Behind some listings hide stories you could never make up. Facebook Marketplace is where people go to sell an old couch or a broken TV — but sometimes the real treasure is the sheer human weirdness in the details. Here are ten stories so strange they almost feel scripted.
The "test drive" that wasn't
I was selling my motorboat, and a man called with smart questions and what sounded like genuine interest. We agreed he'd come by and I'd take him out on the water so he could see what the engine could do.
He showed up with a woman, a towel, and a cooler full of beer. Odd, but we set off anyway. About five minutes in, I asked how long they'd been married. The woman said it was their first date.
The guy had faked wanting to buy my boat just to take her out on the water! I turned right back around and kicked them both off — though I did feel a little sorry for her.
Would you put them on?
I was selling a pair of high heels, and a man got in touch. He said he wanted to buy them for his girlfriend, but could only decide if I put them on and photographed them that way.
It seemed like an honest request — right up until he asked me to photograph the shoes next to my bare foot so he could see "the proportions." I sent him a picture of my husband's hairy leg instead, and he never wrote back. Pesky foot fetishists...
Nothing to worry about
I was hunting for antique dolls for my aunt — she collects them — and I found a lovely piece. The description proudly noted, with three exclamation points, that it "sometimes talks on its own, but it's NOT cursed!!!"
I did not dare buy it.
If you enjoy stories where old objects come with a little too much history, you might also like our look at the vintage treasures worth hunting for at flea markets.
Dodging death
For sale: an American-style beechwood coffin with a split lid that opens in two, so the deceased can be viewed with dignity. Upholstered and finished with an elegant covering shroud. Thanks to its generous size, it can also accommodate larger individuals respectfully.
Since so many people asked — the reason for the sale is: a misdiagnosis.
The caravan
For sale: our caravan, in perfect condition. I'm parting with it because my husband (that filthy piece of garbage) spent an entire year rolling around in it with my sister (a cheap tramp).
I loved this caravan, but now I feel sick just looking at it. So when you come to see it, I won't be going inside to show you around.
Wait, what?
The strangest listing I ever saw was a "working ATM machine" for a bargain price of around $550. Second place goes to a Toyota Sequoia that was sitting upside down on a hillside, where "transport is the buyer's responsibility."
And third place: a retro armchair with an enormous, clearly visible bloodstain on it.
The garage sale
A man was selling a whole pile of women's items: jewelry, designer clothes, shoes, expensive creams, quality makeup — everything at rock-bottom prices. The listing read:
"I bought all of these for my girlfriend, who told me she was going on an overnight team-building trip. Then I got an anonymous tip from one of her coworkers that there was no company event — she went to a spa with one of her bosses. I also notified his wife, who is now packing her own bags. I want my girlfriend's — sorry, ex-girlfriend's — stuff out of my apartment as fast as possible, so the more you take, the bigger discount you get."
The missing money
I bought a cheap chest of drawers from a woman in her fifties. An hour later she messaged me, claiming she'd forgotten around $1,400 in one of the drawers and demanding I return it immediately.
I told her there was nothing in those drawers except dead flies, and I even sent her a video of me checking every nook and cranny of the piece. She still threatened me for days — sometimes with the police, sometimes with a beating from her boyfriend — until I finally blocked her.
Brain power
I sold a big flat-screen TV for parts — for a whopping $10 — because it didn't work. Then the buyer called me in a rage, furious that the TV didn't work.
Something felt off
I've done countless deals on Marketplace and never had a problem, but one older man genuinely scared me. He bought a watch from me, and I met him at my front gate, the way I always do.
While he paid, he kept studying the house and asked whether I lived here alone. He was a big man, very tall — easily six and a half feet. I lied and said I lived here with my husband and sons.
When he left, he mentioned he'd be sticking around the neighborhood for a while because "he liked the vibe of the area." The next day, I had an alarm system installed.
Frequently asked questions
Are these Facebook Marketplace stories real?
They're shared as personal accounts from sellers and buyers describing their own bizarre experiences. Like most viral online stories, they're presented as true encounters that people found strange enough to pass along.
What was the strangest item listed in these stories?
Contenders include a full-size beechwood coffin sold after a "misdiagnosis," a "working ATM machine," an upside-down Toyota Sequoia on a hillside, and an antique doll the seller swore "sometimes talks on its own, but it's NOT cursed."
How can you stay safe when meeting Marketplace buyers or sellers?
One seller in these stories avoided oversharing by claiming she didn't live alone, and later installed an alarm after an unsettling encounter. Being cautious about revealing personal details is a recurring theme.
Why do people share such personal drama in a for-sale listing?
Sometimes emotion takes over — like the person selling a caravan or a garage full of an ex's belongings. The listings turn into a way to vent, and the raw honesty is exactly what makes them unforgettable.
