With the rise of social media and online shopping, more and more people are turning to platforms like Facebook Marketplace and eBay to buy and sell both new and used items. But which platform is better for selling your stuff? Here is a detailed comparison of selling on Facebook Marketplace vs eBay.
Overview of Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace allows Facebook users to post items for sale directly through their Facebook app or desktop site. Introduced in 2016, Marketplace leverages Facebook’s massive user base and existing social connections to facilitate buying and selling.
Some key things to know about Facebook Marketplace:
- Free to list items
- Available to 2.8 billion monthly Facebook users
- Items listed in a local geographic region
- Facebook profiles help establish trust between buyers and sellers
- In-app messaging allows communication between parties
- Seamless checkout via Facebook Pay where available
Facebook does not charge any listing fees or final value fees. You don’t even need a Facebook Shop to use Marketplace. The platform is designed for casual selling of used, handmade, or small batch items. Facebook will remove prohibited items though.
Overview of eBay
Founded in 1995, eBay is one of the oldest and most established online marketplaces. It offers a sophisticated ecommerce platform for buying and selling new, used, and vintage items.
Here are some key eBay features:
- Various selling formats including auction-style, fixed price, and Best Offer
- eBay charges listing fees and final value fees
- Optional eBay Store subscription for high volume sellers
- Wide selection of items, from unique collectibles to new electronics
- eBay managed payments system
- Item condition ratings
- Seller performance metrics and reputation system
eBay also provides seller protection programs and purchase protection for buyers. The platform has 182 million active buyers globally. In contrast to Facebook Marketplace, eBay is better suited for more serious sellers rather than casual transactions.
Reaching Buyers
One of the most important aspects of any online sales platform is its audience reach. With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, Facebook provides instant access to a huge pool of potential buyers. And Facebook Marketplace is built right into the platform; users don’t need to visit a separate website.
In comparison, eBay had 182 million active buyers at the end of 2020. While a significant user base, it’s far smaller than Facebook’s global reach.
Facebook’s social nature is a big advantage. When you list an item for sale, it may be exposed to your entire local network of friends, family, coworkers, and more. eBay lacks this social integration.
That said, eBay does have a massive base of dedicated buyers who visit the site specifically to shop. Facebook users may need more prompting to consider Marketplace purchases.
Trust Between Buyers and Sellers
Trust is essential for online marketplace transactions. Both Facebook and eBay have features aimed at building trust and confidence between buyers and sellers.
Facebook Marketplace relies heavily on Facebook’s identity and friend networks. Buyers can view a seller’s profile, mutual friends, and previous activity on the platform. This makes it easier to determine if the seller is authentic and trustworthy.
eBay has its extensive feedback and rating system. Sellers accumulate reviews from past transactions. This provides buyers with transparent insight into the seller’s reputation. eBay also offers purchase protection plans to cover buyers in case issues arise.
Facebook groups have some protections in place for Marketplace deals done in-app. But generally, Facebook provides less structure around building seller credibility and safeguarding buyers.
Fees and Pricing
Perhaps the biggest difference between selling on Facebook vs eBay is the fees involved:
- Facebook Marketplace – Free to list items. No selling fees or commissions.
- eBay – Listing fees and final value fees charged. Optional eBay Store for power sellers.
For example, a typical eBay fee structure could be:
- $0.35 insertion fee per item
- 10% final value fee on total selling price
- 2.35% PayPal transaction fee if no eBay managed payments
These fees can cut into your profit margin, especially if you sell high volumes. Facebook Marketplace is 100% free to use with no listing or selling fees.
However, there are some caveats. Facebook does not support shipping items directly. You must handle meetups locally for transactions. With eBay, you can ship items anywhere and have international buyer access.
eBay fees provide more structure, seller protections, and platform features. But Facebook’s free model is highly appealing for casual sellers.
Listing and Posting Items
Both platforms make it relatively easy to create listings and post items for sale.
On Facebook Marketplace, sellers can simply tap the “+ Add Items” button in the Marketplace tab. You can then take photos of the item, add descriptions, set a price, and list it instantly. Tags help classify the item into categories.
The eBay process involves a bit more setup but is still straightforward:
- Select the eBay selling format – auction or fixed price
- Write an eye-catching title and detailed description
- Add photos demonstrating the item’s condition
- Set pricing and shipping options
- Categorize with item specifics like brand, size, etc.
eBay also has more advanced listing features such as promoted listings and custom listing templates. Overall, both platforms make it relatively easy for casual sellers to get items posted quickly. eBay offers more flexibility for commercial sellers.
Seller Support
When problems arise, seller support becomes crucial. Facebook and eBay take different approaches here as well.
Facebook Marketplace has no telephone customer support. Sellers must use Facebook’s help center knowledge base or report issues through the app itself. Support options are limited.
eBay invests heavily in customer support for sellers. Options include:
- Phone, email, chat, and social media support
- eBay community discussion forums
- Resolution center for resolving issues
- Seller education resources and webinars
For high volume eBay sellers, this integrated support system is essential. Facebook’s DIY approach can be frustrating if problems develop.
Which Site Gets More Traffic?
Traffic numbers indicate which platform draws more eyeballs for your listings. SimilarWeb provides estimates of monthly visits for each marketplace:
- Facebook – Over 2 billion monthly visits
- Facebook Marketplace Subdomain – 1.2 billion visits
- eBay – 1.6 billion monthly visits
Facebook’s overall traffic exceeds eBay. But a sizable chunk of Facebook activity is unrelated to Marketplace. eBay sees slightly higher numbers focused exclusively on shopping.
Both sites have massive built-in audiences. The key is showcasing your items effectively once visitors arrive.
Which Site is Better for Different Products?
Certain items tend to perform better on one platform vs the other. Here are tips tailored to different product categories:
Used/Vintage Items
eBay’s enormous collection of used, rare, and vintage goods makes it ideal for selling these types of items. For example, retro video games, comics, collectibles, and antique items often attract enthusiastic eBay buyers.
Handmade/Crafts
The handmade category thrives on Etsy. But Facebook and eBay both host active handmade segments too. Facebook Marketplace allows makers to instantly showcase products to their local social circle. eBay offers broader reach.
Automotive
Facebook Marketplace’s local nature makes it easy to search vehicles nearby. Auto shoppers browse Marketplace for private party deals. eBay Motors also lists millions of vehicles, parts, and accessories.
Home/Garden
eBay features every home product imaginable. Facebook Marketplace facilitates local pickup of large items like furniture or patio sets. Home improvement items sell well across both platforms.
Clothing and Accessories
Facebook Marketplace is ideal for clothing thanks to proximity and ease of trying on items. eBay also powers extensive fashion and luxury resale markets. Local pickup vs shipping is a key distinction.
Toys and Kids Items
Active toy markets exist on both eBay and Facebook. Again, Facebook simplifies local transactions. Searching eBay offers more selection for hard-to-find items. Condition is especially important.
The bottom line – eBay’s breadth is an advantage for niche goods. But Facebook Marketplace cannot be matched for convenient local exchanges.
Pros and Cons
To summarize the key differences between the platforms:
Facebook Marketplace Pros
- Free to sell with no fees
- Leverage existing Facebook network and profile
- Huge potential local buyer audience
- Easy peer-to-peer chat and meetups
- Simplified listing creation
Facebook Marketplace Cons
- Limited seller support resources
- No integrated shipping options
- Fewer categories and search filters
- Less structure around seller reputation
eBay Pros
- Established marketplace with 182 million buyers
- Robust seller tools, analytics, and support
- Mature reputation systems and buyer/seller protections
- Integrated shipping and payments capabilities
- Ideal for niche goods with dedicated collector markets
eBay Cons
- Listing, selling, and transaction fees
- High competition in saturated markets
- More complex listing creation and management
- Harder for new sellers to stand out
Conclusion
So which platform is better for selling your items? Here are some final recommendations based on seller type:
- Casual sellers – Prefer Facebook Marketplace for its convenience and simplicity. Easy to post locally.
- Frequent/Power sellers – eBay provides more seller tools and support. Makes sense for dedicated product businesses.
- Crafters – Facebook for localized craft fairs. eBay for broader distribution.
- Collectors – eBay is king for finding buyers interested in rare and unique items.
Facebook Marketplace shines for convenient local sales thanks to its social hooks and sheer user base. eBay is better suited for serious sellers who want advanced ecommerce features and global distribution.
But both platforms can be excellent sales channels. Assess your items, target customers, and business goals. With smart strategy across the two marketplaces, you can maximize your selling success online.