Selling on Facebook Marketplace: Make Extra Cash with These Tips
Thinking about selling on Facebook Marketplace? Here’s how to make the most of it!
Looking to make some extra cash? Try selling on Facebook Marketplace!
If you’re like me and you’re constantly trying to clear the clutter from your home and make a little extra money at the same time, you may want to consider selling your unwanted items on Facebook Marketplace. Scroll down for all the best tips on how to easily sell your items.
Facebook Marketplace is FREE to use without seller fees and/or commission cuts, unlike eBay, Poshmark, or Mercari. You keep 100% of the profit from the items that you sell and there is no charge to list your items.
Here’s why Collin LOVES selling on Facebook Marketplace…
“I was surprised by how easy Facebook Marketplace is to use! I was nervous thinking it was going to be much more complicated than Craigslist, but it was actually SO simple and quick! I also love that on Facebook you can easily answer questions through their messenger, and also see other people’s profile info which makes you feel more secure compared to Craigslist. AND I feel like I got way more traction on my items through Facebook Marketplace.”
Planning to sell on Facebook Marketplace? Here are our 11 best tips:
1. Make sure you’re not listing prohibited items.
While Facebook Marketplace does allow you to sell even the most random of items, there are some things that you just cannot sell:
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- Illegal, Prescription, or Recreational Drugs
- Tobacco Products and Related Paraphernalia
- Ingestible Supplements
- Weapons, Ammunition, or Explosives
- Animals
- Adult Products or Services
- Alcohol
- Body Parts and Fluids
- Subscriptions or Digital Products
- Concert or Event tickets – while tickets are not on the official list of prohibited items, you’ll find that Facebook Yard Sale groups do not allow them and Facebook Marketplace will remove ticket listings shortly after they have been posted.
2. Take multiple high-quality photos.
While you don’t need a fancy DSLR camera to take great photos (smartphones have awesome internal cameras now!), always make sure that you have a nice selection of photos for the items that you are selling. You want them to be well-lit and show the item from various angles. You should also point out any flaws or imperfections to make the buyer aware of the condition of the item so there are no surprises upon pick up.
3. Write clear titles and descriptions.
In addition to the photos, your title and description need to be clear and concise. If you know the brand name, include it. Also, indicate its condition (new, like new, slightly used, etc.), and include sizing if it’s a clothing item. Many buyers will also want to know if your item is from a smoke-free or pet-free home.
Here’s a tip from one Facebook Marketplace user:
“The title is most important because that is what comes up on people’s searches. I always try to use a clear title and if I know the brand name or size, I include it. Whenever I forget the sizing, I get multiple inquiries from people who don’t end up buying because it won’t fit.” – Aimee
4. Choose the right product category.
Be sure to place your item in the proper category. For example, if you’re selling diapers, don’t put them in a random category like home and garden. Make sure you put them in Family or Baby & Kids so buyers can easily find them when searching for baby-related items.
5. Choose “local pickup only” if you aren’t willing to ship.
If you are absolutely not willing to ship an item, make sure to choose “local pickup only” as your delivery method. This will help you avoid receiving inquiries that ultimately won’t result in a sale.
6. Set the proper asking price.
We all want as much as we can get for our items, but you have to be prepared for people to want to haggle and lowball you. When listing your item, it is rare that someone will want to pay your initial asking price unless it’s a very popular/hot item.
Keep in mind the lowest price you’ll accept so that when someone makes an offer, you can quickly respond to them. If you’re not willing to budge on the price, be sure and let potential buyers know that your list price is firm.
Before listing an item, I will often do a search on Facebook Marketplace and various Facebook Yard Sale Groups to see what the going rate is for the item I plan to sell. By doing this, I find it helps me set my price point in order to be competitive with the pricing and have an idea of what I can expect to get.
7. Market your listing in a neighborhood Facebook group.
Make sure your listing gets the most exposure possible. One way to do this is to join a Facebook group aimed at selling goods to your local community members. To find a group like this, simply search the groups on Facebook for your town name and “garage sale.” Once you create a listing on Facebook Marketplace, you can share it with your other Facebook groups so all your neighbors can see what you are selling.
8. Arrange for pickup at a public place.
You might be wondering, is Facebook Marketplace safe? When I sell items on Facebook Marketplace I like to meet the buyer in a public place rather than have them come to my home. Many people will meet their buyers at grocery store parking lots, gas stations, Starbucks, or even at a police station or fire station parking lot. This ensures that the buyer won’t be showing up on your doorstep if they have buyer’s remorse later on. Plus, it’s much safer when meeting a random stranger.
A friend of mine sells a ton of stuff on Marketplace and prefers the buyers come to her home so that she doesn’t have to waste gas or worry about people flaking out. If they don’t show up, she hasn’t wasted any time waiting on them. It honestly comes down to your own comfort level and how safe you feel having a stranger come to your home. Once a potential buyer messages you, you can click on their picture in your chat message to view their profile and get a sense of who you will be meeting.
9. Only accept cash or use safe payment services.
NEVER EVER give anyone your bank information to do a wire transfer as a form of payment for your items. I would also advise that you do not accept a check as there is a risk of fraud or the check bouncing. There are several safe ways to receive payment for your items without having to share your bank information.
10. Remember, “one person’s trash is another one’s treasure!”
If you’re about to just throw something away, consider creating a listing for it on Facebook Marketplace instead. People LOVE free stuff! Several Hip2Save members have managed to get their junk carted away by Facebook treasure hunters looking for free items.
Hip2Save’s team members have given away lots of free stuff on Facebook Marketplace:
“One thing I will say is that people love free stuff so if you just need stuff gone ASAP, FB Marketplace is GREAT for that and saved us a ton of money hauling it to the dump AND I love that it’s being repurposed by someone rather than going in the trash.”– Sara
“I agree with Sara on using it to get rid of stuff you don’t need – if you list something as free, someone will ALWAYS come pick it up! I’ve gotten rid of crappy furniture and a vacuum this way, and it saves me money since I don’t have to pay for the township to trash it for me.” – Eden
“When moving out of an old apartment, I listed a huge sectional couch I didn’t plan on taking with me to Facebook Marketplace for free. I just wanted it out and didn’t want to have to carry it down a flight of stairs myself. A man who was training his son to be a mover showed up that afternoon and they hauled it away in less than 20 minutes! I think they were still taking it to the dump regardless, but I was thrilled to not have to move it myself!” – Emily
11. Buy items on the Marketplace, too!
Want to buy items on Facebook Marketplace? Keep these tips in mind…
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- Just like selling, you’ll want to meet the person in a neutral public place like a store parking lot, Police Station, or Gas Station. If it’s a larger item and you have to go to the seller’s house, be sure and take a friend or family member with you for safety (and for an extra hand in transporting it!).
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- Always inspect the items you are buying to be sure they are in working condition or as promised in the listing.
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- Be careful with high-value items as there are often counterfeit items sold on the Marketplace. Do your research to be sure the item you are buying is legit.
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- Check out the seller’s profile to be sure they aren’t new to Facebook, and if you have any mutual friends. Be sure they are local to you and not in another state or even overseas.
Do I have to be active on regular Facebook in order to use marketplace? I do not have a Facebook page and would like to keep it that way, but I would like to have access to marketplace. Anyone know if this is possible?
Yes. You need to at least have a profile. If you’re against posting life on FB, you don’t have to. Simply make a new email with google, yahoo, etc. and then set up a profile using a stock photo you like and a variation on your name. That’s it!
Yes, I have been selling my daughters stuff for years and it has been a blessing! I made a Facebook in my maiden name and first name, used generic picture of a quote. I go by my middle name and I have been married for 16 years so most people don’t know who I am to friend request so no hurt feelings!! Now – it’s a great way to buy and sale but BEWARE and BE SAFE! We have police stations and local stores that allow for public meets. We have had someone be killed over a gaming console (TN). Not everyone in the world is good. Research before you meet don’t go alone.
You can actually set your account so that you aren’t searchable–people won’t be able to find you or send friend requests. Your way of handling it sounds like it’s working for you but just wanted to toss that out there for others who might be trying to figure out how to avoid dealing with friend requests if they start an account just to sell things.
Try nextdoor, OfferUp, or Craigslist. Nextdoor is great, it’s neighborhood based.
I sell very often on these type sites. A tip I have is unless you are going to make say like $20, don’t waste your time/effort involved for a few dollars. For example, instead of selling a 4t shirt for $2.00, get all the 4t shirts together as a lot and sell it for “winter wardrobe size 4t” for $20.00. You need to value your time, plus chances are high the person buying the 4t shirt needs other 4t shirts…think about time, gas money to go to a meeting place, the chance that might stand you up. It is a very fun thing to do and so easy!!! I paid for our entire Christmas on selling unused items I had around. Great article and thanks for all you do!!!! Been with Hip2save since day one!!!
I love selling on Marketplace! I have sold all our appliances when we updated first trying for 2 years in our sons garage sales, hauling everything over and only selling our stove, then decided to post on Marketplace and sold fridge, microwave, 5th wheel hitch, weight set etc. in a matter of days. I even went around our farm taking pictures of stuff in the weeds like a plow, fences, fencing etc. and I couldn’t believe how many people responded. I even now post our annual garage sales with pictures of our stuff.
Can someone tell me more about accepting payments on Zelle or PayPal? Is there no way to easily scam someone or steal their info that way? So old fashioned I have stuck to cash but I know society is changing and had that question from a prospective buyer a few days ago.
Margaret, not 100% sure of this, but there is a manner in which using PayPal that an individual can give you a “check” — it’s a virtual check, I guess. It can take up to 3 days to clear. I don’t know all about it — just had it happen once. All went well, but didn’t realize that and certainly don’t know the ramifications.
There is also facebook pay now. Ive had people I mailed it to since that was better than gas $ (very rural here). No fees. Card stored through Facebook. It’s as safe or unsafe as anyone else.
The only way I know of that you can be scammed is if you give them your phone number and then they ask for the confirmation code that goes to your phone number. Then they can access your account. If a buyer asks for my phone number, it’s a “no”. If they ask twice, I block them.
I keep wanting to sell on Marketplace, but I hate being active on FB allowing everyone to see every step I take. Does Facebook post everything you are selling on your friends feeds and give them alerts on the status of things you are trying to sell? I’m just a private person and don’t like invading other people’s privacy. 🙂
To my knowledge, there is a box that comes up once you are ready to post your item. It gives you the option to either post it just to Marketplace, or you can click a box to make it also post to your newsfeed. If you do not click post to newsfeed, it will not and will just submit to marketplace. Hope that helps!
That’s great news, thanks for the info!
If you post it in a group that is not closed, it comes across your timeline.
No I do believe your friends will only know if they are also joined in the same selling groups as you. I never post to my feed but have had family members and co-workers comment to me about my selling things (my brother told me he kept getting notifications when I posted). But I think it’s because they also are part of groups I posted to.
But as far as I know marketplace itself is totally private- they’d have to click on the item to see that you’re the seller
Just remember that if you and a Facebook friend belong to the same yard sale group, the connection can be made and they Amy get a notification that you posted in the yard sale site. Just something to keep in mind if you really don’t want your friends to see anything.
No. You can choose to NOT allow it on your timeline which means your friends and family won’t be notified you’re selling something. I do it all the time 🙂 I chose to only allow it to post to marketplace.
Fantastic! Thanks for the info!
My sister sells stuff though and you should know that if you post something sometimes I will see it in my notifications as something she did, so even though she tries not to share with her friends they can see it🤷♀️ Just Beware. She’s sold stuff I’ve e given her as gifts before😂
Yes – to what Ana said! Even if you use the option not to post it to your timeline, your friends may still see items you have posted, since you are posting it publicly.
Yes it will show up even if you don’t want it to show on your Facebook page
I use Marketplace a lot and what I’m selling and what my friends are selling does show up on each other’s wall. I would rather it didn’t. Does anyone know if it can be turned off?
If you really don’t want them to see set up another account, that way your friends won’t see and people you meet don’t have to have your entire name either. Our city is pretty big so it works, if you live in a small town in might be different.
Facebook wouldn’t let me do this. I tried to set up another account just for selling stuff and it told me for “safety” they only allow people who have been active for awhile to use marketplace,.. or something like that. I haven’t tried again in awhile
Yes. Scroll down to the bottom while listing and there is an option to hide it from Facebook friends.
Create a “fake” facebook profile/account and just use that for buying and selling. I use my real first name but a different common last name and just a stock photo of something I think is pretty, not a photo of me. That’s what I do. It’s 100% separate from my regular facebook account so friends and family don’t hear about your selling activity.
how do u set up a “fake account” is the real question, i think i read somewhere that FB has an alagorithm that can see if one has 2 accounts together?
As long as your account is on Private Mode the. Buyer won’t see any of your activities just the items you’re selling.
Create a different account just for marketplace
Body parts and fluids. Nice. Sadly that means people have tried… Why am I not surprised.
This includes breast milk. I’ve seen it posted before, so this is an updated policy.
I’ve done it many times. But people are flaky sometimes lol 😂
I’ve been selling on Facebook for years! Usually with all my hip deals, I’ll buy something, use it, and am able to sell it for more than I purchased it for! I make a couple thousand dollars on marketplace a year! My son just sold off some toys before Christmas and made $135 in one day! 😳
I too used to sell quite often on facebook, in local facebook groups intended for this, but this was before marketplace. I used to meet up at local stores or fast food parking lots, and didn’t think much of it. But ever since marketplace was established, and brought selling up a notch on facebook, I feel like it’s become so much more dangerous to sell. Our local police stations have all established parking spaces they encourage people to use as local meet ups because of this. Locally, there was a teenager who was killed when trying to sell an xbox, someone was shot, but survived, when trying to sell an iphone, and many more horror stories at least a couple times a month it seems. It’s crazy and so not worth it to me anymore. I’d rather lose out than have a robbery gone bad.
What is the easiest way to post pictures?
Facebook will not give me access to Marketplace. My fiancé and I have tried and neither of us are given the option. When I questioned it on there, I was scammed by someone offering me help for a fee. When I researched it, I found that there is no way to contact the site with any hopes of resolution. I gave up and closed my account as did my fiancé.
FB Marketplace is really sketchy to me since anybody on FB can see your ad. Also it’s not the easiest to navigate. I’ve had much better luck buying/selling in specific FB groups. I’m in Charlotte and there are numerous local for sale groups you can join. Much easier to post, follow and sell IMO.
I list on Market place and in groups.
Any tips for posting the ads? I’ve tried selling a few things with not one person contacting me. I took good pictures, they were brand new shoes. My description included what I paid for them, and that I was selling for half that because it would cost me more to return them. Not a single contact. 😔
Make sure it’s listed in the right category. Also list in your local buy/sell FB groups
Sell them on Poshmark:)
If you use this code you get $10 free!
Sann111
If you want info on Poshmark I can help you.
Leave your email address if you’re interested.
I’m a posh ambassador and I make enough to stay home with the kids😊
Sann,
I’m very new to this hole thing. Is it something I can do from the open road?
I need something I do not have to carry a lot of inventory for.
I’m traveling/exploring this year covering the southern states probably down to Key West from Wisconsin.
Last year from June 2019 to May 2020 I traveled working along the way.
Now with Covid, this may not be as easy.
So, that leads me to opportunity possibilities like this site.
I am very interested in your feed back.
I’ve been selling on FB marketplace place for years. The downside, some people don’t read, only look at the pictures. FB should require scrolling down to read the description before asking questions. Also, some brand names can’t go in the title. Example, Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth COLE, etc, are always flagged for review. There are some no shows. But I love not paying a commission.
Facebook marketplace is so touchy though:( I got blocked for selling dr martens and Nike etc.
I moved to Poshmark and can sell anything in the way of clothing. If you use my code you can save $10 off your first purchase. It’s sann111
Have a great day!
Also, make sure that your items are not dirty and/or piled with junk when you take the photos! And make sure that you’re posting the correct photos (not photos of your child, dog, etc.) As a regular shopper on FB Marketplace, it amazes me how often these two things happen.
Also, if you’re selling something like furniture, it’s very helpful to post the dimensions.
Heather V., I know what you mean. I’m amazed at how often people post an item amongst a pile of junk. Or in a really messy room. At least clear a spot in a room to take a pic! Lol. And the pics of the dogs and kids! Lol
I know, this annoys me…I will pass over any and all postings with crappy pics
I love selling on marketplace! Knowing I’m able to get a little $$ out of an item helps me part with it. I have also bought a few things from marketplace and have been very happy with the experience. I live in a small enough town that I have people meet me at my house. If I do not know the person or have enough mutual friends, I meet in a busy parking lot near my home. One thing that has helped me sell things fast without answering questions I have already answered in the description is to edit my pictures on my phone with a brief description. After taking a picture of the item, I click the little picture that looks like a pencil, then the next screen will have an T icon that I use to edit my picture (example: 2T, all for $20). Then if the person only looks at the picture they know the size and price. It took me awhile to figure out this tip–hopefully it helps someone else sell their stuff!
I noticed a few people say they create fake accounts or use generic pics. I have to say when I am selling things I do not respond to people who do not have family pictures cause I’m worried they are scammers. Now I know they might be legit.
I’m legit 😂 people just make me nervous.
I’ve never sold on Facebook Marketplace, only purchased items through it and loved it! Will the items I list for sale post to my own Facebook wall as well as in the marketplace?? That’s really been my hesitation.
Not on your wall but it may show up on your friends feed. Unless you go to the bottom of your listing and click on the option that says “Hide from Facebook friends”.
Thanks so much for the tips, I’m trying to phase out a lot of my items I don’t use anymore, you gave me some good ideas thank you.
I have tons of items for sale but nothing seems to be selling. Good quality items not junk. Any ideas to boost sales? Does it help to delete the post and re post it? If I change the name or price does it go back up to the top of the feed? Thanks for the tips!
Try nextdoor, OfferUp, Craigslist. Nextdoor and OfferUp I really like
Great tips! I also do sales on Facebook. To increase them, I use a software called cucomm. It automatically adds fb users to friends and sends them messages. I’m saving time while sales are growing.
I hate Marketplace. It got ruined by scammers and resellers that basically scalp popular items ( such as Target Dollar Spot ) and businesses. I wish they would have kept it individual sellers only. Also I have had like 20 items listed for 4 months and most have zero views.
A couple tips I would add:
1) I do porch pickups for safety and nothing super valuable. If they steal it off my porch, fine. It’s only happened twice in like 5 years of selling stuff. Most people are awesome and honest. I wouldn’t sell something like an Xbox off my porch for safety.
2) I don’t hand out my address to just anyone. I do a quick Facebook profile search. If they look like a fake account or if I don’t want them on my porch for any reason, I block them or move on. You should see a lot of photos, a lot of friends, and regular posting.
3) If they ask for your phone number to do a Venmo or Zelle payment, it’s likely a scam. Decline the first time. And block if they keep asking.
Thanks for the list of your tips, Liz! Good to know what has worked best for you! 💕
I have been selling locally using an app called VarageSale which links to local buy/sell communities so I don’t have to use FB. People are verified, “praised” and it gives their location. I can’t speak for the community in your area, but I have sold more than a thousand dollars of used items this spring and summer. I have also given away items that I didn’t have to take to goodwill and purchased some really nice items as well. (I have also purchased off FB marketplace tons of times with great success. I just don’t like my friends, colleagues, and nosy mother-in-law to see what I am selling).
FB Marketplace now has the option to hide the listing from your FB friends. I don’t like others seeing what I’m selling either!
I dont suggest shipping because this year is the tax law where any online sales over $600 are taxed (it used to be 10k I believe). So if u only take cash. Venmo, or paypal (friends and family) u should be ok. Not sure about other choices like zelle. If u ship, fb accepts the payment and pays u just like ebay does which means it gets reported.
Last year I sold professional cleaning machines and Facebook asked me for tax information. Although I sold for big lost .
I have had a lot of success selling on Facebook Marketplace! I also recently found a local “giveaway” group (other key words to search are “buy nothing” “freebie”, etc) and have both received some great stuff (like a practically new snow suit for my 10yo) and been able to get rid of stuff, usually within a day or two.
This feature of hiding from your friends is no longer available. All the sudden my friends can see my posts and in the past they never could. They used to have a button you could click and now it is gone.
Also, if anyone asks for your phone number you should never give it out. Every time I post right after I get tons of scammers saying they want to buy and immediately ask for your phone number. Never give these people your phone number. I have never had a legitimate buyer ask for my phone number. I report all these people to Facebook and block them. These scammers are being talked about all over the selling sites. Beware.
I have been selling for years and no one has ever cheated me. I very very rarely meet, because people do not show up, or are late, etc. I almost always do porch pick up and have them leave the $ under the mat. I only have them ring the bell if it is over $40.00. I like pay pal too, but they need to pay you friends and family or you will pay a fee.