Facebook: this is where your family comments on each of your pictures, your old high school friend continuously gives updates on their new baby, and now.. a place where you can buy furniture? Facebook is now no longer just family, friends, and a barrage of political posts with the Facebook Marketplace’s introduction: it’s the place you can buy and sell just about everything you like.

If you’re no stranger to buying and selling online, you’re probably curious about what makes the Facebook Marketplace special. After all, Craigslist, OfferUp, LetGo, and hundreds of services are already popping up every day that allow you to purchase and sell something from the comfort of your sofa. But there are several distinct benefits to the Facebook Marketplace that have gained it a reputation as one of the best, most comfortable places to sell.

What Makes Facebook Marketplace So Unique?

Security: Using the service-provided rating system (using programs such as the five-star seller ratings of OfferUp), online buyers can only weed out unsavory sellers in the past. Short of that, to make sure they’re not a suspect, you might run a background check, but that seems like a little much for a used coffee table. You get a much more detailed picture of a person with the Facebook Marketplace, beginning with a literal view, then on to some famous friends, some necessary details about where they come from, their age, and what their lives are like. Plus, if you’ve seen her face before, it makes it easier to remember them in public when you meet up to make your purchase.

Messaging: You either have to send out your cell phone number on Craigslist or use their email-encryption service to manage to message. Those are not great choices in 2018. On the other hand, the Facebook Marketplace operates through a Facebook messenger. There are no added hassle or security measures: you can contact your friends via the app or online the same way you can message them. You can also pay, much better than the old cash norm, via Facebook Messenger.

Convenience: Have you ever tried to use your phone on Craigslist? If so, you could end up throwing your phone against a wall. The GUI is not mobile-friendly. We don’t blame you. And while apps like OfferUp and LetGo offer the ease of a native app experience, it’s so much easier to slide two buttons to the right for Marketplace from your Facebook News Feed.

Tips for Facebook Selling on Marketplace

Detail,

Used designer shoes brand new furniture, car parts, specifics matter; it doesn’t matter what you sell. There’s a scuff on the shoe’s heel? Upload a shot of a close-up. Does the car segment only work with a particular model? Include the data for the model. Give any justification for trusting you to potential customers, and they will be more likely to buy from you.

Choose the Right Category

For your used pickup truck, do not flood the appliances section with a message. Not only is it irritating, but it’s also a convenient way to take down your product (and your account flagged). Particularly if you end up blocked from Facebook, you’ll regret it, and unlike Craigslist, creating a new fake account to get your pickup sold is not so easy.

Be Clear About Your Price

If you’re going to pay $250 for your sectional leather, not a dollar less, make that explicit. While being open to deals is always a good idea, letting prospective clients know upfront that you will only take a fixed price keeps your inbox safe for interested customers.

Know What Items Facebook Marketplace Won’t Let You Sell

There are a few things that Facebook Marketplace does not allow you to sell, and if you do it too sneakily, they’ll get your entire Facebook account banned. This is what you’re not going to want to sell:

• Drugs, or anything illegal (same as any other sales site)
• Weapons, including guns and knives (even decorative items), and weapon ammunition
• Animals, including pets
• Counterfeits/knockoff items
• Anything that infringes on intellectual property (like unlicensed fan gear)
• Tobacco products and related paraphernalia
• Alcohol
• Anything that involves a “get rich quick” scheme (MLM products, scams, and drugs/medications not approved by the FDA)

There are more unique goods and services that can’t be sold (and some can only be sold on Facebook and not on Instagram), so check their complete guidelines here if you’re not sure.

Include Delivery/Shipping Whenever You Can

No one would like to buy a sofa and then have to move it on their own. If you slightly include the shipping and markup of the price, your goods will fly off the (electronic) shelves. Ship smaller products via USPS flat-rate boxes for cost-effective shipping. There’s Dolly, your trusted Facebook Marketplace delivery service, for larger products. Our helpers will take care of all the moving for you so that you don’t even need to go to the home of the buyer. Whenever the client orders, also on the same day, providing Dolly delivery would ensure that the furniture and large pieces sell in a snap on Facebook Marketplace.

Buying On Facebook Marketplace: What to Keep in Mind

There’s a world of opportunity as a seller on the Facebook marketplace. But as a buyer, it is essential to note that there are always scams, but here they are a little more difficult to find than on Craigslist. Our top tips for keeping healthy while shopping is here.

Make Sure the Profile Is Legit

Spam accounts and trolls are everywhere, and to get your money, they could be posting fake advertising. Is testing to see a profile legitimate? Here are a couple of sure signs that it is fake:

• The profile was created recently
• Their profile picture is not of a photo of a person or is not a photo at all
• The profile has zero friends, or a minimal number (less than 25 is usually suspicious) 
• There are no details on their page: no workplace, city, friends, photos, or posts
• Profile only posts political content or shares content from petite, virtually unknown sites

Do the world a favor if you see a fake profile: report it to Facebook and save someone else from being scammed.

Comparison Shop (Beyond Facebook)

You may find that prices on Facebook are slightly higher (or slightly lower), so an excellent way to see if this is your best choice is to take a look at what other sites sell for similar items. Of course, there are perks that other places won’t provide to the Facebook Marketplace, so if you’re able to purchase from Facebook, consider asking the seller to respect the price of the item you found elsewhere to save both the offer and your health.

PSA: You Don’t Have to Accept a Seller’s Friend Request to Buy From Them

Via the messenger app, you will chat back and forth with individuals you are not friends with on Facebook. There’s no need for you to be their Facebook mate. Your phone number doesn’t have to be sent to them. If a seller asks you to be friends with them, proceed with caution.

Just Like with Craigslist, Don’t Wire Transfer for Purchases.

This is pretty straightforward: don’t wire transfer the money if you purchase on Facebook Marketplace. Few safer alternatives:

• Paying through Facebook Messenger
• PayPal
• Venmo
• Square Cash

Whichever form of payment you prefer, make sure you get your item before you pay; otherwise, your money is as good as it is gone.

It might sound foreign now to buy and sell on the Facebook marketplace, but it may be the fastest way to buy and sell in the future. Make sure that, like Dolly, you have all the right tips and instruments to help you out. We will carry you the truck and muscle you need to deliver your big goods, and you will sell even faster on Facebook with us as your shipping choice. To learn why we are trusted with Facebook Marketplace shipments every day, check out our Facebook reviews.