You
is it available?
10:42 AM
Seller
yes
10:43 AM
Seller
...hello?
11:15 AM
This plays out hundreds of times a day. The seller answered. You disappeared. Now they distrust the next buyer.
You
Hi! I'd like to buy this. Are you free this weekend for pickup?
2:15 PM
Seller
Yes! Saturday works great—anytime after noon.
2:16 PM
You
Perfect, I'll be there at 1. Address?
2:17 PM
Three messages and the deal is closed. One sentence of intent beats a dozen vague "is it available?" exchanges.
Why this matters
1.1B
monthly users
3B
connections/month
250M
active sellers
93%
of Americans bought secondhand in 2025
- → With 3 billion connections happening every month, sellers get dozens of "Is it available?" messages per listing — and most lead nowhere.
- → A specific message stands out immediately and gets faster replies.
- → Showing intent means sellers are more likely to hold the item for you.
- → Meta launched an AI auto-reply tool in 2026 so sellers can handle the flood of vague messages — that's how big this problem is.
Sources: Meta (2024), OfferUp 2025 Recommerce Report, TechCrunch (March 2026)
Common questions
Why do sellers ignore "Is it available?" messages?
Sellers get this question constantly. Most buyers who send it never follow up. After answering it dozens of times with no result, sellers prioritise messages that show real intent.
What should I message instead?
Try: "Hi! I'd like to buy this—when can I pick it up?" These show you're serious and give the seller something to work with. See our message templates for copy-paste scripts.
Is it rude to ask if something is available?
Not rude—just pointless. The listing being up is your answer. Skip straight to your actual question or your offer.
Read the guides
If someone sent you this link, take the hint. 😉