How to Use Facebook Marketplace

Facebook is the most popular social networking website, with over 200 million active users. Thanks to a partnership with the e-commerce service Oodle, Facebook has upgraded its Marketplace to compete with online marketplaces like Craig's List and eBay. This guide will show you how to use Facebook Marketplace to buy and sell items.

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  Introduction

  • Facebook Marketplace allows users to fill out listings in a similar format to the site's own status updates. For example, a sales listing would show up in your friends' news feeds as "Jerry is selling a lawnmower." You can opt to buy from any Facebook member or, if you prefer, only from your friends. This guide will give you all the steps necessary to start using the application.
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  • Step 1: Go to Facebook.com
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  • The easiest way to access Facebook is to enter its specific URL: www.facebook.com. You can also find it by entering "facebook" into a search engine and clicking on the first link.
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  Step 2: Enter Your Login Information

  • The front page of Facebook.com has a dark blue bar at the top of the screen. On the right side of the bar are two dialog boxes. On the left dialog box, type in the e-mail address that you used to sign up for the account. On the left, enter the password that you created when creating your membership, then click the "Login" button.
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  • Step 3: Open the Marketplace Application
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  • Once you have logged in, you will find a "Marketplace" icon at the bottom left side of the screen, placed between the "Superlatives" and "Events" icons. Click on it and you will be directed to the Marketplace Home Page.
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  Step 4: Post a Listing

  • At the top of the Facebook Marketplace page is a dialog box that looks similar to the "Status" box on your Home Page. The dialog box gives you four options:

  1. Sell It
  2. Sell for a Cause
  3. Give It Away
  4. Ask for It

  • Click on the option that best suits your needs, then enter your request in the dialog box. For example, under "Ask for It," you could write "is looking for tickets to the Jimmy Buffett concert." Your request will automatically post to the site as "(Your Name) is looking for tickets to the Jimmy Buffett concert."

  • If you want to sell an item on the Marketplace, fill out the dialog box with a brief description of the item for sale and click "Post." From there, you have the option of explaining why you are selling the item, the price of the item, a detailed description and, if you like, a picture.

  • After you click "Submit," his posting will be visible to anyone who visits the Marketplace, along with the time and date of the posting. Potential buyers can either click on your name or the name of the item for sale to get more information.

  • You will follow the same general process whether you're selling for profit, selling for a cause, (in which case you donate the proceeds to charity) or giving an item away for free.
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  Step 5: Find a Listing

  • Underneath the dialog box, you will find a link for Location Settings. This will allow you to search for items in your home city, another city, throughout the United States or in the country of your choice. Using the links on the left side of the page, you can further refine your search to listings by your friends or listings that are only accompanied by photos.
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  • Step 6: Complete the Transaction
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  • Unlike most items on eBay, Facebook Marketplace items don't have a PayPal application available to complete a sale. The site simply recommends that the buyer and seller contact each other directly after the transaction to complete payment.
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  Conclusion

  • There are many advantages to using Facebook Marketplace, from encouraging more personalized sales to creating trust between locally-based users. The Marketplace is also free, easy to use and less anonymous than sites that don't list sellers' names or profiles.