Let’s face it, we all love a bargain. Facebook Market Place is the latest place to go for your all your online bargain shopping and the best thing about it is you can find exactly what you want in the location you want and negotiate the prices! The old phrase still sticks, one person’s trash is another’s treasure. Not only can you buy items on Facebook Market Place but you can sell them on Facebook Market Place too and the process is so simple you may never have to use Ebay or Gumtree again!

THE HISTORY OF FACEBOOK MARKET PLACE

Believe it or not, Facebook first released Market Place in May 2007, allowing users to post free classified ads. In 2009 Facebook transferred ownership of the Marketplace to Oodle. The original Facebook Market Place was shut down in November 2014. … In October 2016, Australia was among the first in the world to be given access to the new Facebook Market Place release.

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS FACEBOOK MARKET PLACE?

Basically, Facebook Market Place is a convenient destination to discover, buy and sell items with people in your local community. Market Place makes it easy to find new things you’ll love, and find a new home for the things you’re ready to part with. As the marketplace is fairly new, Facebook will continue to build new options and features to make this the best experience for people. Potential buyers can then use the Market Place function to search for items for sale by category, price or location. To buy an item, they would then send a direct message to the seller and arrange details of the sale directly.

OK IT SOUNDS GOOD, HOW DO I GET IT!?

Facebook Market Place has already rolled out to Google Android and Apple iOS apps in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and United Kingdom. If you can’t see it on your Facebook app, make sure you have downloaded the latest update! A desktop version of the feature is due to launch “in the coming months”.

When you open Facebook you’ll see icons at the bottom of the screen. To visit Facebook Market Place, just tap on the shop icon at the bottom of the Facebook app and start exploring!

JOINING FACEBOOK GROUPS

To ensure you find items locally, it’s beneficial to join several buy and sell Facebook groups. You can search for these in the main screen (not in the marketplace) on your Facebook app and search your local city / town followed by ‘buy and sell’. For example ‘Sunshine Coast Buy & Sell’ – this should find any for sale groups already established. Ask to join the group and an admin of the group will accept your invitation.

Personally, I am a member of several groups in my local area relating to buying and selling as when you’re in the Facebook Marketplace, the items for sale will come up in your searches AND when selling items, you can post your item for sale into ALL or SOME of these groups all at once without having to go into each separate group!

OK I HAVE JOINED SOME GROUPS – NOW CAN I START BUYING AND SELLING ON FACEBOOK MARKET PLACE?

Yes! You’re ready! Simply click on the Marketplace icon and items that are for sale in your area will come up automatically. You can amend the location and the amount of km’s you’re willing to travel for items too! Just click on ‘change’ and amend it in here.

You’ll notice some more icons at the top of the page. Here’s what you can do with them:

SELLING AN ITEM

SELL: (the camera icon) = If you click on this item, you’ll automatically be taken to your camera roll on your phone or tablet. This is to upload a picture of the item you want to sell. Alternatively, you can click straight into where it says ‘What are you selling?’ and do it this way. Again, you’ll be taken to your camera roll to select an image. Once you have selected an image, you will then be asked to give your item a title. This is usually the name of your product / item, brand – Eg. Apple iPhone 6 – 32gb

Then you’ll click next and be asked to describe your item including details such as condition, size, colour and more. Eg. For Sale – Black iPhone 6 – 32gb in great condition, only selling due to upgrade. Advertised elsewhere (this is to advise other people that when they make an offer, they may not be the first to do this and will have to wait in line).

Next you’ll choose a price for the item. Remember, all items are negotiable unless you state that it isn’t in your description. It’s always better to start high and take lower offers that come in.

Lastly, You’ll choose a pick up location, category that best matched your item and finally you can then select any of the Facebook groups you joined earlier to post your item to and increase your chances of selling! Click on ‘post’ and your item is live!

CATEGORIES: If you want to search for something in particular, you can search using this feature. Simply select a category such as furniture, and all furniture in your area will pop up on your screen!

SEARCH: Alternatively, you can simply type in what you’re wanting to search such as ‘sofa’ and all items with the word sofa will appear! Simple!

YOUR ITEMS: When buying and selling items, you can go to this icon to see all the items you are selling or have bought and any messages from people interested. This is rather handy so you don’t lose track of what you’re buying and selling!

OK I WANT TO BUY SOMETHING WHAT DO I DO?

So you’ve decided you want it? Send the seller a direct message from Marketplace to tell them you’re interested and make an offer. From that point on, you and the seller can work out the details in any way you choose. Facebook does not facilitate the payment or delivery of items in Marketplace. You may also want to negotiate on a price as quite often the seller is willing to be flexible if you’re willing to purchase and pick up quickly!

SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? Marketplace will be rolling out to everyone over 18 years old in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand on the Facebook app for iPhone and Android. They will continue expanding to additional countries and make Marketplace available on the desktop version of Facebook in the coming months.

WOULD YOU LIKE HELP TO GET YOUR BUSINESS ON FACEBOOK? CONTACT US!

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