9 Proven Ways to Stop No-Shows on Marketplace Sales

You drive to the meeting spot. You text "I'm here." You wait. And wait. Then crickets.

Getting ghosted by buyers is the worst part of selling on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist. You cleared your schedule. You passed on other buyers. And they never showed.

It doesn't have to be this way. After helping over 2,000 sellers stop marketplace no-shows, we've identified what works.

1. Require Phone Verification

Why it works: Fake accounts and tire-kickers rarely give their real phone number.

How to do it: Before confirming any pickup, ask buyers to verify their phone via text. This step alone filters out 35% of flaky buyers.

ShowdUp does this automatically. Buyers can't book without verifying their number first.

2. Send Multiple Reminders

Why it works: Most buyers genuinely forget. A well-timed reminder saves the sale.

When to remind:

• 24 hours before pickup
• 2 hours before pickup
• 30 minutes before pickup

Pro tip: Use SMS, not messenger. Text messages have a 98% open rate. Marketplace messages? About 20%.

3. Collect a Non-Refundable Deposit

Why it works: When buyers have skin in the game, they show up.

How much to charge: 10-20% of the item price

• $500 sofa? Ask for $50-100 deposit
• $100 item? Ask for $10-20 deposit

Important: Deposits are non-refundable and applied toward the purchase price. If they no-show, you keep it. This is the single most effective way to prevent buyer ghosting.

ShowdUp integrates with PayPal to collect deposits when buyers book.

4. Use Specific Appointment Times

Why it works: "Sometime Saturday" invites no-shows. Specific times create accountability.

Instead of: "How about this weekend?"

Try: "I have slots at 10:30am, 1:15pm, or 3:45pm Saturday. Which works for you?"

Specific times feel more like real commitments. Vague times feel optional.

5. Ask for Confirmation the Day Before

Why it works: Forces buyers to recommit to the pickup.

What to say:

"Hi [name], confirming you're coming tomorrow at 2pm for the [item]. Reply YES to confirm."

No response? Follow up or offer the slot to your backup buyer.

6. Keep a Backup Buyer

Why it works: If your first choice flakes, you don't lose the sale.

How to do it: When multiple buyers show interest, tell buyer #2:

"Someone else has first dibs. If they don't show by [time], it's yours."

This keeps them engaged without double-booking the same slot.

7. Choose the Right Meeting Spot

Why it works: Convenient locations reduce friction and excuses.

Best options:

• Well-lit public parking lot
• Police station parking lot (yes, this is a thing)
• Busy shopping center
• Gas station with cameras

Avoid:

• Residential neighborhoods (feels too personal)
• Remote locations (raises safety concerns)
• Your home (unless necessary for large items)

8. Screen Out Red Flags Early

Warning signs of a likely no-show:

• "Is this still available?" with no follow-up
• Won't commit to a specific time
• Asks you to hold it indefinitely
• Wants free delivery
• Messages at odd hours with poor grammar
• Price negotiations that drag on forever

Trust your gut. If someone feels flaky, they probably are.

9. Set Clear Policies

Why it works: Professional sellers get treated professionally.

Include in your listing or initial message:

• Pickup must happen within 48 hours of agreement
• Late arrivals forfeit their slot
• Deposit required for holds over 24 hours
• First person to show with cash gets it

Clear policies attract serious buyers and repel flaky ones.

The Nuclear Option: Require Deposits for Every Pickup

High-volume sellers dealing with constant no-shows should consider requiring deposits for every sale over $50.

Benefits:

• 80%+ reduction in no-shows
• Filters out tire-kickers immediately
• Builds a list of serious, reliable buyers
• You get paid even if they flake

Drawbacks:

• Some buyers will pass
• Requires payment processing setup
• May reduce initial interest

For most sellers, the tradeoff is worth it. ShowdUp makes this simple by letting you toggle deposits on or off per listing.

Real Results from Real Sellers

"I was getting stood up 8-10 times a month. After I started using ShowdUp with deposits, my no-show rate dropped to nearly zero." — Marcus T., Furniture Reseller

"The automated reminders alone cut my no-shows in half. When I added deposits for items over $200, flakers disappeared." — Jessica L., Facebook Marketplace Power Seller

The Simplest Way to Stop No-Shows

You could manually implement all these strategies. Or you could use ShowdUp.

Here's what happens when a buyer books through ShowdUp:

1. They verify their phone number (no fake accounts)
2. They pick a specific time slot from your availability
3. They pay a non-refundable deposit via PayPal (applied to purchase price)
4. They receive automatic SMS reminders at 24h, 2h, and 30min
5. They confirm via text that they're coming
6. You see real-time confirmations and only meet with serious buyers

The result? Up to 80% fewer no-shows, more completed sales, and hours of your life back.

Start your free 15-day trial and stop getting ghosted.