Facebook Marketplace is one of the go-to e-commerce platforms today. As of September 2024, it had an average of 1.2 billion online shoppers and 250 million sellers worldwide. At the time, 77.7% of Facebook shoppers had purchased merchandise on Marketplace, 16% of whom were regulars.
The amount of traffic and potential buyers may explain why people continue to use this platform despite the issues portrayed in the screenshots on this list.
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Given some of the unpleasant experiences some buyers have had with Facebook Marketplace, it is understandable to question its safety. However, experts say there isn’t a cut-and-dry answer.
According to AI and software security veteran Steven McKeon, the high volume of activity makes it difficult to track scammers, who continue to create fake accounts. However, he says Facebook Marketplace is safe enough overall.
“If you stay within their ecosystem and use their payment methods that are built into the platform, I would say yes,” McKeon told Reader’s Digest.
Since many items posted on Facebook Marketplace come with an enticing price tag, it’s easier to fall for deals that turn out to be scams. To be safe, cybersecurity expert Dr. Zulfikar Ramzan advises steering clear of posts that are too good to be true.
In the same interview, he told Reader’s Digest that the same precaution applies to buyers eager to complete a purchase without seeing the product. This may be a way for scammers to lure a seller into a fraudulent transaction.
If you’re looking for a steal, you may want to search wealthy neighborhoods. According to self-confessed Facebook Marketplace a****t Sam Reed, a well-off individual may not know or care about what their item is worth.
In an article for Glamour, Reed shared her experience buying an 88-inch velvet couch for $500 from someone in a wealthy NYC neighborhood. The original retail price, she says, is $1,499, which does not include taxes and shipping fees.
Reed also offered a few tips for sellers, including limiting the number of photos they post. She recommends using up to four photos featuring different angles and close-ups of imperfections.
Reed advises doing research before pricing a product. In her case, she lists an item for 50% more than the lowest offer she would accept.
“There are very few pieces that will recoup their full retail value, so don’t be surprised to find that your item has significantly depreciated,” she wrote.
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