I spend upwards of 5 hours a week on Facebook Marketplace — here are my 6 best tips for finding deals
Jun 13, 2023, 02:00 IST
- Facebook Marketplace has become my new favorite social media app.
- I love scrolling through the listings, even if I don't plan on buying anything.
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My favorite social media app isn't TikTok or Instagram — it's Facebook Marketplace.
First launched in 2007 as a way for users to post essentially "classified ads" about housing and items for sale, Marketplace has taken off — in 2021, Mark Zuckerberg said on an earnings call that it's now used by over a billion users. Facebook's e-commerce service is essentially like Craigslist, but the listings are linked to users' Facebook profiles, making it at least feel digitally safer.
Plus, the deals are so good that people say they're making money on what they find on the app, like one TikToker who sold a $50 chair for over $100,000 or a 27-year-old who made an extra $37,000 on it as a side hustle.
I'm shocked by how often I check Facebook Marketplace, especially since I rarely go on Facebook for its original purpose — connecting with friends — anymore. At night, when most people are reading or scrolling through another (honestly better curated) social media feed, I can be found refreshing the app to see new listings or if anything I saved has been sold (and for how much).For all the excessive time I've spent combing through listings — and I'm talking upwards of five hours cumulative each week, just for fun — I have a few tips for buyers:1. Save everything you like — even if you're not planning to buy it. The Marketplace feed gets more specific to you based on whatever you save or interact with, so you'll see your feed get more curated over time. Even if you're not looking to buy anything, saving items and keeping an eye on how much they sell for can inform future purchases or offers, too.2. If you're looking for specific products, check for typos or similar language. Let's say I was looking for a media console on the app. I'd probably type "media console," but you should also search for "credenza," "TV stand," "console table," and so on. Similarly, it can be worth it to check slight misspellings of brands (say, C2B instead of CB2) where you may get more hits than you expected.3. If you're searching for a specific item, save your search. This is obvious, but it's how I found a 6-foot Anthropologie Gleaming Primrose Mirror for more than half the price and with free delivery. Make sure you turn on your Notifications for Marketplace in the Facebook Settings & Privacy menu, and then you'll get notifications if someone posts something with your keywords.4. For items you fear may go fast, make your message personalized. "Is this item still available?" is a very common refrain that sellers may scroll past, but complimenting the item and offering your best price will get an immediate response. Similarly, when you're negotiating, it pays (literally) to be nice and flexible.5. Search by vibes. If you're not finding anything you like, try searching by home decor trends (vintage, Scandinavian, mid-century, etc), color (green, light green, mint), or material (wood, marble, grasscloth), and see what pops up.6. Be safe. Like anything on the internet, Facebook Marketplace is susceptible to scammers. Meet in a public place during the day, don't share your address, don't share your phone number, look at their profile and make sure they're a real person (check: Was their account recently created? Do they have friends, photos, a workplace, or any other info?). Trust your gut! If something feels fishy, it probably is.