Declutter Your Home, Not Your Wallet
Tips on How to Safely Sell on Facebook Marketplace
Spring cleaning is a great way to freshen up your space and declutter your home. It is also a great time to turn clutter into cash. If you are not interested in the hassle of a yard sale, Facebook Marketplace can be a great tool to sell unwanted items to a bigger audience, and your chance of a sale is not dependent on the weather or a specific day. Since Facebook Marketplace is an online tool, there are things to watch out for to ensure a safe and successful experience.
What is Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook Marketplace is an e-commerce platform linked to your Facebook account. Users can post an item for sale with a description, photos, and asking price, much like you would if you put a classified ad in the local newspaper. Through Facebook Marketplace, you can reach a larger audience of buyers, edit your listing, and avoid seller fees. When a buyer stumbles on your item, they can ask you questions, send an offer, or buy it through e-payment with shipping. All these interactions take place right through the Facebook app or website, so there is no need to share personal information like email addresses and phone numbers.
Stay Safe While Selling Items Online:
Watch out for the Scams:
Scammers are everywhere, and that includes online. Watch out for overeager buyers and fake profiles. They may pressure you to send an item before payment or to move the conversation and transaction outside of Facebook. That lets them off the hook for paying you or allows them to cancel the pending payment elsewhere leaving you out the item and the money you would have been paid.
Fake Payments:
Scammers know how to make it look like they paid you. They might send a screenshot or an email that makes it seem like they sent the payment, and it is just pending. Always wait until you have received the payment in your account to ship an item and are sure they cannot cancel payment. Facebook Marketplace has protections for buyers and sellers, but to be covered you must use their payment service to send and receive money.
What do I do if a buyer claims I did not send the item?
We know things happen and items do not always make it where they are sent. Buyers can file a claim with Facebook if they do not receive an item they paid for and would like a refund. If you have tracking information, check with the delivery service to see if the item was delivered. Always keep a good record of conversations and transactions in case Facebook requests the information during the investigation.
The Buyer would like to pick up the item:
Since Facebook Marketplace allows users to shop within their local area, you may get pick-up requests from buyers who want to avoid shipping costs. A rule of thumb is to never give out personal information online, and that includes when you are selling items. Always set up a meet-up in a public location instead of giving out your home address. Daytime meetups are better than during the evening hours, but if a later time is needed, pick a well-lit location. Try to have someone go with you, or at least let a friend or family member know where you are going and when you should be back. Also, before meeting, make sure the payment cleared to your account or request cash instead of a check that could have insufficient funds.
Following these tips will help you ensure a safe and profitable Facebook Marketplace experience. For more information or tips, visit the Facebook Marketplace help section, Buy and Sell Responsibly on Facebook Marketplace.
