Foosball from Facebook
We have a foosball table!
I was thrilled to find a listing on my first ever foray into the Facebook Marketplace on Tuesday night for a foosball table for only $6 and 6-pack of beer! Knowing how much love Sean and Jake love playing foosball, whether at the Chens' or the Vetters', I knew that the opportunity was too good to pass up. Especially if I could keep it as a surprise!
After quickly scanning the pics of the decent-looking table and the decent-looking dude selling it (haha), I clicked on the send message link.
Now for a guy who has never bought anything on ebay, craigslist, or usedvancouver, this was a big step for me.
My first message read something like: "Hi Daniel. Is the foosball table still available? I'd be happy to give you $6 and a six pack..haha. I live in Richmond and would be able to come pick it up from you. Let me know. Thanks, Clay"
Daniel wrote me back saying that it was mine as long as I could get it before Saturday. I quickly replied saying that I would come Friday night and asked for his address and phone number. He then replied saying he wouldn't be around on Friday night but he'd leave it outside. Then, I would swap the table for the beer. He gave me his number and address and a warning to bring a large vehicle. Lastly, he told me to pick my favourite kind that wasn't mainstream.
Oh oh...I don't drink beer so by default I don't have a favourite. I hoped that this little technicality wouldn't void the deal!!!
Realizing that it would be just me and the boys Friday night (Gail would be away at a baby shower), I predicted serious problems moving the table by myself. So I decided to give Daniel a call to suggest another time, and to introduce myself.
Oh oh...the number he gave me was a wrong number. In hindsight, the conversation was probably pretty ludicrous to the gentleman who received my hyper call:
"Hi Daniel, this is Clay...the guy who is going to buy your foosball table!"
"Uh...hello? Who is this?
"It's Clay....we just met on Facebook...I wanted to make alternate arrangements for pick-up!"
"I'm sorry...I have no clue what you are talking about."
"Sorry bro....then I guess you're not Daniel."
Back to plan B, and that was to send another message through Facebook. I told the real Daniel that he had given me the wrong number and that Friday night might not work anymore. I then left for my weekly basketball game with the guys.
While playing ball, I was telling the guys about my pending purchase. As I relayed the story, it started to sound more and more sketchy: the cheap price. A house in a remote location of Surrey. Having to pick it up on my own. And of course, the wrong number. The guys even went so far as to warn me to be careful. I noticed only one of them offered to come with me...thanks Rich!
But I had faith. I got home after basketball to find another message from Daniel apologizing for giving me the wrong number (phew) and confirming that he could meet me on Saturday morning instead to help me put the table into the van.
I replied confirming the pickup time and explained to him that I only drink cola so I have no clue what beer to get him. He replied with a couple of suggestions. I made sure I had one of them and headed out to the Surrey/Langley border with Gail and the boys early Saturday morning.
As we got closer the boys got more and more excited. We found the place and pulled up to the driveway. I went in first and greeted Daniel, who looked exactly how I had pictured him. Because I saw his picture on Facebook. And most people look like their own picture.
We shook hands and I placed the Granville Island Pale Ale on his steps. He shot me a big grin saying thanks. I asked him if he still wanted cash and he said no. I didn't really argue.
We tried to move the table out but it wouldn't fit through the door, either upright, on its side or diagonally. Gail and the boys were still in the van, when Sean asked Gail, "Oh, can we play the foosball table while we're waiting for Dad to pick up the surprise?"
Gail told the boys that the foosball table WAS the surprise. Needless to say, the boys were thrilled and Sean bolted up the stairs to help. Jake tried to bolt but was still strapped into his car seat. He made it up a few seconds after Sean.
We ended taking the legs off and getting it into the van after a couple of attempts. It was so big that even with the middle seats removed, it was wedged between the back of our front seats and basically pinning Sean and Jake back into their car seats. At least we didn't have to worry about it sliding around! I noted that we didn't have anything to cover it with, and that I didn't want people to see it in the van. Daniel deadpanned: "Uh....I don't think anyone is going to steal it." True enough...can't remember the last time I've seen someone walking around with a 100 pound foosball table on their back.
I wished Daniel luck on his move and thanked him once again before heading out to meet Andrea. We had a great lunch, ran some errands, and then got home to set it up and play.
There are a couple of broken guys (they are taped) and a bit of duct table holding reinforcing a few sweet spots. But who am I to complain? The boys are happy, and it only cost me $12. Not bad for my first purchase.
Excuse me as I go open up my ebay account...
I was thrilled to find a listing on my first ever foray into the Facebook Marketplace on Tuesday night for a foosball table for only $6 and 6-pack of beer! Knowing how much love Sean and Jake love playing foosball, whether at the Chens' or the Vetters', I knew that the opportunity was too good to pass up. Especially if I could keep it as a surprise!
After quickly scanning the pics of the decent-looking table and the decent-looking dude selling it (haha), I clicked on the send message link.
Now for a guy who has never bought anything on ebay, craigslist, or usedvancouver, this was a big step for me.
My first message read something like: "Hi Daniel. Is the foosball table still available? I'd be happy to give you $6 and a six pack..haha. I live in Richmond and would be able to come pick it up from you. Let me know. Thanks, Clay"
Daniel wrote me back saying that it was mine as long as I could get it before Saturday. I quickly replied saying that I would come Friday night and asked for his address and phone number. He then replied saying he wouldn't be around on Friday night but he'd leave it outside. Then, I would swap the table for the beer. He gave me his number and address and a warning to bring a large vehicle. Lastly, he told me to pick my favourite kind that wasn't mainstream.
Oh oh...I don't drink beer so by default I don't have a favourite. I hoped that this little technicality wouldn't void the deal!!!
Realizing that it would be just me and the boys Friday night (Gail would be away at a baby shower), I predicted serious problems moving the table by myself. So I decided to give Daniel a call to suggest another time, and to introduce myself.
Oh oh...the number he gave me was a wrong number. In hindsight, the conversation was probably pretty ludicrous to the gentleman who received my hyper call:
"Hi Daniel, this is Clay...the guy who is going to buy your foosball table!"
"Uh...hello? Who is this?
"It's Clay....we just met on Facebook...I wanted to make alternate arrangements for pick-up!"
"I'm sorry...I have no clue what you are talking about."
"Sorry bro....then I guess you're not Daniel."
Back to plan B, and that was to send another message through Facebook. I told the real Daniel that he had given me the wrong number and that Friday night might not work anymore. I then left for my weekly basketball game with the guys.
While playing ball, I was telling the guys about my pending purchase. As I relayed the story, it started to sound more and more sketchy: the cheap price. A house in a remote location of Surrey. Having to pick it up on my own. And of course, the wrong number. The guys even went so far as to warn me to be careful. I noticed only one of them offered to come with me...thanks Rich!
But I had faith. I got home after basketball to find another message from Daniel apologizing for giving me the wrong number (phew) and confirming that he could meet me on Saturday morning instead to help me put the table into the van.
I replied confirming the pickup time and explained to him that I only drink cola so I have no clue what beer to get him. He replied with a couple of suggestions. I made sure I had one of them and headed out to the Surrey/Langley border with Gail and the boys early Saturday morning.
As we got closer the boys got more and more excited. We found the place and pulled up to the driveway. I went in first and greeted Daniel, who looked exactly how I had pictured him. Because I saw his picture on Facebook. And most people look like their own picture.
We shook hands and I placed the Granville Island Pale Ale on his steps. He shot me a big grin saying thanks. I asked him if he still wanted cash and he said no. I didn't really argue.
We tried to move the table out but it wouldn't fit through the door, either upright, on its side or diagonally. Gail and the boys were still in the van, when Sean asked Gail, "Oh, can we play the foosball table while we're waiting for Dad to pick up the surprise?"
Gail told the boys that the foosball table WAS the surprise. Needless to say, the boys were thrilled and Sean bolted up the stairs to help. Jake tried to bolt but was still strapped into his car seat. He made it up a few seconds after Sean.
We ended taking the legs off and getting it into the van after a couple of attempts. It was so big that even with the middle seats removed, it was wedged between the back of our front seats and basically pinning Sean and Jake back into their car seats. At least we didn't have to worry about it sliding around! I noted that we didn't have anything to cover it with, and that I didn't want people to see it in the van. Daniel deadpanned: "Uh....I don't think anyone is going to steal it." True enough...can't remember the last time I've seen someone walking around with a 100 pound foosball table on their back.
I wished Daniel luck on his move and thanked him once again before heading out to meet Andrea. We had a great lunch, ran some errands, and then got home to set it up and play.
There are a couple of broken guys (they are taped) and a bit of duct table holding reinforcing a few sweet spots. But who am I to complain? The boys are happy, and it only cost me $12. Not bad for my first purchase.
Excuse me as I go open up my ebay account...
posted by Clay at 6:42 PM
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