Hello hello, and welcome to Episode 113 of Life On the Brink!
I’m currently in a real nesting stage of my pregnancy, and as I’m decorating and furnishing the nursery for Baby Girl, I find that I’ve returned to my favorite way to shop for the home: Facebook Marketplace. With the help of this one app, I have furnished all my living spaces over the past 5 years on such a budget, and have become quite adept at the system.
Oftentimes, though, friends and family have expressed confusion or skepticism when it comes to Marketplace, either because they never seem to find what they’re looking for, or because they’re concerned about sketchy interactions. Well, never fear!
Today I’m sharing my step-by-step process for success when buying on Facebook Marketplace (it’s a true deep-dive tutorial), as well as good practices when trying to sell on the app. Plus, I’ve got a little list of tips on “how not to get scammed,” because trust me, I have been there!
If you enjoy shopping second hand and are at all interested in this super helpful resource, this episode is for you…
What’s in my teacup? A green iced tea latte
HOW TO NAVIGATE FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE- a deep dive
BUYING
-Let the algorithm work. There are so many items available, so search for the kind of piece you’re looking for regularly, and if one catches your eye make sure to click on it or Save it. Soon the algorithm will start showing you similar items right after they’re listed.
-Be patient and stay alert. If I’m really on the hunt for a particular item, I’ll check the app at least once a day once the algorithm starts sending me those kinds of pieces. Once there’s one I’m willing to work with, I’ll act immediately and try to close as soon as possible. Until then, though, stay patient and know that, odd’s are, the perfect piece will come along in time.
-Scope the seller’s profile. This is useful if you’re worried about being scammed. You can not only find a seller’s Marketplace page, where any other items they’ve listed can be found, but also their personal Facebook page. Most people have their accounts pretty private, so you might not see much info, but in general I’m much more trusting of a profile that has a profile picture and was made several years ago. All the better if you have any mutual friends!
-Make a personalized inquiry. When initiating with a seller on Marketplace, Facebook has a default question of “Is this still available?” and I never use it. Instead, send a message that greets the seller by name, includes any questions about the item, and perhaps even suggest an upcoming time or place to meet. This message shows a lot more interest and, I have found, gets good responses.
-Keep good communication and set a clear meeting time. For example, if it’s a Wednesday and I agree with a seller to meet on Friday afternoon, I’ll end Wednesday's communication by letting them know that I’ll confirm Friday morning. Then, Friday I will reach out again, confirm, and give the seller my ETA once I’m headed their way.
-Specify currency. Facebook suggests using secure banking apps like Paypal or paying directly within Facebook Messenger, though some sellers may specify a specific app or cash. Just make sure you know before you go what the seller will accept.
-The exchange. Alert the seller when you’ve arrived and stay in places that feel safe to you. Also, feel free to bring a friend along with you just in case. In my experience, most sellers will come to greet me and make everything clear and safe. Don’t feel pressured to go anywhere, buy anything, or go further than you feel comfortable with.
-CLEAN. I don’t care what it is, I always clean the item (as I do with most secondhand finds). It’s just a good practice.
SELLING
-Take good photos. This should be common sense, but there are some strange listings out there with weird blurry photos. Take several from different angles and include any scratches or imperfections.
-List all the important info in your listing. Sometimes I will even be one of those people that start with “Do not ask ‘Is this available?’ I will not respond. If it’s listed, it’s available,” just to weed out those who won’t actually follow through.
-Be patient and flexible. If you’re firm on your price, you might have to wait a little longer, but it’s up to you!
-Pick a nearby meeting spot (if you’re not comfortable giving away your address). Just as with buying, feel free to have someone else with you if it makes you more comfortable with the situation.
-Consider the buyer’s point of view. After interacting with so many sellers on this app, I know which behaviors to adhere to/avoid to give a better chance of a quick, successful sale. Remember: clear communication is so key.
RED FLAGS: how not to get scammed.
-In the vast majority of cases, do not communicate with anyone outside of the Facebook Messenger app (i.e. don’t give away your phone number).
-On that note, don’t give out any personal information about yourself, ESPECIALLY if someone is clearly asking about it. The exception to this would be your address, but I only give that out on the day of the meeting once the potential buyer is ready to come immediately.
-Look up your meeting location ahead of time. Make sure it’s a real, well-lit place and, again, if you get there and don’t feel safe, DO NOT feel pressured to continue.
-Don’t accept deposits or requests for money without interacting with that person first. (In the podcast audio I share my personal story of the time I really got scammed).
-Be extra careful with designer items, large purchases and cars. I mostly use Marketplace to buy furniture and house things, but you can list just about anything. The more money the item is worth, the more likely that there are fakes floating around.
As a parting thought, I would simply encourage you not to be wary of buying second hand items online. Again, if you’re someone who is comfortable going to estate or yard sales, it’s just one step beyond that. I’ve interacted with SO MANY sellers and buyers over the past 5 years and the vast majority have been just fine, totally normal. Because I learned to use Marketplace safely and efficiently, I’ve furnished both my first apartment, but the new house as well on such a consistent budget.
I’m all about embracing style in the home, and since I’m willing to expend a little time and communication, I don’t have to sacrifice a fortune to do so.
This Week’s Little Joy: So many pregnancy snacks! I love the Peach Paradise kombucha from GT's Synergy kombuchas, Trader Joe's organic mini cheese sandwich crackers, homemade earl grey lavender chia pudding (inspired by this recipe), and of course fresh strawberries!
What I’m Listening To: Spring is when I listen to a lot of Django Reinhardt, and this album features him and violinist Stéphane Grappelli on a ton of beautiful jazz standards. It's light and springy and I love it.
Thank you so much for listening! Feel free to leave a comment, or head to Apple Podcasts to leave a star rating or review. If you have any suggestions for future episodes, send an email in the contact form on this site. I’d love to hear from you, and I'll be back in two weeks!