Facebook was introduced in February of 2004 to the students of Harvard University. It became public two years later and by 2008 had surpassed MySpace as the most visited social media Web site in the world.
As a part of their format the site introduced a classified ad section called Facebook Marketplace in 2007. It was initially an online way to sell and rent homes and list job opportunities. Nine years in Marketplace underwent a major revamping and in 2016 was introduced with the format you see today.
Since its inception the number of Facebook users selling has increased each year as they turn a wide variety of items into cash. Furniture is the number one seller on Marketplace, followed by clothing and accessories, seasonal items, books and jewelry. The great thing about selling in this forum is the ability to research before you list to see exactly what others are selling, how they are pricing and how they are wording their descriptions.
Correspondence with a potential buyer or seller is made easy through access to Facebook Messenger. This form of communication allows you to message the seller and negotiate a price or accept an item at the price asked.
One of the best things about Marketplace is the way it affords you the opportunity to buy and sell within your immediate geographical area or you may work in a larger market by expanding your area to include all of Indiana or surrounding states.
I have had considerable success selling for the past 8 years in a small area on the eastside of Indianapolis. However, when I came into possession of a rare vintage Singer sewing machine last summer I thought it might be interesting to offer it to a larger audience.
Being a machine that is highly sought and difficult to find in good condition, I listed it to cover a three state area. Three hours after I listed it,. it sold to a woman from Springfield, Ohio for my full asking price. I now go for a broader listing area whenever I have something that is considered rare.
Unlike the other popular selling venues online, Marketplace allows you to see who you are dealing with by visiting their profile. There you can learn about their profession, education, who their friends are and any number of pieces of information to help you determine if this is someone you are comfortable doing business with.
Thinking you might like to give selling on Facebook a try? There is a very thorough tutorial on Marketplace selling at www.facebook.com/help/561376580709359
Until next time…Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates.
