So you want to find some great deals on Facebook Marketplace? Well…you can come to the right place! I have a bit of an obsession. Like any obsession, it developed slowly over time – until BAM, here I am writing a whole blog post about it.
Truthfully, I have to blame it on getting pregnant. Ever since becoming a mom, getting good deals on products has been my favorite pastime. I have always been the frugal one in my marriage, but this is a whole new level.
Once you have a baby you realize how much stuff you actually need. Even if you go the “minimalist” route, extra things will still need to be bought!
Check out my blog post on a few items I got a good deal on!
HOW TO FIND THE BEST DEALS:
- Set your location & settings
- Facebook makes it so easy to find great items in your area, but you have to set your location and radius first to narrow things down. Depending on the day I will make my radius smaller or larger. My husband works about 40 miles from where we live. So if I know he will have a slow day, I like to search 40 miles out just to see if there are any good deals. On his way home from work he has stopped by to pick things up for me! It’s great! However, usually, I will do about a 20-mile radius.
- Set your search for “Local Listings”
- I use to think the most annoying feature Facebook made was to add a shipping option. However, my mom uses it so much to send us stuff, so I’ve come to realize it’s not that bad…haha. However, I don’t like to pay for shipping so I stick to local pick-ups. Once you click on the search bar and you search for an item – there will be a drop-down that says “Shipping & Local, Shipping Only, Local Only”. Here you can choose what you want to see! As I said, I usually pick local only!
- Do your research!
- This is probably the biggest key to finding a good deal! In my other Facebook Marketplace blog post I shared that I got two Pottery Barn shelves for $50. They retail for $70 EACH! Like Holy Moly that is a good deal! I also calculate time spent as a monetary value. So let’s say it was $100 total…still a goodish deal – but was 30 miles away. To me, that adds gas money and then not as worth it. But to each their own. I try to search for the REAL WINNERS.
- If the seller doesn’t have the brand and model listed – don’t be afraid to ask. Even ask why they are selling. You will get a sense of a time frame of how long they have had it, and the value it may have lost.
- Check out the seller
- I like that Facebook created an e-commerce page for sellers. This is a great place to see the seller’s “ratings” from others’ purchasing experience with them! This is also a great place to see if they have any other products are might be interested in. I usually don’t see anything else I like from a seller, but I did once and was able to bundle on shipping. (Score! Because I really don’t like shipping with a passion)
- Save Searches & Items
- This is a great feature! You can save your searches so that if an item with your search pops up, Facebook will notify you! Just search the item you want to save and click the notification bell at the top left!
- Save Items – I partially use save items for items I am really interested in and also kind of like a Pinterest board of things that inspire me to get in the future or for something similar! You can find the save feature right under the “Send seller a message”. I like saving because Facebook will also notify you if the price goes down, or you can check back a few days/weeks later – if the price is too high – and see if they are willing to negotiate. And that brings me to my next point!
- Negotiation!
- I am honestly way too bold in negotiation – even to where people don’t message me back…haha oops. I think I offend people, but to be honest, I would be offended by myself, so I understand. I like to negotiate but don’t like when people negotiate with me. haha! But I say go low and you can always raise it or they can counter offer! A play kitchen I recently bought for my daughter was priced at $69. That seemed a bit high considering it was used and that was only $20 off the original price. So I countered with $50 and he accepted!
- Negotiation is where everything else comes in handy. By watching the price, knowing the product and its retail value – plus how it could be worn down – you can negotiate and get the best price/value of the item!
- Be a Good Buyer
- One thing I always do because it annoys me when others do it, is read the full description. Sellers don’t want to answer questions they have taken the time to write out.
- Also, be sure to reply back to them after you ask if something is available. Even if it’s a simple, “thank you”. They took their time to answer you so even if you aren’t interested in it anymore or just not at that time, saying, “thank you, I am still looking around,” is courteous.
- Meet up on time and answer promptly
- And always bring the agreed-upon price. Once, I had agreed upon a price, and when they arrived my husband met them outside, exchanged the item, and then came to tell me they offered less and HE TOOK IT… That was the last time I let him in on my Facebook Marketplace system. Not okay. So don’t be that person. Which I know you won’t because you are an amazing person, I already know it!
And thats it! Sounds like a lot, but once you get the hang of it, it comes pretty naturally. Now get going and get those amazing Facebook Marketplace deals! 😉
