An American’s experience using Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is an online marketplace hosted by Facebook. To use Facebook Marketplace, you must have a personal Facebook account. There are no restrictions on who can buy or sell, and all communication is between buyers and sellers only.

Facebook Marketplace was introduced to the social platform in 2016 as a built-in way for users to buy and sell items. You can find Marketplace as a Facebook app from both the mobile app and the browser version of Facebook. You can buy and sell almost anything on Facebook Marketplace, whether it’s small household items like nightstands and smartphones, or larger items like cars and even houses.

My experience shopping on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is often my go-to platform when I want to buy something specific. Over the years, I’ve purchased two cars and a camper through Marketplace, as well as a MacBook Pro, other electronics, and household items like lamps. Marketplace is a great way to buy a discounted MacBook or other expensive electronics.

Facebook Marketplace sellers who sell multiple items may also have reviews from previous buyers. I check their reviews and profiles before sending a message. I always write a custom message instead of the default message provided by Facebook because I want to show buyers that I’m genuinely interested.

Before messaging a seller, I read the entire description. Sometimes sellers will mark a price very low to attract attention, and they will write the actual (higher) price in the description, or other warnings, such as the item not being available. When researching products, I also compare prices and conditions with other retailers or discount markets to get an idea of ​​the item’s value.

While meeting with strangers at their homes or in your own home is not the best safety advice, most of the times I met with sellers when buying items were at their homes. I was always communicative and on time when meeting with sellers, and I often brought another person with me for safety reasons and to help with loading.

As a buyer on Facebook Marketplace, I always researched products and sellers beforehand, and walked away from the transaction if something didn’t feel right. Items purchased from Facebook Marketplace cannot be returned, so when I meet to buy, I always inspect the item carefully before paying for it.

My experience selling on Facebook Marketplace

As a seller on Marketplace, I find myself experiencing far more frustration than I do as a buyer. It’s common for users to not read descriptions and sometimes not look at all the photos. While I still recommend uploading all the information, be aware that this doesn’t mean people will look at it.

When arranging for a buyer to pick up an item, I give them a specific time to visit—otherwise they could waste your entire day—and explain if the item requires help loading or other important information.

I only accept cash payments because that helps avoid online banking scams or failed transactions, and I wait until everything is confirmed before giving my full address—until then I’ll give a vague area nearby.

Once you’ve sold an item, you can set the listing to “sold” so people don’t message you again asking if the item is still available. This is better than deleting the listing ad because it shows your sales history, which can help you get reviews in the future.

How to spot scams on Facebook Marketplace

There are a number of ways to stay safe on Facebook Marketplace, and there are many things you should be aware of as a buyer and seller on Marketplace.

First, describe your item completely and honestly. Include pictures of any damage and explain everything the new owner should know. As a buyer, making sure you read and review all the information provided will help you purchase the product with the right expectations.

Check out the buyer or seller’s profile. This helps to see if they are genuine, if their story matches their conversations, and if they have any negative comments or interactions that would make you wary of their dealings.

Use the app to reverse search the listing images. This helps confirm the listing’s authenticity, as photos shouldn’t be found elsewhere. Likewise, look for duplicate listings with the same title, images, or description. There should only be one listing for an item.

In general, the best way to avoid scams through Marketplace is to only pay with cash when you actually exchange items. Online payments via bank transfers are not recommended, and especially not any online gift cards.

If you buy and sell on Marketplace regularly, some people choose to lock down their Facebook privacy settings. This includes changing your name (using a middle or last initial) and making recent photos of you and your loved ones visible only to your friends list. If you give out your address to strangers when selling items, don’t fill your news feed with your upcoming vacation plans.

Selling on Facebook Marketplace is a great way to clear out your items or allow buyers to find new items at a good price. Just be vigilant and remember that the buyer or seller is a stranger.

My advice for Facebook Marketplace users

When using Marketplace, take your time to research products and profiles. Don’t let FOMO lead to mistakes or scam opportunities when you’re excited to confirm a purchase.

To avoid wasting time, provide a time for anyone you want to meet. If they fail to arrive, move on to the next person. It’s common for some Marketplace users to miscommunicate, show up late, or even ignore you altogether. Don’t get discouraged, just keep moving forward.

Since Marketplace doesn’t charge any fees or process any payments, you can set your prices as high as you want, including giving away items for free. As a rule of thumb, most people who buy from Marketplace will try to undercut you, so take that into account when pricing. It’s easiest to only take cash, so round up your prices to a whole number.

If you want to give something away for free, just put a price on it like $10 to avoid people coming to you for trouble. It’s up to you to decide if you still give it away for free when a buyer shows up, but the price is low enough to discourage people from wasting their time.

Facebook Marketplace is a useful tool for those who want to clear out unwanted items and those who want to buy new items at a low price. Maintaining communication and honesty will result in the best outcome for both sellers and buyers.