Selling on FaceBook Marketplace

[val2525]

For those who sell on Marketplace, is it hard? Do you just sell locally or offering shipping to out of state buyers?

I want to get rid of my inventory and I was thinking bulk listings on Facebook might work. Then again, auctions on eBay might work too.

[labbypaws]

Hubby had to submit his tax information when he put his ipad up last week. Local meetup on FB is a pita as some people stand you up. Had that happen twice with a laptop. I try to do the local yard sale groups. I did sell my Rav weathetech mats on FB. Local meet up. Had some out of state bites but I told them shipping was astronomical. Once I quoted it they declined.

[treetop]

I’ve been selling locally for a few years and recently started shipping as well. On items under $25 or $30, I just do porch pick up. I give them my address, tell them the item will be behind a flower pot by my front door. They pick it up and leave cash under my doormat. On more expensive items, I meet them in a parking lot nearby. Have had very few stand me up. Have had a couple people leave less than the correct amount (one woman left $15 instead of $20, for example), but others have left a little extra if they didn’t have correct change, so it evens out. I started shipping at the beginning of the year and it’s gone well so far. FB does not have a way to combine items to save on shipping, so have had to end both items and set up a new listing, which was a pain. I don’t get eBay prices for my stuff, but the fees are less and stuff seems to sell faster. Seems like stuff that doesn’t sell on eBay does sell on FB, at least for me. In January, I listed about 15 clothes/shoes and 12 sold within 10 days, all with shipping.

[denise15601]

I have been selling there for about a year and a half and doing pretty well. I offer shipping and since I list on my desktop, I can list to 50 places.

I have about 1,500 items on there, and even sell clothing.

I have 4 local just this week. I never meet anyone and ask them to do a porch pick-up. I just tell them that I am high-risk so seldom leave my house. I have never been ripped off. I put the item on my back porch and they leave the $$ there.

My daughter is doing very very well on there and has been selling for about 2 years.

As with all sites, you will probably receive a message saying that they want to pick up the item, they are driving, and ask for your cell number or to send a code to you. Those are scammers.

For locals, I PM them my cell number and address so that info isn't visible to everyone.  You can see their facebook info and that is where I PM them.

The shipping is a good price and the fees are less.

Super easy to list on there.

There are glitches, of course.

You will probably have some listings come under review for no reason. So just click for a review and give them a reason, like......you are selling an animal print top and it isn't a live animal!!!

[Desire]

Do you have a separate FB account just for this or do you use your normal FB account? Can you block your "friends" from seeing the items for sale?

[denise15601]

I believe that it has to go through your FB account, since they want to verify your identity. You can block your friends from seeing the items, but then you can't post the items to multiple sites.

Some people don't use their right name on FB, so it might be an option if you change your FB account to not show your real name.

This is a bit of a problem for me, since my friend gave me a bunch of gifts that I would like to list. So I don't put them on MP.

[treetop]

I was able to change my FB settings so my listings don’t show on my feed. Took me forever to figure out how and I don’t remember now. I had tried setting up a separate ID, but was not allowed to sell from the new ID.

I’ve been very annoyed that some listings come under review…for me it is usually used Kate Spade or Coach purses. Sometimes having them reviewed takes care of it, other times it doesn’t.

[denise15601]

When I am listing something with a brand name that might kick out, I don't put the brand into the title at first. Then after I have shared it to 50ish sites, I go back and edit to put the brand name in the title. They usually take then.

[Pantlandia]

I've been doing much better than expected on FB with my single CDs. Honestly, I'm surprised so many have sold. I do shipping and pick up and supply my own labels (since they are all media mail and FB doesn't offer it). Mine have all bee shipped and it's quite easy. The interface isn't the best when you're trying to see what has sold after the fact tho.

[denise15601]

Jeremy,
MP does offer media mail, or is that only for books?

[Pantlandia]

Feb 18, 2022 1:16:01 GMT denise15601 said:

Jeremy,
MP does offer media mail, or is that only for books?

You are right, they do. I just checked, but it looks like are putting a surcharge on it, because it's showing as $3.45 thru Marketplace and it's $3.19 normally. 

Strike that...My settings had the CD at 1-2 lbs. It looks like under a lb is actually cheaper @ $2.89!!

Hot damn!! Thanks Denise!!

[denise15601]

I just made another sale on MP and my selling fee has been waived. I didn't read anything about this happening, but it sure works for me!

[chapeaunoir]

Are you guys getting pestered about showing two pieces of ID to FB? In my effort to get rid of the rest of my inventory I'm thinking of breaking down and just listing vintage in lots on there. I used to sell vintage in a couple of groups there a while ago and it was great, but that ID was suspended for "fake name" and it's the second account I've had suspended for that. I have a small one with my married last name now, but no ID with that on it because I don't use it on any of my business papers/bills.

[allikat]

I hadn't sold since November so I just listed a Vineyard Vines dress to see if they asked me for anything, it went right through but I only do porch pick up and tuck cash under front door mat. No shipping so I am not sure if that would change what Facebook requires from someone.

[denise15601]

No, I am fine and list several items a day (with shipping). On the MP discussion group, other sellers are complaining about that. One seller posted a screenshot and the grammar is weird, so it was suggested that it is a scam? Are you on those discussion groups?

[chapeaunoir]

I'm not in any discussion groups at this time and dare not even say much or I'll get nailed again - long story.  I'm going to see if I can slip onto FB marketplace and just dump a couple of boxes of vintage. Either that or it goes to donations - I have several thousand dollars worth of the stuff and I'd love to get something out of it over and above the 32% or whatever our tax bracket is of cost.

[denise15601]

Mar 22, 2022 8:27:34 GMT chapeaunoir said:

I'm not in any discussion groups at this time and dare not even say much or I'll get nailed again - long story.  I'm going to see if I can slip onto FB marketplace and just dump a couple of boxes of vintage. Either that or it goes to donations - I have several thousand dollars worth of the stuff and I'd love to get something out of it over and above the 32% or whatever our tax bracket is of cost.

Have you tried to sell on Tradesy?

[chapeaunoir]

I used to sell on Tradesy, then it got really odd, they started forcing returns and I stopped. I'll check it out, though and maybe reopen my account - that's a good idea. Its been so long that I'd forgot about Tradesy!

[denise15601]

I have only had one return in the 3 years that I have been selling on there. No note, no idea why. So I just relisted it.

They used to take only the high end stuff, but now I list stuff like Chico's, Lane Bryant, J. Crew, J. Jill. 

[chapeaunoir]

I just reopened my account - I'm going to put my vintage on there since they have a section for it and get rid of Etsy.

[denise15601]

Mar 24, 2022 3:07:54 GMT chapeaunoir said:

I just reopened my account - I'm going to put my vintage on there since they have a section for it and get rid of Etsy.

I guess that you know that scammers will ask you for your cell number, pretending that they will pick it up.  I always check their location and then if they are local, I PM them to have a conversation.

[val2525]

I have the following fall/winter clothing, and I'm trying to figure out how to list them on FB MP. Advice, anyone?



54 NWT Catherines, most in multiple sizes of the same item, and retailer pics for most of the pieces that I downloaded from the old Catherines website.

22 NWT tag mixed labels, all OOAK, no duplicates.

63 Preowned Catherines, all OOAK, no dupes that I recall, mixed sizes.

102 Preowned other labels, all OOAK and if there are any dupes, it's just 1 or two, mixed sizes.


I did pull and donate any brands that I could tell were Junior Plus size except Torrid, which is cut more like true plus size and has cute lines. I also put items with no brand label on it in the donate pile, and anything that looked even remotely worn. The majority of the preowned (if not all) is in excellent condition.

This is just the fall/winter stuff. I'm still going thru the summer stuff.



I was thinking of bundling all the NWT stuff up and list it as one big batch, aimed at resellers.

What I don't know is if I'm better off offering batches of the used stuff by size, in case someone is buying for themself, or batches of mixed sizes aimed at resellers?

I'm inclined to batch the Catherines in same size batches (maybe 10 pcs to a batch?), as the sizing is usually consistent and people might buy for resale or personal use. Same for any Avenue items I have - bundle by size.

The other labels, since sizing varies so much by brand, I thought I'd just put in a few big bundles in mixed sizes for resellers.

Thoughts? I've never bought or sold on FB so I have no idea which way will work better.

[denise15601]

Val,
I haven't had any problems getting paid on MP, but I wouldn't make expensive bundles since there are so many scammers.
My daughter hasn't had any problems either, but I would keep the bundles under $100.

Apparently the CS is non-existant. But there is a special link that I can forward somehow if you do have problems.

I list everything separately, except for some bundles of doilies or books.

You could list a few different ways to see how it goes.

[kritter]

MP seems more like the Wild West of online selling. I am thinking about putting some stuff on but with local/porch pickup only. I have done porch pickup on ND and other than people not showing up which was rare, there have been no issues.

[val2525]

Mar 29, 2022 2:37:59 GMT denise15601 said:

Val,
I haven't had any problems getting paid on MP, but I wouldn't make expensive bundles since there are so many scammers.
My daughter hasn't had any problems either, but I would keep the bundles under $100.

Apparently the CS is non-existant. But there is a special link that I can forward somehow if you do have problems.

I list everything separately, except for some bundles of doilies or books.

You could list a few different ways to see how it goes.

I'm not looking to make big bucks off this stuff. I just want it gone. Last resort, it will all get donated. I just wanted to try to sell it first in case a local reseller could use it. I might list smaller batches on ebay, but that's not my first choice due to the cost of shipping. Even if I list it at $1 or $2 per piece, the shipping could jack up the overall per piece price for a buyer to $5-$6 if they lived far away from me. Given the current low prices, that might not be worth a sellers time to buy. But I may do some bundles anyway and put them on eBay over the weekend. I guess if they're used to paying in the $5-$7 range, my low price+shipping wouldn't seem like all that much.

[chapeaunoir]

I crunched some numbers, and with prices the way they're going on eBay, it was 50/50 if I want to lot the stuff up and sell it, or just redonate. I'm going the redonate route (it's all odd sizes and styles, leftovers and I'm not sure any reseller would be interested, anyway)- I was getting some bags ready the other day and told the DH that this was certainly nice stuff. He said "Well, since you don't carry anything bad in your store, I expect it is." 

Other items I'll hold over.  It's the vintage that I'm thinking I might be able to sell as a re-sale opportunity, but the shipping definitely is an issue - it's why it makes selling this stuff online a little iffy.  I love it when someone purchases a big bundle from me on Posh, but that hasn't been in a while. 

[denise15601]

Mar 29, 2022 20:42:03 GMT val2525 said:

Mar 29, 2022 2:37:59 GMT denise15601 said:

Val,
I haven't had any problems getting paid on MP, but I wouldn't make expensive bundles since there are so many scammers.
My daughter hasn't had any problems either, but I would keep the bundles under $100.

Apparently the CS is non-existant. But there is a special link that I can forward somehow if you do have problems.

I list everything separately, except for some bundles of doilies or books.

You could list a few different ways to see how it goes.

I'm not looking to make big bucks off this stuff. I just want it gone. Last resort, it will all get donated. I just wanted to try to sell it first in case a local reseller could use it. I might list smaller batches on ebay, but that's not my first choice due to the cost of shipping. Even if I list it at $1 or $2 per piece, the shipping could jack up the overall per piece price for a buyer to $5-$6 if they lived far away from me. Given the current low prices, that might not be worth a sellers time to buy. But I may do some bundles anyway and put them on eBay over the weekend. I guess if they're used to paying in the $5-$7 range, my low price+shipping wouldn't seem like all that much.

Oh, I thought that you would be asking like $20 per item.  If you want to lot them up and get rid of them locally, that would be doable.  I would put several of the same size together, in case someone wanted them for themselves, or to donate to someone who needs them

but can't afford to pay big bucks.  And then some mixed sizes resellers bundle.  And list them on all of your local sites.  I can share to 50+ sites on my desktop.

Did you ever consider going to a consignment shop?  They pay 50-50 on consignment.  At my fav thrift shop, they charge maybe $10+ for a plus sized item, and if NWT, they charge more.

[denise15601]

This is neat! I got the email below from FBMP. I didn't even know that this dude (named Roy Rogers) had even tried to buy this item. And MP shut him down.

Facebook has canceled this order to help protect you from unusual activity. The buyer has been notified and won't be charged for this order.
Your listing is now available for purchase from other Marketplace buyers. You can update or manage your listing from Your Listings on Marketplace.
Thanks,
The Facebook Marketplace Team
Order # 7736668053070046

Bradford Exchange Plate On Freedom's Wings w/ Eagle and American Flag 2001
$16.15
Order # 7736668053070046

[denise15601]

Whoa! Mailing 5 MP orders today!

No sales on any other sites.

[val2525]

Mar 22, 2022 8:27:34 GMT:

 Either that or it goes to donations - I have several thousand dollars worth of the stuff and I'd love to get something out of it over and above the 32% or whatever our tax bracket is of cost.

Your tax bracket has nothing to do with how much your deduction is. The inventory you donate is removed from your beginning inventory on your schedule C when you take your year-end inventory, and 100% of the purchase price of the inventory is taken as cost of goods sold in the year you donate. All that affects your net profit in the Schedule C. The net profit is added to all other income to determine your tax bracket.

There is no deduction for "donation" if you are getting rid of resale inventory. Donation is just how you dispose of it (rather than selling it or destroying it).