Buying Safely on Facebook Marketplace

Top Tips for Buying Safely on Facebook Marketplace

Cost of living pressures are making it attractive to buy and sell second-hand.  Facebook Marketplace is a very popular way of finding stuff.  As at the 4^th June 2024, at least one billion people use Facebook Marketplace each month. Read on for my top tips for buying  on Facebook Marketplace. 

Bargaining

I think it is worth trying to offer a lower price for an item. The seller will let you know if it is not welcome. You can decide if the asking price is right for you. I don’t mind if people ask me for a lower price, but the price I put on an item is usually the lowest price that I will go.  It all depends on how quickly I want the item sold and off my hands. I will message back and say the price is firm.

Be aware that people will ask if an item is available even if they are not really interested in buying.

Get what you pay for

Carefully check descriptions and photos. Get details of the item and its current condition. It’s always best to go and view an item, particularly if it is expensive. If you can’t visit the property – use FaceTime or Zoom. A legitimate seller will have no problems with this.

Marketplace scams and when to be cautious

People do get caught by Marketplace scams. You can lose money, travel time to and from a pickup and your peace of mind. Unfortunately, not everyone has the best intentions. Be wise to the risks to make it a smooth transaction.

 Here are some tips to try to eliminate being ripped off. They are also good suggestions to use if your buyer is worried that you might be trying to scam them.

–  Always get a phone number. Someone who is legitimately trying to sell an item will not have a problem giving you a phone number

–  Call the seller. A conversation will generally be the best way to check things out.  A chat will make you and the seller feel good about the transaction.  It may be hard to judge a person on a text or message.

–  Agree method of payment and terms: Make sure the payment method suits both parties. Don’t be forced into transferring money if it doesn’t feel right. (Not for ANY reason). Bring cash, if that is the agreed payment.

– Get the tracking number or courier details of any items that are being sent to you.

– Check out the seller’s details on Facebook Marketplace. Be careful of sellers that are very new to Facebook Marketplace and have no ratings/history of selling. Their profile may have been set up recently to scam others. Other red flags are the lack of profile picture and limited activity.

– There is no such thing as a fee for PayPal for Business. You do not have to pay anything to set up a PayPal account. There is a situation running at the moment where the buyer says they have paid a fee to set you up on PayPal for Business. They show you a legitimate looking screenshot of the money they claim to have paid for you. They want you to pay them for the “set up” cost. 

PayPal has extremely useful protection for buyers. It is easy to lodge a dispute over the money paid out, if you have not received the right item. The seller does pay fees to transact on PayPal and this is why they may not want to use PayPal.

– Check out PayID with your own bank to see how quick and easy it is to set up. Depending on the relationship between the two banks involved, the transaction time can be extremely short. It can be good practice to use a mobile phone number as PayID.

Facebook Marketplace can be an easy way to find goods, but it also needs to be secure. Buying and Selling Second-hand keeps prices down and allows you to quickly search and identify items that you want to buy. It is good for the environment to buy second-hand and keep items out of landfill. Be alert to unscrupulous sellers with dodgy ratings, or brand new to Facebook. If the price seems too good to be true, it may be a scam.

More Facebook Marketplace Selling Tips

BIO

In 2020 after taking a redundancy from corporate life, Jane realised that she had always been an “organiser” of herself and other people.  Zing Home Organising is based in Sydney, but Jane is happy to help you over Zoom.  She is known as a kind, calm organiser, who works with your natural organising style, but can get you moving. She loves working with people who want to declutter, downsize, move or simply use organisation to be happier in their homes. Jane also loves assisting NDIS participants to make their home suitable for the supports that participants need. She is a Professional Member of the Institute of Professional Organisers and a keen rower on Sydney Harbour.