Please walk me through "posting" on FB marketplace

[sheryl]

Re: FB - I do not have an account.  My DH had to create an acct when he worked for his former employer.   He isn't active on it - just every now and then.

But, we have some things to sell.  We donate a lot and for other things, I'd like to sell.  Would you talk me through "how"  to do this.  I'm already logged in to his account and on the "main" page, I guess.

[Soror]

Click the icon that looks like a house at the top, it will say marketplace when you hover over it. Once you are on Marketplace there is a selling tab at top, just follow the steps from there.

[sheryl]

28 minutes ago, Soror said:

Click the icon that looks like a house at the top, it will say marketplace when you hover over it. Once you are on Marketplace there is a selling tab at top, just follow the steps from there.

Thanks, Soror!  But, are they do's or don'ts.  Shoulds and should nots?  I'll try. 

[scbusf]

33 minutes ago, sheryl said:

Thanks, Soror!  But, are they do's or don'ts.  Shoulds and should nots?  I'll try. 

Just be careful about sharing your location with people. You could say in your listing that you will meet them at a neutral location if you don’t want people coming to your house. 

[gardenmom5]

some of my pet peeves in listings . . .examples, of things I try to do, and wish other sellers would do. It would save a lot of time it people would just do this.  Be a good seller, and give information.

for appliance/electronic type items . . . give model #s.   there should be a label - take a picture of it and just post that.  Many questions (size, etc. etc.) can be answered just by knowing that.

for furniture - include dimensions. if drawer glides or cabinet latches are broken/quirky/missing - say so.

give condition, if there is damage, take a picture of it/explain it.

having correct information about what the item is will be helpful to potential buyers.  (e.g. just yesterday I came across a "manual treadmill."  it looked familiar - yep - it was a Nordictrack walk-fit from the 90s.  when it was still made by nordic track, NOT icon fitness.  even nordic track skiers have labels with manufacture dates.)

I actually had one seller 'yell' at me because the post said serious buyers only - and I asked questions to get information (like DIMENSIONS! that were not included in the post)  to help me decide if the item would work for me or not,  - and I chose to not buy the item.   

 

I actually dislike FB marketplace, but at least I have other options with craigslist and even nextdoor.com around here.

[Soror]

Yes, dimensions of furniture are important!

I once asked for the dimensions of a dresser and was told 2?!? Whether that was height, width, or length, IDK, and what unit of measurement who knows. The person said they didn't own a tape measure, sigh.

Also:

-only take cash for the amount of the object

-of course meet in public locations

[gardenmom5]

3 hours ago, Soror said:

Yes, dimensions of furniture are important!

I once asked for the dimensions of a dresser and was told 2?!? Whether that was height, width, or length, IDK, and what unit of measurement who knows. The person said they didn't own a tape measure, sigh.

Also:

-only take cash for the amount of the object

-of course meet in public locations

And when a buyer shows up with LESS cash than you're asking, thinking to force you to come down in price (i've had a few do that.) -  . . ..tell them your price.
I had a person show up to look at a car (that I had more than a dozen serious inquiries.), and wanted me to hold it so he could come back later to have his son look at it.   - no - you leave, I'm calling the next person.  (I did hold it for 30 minutes so he could go to the bank.)

Have a time limit about when you are moving your offer to the next person.  I had one, who 'really wanted" an item, but needed to borrow a friend's truck.  Then he refused to answer me.  so - I moved on to the next person.

some items are too big to transport to "meet somewhere".   If someone wants my address, they can give me their phone number and I'll text it to them.  I've only had one person flat out refuse.  (a woman, claimed it was for her safety.  honey - I'm giving you my address. . . . next.)

and the "I'll pay you now via western union/similar and have a friend pick it up."  mawahahahaha.  scam central.  when it bounces, you're out the money and the item.

and then there are the buyers who want brand-new pristine condition.  - you can go to a store and buy it if you want it to be brand new.

or they want you to deliver (usually they're sincere) - no, sorry.   I had one guy who was doing it for a very small item. very. small.  I upped my price, and told him exactly when I'd be passing by his place of employment and that was the ONLY time I could drop it off.  I sold it to someone else.

[sheryl]

5 hours ago, scbusf said:

Just be careful about sharing your location with people. You could say in your listing that you will meet them at a neutral location if you don’t want people coming to your house. 

YES!  I definitely do NOT want strangers at my house!  How do you know what the ad will say in terms of location?  Where do you confirm that?

[sheryl]

5 hours ago, gardenmom5 said:

some of my pet peeves in listings . . .examples, of things I try to do, and wish other sellers would do. It would save a lot of time it people would just do this.  Be a good seller, and give information.

for appliance/electronic type items . . . give model #s.   there should be a label - take a picture of it and just post that.  Many questions (size, etc. etc.) can be answered just by knowing that.

for furniture - include dimensions. if drawer glides or cabinet latches are broken/quirky/missing - say so.

give condition, if there is damage, take a picture of it/explain it.

having correct information about what the item is will be helpful to potential buyers.  (e.g. just yesterday I came across a "manual treadmill."  it looked familiar - yep - it was a Nordictrack walk-fit from the 90s.  when it was still made by nordic track, NOT icon fitness.  even nordic track skiers have labels with manufacture dates.)

I actually had one seller 'yell' at me because the post said serious buyers only - and I asked questions to get information (like DIMENSIONS! that were not included in the post)  to help me decide if the item would work for me or not,  - and I chose to not buy the item.   

 

I actually dislike FB marketplace, but at least I have other options with craigslist and even nextdoor.com around here.

Thank you!  Yes, good, I have sufficient info I believe but will check that.  I've tried ND and Craigslist both and no takers.  But, I did post only once for each.  It's so time consuming.  Well Cr... does have a way to reinstate your ads I believe.  Still it's time consuming.  I have good curricula which I would like to sell.  But, I'm not going to try again and again b/c the editions will be updated lol.  Everyone wants new.

[scbusf]

24 minutes ago, sheryl said:

YES!  I definitely do NOT want strangers at my house!  How do you know what the ad will say in terms of location?  Where do you confirm that?

FB honestly walks you through it. I'd put the meeting place in the Description. I believe FB puts your general location, but then you can specify in the Description. For example, if I was listing something, it would have my city on there, but in the description I could put: Cash only. Pickup will be at the Home Depot at 123 Main Street in Atlanta.

[sheryl]

5 minutes ago, scbusf said:

FB honestly walks you through it. I'd put the meeting place in the Description. I believe FB puts your general location, but then you can specify in the Description. For example, if I was listing something, it would have my city on there, but in the description I could put: Cash only. Pickup will be at the Home Depot at 123 Main Street in Atlanta.

Thanks for that!  When you say FB puts our general location - you're referring to city?  I'm ok with that but wouldn't want it to be any more specific.

[scbusf]

22 minutes ago, sheryl said:

Thanks for that!  When you say FB puts our general location - you're referring to city?  I'm ok with that but wouldn't want it to be any more specific.

Yes, the city. 

[gardenmom5]

2 hours ago, sheryl said:

Thank you!  Yes, good, I have sufficient info I believe but will check that.  I've tried ND and Craigslist both and no takers.  But, I did post only once for each.  It's so time consuming.  Well Cr... does have a way to reinstate your ads I believe.  Still it's time consuming.  I have good curricula which I would like to sell.  But, I'm not going to try again and again b/c the editions will be updated lol.  Everyone wants new.

if you have a craigslist account, it will save your post so it's easy to renew.   I'm in an area where I did have to pay for car ads.

don't forget to add "tags" that are similar to your items, so when people are looking for those items, your item will also come up.

[sheryl]

1 hour ago, gardenmom5 said:

if you have a craigslist account, it will save your post so it's easy to renew.   I'm in an area where I did have to pay for car ads.

don't forget to add "tags" that are similar to your items, so when people are looking for those items, your item will also come up.

OK, cat out of the bag here - I've never tagged.  Not s.m. savvy.  I'll probably be able to figure it out.  I think in CL you can "connect" all of your posts.  I think.  But, you're saying my post for Abeka English 12 can to tagged to someone else selling  Abeka English anything?

[gardenmom5]

1 hour ago, sheryl said:

OK, cat out of the bag here - I've never tagged.  Not s.m. savvy.  I'll probably be able to figure it out.  I think in CL you can "connect" all of your posts.  I think.  But, you're saying my post for Abeka English 12 can to tagged to someone else selling  Abeka English anything?

no, I'm sorry - just down at the end.  e.g. if you're selling abeka english, then list other similar english curricula as well.  not everyone is looking for the latest.  some people actually have more limited budgets.

 

[Soror]

FB puts a location in so I don't add more specific pick up info until I have someone that is buying it, then I send it through messenger.

We used to just use Craigslist but it has really died down, when we've listed on both we end up selling on FB so just tend to go with it now.

[sheryl]

13 hours ago, gardenmom5 said:

no, I'm sorry - just down at the end.  e.g. if you're selling abeka english, then list other similar english curricula as well.  not everyone is looking for the latest.  some people actually have more limited budgets.

 

I'm not understanding, Kristen!  For the listing there are 2 options.  1) sell as single item and 2) sell as "stock"   I have no clue so I chose single item. 

4 hours ago, Soror said:

FB puts a location in so I don't add more specific pick up info until I have someone that is buying it, then I send it through messenger.

We used to just use Craigslist but it has really died down, when we've listed on both we end up selling on FB so just tend to go with it now.

Thanks.  Sound advice.  

I posted 3 sets of curricula.  How long do they stay active?  Do you renew?  Is there a time/frequency limit?  I would really like to sell to make back a bit of money/investment but also knowing that people will use our books and students will benefit from them.  I shudder thinking I'll have to donate but will if there is no interest. 

[gardenmom5]

1 hour ago, sheryl said:

I'm not understanding, Kristen!  For the listing there are 2 options.  1) sell as single item and 2) sell as "stock"   I have no clue so I chose single item. 

I posted 3 sets of curricula.  How long do they stay active?  Do you renew?  Is there a time/frequency limit?  I would really like to sell to make back a bit of money/investment but also knowing that people will use our books and students will benefit from them.  I shudder thinking I'll have to donate but will if there is no interest. 

"tags" in the description, so it turns up when a search is done  - at least with craigslist, it searches everything.   

it stays on FB until you delete it.  You can renew it once a week - and that's about getting it higher in the returned results.  I don't like FB's search function, it's a pain - and I'll get included results that have been there for three or four months.

[sheryl]

On 1/18/2021 at 2:46 PM, gardenmom5 said:

"tags" in the description, so it turns up when a search is done  - at least with craigslist, it searches everything.   

it stays on FB until you delete it.  You can renew it once a week - and that's about getting it higher in the returned results.  I don't like FB's search function, it's a pain - and I'll get included results that have been there for three or four months.

Are you saying in the actual "description box" to tag other books?  Do you just list the titles of the books?  Do you have an example?

And, wow, someone contacted me within a day from posting a book to buy our Analytical Grammar/American Authors.   In that box I wrote this -

(can't find my listings. clearly I don't know how to use fb but I thought there would have been "listings" in user profile acct. I searched but nothing) ????

"good condition, all pages clean and intact"...

** You're saying underneath write what for Abeka English 11 te and ans key and Abeka English 12 te and ans key?

[gardenmom5]

32 minutes ago, sheryl said:

Are you saying in the actual "description box" to tag other books?  Do you just list the titles of the books?  Do you have an example?

And, wow, someone contacted me within a day from posting a book to buy our Analytical Grammar/American Authors.   In that box I wrote this -

(can't find my listings. clearly I don't know how to use fb but I thought there would have been "listings" in user profile acct. I searched but nothing) ????

"good condition, all pages clean and intact"...

** You're saying underneath write what for Abeka English 11 te and ans key and Abeka English 12 te and ans key?

If you have a bunch of different English/grammar curriculum - I'd put it all in one listing, then list each separately.

 

I'm going to have to take a break.  I had a super rough day yesterday and am still recovering.

[sheryl]

2 hours ago, gardenmom5 said:

If you have a bunch of different English/grammar curriculum - I'd put it all in one listing, then list each separately.

 

I'm going to have to take a break.  I had a super rough day yesterday and am still recovering.

Well, I'll have to play around with it.  Thanks!  

On another note, rest up and surely you'll feel better today!