(Pocket-lint) – Facebook took on Etsy and eBay all the way back in 2016, with the launch of Marketplace, a feature within the main Facebook app that you can use to buy and sell goods.
We’ve seen it work really well on a local basis because it’s so simple to see free and paid-for items that are around where you live – and related to the stuff you’re interested in.
Before Marketplace, people used Facebook Groups to buy, sell, trade, and barter. You could set up a garage sale-type group for your community, for instance, so that people in your local neighborhood could post things they had for sale and look for items from others. It was a bit clunky though, with Marketplace offering a much more streamlined approach.
Here’s everything you need to know about Facebook Marketplace, including where to find it.
Where can you find Marketplace?
Simply tap on the Marketplace icon at the top of the Facebook app. It’s the icon that looks like a little shop.
How can you browse items for sale?
Marketplace opens with photos of items that people near you have listed for sale. To find something specific, you can enter a keyword in the search bar by tapping on the search icon at the top right of your screen.
You can filter your results by location, category, or price. There’s also a categories section, where you can go to discover items under Clothing & accessories, Electronics, and Family, etc. There’s a location tool to adjust your search radius, too.
How can you buy items?
When you find something you want to buy, be sure to tap on the image to see more details from the seller, such as a product description, the name and profile photo of the seller, and their general location. You can also save the item to find it later.
Once you decide you want it – or you’re interested in it – you can send the seller a message from Marketplace to make an offer, simply tap on the ‘Message Seller’ button. Facebook does not facilitate the payment or delivery of items. The idea is you and the seller can work out the details.
How do you sell items?
To post an item for sale in Marketplace, take a photo of your item (or add it from your camera roll), then enter a product name, description, and price, confirm your location and select a category.
You can then post it so that anyone looking in your area can find your item and message you if they want to buy it. Remember that Facebook does not facilitate the payment or delivery of items.
How can you keep track?
To keep track of all of your current and past transactions, visit the profile section of Marketplace by tapping on the icon in the top right of the screen, next to the search icon. From here, you can see your recent activity, any saved items, products you’ve posted for sale, and all your previous messages with people.
Writing by Maggie Tillman and Elyse Betters. Editing by Luke Baker.
