Facebook marketplace selling tips

soolin

I'm currently doing very well on Facebook marketplace , on most days I sell more on marketplace than I do on eBay . Chatting to some other friends they have also found sales increasing.

I thought it might be useful to have an information thread for practical advice and tips - if there is interest I'll add more information

I also thought to keep things seperate we should have a marketplace thread for silly stories or generally annoyances - and I'll start one for that and this will be the thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76791670#Comment_76791670

1). my first tip for marketplace is to be clear about your area, a general area like 'London' or 'Manchester' is too broad, narrow it down, I put the first part of my post code in visibly. Also be clear whether item can be posted or if it is collection only. So many people don't read the description, so put it first, something along the lines of "can be posted for £3 extra or collection is free from AB4 area'

Just over the past few days I've sent parcels all over, not just locally, but at least if people can see the postcode they are already prepared to pay postage if they are not local.

2) consider payment options especially if you are cross posting in local or specialist sellingg routs. Some will only allow PayPal to be offered and will ban you for asking for a bank transfer. Mhowever if contacted by a buyer be flexible, I am surprised at the number of people who actually want to pay by bank transfer as they don't trust PayPal. I used to send them a little 'stay safe' message about how it isn't safe, but don't bother now as many just argue back. However, I treat all my buyers the same regardless of how they paid and would always refund for a lost or damaged item even if they couldn't open a PayPal claim against me.

3) I am amazed at the number of people who don't understand sizes, so be prepared for a number of questions around the theme 'how big exactly is your 12 inch vase, is it bigger than a. Can of cola?" I have so far resisted the pressure to photograph everything against a can of something.

4) time wasters, be prepared and be firm. It is impossible to find an unluckier bunch of people than those on marketplace, so many cars broken down, so many sick children...confirm a collection time, remind them shortly before and only at that point if they respond give them your house number. I give out my full postcode (and Street) but hold back my house number until I have confirmation to my reminder that they are coming.


Feel free red to add more

pinkshoes

soolin wrote: »

I give out my full postcode (and Street) but hold back my house number until I have confirmation to my reminder that they are coming.

I had someone do this to me once.

I wanted to collect whilst collecting DS1 from a party nearby, so sent a message stating I was leaving in 5 mins so could I have the number. They took 20 minutes to reply, by which time I had collected DS, and as I had received no house number I drove home. They sent the number whilst I was driving home, so I replied saying sorry, too late.

I now tend to avoid sellers that use this tactic.

If I have lots of people wanting something on Marketplace, I have a good look at their profiles and sell to the person who looks the least flakey!!!

soolin

pinkshoes wrote: »

I had someone do this to me once.

I wanted to collect whilst collecting DS1 from a party nearby, so sent a message stating I was leaving in 5 mins so could I have the number. They took 20 minutes to reply, by which time I had collected DS, and as I had received no house number I drove home. They sent the number whilst I was driving home, so I replied saying sorry, too late.

I now tend to avoid sellers that use this tactic.

If I have lots of people wanting something on Marketplace, I have a good look at their profiles and sell to the person who looks the least flakey!!!

I wouldn't leave my house number until the last moment, but for instance I had someone collect at 11 this morning and I rreminded them at about 8.30 , they replied about quarter to 9 and I sent my full address with house number across then.

I do it this way as once, some time ago I gave out my house number, never heard again from the buyer despite me messaging them, sold the item elsewhere and then out of the blue a month later at about 10.30 pm I had the original buyer hammering at the door, a bit drunk insisting he'd come for the bike..my husband was not amused.

Browntoa

I had too many "no shows"

They now get blocked straight away with no explanation , fed up of hanging around as "I'll be round about 10" means no show and no message to say delayed or otherwise

Spoonie_Turtle

A tip I recently discovered trying to sell some unwanted conditioner - don't put 'brand new' in the title otherwise they won't approve the listing ... because it has the word 'brand'. Now where's that ROTFL emoji?!