vindje.com / Guides / Buying on Marktplaats
Ask the questions that would make you cancel the trip: exact measurements, age, faults not in the photos, and whether it can be carried out of the building. Two or three good questions save you a wasted afternoon, and sellers answer them faster than a vague 'still available?'.
Most wasted pickups come from things that do not fit: the sofa through your stairwell, the wardrobe under your sloped ceiling, the washing machine into the alcove. Ask for width, depth and height, and for sofas also the seat depth and the height of the armrests.
Then measure your side: door width, the tightest turn on the stairs, and the space in the car or van. Dutch stairs are steep and narrow, so this matters more here than in most countries.
How old is it, where was it bought, and why are they selling? The answers tell you about wear and also about honesty. 'Bought it three years ago at IKEA, moving to a smaller place' is a normal answer. A shrug about where a nearly new laptop came from is not.
For appliances, ask for the model number. You can look up the age and original price, and check whether spare parts are still available.
Ask directly and specifically. 'Are there any defects?' gets 'no'. A specific question gets a specific answer.
Upholstered furniture, mattresses, rugs and curtains hold smells and hair for years. If it matters to you, ask: 'Komt het uit een rookvrij en huisdiervrij huis?' (Is it from a smoke-free and pet-free home?). Many sellers put rookvrij in the listing already when it is true.
Confirm the basics before you set off, so there are no surprises at the door.
Some categories have one question that matters more than the rest. For a fridge or freezer, ask whether it has been standing upright for a while, since one that was transported lying down needs a few hours before it is switched on. For a bike, ask whether keys for every lock come with it. For a laptop or phone, ask whether it has been removed from the seller's account. For flat-pack furniture, ask whether it has been taken apart before, since chipboard does not take many rebuilds.
Put your questions in one message, not five. Read the listing first so you do not ask what is already there. Keep it to the two or three that decide whether you will come. A seller who sees a buyer who has read the listing and asks sharp questions is more likely to hold the item for you.
If the answers are vague or the seller avoids a question, ask once more in a different way. If it is still vague, that is often your answer.
Describe what you want in your own words and vindje.com searches Marktplaats in Dutch, then reads every listing and keeps only the real matches. For example:
Washing machine 8 kg, under 6 years old, no leaks, from a ground floor or with lift, under 200 euro near GroningenSearch Marktplaats like this
Exact dimensions, whether it comes apart, any damage or smells, and whether it is from a smoke-free and pet-free home.
'Is dit nog beschikbaar?' Add when you can collect, for example 'Ik kan morgen ophalen', to get a faster reply.
Yes, it is a normal question. Moving, upgrading or a new baby are common answers. Evasive answers are worth noting.
Yes, especially of wear spots, the back or underside, and labels with model numbers. Most sellers are happy to send them.