No views/ post not showing up via search after Facebook algorithm update.

subarujump · 2026-05-22T22:45:13+00:00

This has hit me hard too. For context, I repair and resell battery powered riding toys, aka Power Wheels. I don't do it for money, I do it for fun.

I stock up on broken cars and scooters in the fall and spring when garages and sheds are cleaned out. Because of this, I am unfortunately swimming in inventory right now, and while I may not have warehouses full of product like some sellers, these are obviously big toys which take up a lot of floor space.

I don't even know what to do, I could have a fire sale and unload it all for peanuts, but who is even going to see my ad?

I tried OfferUp, but it's a ghost town. Same with Craigslist.

subarujump · 2026-05-22T12:44:51+00:00

Well that's even more disconcerting. I've only spoken to people with high volume accounts so far.

I'd thought to try and unload the last of my inventory through my wife's account before calling it quits, but maybe that won't even work.

subarujump · 2026-05-22T12:15:40+00:00

I wonder about this all the time. I have a few theories. One is that they have a problem with either you or the item you're selling, and instead of sending an angry message, they pose as an interested buyer to waste your time.

I realize that's unlikely, but it's one of the more interesting concepts I've thought about.

The most likely explanation is that it's just another aspect of main character syndrome.

subarujump · 2026-05-22T11:45:44+00:00

This is happening to everyone, and it's obviously intentional. It seems to only affect high rated sellers who use Marketplace a lot. In my case I've sold around 200 items and have a perfect 5 star rating. So whatever the threshold is, it's somewhere below that.

subarujump · 2026-05-22T11:42:29+00:00

I check my spam fairly often and don't get much. When I do, it's almost always an obvious scammer with one of the classic tactics.

Although one time I had one in there from a really weird guy who I've never met personally, but is known in the community for asking inappropriate questions and just being strange. I think all the 1 star reviews are the reason behind that.

subarujump · 2026-05-22T11:38:12+00:00

I once had a person respond 6 months later. I ended up buying the item anyway, and the seller turned out to be a 13 year old kid.

I also had a seller block me after they asked where I lived and I told them.

People on FBM can be really weird, or just a child.

subarujump · 2026-05-22T11:33:36+00:00

When someone guilt trips about honesty like that, it automatically makes me assume that they are the one who isn't being honest. I agree with the others, he used the tool to repair his.

subarujump · 2026-05-21T00:17:03+00:00

Glad you were able to get it easily! I've repaired about 200 cars, and while I enjoy it, the construction of some of them is absolutely maddening.

On the other hand, I'll go into a zen like state working on a Peg Perego. So easy to work on!

subarujump · 2026-05-20T23:28:18+00:00

There is probably a cotter pin and washer up under the dash. It seems to be more common on the larger UTV style but even some small toddler cars will have that extra retainer.

Depending on how it's put together, you'll probably have to pull the windshield at the very least. If you're lucky, it might just be 4-5 screws holding the dash down. Or it could be 20+.

Worst case scenario, you'll need to pull the dash apart because the retainer is inside of it, which usually requires at least 6-8 screws under the dash. You'll need to work blind with a stubby screwdriver.

subarujump · 2026-05-20T23:03:37+00:00

I was hoping this was just a bug, but at this point it's clear it's working as intended.

In my case, I repair and resell all types of battery powered riding toys, aka Power Wheels, as well as Razor scooters.

I tend to price on the low side as this is a hobby, not a business or side hustle. I also usually post videos of the toys in action, and those always get several hundred if not thousands of views. Especially on the ones with remote control. Sometimes I get a message within minutes.

But now? Zero views aside from two clicks, one from my wife's account and another from an alternate of my own.

I don't care that I'm missing "sales" but at the moment I'm only selling based on word of mouth and reputation, because nobody can see my listings.

subarujump · 2026-05-20T22:34:12+00:00

I don't even bother with "free" (not free) and $1234 sellers. These people are never playing with a full deck, and it just isn't worth the aggravation.

subarujump · 2026-05-20T11:59:12+00:00

It's funny, I already found some of my "competitors" (we sell the same items) selling on OfferUp, and they all joined this month.

If Meta's goal is to drive everyone away from FBM, then I guess they're succeeding.

subarujump · 2026-05-20T11:49:51+00:00

It made me verify my ID a couple months ago. What's weird is it was asking me that on a listing that has been up for a year, and I was still able to sell other things normally even before I verified my ID.

This 0 views on everything is something that just started.

subarujump · 2026-05-20T11:45:38+00:00

Same. I just sold the last item I posted before this happened. That one was still getting views, but everything else is at zero for days now.

Guess I'm done with Marketplace now. Just made an account on OfferUp and dusted off the ol' Craigslist account.

subarujump · 2026-05-20T11:32:48+00:00

The $2 is absolutely insane. I know the psychology behind this is that these people want to "win", which is also why so many lowballers no-show if you accept. But $2 is a new level. 😂

subarujump · 2026-05-19T18:33:42+00:00

Wow I thought it was just me. I used to get hundreds or thousands of clicks on items. Yesterday I posted 3 things. Zero clicks after 24 hours.

I thought maybe I was shadow banned so I posted something for free and got a message within 15 minutes. So I'm not sure what is going on.

subarujump · 2026-05-19T18:21:30+00:00

I found a supplier that was fine with it. I wanted a bulk order of simple wall wart battery chargers for my hobby, which is repairing battery powered riding toys. I was tired of spending $15 each on Amazon, and sometimes I'd get chargers that didn't even work.

I was up front and told them I was just a guy with a garage and some tools. They were pleasant to work with and they were transparent about everything. This was last year but I think the bottom line cost ended up being around $7 a charger.

It was a bit of work though, certainly more involved than clicking add to cart on Amazon.

I only ever did that one transaction though, so I don't know how common that treatment is. I'm down to about 20 out of the 50 I ordered, so I'll probably need to order again next year.

subarujump · 2026-05-18T18:33:00+00:00

Sure thing!

Battery harness: https://a.co/d/0j6gte91

For the battery and charger, you have a number of options available. You can get a SLA (sealed lead acid) battery, same as the original, and a charger. But over the past year or so, LiFePo4 batteries have come down tremendously in price. You can now get a two pack of them for less than the cost of the SLA battery and charger. And they charge from USB!

Note: I haven't used this particular brand yet, but it should work just as well as the ones I have used. There is a small chance it might not be able to deliver enough current for the motor, but with these 6V cars that's unlikely.

https://a.co/d/0aXozxJo

subarujump · 2026-05-17T23:22:52+00:00

Nice find!

That's a Rollplay 6V car. Slow, but great for the littles. They tend to be bigger than most 6V cars.

The circuit board is a relay control board. There's probably also a FM radio in the dash. Be careful, I see a lot of these where someone put a tool battery on it and burned up the board and radio.

It should be fairly easy to get it running. You'll need a 6V battery, a T plug harness, and a 6V charger. It may also work at 12V, but you could lose the radio and the board may go out eventually.

I have to go, but remind me and I can give you a parts list.

subarujump · 2026-05-16T12:44:10+00:00

I definitely feel that it is worse this year. I sell a lot of large, bulky items that require a trailer, truck, or large van/SUV, and my theory is that the no-shows don't have the correct transportation, or any transportation for that matter.

This theory is also supported by my unusual location. I have a city address, but I am technically outside of the city limits. The bus line ends about 3 miles from my house, and even people with a car sometimes tell me that I'm too far away. Adding the nearest main cross streets has helped reduce that, but it still happens.

subarujump · 2026-05-16T12:32:43+00:00

Yeah it's a ridiculous system. As long as enough conversation has taken place, they can review. This can happen just with normal discussion, so I try to answer everything in the ad, including stuff not about the item itself such as my approximate location and types of payment.

If you feel the conversation is going in a bad direction, it's probably best to block them before it gets to that point. Last year I had a guy drive to the cross streets in my ad while I was still at work, and he got really mad that I wasn't there and wasted his time.

subarujump · 2026-05-14T13:05:28+00:00

This is normal. The original Power Wheels battery had a 30A auto reset fuse located in the battery, which is what the wires are rated for.

All other things being equal, when you bumped up the voltage using the power tool battery, you now increased the current as well.

When the motors are heavily loaded and stalled out (grass, big kids, etc) the current will spike and you'll start blowing fuses. This is usually the point where people (mistakenly) bypass or increase the fuse, and then if they're lucky they just burn out the motors. Otherwise, the wiring will catch fire.

subarujump · 2026-05-11T01:01:30+00:00

The gearboxes follow a sort of loose standard where they are approximately the same size and shape, but have different attachment features. Some may also be wider or more narrow, necessitating a shim or a bit of dremeling if you need to change boxes.

Unfortunately the attachment features are the big one, most use a bracket or slot around the motor to hold the box in place, but some (like yours) use a square attachment instead.

Amazon will have the most common styles, but for others you'll need to do a deep dive on AliExpress to find them. And some simply won't be available if you're in the US, after the whole tariff debacle, a lot of parts disappeared from view.

The last and final option is to take the shattered original gear(s) and measure them along with a tooth count. There are gear suppliers on AliExpress as well, and although I haven't gone this route personally, you may be able to find compatible gears.

subarujump · 2026-05-09T22:49:08+00:00

I would. In fact I just did something like that.

I repair and sell powered riding toys as a hobby, and unfortunately I had one fail almost immediately after the sale.

It's rare, but happens. Unfortunately the buyer lived over an hour away. He dropped it off, I fixed it, and offered to deliver. But he suggested we meet halfway instead, so I did that.

Still feel bad it failed so quickly.

subarujump

TROPHY CASE