Facebook Marketplace Dos + Please Just Don’ts

Last week we talked about how I sell my “old to me” home furnishing on Facebook Marketplace and use the money I make to buy something I love for our home making my redecorating projects pretty close to free. You can read all about that here. 

Sounds pretty great, right? And it is. With just one little hang up. 

People. 

People of FBMP can be like People of Walmart. Plus the added complication of trying to communicate with a stranger over the internet. 

It can be frustrating. 

So this seems like a great opportunity to get some FBMP best practices out into the world. I’ll consider it my contribution to humanity for the week. 

Here we go...

SELLERS:

Your goal is to sell your item as quickly as possible, right? You’ll be on the fast track to success if you’ll spend just a little extra time showcasing your listing and communicating efficiently from the get go.

Style + Shoot

Take a few minutes to set the scene before you take photos. A table that’s styled with lighting, some greenery or flowers, and/or a candle will grab more interest than a photo of that same table in your dirty garage. Give buyers an idea of your item’s potential. Some people need help seeing the diamond in the rough. 

STYLE IT PRETTY

Give buyers an idea of your item’s potential.

Measure 

10/10 times you will have people ask for measurements. Just go ahead and do it, add it to the description, and that way they can figure out for themselves if it’s the right size or not before messaging you. 

MEASURE

Someone will ask. Just go ahead and do it.

Use Your Words

There’s nothing more annoying to me than a blank description box. In this case a picture is NOT worth a thousand words. Plus it just looks lazy.

Tell me about your item! Throw in some descriptive adjectives. If it has a story, I’d love to know! Was it your grandmother’s, did you find it at a cool thrift shop, is it a project you never got around to? 

If it doesn’t have an interesting history, tell me how you see it in its new home: Adding a pop of color to a bland space, neutral enough for any decor style, or is it the perfect project piece? 

Clearly state any non negotiables. Price is firm, pickup only, cash only, etc. 

TELL ME ABOUT IT

Use the description section to your advantage.

Responding To Inquiries 

When someone inquires about your listing it will come to you via a special section of Facebook Messenger. When responding think of yourself as a boutique owner or a sales person. (You kinda are now.) 

Prompt, friendly, and efficient communication is key! Get back to buyers in a timely manner before they loose interest. Say hi and respond courteously. Curt one word answers can seem rude and unwelcoming. Answer any questions directly and clearly. Use complete sentences, people! 

RESPOND

Prompt, friendly, and efficient communication is key.

Pickup

Be smart and stay safe. Use your common sense here. 

PICKUP

Be smart. Stay safe.

BUYERS:

Look at all photos and READ THE DESCRIPTION! 

Before you start messaging sellers with questions, try to find the answer yourself first. If the answer is not immediately evident in the first photo, swipe through the rest. Zoom in. Actually read the description. I can’t tell you how many times I get questions that are clearly stated in the description. 

READ THE DESCRIPTION

If you have a question it’s probably in the description. If not, ask.

Don’t Drink & Facebook Marketplace

That mid century modern credenza might seem like the best idea ever three savvy b’s in. And it very well may be. But just wait until the sober light of day to reach out to the buyer. That way if you change your mind you haven’t gotten anyone’s hopes up for a sell.

As sellers, we get excited when you’re excited about our listings! But if it’s just the wine talking and you change your mind the next morning it can be a major let down on our end. 

DON’T DRINK + FBMP

What seems like a great idea tonight may not the next morning.

Negotiate

Unless the listing clearly states that the price is firm, feel free to negotiate. I usually have a price range in mind for each of my listings. I start at the higher end and mark it down accordingly when I renew the listing every week. So if I get an offer that I would eventually mark it down to anyway, I’ll usually go ahead and accept it. If it’s a lowball offer I’ll counteroffer. 

NEGOTIATE

Unless the description states that the price is firm.

Commit

If you tell a seller that you’re coming to look or to buy, follow through. It’s not about the sale, it’s about YOUR INTEGRITY. Do what you say you’re going to do or don’t say you’re going to do it. 

And for the love of god please be on time! We all have other things to do than wait around for a Facebook Marketplace pickup. 

If you do change your mind or can’t make the arranged meeting time, LET THE SELLER KNOW. 

COMMIT

Doing what you say you’re going to do = integrity.

Pickup 

Same as above: Be smart, use your common sense, and stay safe.

PICKUP

Use your common sense.

With all that said, the pleasant interactions I’ve had far outweigh any of my FBMP people pet peeves. I’ve met and chatted with some really nice folks. Plus FBMP is a gold mine of hidden treasure and extra income potential so don’t let my sarcastic banter scare you off!

Do you use Facebook Marketplace? Do you have a solid marketing strategy that gets your listings SOLD? Share it in the comments below so everyone can see, please & thank you!!

Thanks for reading!

Leah

P.S. These snapshots are just a small sampling of items I’ve listed/sold on FBMP. If you want to check out my current listings, click here.  I list new items every week!