Facebook Marketplace has become one of the most popular places to buy and sell used items online. With over 1 billion monthly active Facebook users, Marketplace gives sellers access to a huge potential customer base. However, while Marketplace offers sellers a lot of opportunity, there are some limitations on what can be sold there. Understanding Facebook’s commerce policies can help sellers stay compliant and avoid issues.
Prohibited Items
Facebook prohibits the sale of certain types of products on Marketplace. Broadly, prohibited items fall into the following categories:
- Illegal, prescription, or recreational drugs
- Alcohol or tobacco
- Weapons, ammunition, or explosives
- Live animals
- Sexually oriented products or services
- Dangerous or hazardous materials
- Counterfeit or replica products
Facebook’s commerce policies provide more detailed guidelines around restricted items in each category. For example, under weapons, firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition are specifically prohibited. Sellers should carefully review the full policy to ensure they understand exactly what cannot be sold.
Regulated Goods
In addition to prohibited items, Facebook also places restrictions around the sale of regulated goods. Regulated goods are products that can only be sold legally if certain requirements are met. On Marketplace, regulated goods include:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco, e-cigarettes, and vaping devices
- Firearms and ammunition
- Adult products and services
- Healthcare products and services
- Subscription services
- Tickets
- Live animals
- Housing rentals
While these types of goods are not completely banned, sellers must comply with all applicable laws and regulatory requirements around their sale. This includes age restrictions, licensing, shipping regulations, and more. Sellers should research the rules in their local jurisdiction to ensure they are selling regulated products legally through Marketplace.
Brand and Copyright Restrictions
Facebook’s commerce policies also restrict the sale of branded and copyrighted items on Marketplace:
- Unauthorized sale of trademarked goods is prohibited.
- Counterfeit products cannot be sold – all merchandise must be authentic.
- Products violating copyright law are banned, including pirated media, software, and other intellectual property.
The reason for these rules is to protect brand owners and copyright holders from unauthorized sales or distribution of their products. Sellers should avoid attempting to sell anything that violates trademarks, patents, or copyrights on Marketplace.
Facebook’s Review and Enforcement
Facebook invests significant resources in reviewing and enforcing its Marketplace commerce policies. According to the platform’s advertising policies, Facebook takes the following approach to policy enforcement:
- Both human reviewers and automated systems review listings to check for policy violations.
- Listings identified as selling prohibited, dangerous, or illegal items are removed.
- Sellers with repeated policy violations may have their accounts disabled.
- In some cases, Facebook may report activity to regulatory or legal authorities.
The combination of human and automated reviewing aims to keep Marketplace safe and allow only legitimate sellers and products on the platform. Sellers who deliberately violate policies risk having their account privileges revoked.
Limits on Misleading Listings
In addition to prohibited goods, Facebook tries to limit misleading and deceptive listings on Marketplace. Sellers should avoid the following practices:
- Listing an item at a price substantially higher than its fair market value.
- Misrepresenting the details or condition of an item.
- Using misleading pricing practices like undisclosed shipping fees.
- Listing an item that is unavailable to arrange unsuccessful purchases.
Facebook may remove listings that appear intended to mislead buyers just to drive traffic, contacts, or shipping information. Sellers creating honest listings that accurately represent their items should have no problems.
Limits on Mass-Generated Listings
To preserve Marketplace as a community-based shopping platform, Facebook does not allow sellers to post listings in bulk quantities through mass uploads or indexing. Other restrictions include:
- Listings must accurately represent available inventory.
- Sellers should not post an item multiple times to gain more visibility.
- listings should be unique and specialized, not duplicated in mass quantities.
Automated tools, bots, scrapers, or other attempts to flood Marketplace with copied or templated listings are prohibited. Sellers adding products one by one that they personally possess for sale generally comply with the rules.
Special Rules for Real Estate
Facebook allows real estate listings on Marketplace but has some specific policies for these listings:
- Only listings for sale by the owner or real estate agents/brokers are allowed.
- Real estate promoters/aggregators cannot post listings they do not own.
- Listings should disclose any additional fees aside from the sale price.
- Discriminatory housing practices are prohibited.
As real estate transactions involve significant legal considerations, Facebook aims to ensure real estate listings provide accurate and transparent information to prospective buyers.
Special Rules for Vehicles
Vehicle sale listings are popular on Marketplace but also subject to special rules, including:
- Sellers must have valid title to the vehicle and authority to sell it.
- Listings should disclose any major mechanical issues or defects.
- Vehicle listings should accurately represent year, make, model and condition.
- Depreciated or salvaged vehicle listings must indicate that condition.
Facebook enacted specific vehicle rules to prevent unauthorized sales and disclosure issues seen in some transactions. Following the policies helps buyers make informed decisions.
No Giveaways, Games, or Contests
One type of listing not allowed on Marketplace is anything soliciting users to engage with the post for giveaways, games, contests, or other promotions. For example:
- Comment giveaways asking users to comment on a post are prohibited.
- Posts directing users to like, share, or interact with off-Facebook pages are not allowed.
- Listings promoting sweepstakes or contests are restricted.
Facebook has determined these types of viral-incentive posts often lead to unsatisfying experiences for users. Sellers should focus on product listings that enable purchase transactions.
Compliance is Important
It may seem like a lot to absorb, but complying with Facebook’s policies is crucial for sellers who want to access Marketplace’s vast potential reach. By avoiding prohibited items and practices, sellers create a safe, transparent shopping environment that benefits everyone.
Facebook aims to cultivate a community-based marketplace for people to find great deals. Understanding the platform’s rules positions sellers to capitalize on that vision responsibly.
Conclusion
Facebook Marketplace provides an excellent ecommerce platform, but sellers need to trade carefully within the site’s boundaries. Prohibited items, regulated goods, brand/copyright restrictions, and deceptive practices are out. Honest listings for legal, properly represented products from authorized sellers are in.
Marketplace offers access to over a billion users – an opportunity too valuable for sellers to risk by violating policies. Staying compliant, transparent, and focused on real transactions provides the best chance for sales success on Marketplace.