Facebook Marketplace is a convenient platform for buying and selling new or used items locally. With over 1 billion monthly active Facebook users, Marketplace provides a huge potential customer base right at your fingertips. While the platform is easy to use, those new to Facebook Marketplace may have questions on how to get started selling. This comprehensive guide will walk through the step-by-step process to successfully sell on Facebook Marketplace as a beginner.
Is Facebook Marketplace free to use?
Yes, Facebook Marketplace is completely free to use, for both buyers and sellers. You don’t have to pay any fees or commissions to Facebook when selling items through Marketplace. The platform is designed to facilitate peer-to-peer connections within local communities.
What can I sell on Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook Marketplace allows users to sell a wide variety of new and used items, including:
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Clothing
- Toys
- Books
- Sporting goods
- Jewelry
- Electronics
- Tools
- Arts & crafts
- Collectibles
- Auto parts
Essentially anything that is legal and allowed on Facebook can be sold on Marketplace, except for a few prohibited items:
- Illegal drugs
- Weapons, including firearms, ammunition, and explosives
- Pornography
- Stolen goods
- Alcohol or tobacco
- Live animals
- Pharmaceuticals
When in doubt, check Facebook’s Commerce Policies to ensure your item is allowed on Marketplace before listing.
How do I create a Facebook Marketplace selling account?
To sell on Facebook Marketplace, you first need to have a Facebook account in good standing. If you don’t already have a personal Facebook profile, visit Facebook.com to sign up for a free account.
Make sure your Facebook account abides by Facebook’s Community Standards and Commerce Policies. Accounts found violating rules around buying/selling may be restricted from using Marketplace.
You can use an existing personal Facebook profile to sell on Marketplace. However, some sellers prefer creating a separate Facebook profile just for Marketplace sales. This keeps buying and selling activity separate from your personal timeline.
Tips for setting up a Marketplace seller account:
- Use an appropriate profile name, such as your first/last name or business name.
- Complete your profile information, including profile photo.
- Avoid connecting with friends/family from your selling profile.
- Follow all Facebook rules – don’t buy Likes, share clickbait, etc.
How do I create a Facebook Marketplace listing?
Once you have a seller Facebook account set up, you can easily create listings directly within the Facebook Marketplace platform:
- Open the Facebook app on your mobile device or navigate to Facebook.com on a computer.
- Click on the Marketplace icon (shop icon) in the left side menu.
- Tap on the blue “Sell Something” button.
- Select the main category for your item.
- Add photos and details about your item.
- Enter a price and shipping options.
- Review listing details then click “Post” to publish.
Your new Marketplace listing will now appear in search results so buyers can find it.
Tips for creating great listings:
- Use detailed titles and descriptions to highlight features.
- Take clear, high-quality photos from multiple angles.
- Accurately categorize and tag your item.
- Specify condition (new, used, open box) in the description.
- List a fair price based on item condition and demand.
- Specify if shipping or local pickup is available.
How do I manage my Marketplace listings?
It’s important to stay on top of your Facebook Marketplace listings. Follow these tips:
- Respond to inquiries – Reply to interested buyers in a timely manner through Marketplace Messages.
- Update post status – Mark sold items as “Sold” and delete listings for unavailable items.
- Renew inactive listings – Bump stale listings back to the top of search results.
- Edit posts – Make changes or corrections to current listings as needed.
- Manage shipping – Print shipping labels and track deliveries for items sold from Marketplace.
You can manage all your listings in one place by clicking into your Marketplace account and selecting “Your Listings” or “Your Orders”.
How do I get paid for Marketplace sales?
Facebook does not process payments between buyers and sellers on Marketplace. As a seller, it is your responsibility to agree on a payment method and process transactions.
Here are some common ways to get paid for Marketplace sales:
- Cash – Meet buyer in person to collect cash payment at pickup.
- PayPal – Request PayPal payment from buyer upon sale agreement.
- Venmo – Ask buyer to send Venmo payment to transfer funds.
- Facebook Pay – Use Facebook’s payment platform to send/receive payments.
- Debit/credit – Use a mobile card reader to accept card payments in person.
- Checks – Accept a physical check from the buyer.
Make sure to only accept secure forms of payment and be wary of scams. Never accept wire transfers from buyers you don’t know.
How should I communicate with buyers?
Facebook Marketplace has a built-in messaging system that allows you to communicate directly with interested buyers:
- Respond to inquiries through Marketplace Messages within 24 hours when possible.
- Keep communication professional – avoid overly casual language.
- Answer questions about your item honestly and thoroughly.
- Do not share personal contact info – keep discussion in Messages.
- Move conversation to text/email only after agreeing on a sale.
Use Marketplace messaging to negotiate price, arrange meetups, complete sales, and handle any post-sale follow-ups. Keep all communication on the record through Messages.
How should I handle meetups for purchases?
For in-person sales, you’ll need to schedule a meetup location to complete the transaction. Here are some tips for safe meetups:
- Choose a public place like a coffee shop or store parking lot.
- Do not invite strangers into your home or agree to meet at their location.
- Bring a friend or family member to accompany you.
- Meet during daytime hours if possible.
- Take your cell phone and have an exit strategy if things go wrong.
- Trust your gut – if anything seems sketchy, cancel the meetup.
It’s also a good idea to take some basic safety precautions when carrying cash from transactions:
- Keep cash discreetly on your person rather than in a wallet.
- Have exact change available.
- Carry pepper spray if legal in your state.
- Keep your cell phone handy to call for help if needed.
Take reasonable safety measures, but there’s no need to be overly paranoid. Most Marketplace meetups go smoothly without any issues.
How should I ship Marketplace sales?
If you opt to ship Marketplace items to buyers instead of local pickup, follow these tips for handling shipping:
- Clearly communicate who pays for shipping costs.
- Pack items carefully to avoid damage.
- Purchase tracking for high-value or fragile items.
- Insure valuables in case of loss or theft.
- Generate and print a shipping label through a carrier.
- Provide the buyer with tracking info after shipment.
Make sure to only ship to the confirmed address provided by the Marketplace buyer. And don’t forget to factor shipping costs into your listed prices.
Recommended shipping carriers:
- USPS
- UPS
- FedEx
What are some Facebook Marketplace selling tips?
Here are some top tips for Marketplace success from experienced sellers:
- Price items competitively based on value and demand.
- Refresh stale listings frequently to get more visibility.
- Respond quickly and politely to buyer inquiries.
- Write detailed descriptions to build trust and credibility.
- Offer local meetup and/or affordable shipping.
- Consider bundles and negotiated deals to upsell buyers.
- Follow up after sales to build your reputation with a positive review.
How can I get more visibility and sales?
With over 1 billion active users, there is tons of potential to get your listings seen on Facebook Marketplace. Here are some ways to increase visibility:
- Post at optimal high-traffic times: weekday evenings and weekends.
- Refresh stale listings by reposting or lowering the price.
- Use relevant keywords in your title, description, and category.
- Engage with other sellers by liking and commenting.
- Share your listings to your personal Facebook page or local groups.
- Use promoted listings to get broader reach for a small fee.
- Link your Instagram account to cross-promote.
What are the pros and cons of Facebook Marketplace?
Pros:
- Free to use with no seller fees
- Large existing customer base on Facebook
- Easy account setup and listing creation
- Convenient built-in messaging system
- List and sell using just your mobile device
Cons:
- No integrated payment processing
- You manage shipping/logistics
- Less seller protection compared to eBay/Amazon
- Scammers attracted to free platform
- Oversaturated markets in some categories
Can I get banned from Facebook Marketplace?
Yes, it is possible to get banned from buying and selling on Facebook Marketplace. This typically occurs if you violate Facebook’s commerce policies or terms of service. Some common violations that can lead to a marketplace ban include:
- Selling prohibited, illegal or stolen items
- Shady account behavior like overly promotional posts
- Scams, false products, price gouging
- Abusive language or harassment of buyers
- Listing fake items just to collect buyer info
Follow all Facebook rules, communicate honestly with buyers, and avoid sketchy selling practices to maintain good standing on Marketplace.
Can I report bad buyers or sellers?
If you have a negative experience on Facebook Marketplace as a buyer or seller, you can report users to Facebook:
- Visit the problem user’s profile page.
- Tap the three dots icon next to Follow.
- Select “Report” or “Report Profile”.
- Choose applicable report reason options.
- Submit your report to Facebook for review.
This will prompt Facebook to investigate the reported profile and content. Substantiated reports can get users banned from Marketplace.
Conclusion
Selling on Facebook Marketplace as a beginner is easy and free. Simply create a seller profile, post listings for your items, communicate professionally with interested buyers, and complete transactions securely. Use tips in this guide to optimize your listings, handle meetups, ship items, and build your seller reputation over time. With a little practice, you can start earning cash selling unwanted items in your local community.