Facebook Marketplace Is a Massive Craigslist Killer
The next time you want to sell something locally, avoid Craigslist and use Facebook instead. The social network has announced Marketplace, “a convenient destination to discover, buy and sell items with people in your community.”
Launching soon on iOS and Android, Marketplace offers photos of items that people near you have listed for sale. To find something specific, use the search at the top of the page. You can also filter your results by location, category, or price. Use the location tool to adjust the region you’re looking in.
When you find something to buy, send the seller a direct message along with your offer. The actual payment and delivery of items much be done outside of Facebook.
Posting an item is a quick four-step process:
- Take a photo of your item, or add it from your camera roll
- Enter a product name, description, and price
- Confirm your location and select a category
- Post
Once posted, anyone looking in your area can find your item and message you if they want to buy it. You can also choose to post to Marketplace and a specific buy and sell group at the same time.
At launch, Marketplace will only be available through the Facebook app to users in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Additional countries will receive the service in the coming months.
Facebook claims that 450 million people already visit buy and sell groups on its site each month. In other words, Marketplace could become huuuge very quickly.
