Facebook Marketplace is a feature on Facebook that allows users to buy and sell items locally. Since its launch in 2016, Marketplace has grown rapidly in popularity as a convenient way to buy and sell everything from furniture and cars to clothing and collectibles.
One of the key aspects of any marketplace is trust between buyers and sellers. On platforms like eBay, trust is built through rating systems, where buyers and sellers can leave feedback about each other after transactions. This helps future buyers and sellers determine who is reliable.
So does Facebook Marketplace have a similar rating system? Below I’ll go over the details around ratings and reviews on Marketplace.
Does Marketplace have a rating system?
The short answer is no, Facebook Marketplace does not have a formal rating system. When you complete a transaction on Marketplace, there is no built-in way to leave ratings or reviews for the other user.
Part of the reason is that Facebook designed Marketplace to enable quick, local, person-to-person transactions. Requiring ratings and reviews would add more steps to the process.
However, the lack of ratings does not mean there are no accountability measures:
Identity verification
To use Marketplace, you must have an authentic Facebook account that provides your real identity. This makes it harder for scammers to operate anonymously.
Report system
Facebook does allow reporting problematic content or users. If someone is behaving fraudulently or rudely, you can report them to Facebook.
Payment protection
For purchases shipped through Marketplace, Facebook provides payment protection. If you don’t receive the item, you can get your money back through the Facebook Payments system.
So in summary, while there is no formal rating system, Marketplace does have some protections in place. But the lack of reviews does require buyers and sellers to be more cautious.
Why doesn’t Marketplace have ratings?
Facebook likely decided against including ratings on Marketplace for a few key reasons:
Speed
Facebook designed Marketplace for fast, local transactions. Adding a rating system would introduce more steps and complications into the process.
Anonymity
Facebook requires users to connect Marketplace profiles to their real identities. But some users may prefer keeping transactions anonymous rather than rating each other.
Rating manipulation
Reviews and ratings can be subject to manipulation and abuse. For example, sellers could create fake accounts to leave positive ratings for themselves. Policing this on a marketplace the size of Facebook could be challenging.
Clutter
Facebook aims to keep Marketplace listings simple and clean. Ratings and reviews could clutter up listings and make them harder to parse.
So in summary, while ratings provide trust, they aren’t a perfect system. Facebook likely felt the downsides outweighed the benefits for its goals with Marketplace.
Are there any rating systems?
While there are no official ratings, there are a couple semi-unofficial ways reputation is built on Marketplace:
Seller ratings
Some sellers will proactively ask buyers to leave ratings or reviews after transactions. For example, they may direct buyers to leave a Google or Yelp review of the transaction.
While not common, this does allow sellers to build up reputations if they direct most buyers to leave reviews.
Review groups
There are Facebook groups dedicated specifically to leaving Marketplace reviews. For example, the group “Facebook Marketplace Ratings” has over 100,000 members.
After transactions, buyers and sellers can search for each other in these groups to leave feedback. However, participation in these groups is limited compared to Marketplace as a whole.
Third-party rating systems
A few third-party services, such as Markeaze and Thinky, have emerged to provide ratings for Marketplace users. These let sellers customize their listings with reviews aggregated from various sources.
However, these rating systems only work if the seller uses the third-party service. Most Marketplace sellers do not, so their usefulness is limited.
Best practices for buyers and sellers
Without a standardized rating system, completing Marketplace transactions requires some extra diligence:
For buyers:
– Review the seller’s profile carefully. Does it seem complete and authentic? Do they have many friends and interactions?
– Ask questions! Request additional photos, details, or to meet in person before purchasing.
– Search the seller’s name on Google, Yelp, Facebook groups, etc. to look for reviews.
– Use payment methods with purchase protection when possible. Avoid risky payments like Venmo or cash.
– Meet in a safe, public place if buying locally. Consider bringing someone with you.
– Inspect items carefully before taking ownership. Make sure it matches the listing.
– Document everything about high-risk transactions in case issues come up later.
For sellers:
– Provide detailed listings with ample photos to demonstrate quality upfront.
– Respond to buyer questions promptly and provide any additional details asked for.
– Consider directing buyers to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook groups after transactions.
– Meet local buyers in a populated area and let someone know where you’ll be.
– Describe or photograph any flaws or defects in items ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
– Ship carefully packaged items promptly with tracking numbers if shipping.
– Remain patient and always communicate politely to preserve your reputation.
The future of ratings on Marketplace
The lack of a standardized rating system is one of the most frequently requested missing features on Marketplace. So could Facebook add ratings in the future? It seems possible for a few reasons:
Pressure from users
As Marketplace grows, more users are vocal about wanting ratings for accountability. Providing ratings could appease users and keep them safe from fraud.
More competition
Other services like Craigslist and Nextdoor have also launched local selling marketplaces. Ratings could give Facebook a competitive edge over these platforms.
Advances in moderation
Improved AI moderation technology could help Facebook handle rating and review abuse more effectively, reducing cons against a system.
Monetization opportunity
Ratings could provide a new mechanism for Facebook to monetize Marketplace. For example, charging for verified reviews or highlighted seller statuses.
However, there are still reasons Facebook may avoid ratings:
Moderation costs
Effective moderation requires significant human intervention. The costs to moderate a rating system at Marketplace’s scale could be impractical.
Risk of marketplace reputation decline
Negative ratings could damage Marketplace’s reputation, especially if moderation is imperfect. Facebook may prefer no ratings over poor moderation.
Reduced transaction speed
Adding rating steps still detracts from Facebook’s goal of enabling quick, seamless transactions.
Legal risks
Facebook could face increased liability for harmful transactions if a rating system is seen as validation.
So in summary – a rating system seems likely down the road, but remains uncertain. For now, buyers and sellers will need to rely on due diligence over ratings for Marketplace transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you leave reviews on Facebook Marketplace?
No, there is currently no built-in way to leave reviews or ratings on Facebook Marketplace after a transaction. Facebook has decided against including a formal rating system.
Why should Facebook add ratings?
Ratings would increase buyer trust by showing reputable sellers. It could reduce fraud and improve marketplace quality. Rating systems are common across most online marketplaces, so it’s a conspicuously missing feature.
Why doesn’t Facebook allow ratings?
Mainly to maintain quick and simple transactions. Ratings introduce complications that go against Facebook’s goals for a seamless experience. Moderating ratings at Marketplace’s scale also has challenges.
Can you report bad Marketplace sellers?
Yes, you can report sellers for practices like fraud, misrepresentation, rudeness, harassment, and other problematic behaviors using Facebook’s reporting system. This can get sellers banned from Marketplace.
Are there third-party ratings for Marketplace?
A few third-parties like Markeaze and Thinky allow sellers to integrate unofficial ratings sourced from outside Marketplace. But adoption is low, so most sellers are not rated this way. There is no universal third-party rating system.
Conclusion
Facebook Marketplace provides an immensely valuable service by enabling local peer-to-peer commerce. However, the current lack of a rating system does require extra caution when buying and selling.
Hopefully this overview gave you a better understanding of how reputation and trust works on Marketplace today, along with some best practices to follow. While an official rating system would be beneficial, diligent users can still have many successful transactions by being thoughtful.
And if Facebook does add ratings down the road, that will only improve the experience. But for now, applying sound judgement remains the best policy for Marketplace interactions.