the item’s price, that before I write anything I have to research what’s a reasonable price.
I am the daughter of an antique dealer, so I know how to do research, and decide on a fair value for something, but I am also the daughter of Charlie Lemen, whose voice I hear in my ear saying, “Do you want to sell that or leave it to a museum? Change that price. The value of something is how much someone else is willing to pay for it.”
I take all that into consideration. I am used to people making low-ball offers, but when I am asking $150.00 for a gorgeous hardwood dresser and the first time someone contacts me they ask, “Will you take $40.00 for it?” my first reaction is annoyance. I have to think, “What entitles you to a 75% discount?”
I can understand someone seeing an item online and asking for a 10% discount, but asking for a discount of over 20% – on the first day it’s posted – is outrageous.
So, after a few outrageously low offers, I decided to try to look as dispassionately as possible at the items and see if I was charging too much. I checked similar items. I did a lot of comparisons. And I was not asking too much.
So, I decided to give it a week and think positively and see if things changed.
A young woman from Lebanon messaged me and was surprised that my beautiful mahogany dresser was still available. She showed up on time with her husband, viewed the dresser, and asked me if I took Venmo. (I do.) She took the mirror off herself, and the couple loaded it into the car, after thanking me for the opportunity to buy such a great piece of furniture. They did not even hint at a discount.
Once that dresser sold, the other four items flew out of the house. One young man paid close to 20% over the asking price after asking if I could hold onto the lions until the weekend. I said “Sure.” My encounter with him was delightful, and it was the same with the two plant stand buyers. They flew out the door at full price and the buyers were delighted with them. One lady actually sent me a picture showing me how great the stand looked in her house.
And the corgi mug went the moment I put it online. It was free, and was picked up on time, which — if you’ve ever dealt with donations — does not always happen.
So, on to the next five items. Actually, I better make it 10. I’ve got a big house to empty.
June Lemen is a writer, editor, and life-long New Englander. She has been writing since childhood, starting with her novella “How A Mouse Turned Blue.” She is interested in all things Nashuan, and currently serves on the Board of Public Works.
