The saga continues...

Using the newly rented U-Haul, it was time to meet up with the guy selling all his gym equipment on Kijiji, an online buying/selling platform.

For those in the know, Kijiji is an interesting place.

While fakes, flakes, and scams abound — these are some of the expectations in this world...

...like the guy I'd originally wanted to buy equipment from:

As we exchanged messages, it became clear something was off.

Me: "Would I be able to come have a look at it tomorrow?"

Seller: "I can take more pictures or video or even FaceTime you. What price will you buy it for?"

As is customary in such a used goods marketplace, I gave him my price, just a blip below his asking, a fair price that didn't need to be negotiated.

Me: "If everything is in good to great condition, I'd be willing to pay $$$. But I'd want to see it first in person."

This is where things took a turn from odd to weird:

Seller: "Yes it is because I’ve had it in my basement and haven’t used it much. I’m happy to share more pics or videos but especially with my kids and schedule can’t accommodate people just coming by to look"

Me: "If it's in good to great condition, I will absolutely take your equipment off your hands, but I would have to look at it and physically inspect the equipment. Unfortunately, seeing more pics or videos isn't enough for me. I work in Woodbridge (and have the day off tomorrow so I'm flexible), and am serious about getting this done ASAP if the equipment checks out. If you want to verify me (for safety/comfort/security/seriousness), I can link you to my work website (I work in healthcare)."

Me: Hi Seller, I wanted to follow up and figure out how to get this done. With enough notice, my schedule is fairly flexible. If the equipment is in great-to-excellent condition, I'll pay your asking of $$$$ and get it out of your basement right away. I'm looking to get equipment by the end of this week."

Silence. Nothing. Ghosts.

He stopped responding.

Perhaps he found another buyer or he didn't actually want to sell the equipment or he was expecting me to pay him for items sight unseen, but the truth is, he owed me nothing.

Luckily, I found another posting that night itself, but at a 54% higher price point — however, this package included substantially more equipment — the exact items on my buy-list at almost $2000 less than buying new.

A few messages back and forth, negotiated a fair price, and we arranged a meet up so I could inspect the equipment in person.

I have both sold and purchased items over the years on Kijiji without getting stabbed or kidnapped — but this interaction was spectacular.

Because of the sudden closing of the gym where I run part of my business, I lost 2 weeks of lead time, which meant I had to ask the second seller to bring forward our inspection meet.

We would have a Valentine's Day rendezvous, he and I.

The equipment was exactly as described or better, so I handed over the large stack of cash.

Initially as he was counting it, he thought I'd overpaid and was going to return the extra. I made him count again, as I was sure the bank didn't give me any extra.

It was all there.

A good deal for me, and a good deal for him.

And this is where he went above and beyond a seller's duty: he helped me carry 1000s of pounds of equipment and weights from his apartment to my U-Haul, which was no light feat.

We lifted and hoisted and farmer's carried for about an hour, muscles straining, until the cargo van was loaded, a beast of burden.

As he told me to message him if I had any issues with set up, I slipped him an extra $50.

He declined, but I made him take it... because labour isn't free.

As I drove off exhausted, beads of sweat meandering down my back, dirty with grime — much slower and heavier than I arrived — I was grateful for the initial seller's ghosting...

...because I would have ended up spending substantially more for less.

Even with all that weight, I felt lighter.

P.S. As of publication of this piece, the original seller is still selling his equipment 6 days later, but he's increased the price by 60%, for less stuff.

The Lightness of a Heavy Weight.

Adventures of using an online used goods marketplace. You never know what you'll find.

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