Mastering the Art of Selling Successfully on Facebook Marketplace

Unless you're living under a rock, you have a Facebook account and have scrolled through Marketplace. It's the modern-day version of Craigslist, only you have the advantage of checking out the seller's profile beforehand. Ever wonder how you could take your love of thrifting and make your time spent on Facebook into a side hustle?  If so, be sure to check out this post as well as how to get started in the reselling business.  This post will focus on how to be successful selling on Facebook Marketplace.

I've been selling my unwanted items through yard sales, consignment stores, and even before the internet, when my go-to method was using free classified ads in the bargain counter. I'm here to share what strategies work and what mistakes to avoid as a seller.

When Marketplace stopped offering shipping labels, my sales dropped from over 8 sales a day to about that many in a week. However, with my tips, you can achieve CONSISTENT SALES. While it might not be enough to retire on, it will certainly boost your sales. Full disclosure: I still have some ads that are "grandfathered" in, allowing me to generate FB labels. For new listings outside of that category, I handle them differently, which I will explain further below.

Grow your commerce following. This is crucial for two reasons: gaining positive reviews and achieving faster sales. Everyone who follows your commerce profile will receive notifications when you reduce a price or add a new listing. Before you worry about having random people on your profile, remember that your PERSONAL Facebook page and your COMMERCE profile are different profiles. You can control how and with whom you share posts and personal information on your personal profile, whereas your commerce profile is public and created when you list items on the marketplace. This is where people can read your reviews and see other items you have for sale. From the seller's perspective, your commerce profile is where you manage your listings, sold items, items needing attention, and other insights such as chargebacks and payments.

Join groups that allow you to list items for sale or share your listings. If you specialize in a particular genre, such as vintage or children's items, seek out groups that focus on those interests. Additionally, join some local buy/sell groups that aren't specific to any category, enabling you to reach people in your area for local pick-up. Make sure to read the group rules before joining, as some may have specific selling guidelines (e.g., no external links, must ship worldwide, etc.). Also, check the groups' privacy settings. If a group is public, your posts will be visible to all your friends. While some may not mind, frequent postings could fill their newsfeeds, leading them to unfriend you. Although some of my groups are public, most are private, meaning only group members will see the listings. Remember, groups and Marketplace are separate listings. You can post on Marketplace for public viewing, but it won't appear in groups unless you share it there. If sharing with groups outside your local area, be sure to explain how they can purchase if shipping is required.

**Which leads me to #3 – pick up or shipping. Now that FB changed the labels, and because I don’t want to create my own and invoice myself, I mention in the listing details that if shipping is needed, they can purchase through Mercari. I do this for cheaper shipping and also to keep transactions on a platform so certain benefits pertaining to payment, returns, shipping damage, etc., are in effect. What platform you direct them to is up to you. Sales you make on different platforms are subject to that platform's commission and not Facebook's. You would just need to mark it as sold on Facebook after they purchase elsewhere. NOTE: When adding to the listing, do NOT post the link, as this might flag your listing. Instead, have them reach out to you. Or when you get the notorious “is this available” message, your response should be, "Yes, do you want to pick up or have it shipped?" You can then send them the listing.

An additional benefit is that with Mercari, if a person doesn't already have an account, you can send them a discount code. This not only boosts your chances of making a sale but also earns you money through a referral!

If you choose pick up, whether you prefer meet-ups or porch pick up is up to you. Some police departments have designated spots that are secure for this purpose—you might want to check if this option is available in your area. Also, whether you want to accept anything other than cash is your preference; for me personally, cash is king!

BUYERS/SELLERS BEWARE Always stay savvy by avoiding cash apps like Zelle & Venmo for FB purchases! These apps offer little to no purchase protection and some money transfers are INSTANT and IRREVERSIBLE. Stay alert, as there's a significant scam presence on Marketplace using these apps!

Your listing should include clear images, and it's best to have more than one. Make sure to add any crucial details, such as measurements, flaws if any, and anything else you would want to know as a buyer. I also include a description with my listings: from a clean, smoke-free, pet-free home, along with my terms: Pick up in ((city)), cash only, no cash apps OR will ship if purchased through ((list platform)). The more frequently you post, the more visibility your posts gain, so it's important to renew or delete and repost them whenever possible. The delete/repost option is straightforward; it's just a click. They handle the rest, but you'll need to reshare to groups.

It's important to stay updated with your posts, as any activity can boost your items, so make sure to post frequently.  If you have 7 items to share, post one each day for better visibility instead of posting them all at once.  Always ensure your posts are current and follow the steps above.

Responses: As tempting as it may be to react negatively to the generic "is this available" message, always remain courteous. After a few exchanges, Facebook allows them to rate you, even if no purchase was made! Treat everyone as a potential customer, as they might decide to buy from you in the future.

 Holds and marking as pending: sometimes the pending option is available, and sometimes it isn’t. If it is, use it when a buyer is coming for the item, and be sure to deactivate your listings on other platforms for that item as well. Personally, I don’t keep an item in this status for more than 24 hours. So, if it’s Monday and someone wants to come on Thursday, I inform them that I’ll hold it for 24 hours and mark it as pending on Wednesday. If it sells during this uncertain period, be sure to inform your customer. Additionally, I only provide the pick-up location once I am confident the pick-up is confirmed, and not too far in advance.

While interacting with customers in Messenger, recommend additional items that might appeal to them. For instance, if they're purchasing a crewel needlepoint, suggest a crewel pillow they might also like and provide a link or picture. You can also propose a discount if they buy both items together.

Provide clear and precise pickup instructions. If money needs to be hidden, send a picture of the location. If you only allow pickups during daylight hours, make sure to mention it. If your house has a distinguishing feature, like a flag or a white Corvette out front, let them know to look for it. This helps them find your property more easily.

Send a reminder for pickup that morning if it was scheduled a few days in advance, or if they are more than an hour late or didn't give you a time for pickup. Always thank them after pickup with a short but sweet message. Even if they are no-shows or cancellations, thank them for their interest and let them know if they are still interested to reach out again when they are ready for pickup. Being nice goes a long way!

HOT TIP🔥 Don't just throw your item in a plastic bag and call it a day. Fold clothing and linens, wrap breakables, and put heavier items in a box to make it easier for them to transport. Invest in a waterproof package storage container to conceal and protect porch pickups. Buy a thank you card or create your own on Canva or even a coupon to encourage repeat customers. Attach a thank you sticker. Go the extra mile to make yourself stand out as a super seller. You want that five star seller status! ⭐

**FULL DISCLOSURE:** Since writing this blog post, Facebook has quietly reintroduced prepaid shipping labels for select profiles. Currently, there is no clear pattern or criteria for who gains access, and you will not receive any notification. If, when creating a listing, you find that a prepaid label is one of your options—congratulations!🎉 You just won the Facebook Marketplace lottery!🎉 This also means you need to revisit every active listing and change it to local/shipping. I've noticed that even "grandfathered" listings had this option removed from a significant percentage of my listings.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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💰FINANCIAL FACTS💰

To get paid for Marketplace shipping, a seller must provide in the commerce manager:

• Bank account details

• Verified ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)

• SSN/Tax info if requested

• Legal name + address

• Verified email + phone

• Ability to ship items with tracking

• 
  

Price your items accordingly but don't forget about the 10% selling fee! This commission only applies to shipped items, so local pick-ups are fee-free. The fee is automatically deducted from your payout, making it super convenient for you. Keep in mind that payouts aren't instant, but you can easily track them by checking your seller dashboard.

Don't feel pressured into paying to "boost" your listing unless you're dealing with a high-priced item, like a vehicle. Remember, the more you list, renew, or engage with your listings, the more they get bumped for optimal views. Keep interacting and watch your visibility soar!

Once you've completed a few transactions, you'll be a pro! Reselling is the ideal way to support and indulge your thrifting passion, but be sure not to overbuy. Begin by selling items from your own collection first.

Do you have a thriving side gig selling on Marketplace? If so, share your commerce profile in the comments so we can check out your offerings!