How to Get Marketplace on Facebook

If you need to purge your business of unused items, or if you want to purchase something for the office, Facebook Marketplace is a good place to start. Chances are you already have a Facebook account, meaning you already have access to Marketplace. It’s a one-stop shop for selling and buying items from people in your community. With Facebook Marketplace, you can easily buy and sell anything from electronics and decor to furniture and vehicles from the comfort of your home.

If you have a Facebook account, then you already have Marketplace. It’s a built-in feature of the social media platform. You can find Marketplace by accessing the Facebook app, or by logging into Facebook on an internet browser. The Marketplace feature is indicated by an icon that looks like a little house.

If you do not already have a Facebook account, you must create one to access Marketplace. Facebook is free to use, and sign-up is quick. Facebook Marketplace is available in about 50 countries around the world, including the U.S. Users of the feature must be 18 and older.

Buying and selling goods on Facebook Marketplace is convenient and not too time-consuming. Once you are in the Facebook Marketplace, you will see a menu with options for buying and selling. One of the perks of using Marketplace is that you communicate with interested buyers directly through the platform instead of having to use email or messenger.

Buying on Facebook Marketplace. To buy something on Facebook Marketplace, you can browse by keyword or search by category. Categories include housing, electronics, hobbies and vehicles. You can find most anything you are looking for on Marketplace, both in new and used condition.

When you are buying on Facebook Marketplace, you can also filter your search by price and location. This can help narrow your search from hundreds to just a few items in your area and price range. Though the items searched default to your current location, you can change the location of your search in case you want to look in another city. You may want to do this if you are moving offices or if you are looking for an item for someone else.

Once you find an item you’d like to buy, select the item to review the description and images. If you are interested, click the “Ask About Availability” button to message the seller directly. You can communicate with the seller through Marketplace to ask any questions, confirm the price and arrange for pick up.

Selling on Facebook Marketplace. To sell something on Facebook Marketplace, make sure you have a current photo of the item for sale. You’ll need to upload that along with a description of the item. The description should be as detailed as possible, including the condition of the item and its measurements. You also want to divulge if there are any imperfections or if the item isn’t working properly.

The final thing you need to post an item for sale is a price. Choose a price that people are likely to pay, and not the retail cost of the item. Pricing should be based on the age and condition of the item. You can always search to see what other people are charging for similar items if you aren’t sure how to price. If you are selling a new item or items in bulk, price them accordingly.

Once you have a photo, description and price, you are ready to list your item on Facebook Marketplace. Click on the “Sell Something” button to create a sale post, include all of the needed information and select “Post” to publish. Doing so makes the post live and available to be seen by people in a set geographic range of your location.

If selling on Facebook doesn’t interest you, or if you’d like to post your item for sale somewhere in addition to Marketplace, there are many options where your business can sell online, such as the following:

• Amazon: Businesses can sell their products on Amazon, but there is a fee associated with doing so. If you plan to sell more than 40 items a month, Amazon has a Professional selling plan. That plan costs about $40 per month along with per-item selling fees. Subscribing to the Professional selling plan on Amazon allows you access to inventory management tools, order reports, top page placement and customized shipping rates. If you plan to sell fewer than 40 items a month, Amazon has an Individual plan. While there is no monthly subscription fee, there are per-item and other selling fees. 
  
• eBay: Selling products on eBay is another option for businesses. Business accounts are available on eBay if you want to sell large quantities, or if you have items you made or purchased to resell. If you plan to sell 250 or more items each month, you’ll probably want to subscribe to one of Amazon’s Stores plans. These plans start at $25 a month and include a store homepage where all your items are listed, a customized web address, branding and tools to help boost sales and visibility.
  
• Craigslist: Craigslist is another option for selling items online, and it is free to use. The downsides are that it targets local buyers instead of a more national audience and the interface is not as visually appealing as others.
  
• Other Buy and Sell Groups on Facebook: In addition to Marketplace, Facebook has a variety of other Buy and Sell Groups where businesses can sell online. Most have rules around posting that need to be followed for your post to be accepted. These groups also target local buyers, but many are segmented into niches such as local mom groups or neighborhoods that attract the type of buyer you want.