Gone are the days where buying and selling goods was limited to transactions within a physical building. For the uninitiated, Facebook Marketplace is a site where you can explore, advertise, and procure goods.
It permits sellers to register their merchandise or services and connects them to potential buyers.
The general public and distinctive labels may catalog their goods into various groups. This way, consumers can access specific categories, overall sections, or search for particular items.
Facebook plays a crucial role in helping brands market their goods by providing a platform for vendors and vendees to link. Target audiences have access to products sold by both their peers and commercialized merchants, broadening the market extensively.
What is Facebook marketplace?
Marketplace is a user-friendly forum that allows people to explore, buy, and trade in stock. It connects retailers and shoppers and enables them to capitalize on the existing synergy on Facebook from the comfort of their homes.
Where is this marketplace?
There’s no need for you to download a separate app as it’s already there on both Android and iOS devices.If you haven’t come across it before, there’s no need to panic; it’s not too late to jump on the wagon. Constant updates alter the icon’s exact location, but you can usually identify it by a small store logo somewhere on the screen.
Clicking on it will reveal a list of the latest items close to you with accompanying images, which you can tap for further details.
Developers promise to release a desktop version soon since, presently, only mobile apps are available. Additionally, a strict age restriction for only 18 and older is adhered to, limiting who can access it.
How it works
Once you’ve clicked on a picture and studied the brief description – the next step is to contact the merchant to make an offer. Though a price point is listed, marketplace affords retailers to handle several bids and choose the best option.
Because the approximate location of the goods is included, you can easily see how far your item is from you. This also assists in advertising other products that the buyer may have on offer.
An organized sequence of listing goods is used, with specific categories that allow you to search for specific goods.
From the seller’s end, posting your merchandise is as easy as snapping the item, providing a brief description, landing on a price, and in a few seconds, you’re done. You can now sit back and watch your goods practically sell themselves. What more, you can keep an eye on your listings efficiently from the Marketplace hub.
What are the categories?
The options available for detailing your merchandise are concise and afford buyers the ease to perform detailed searches. Finding goods may be done categorically, or by searching for specific items. The following categories are followed:
- Classifieds
- Clothing & Accessories
- Deals
- Entertainment
- Family
- Hobbies
- Home & Garden
- Housing
- Vehicles.
It also shows that a lot of people think their old phones and laptops are worth a lot more than you should pay for outdated hardware. Maybe check eBay before you splash too much cash on old tech.
Here’s what you need to know to take advantage of Facebook Marketplace now.
What you need to know about selling on Facebook marketplace
One of the things you’ll need to be aware of is that there are people who don’t understand that goods depreciate with use. You’ll likely find used gadgets that are way outdated and even more overpriced.
Once you’ve found your way past these, however, there’ll be more important things to remember. Here are a few hints to keep you protected on the Facebook Marketplace:
Read: Facebook jail – how to avoid it
1. Protect your privacy
Always safeguard your privacy. Information like your banking details and passwords should never be shared with dealers or clients. If you’re dealing in electronics, ensure that all personal data has been erased from the devices before trading them.
2. Pick a safe location
When selecting a place to meet, choose neutral ground where you’ll be in public view. Never agree to meet in dubious areas, and preferably, check the area out on maps beforehand.
3. Double-check the goods personally
Make sure of the item you’re purchasing, guarantee that it is precisely what you’re after before paying. For superior purchases (example: jewelry, luxury bags), demand credentials for legitimacy or proof of ownership before making any payment.
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4. Use cash on delivery payment or Paypal
Both dealers and customers should be willing to deal with cash or person-to-person payments. These are accessible on Facebook Messenger or PayPal.
5. Beware of phony items
Make sure you inspect any goods before buying so that you’re not sold anything fake. Take note of deals that sound suspiciously enticing as crooks may try and scam you with illogically low prices.
Now that you’ve gotten a briefing, we’ll get onto what’s acceptable in the actual trade. Facebook controls what goods can and cannot be traded on Marketplace. These include:
- Adult products or services
- Alcoholic substances
- Animals
- Digital media
- Drugs (recreational, prescription, or illegal)
- Gift Cards
- Medical items (first-aid kits, thermometers, etc.)
- Projectiles for weaponry (guns, ammunition)
- Tickets for events
- Tobacco products
- Unsafe supplements
- Weapons, ammunition, or explosives.
Goods sold must be tangible and have a representative picture provided. Services like housework or salon services that aren’t physical can only be accessed by organizing with Facebook partners.
Facebook also prohibits showing images promising radical changes, e.g., weight loss via preview and after pictures.
If your item is removed without any breach of law from your side, an appeal may be made. Inversely, if you encounter controversial goods, you’re encouraged to report them.
Only a limited number of eCommerce platforms align with Facebook Marketplace. Some of the few partnered with Marketplace include:
- BigCommerce
- ChannelAdvisor
- ShipStation
- Shopify
- Zentail
- Quipt
- CommerceHub.
Expect a lot of back-and-forth communication with the person you’re in business with. As this platform may be unfamiliar to some consumers, be patient with your clients, and answer all their questions. Also, take care to maintain consistent communication and regularly respond so that buyers don’t wait too long.
Maintain courteous conduct when communicating as you would on any trading platform. Master a professional and friendly tone and develop communication templates for pre- and post-purchase inquiries. This will ensure smooth communication with your potential customers. Capitalize customer service transmissions to put your brand voice on a pedestal and impress your customers.
Relevant: Shopify or Amazon? Which platform is right for your business?
Benefits of selling on Facebook marketplace
The longstanding success of Facebook as a platform for connecting people bumps up the Marketplace’s prosperity.
- Facebook Marketplace proffers a secure means to increase the number of potential customers you advertise your products to.
- It efficiently links retailers with consumers that are hunting for the exact goods they’re selling. It keeps searches relevant to consumer needs, bringing you closer to your target audience.
- The searches bring it down to dealers closest to the buyer, so extra fees like shipping fees are eliminated.
- Anything that can be done from the comfort of one’s couch will most likely be favorable for most people. The marketplace offers just that. And as the seller, you can equally relax and watch your goods sell themselves online.
- There’s a vast number of listings you can register. Consumers relish variety and having options so you can list as many (legal) things on there, with no listing fees.
- Your next customer could come from any age group, from Gen Z to baby boomers, to millenials, across all boards. It is highly accessible and easy to use.
How do deals go down?
Here, you have the autonomy to conduct your trade in whatever way you see fit as long as you and the person at the end of that transaction agree, and no laws are broken.
What more, Facebook doesn’t get any cut from sales made or interfere with payment methods. They just cater to the infrastructure and trust you to handle the rest.
The buyer and seller can bargain a little until they agree on a middle ground that benefits both. Once the deal has been closed, you can arrange the payment and delivery details via messages.
Unquestionably, be alert for scammers since you’ll be dealing with strangers. Organize pickups to occur in broad daylight and in public spaces where you’re less likely to be robbed.
For payment, you have the option to use PayPal that provides a refund if the goods are subpar. This is arrangeable as long as it meets the terms and conditions for making claims. Such a guarantee may not be possible with cash payments. However, there is an option to ‘Report’ a retailer, if agreements are breached.
When dealing with BigCommerce merchants, all you have to do is create an account then link your store. Ensure that your stock is up-to-date, and the descriptions listed are accurate. After this, ensure that you’re active on your page and have instant sales available.
Also Read: Best ecommerce sites for 2020
Facebook marketplace rules
Whichever end of the transaction you find yourself in, there are a set of guidelines you’ll need to familiarize yourself with. All listed items must comply with Facebook rules and regulations.
This is done to ensure the safety of both the buyer and seller since Facebook doesn’t get any commission from these sales.
Facebook marketplace rules for buyer
There are guidelines that buyers need to adhere to for their own protection. These include:
- Don’t make any advance payments before receiving your product. There may be scammers looting around, and once you’ve been cheated, you may not be able to get reimbursed.
- Keep records in the form of screenshots of products and any communication between you and the seller. This will help you when there’s a dispute, and you need to file for a claim. FB Consumer Right Act declares that purchased products should be identical to the descriptions provided by the seller. If it’s described as new, the item you receive must be fresh out of the box. Anything else is a breach of contract, and you have the right to report the seller to FB to carry out the necessary actions.
- Another crucial rule is to know the general price of the item you want to buy. Checking on other online sites and auction sites may prove useful in giving you an idea of the price range to expect.
- Be thorough in verifying the profile of the seller(s). Investigate their legitimacy by cross checking their friend’s list and see if they’re active on their profile.
Facebook marketplace rules for seller
Retailers need to follow certain rules to protect them and their credibility as dealers. These rules include:
- Orders must be prepared for shipping within three days and received within seven days.
- For brands that sell custom-made goods, it’s essential to adjust the amount you have available to account for any issues with supply and demand.
- Take care to upload a clear, representative picture of the goods you want to put up for sale. This and a fair and authentic description of it will be needed.
- Always compile records of any agreements made with a buyer. This will be crucial in helping build your credibility.
- Be fair when pricing your goods. Inflating the price of our products may chase away potential customers. You can also compare your prices with those of online shops to ensure that you maintain fairness.
- When organizing a meetup, ensure that the exchange is conducted in a public place.
- As a seller, take care to ensure checks from customers don’t “bounce” back, or you’re not scammed into paying for fake transportation or insurance costs for the vehicle.
If the payment method agreed on is electronic via wire transfers or money order solutions, avoid payment links – instead, log in directly through the payment method’s website. Remember that even cashier and certified checks can be bogus. Transactions should be strictly between the vendor and vendee only, with no third-party guarantees involved.
Most places have laws against selling recalled items. To confirm that goods you’re purchasing or selling haven’t been recalled, check on the manufacturer’s site.
It’s illegal to trade in fraudulent items in most countries, and Facebook holds the same standards. Review any products you intend to purchase to make sure that they’re genuine.
When purchasing a car, crosscheck with trusted websites to get an idea of what you should be gunning for when paying for a similar vehicle. You can also try accessing a vehicle history report and organize a vehicle inspection before making the purchase.
See which trends are driving online shopping here.
Summary
Millions of people globally use theMarketplace each month to browse, purchase, or sell goods. With an increase in competition and omnichannel game plans in use, merchants are in search of new ways to transform their sales channels. These include tapping into existing systems and online platforms to maximize outreach.
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