Facebook Marketplace is one of the most popular features of the platform, accessed by users all over the world who are keen to sell or buy specific products, homeware goods, clothes, and more.
With the rise of preloved and second hand markets, Facebook Marketplace taps into the demand for affordable goods and recycling opportunities and matches buyers with sellers in their local area.
But with online selling comes an increase in the risk of online scams. For sellers, the risk comes in the form of time wasters, those who underpay, or those who receive an item and then don’t pay for it at all.
To make selling on Facebook Marketplace as easy and as safe as possible, we’ve pulled together some tips to help…
Request Collection From the Buyer
If a buyer wants an item that you are listing, often the safest option for you as the seller is for them to come and collect the item from you. This means that if they are a time waster, you haven’t gone out of your way or invested any money in a delivery service.
Accept Cash on Collection
Never allow a buyer to take home an item without paying. If you or they don’t want to deal with payment prior to collection, then make sure that you accept cash or a direct BACS transfer on collection, swapping money at the same time as the item exchanges owners.
Don’t Take Photos of Your Property
It’s important not to give too much away in the photos of your listing, especially if you list information about location. Facebook Marketplace can be rife with users who might exploit and use information about possessions across different properties, so be sure to keep personal information to yourself.
This includes only sharing your exact location when you know a buyer is serious about a purchase.
Keep It Local
One of the easiest ways to stay safe on Facebook Marketplace is to stick with local listings and deal, where possible, with local buyers.
You can also consider meeting in a public place if you want to keep buyers away from your property, and don’t give away information about yourself during conversation or meetings.
We hope this helps. Marketplace offers a great way of listing and selling items that you no longer want or need – however, a big part of using it means accessing its features and tools as safely as possible. Following these four tips can help to protect your sales and your personal information.
