Best Practices for Buying and Selling on Facebook Marketplace

The number one rule: be respectful

I’m sitting in my car, my dog Tater Tot in the backseat, waiting in the parking lot of a nearby gas station. It’s 5:17p.m., and the person I’m selling my old microscope to is 17 minutes late. I send her a message, hoping she’ll at least give me an ETA. I wait five more minutes, checking my phone constantly, before finally giving up and leaving. I never hear anything more from the potential buyer, and I keep the Facebook Marketplace listing for my microscope active.

One of the most difficult aspects of moving from my childhood home is downsizing and cleaning out all of the stuff we’ve accumulated over nearly fifteen years.

I want to find homes for everything, whether that be through donations, family and friends, or resale shops. Luckily, Facebook Marketplace is a great way to virtually connect the possessions I’m letting go with people who want them; after nearly 50 sales, I’ve realized there are some clear-cut do’s and don’ts for selling (and buying) on Facebook Marketplace.

Facebook Marketplace do’s and dont’s

To make sales as easy as possible for the seller and the buyer, make sure you’re sticking to the DO’s and avoiding the DONT’s at all costs.

Do’s

• Confirm meeting times with both parties the day of the exchange.
• Choose a public place (when possible) with an easy-to-maneuver parking lot so that you can connect with your buyer or seller as easily as possible.
• Sort out payment ahead of time, whether you mutually agree on cash, Venmo, PayPal, or something else.
• If you’re shipping an item, factor in shipping costs. I usually have the buyer cover shipping.
• For electronics, make sure the devices are charged, in working order, and cleared of personal information.
• Be on time. If you can’t be on time, tell the seller or buyer as soon as possible.
• Answer messages in a timely fashion. Good communication is key to a frictionless experience.
• For heavy items like furniture, ensure that you have someone with you that can help you lift and carry. Don’t assume the other party has this ability.
• When transporting bulky items, buyers and sellers alike need to be sure the items can fit in their vehicles.
• Be respectful. It’s never a good idea to curse somebody out, threaten them, or hurl insults. That gets you nowhere.
• Give people the benefit of the doubt, when all else fails. Be kind.

Don’ts

• Try to con a seller by insisting that something isn’t working properly if that’s not the truth.
• Ignore messages or meet-up times. If you can’t meet, let the other person know.
• Get angry if a buyer or seller doesn’t follow through with a transaction as long as it’s clearly communicated.
• Show up to an exchange and give the seller less than the agreed-upon price.
• Be upset if a seller increases the price for an item if you haven’t locked down an agreement. Sometimes, if an item is getting a ton of interest, sellers may increase the price.

Facebook Marketplace is the new garage sale

Facebook Marketplace can be an excellent tool to make money from things you might have donated or thrown away. Just from selling our no-longer-needed possessions, my husband and I have made enough to cover at least two mortgage payments on our new house.

On top of that, we have the added satisfaction of seeing our things get new lives with someone else.

So, the next time you’re thinking of getting rid of something (as long as it’s in decent condition), try listing it on Facebook Marketplace. You may be surprised just how lucrative it can be.