Recently, I’ve posted several of my Facebook Marketplace finds on Instagram which always leads to the question “How do you find the good stuff??”. I’m not sure there’s any magic to my method but I’m here to offer a few tips and insights after spending the last several months shopping Marketplace like a madwoman. I’m answering your most-asked questions and sharing some of my favorite thrifted finds.
What’s your very best tip for shopping Facebook Marketplace?
How do use search terms to find the best stuff?
I usually just shop by category (i.e., furniture, home decor, etc.) but if I do use a search term, I’ve found it’s best to keep it very general. You have to remember that a lot of sellers don’t scour design blogs and Pinterest in their free time, have never heard of “chinoiserie” or “ikat”, and are just trying to get stuff out of their houses. (You’ll usually get the best deals when people don’t know the treasures they have!) I’ve seen upholstered armchairs listed as “cloth seats”, for example. . .
I recently spent a month or more looking for a TV stand for upstairs. Pieces like that can be a little trickier because people call them so many different things. In that case, I tried to come up with any possible way a seller might have listed their item (TV cabinet, TV stand, TV console, media stand, credenza, sideboard). I’m happy to report I finally found “the one.”
One additional note about all of this: The Facebook algorithm could be your friend (it’ll show you lots of similar items once you click on one listing) or it can be your enemy, showing you more than you ever wanted to see. As far as I know, there’s still no way to reset this. Even if I clear my search history, the algorithm still seems to be in effect.
Is there a way to “favorite” a good seller or avoid a bad one?
How often do you suggest checking new listings?
Very often. Sometimes 3-4 times a day. Okay, that’s probably underestimating. If I’m really on the hunt, I may check 10-15 times a day. You just never know. . .
Do you always try to negotiate the price?
Not always. I don’t mess with offers if I know it’s a good price and that I definitely want it. Time is of the essence! Sellers want to work with the easiest buyers so if you find the right piece, jump on it. That being said, most sellers are expecting some negotiation so it’s definitely not rude to ask. If I’m on the fence about an item, I may send an offer and just see what happens.
Any other advice for communicating with sellers?
I know from experience that buyers can be shady. Some are very enthusiastic at first and then completely drop off the radar. To let a seller know I’m serious, I usually include my phone number in my messages once I’ve made initial communication with them. I feel like it makes me more “legit” and sometimes, it’s easier to just text each other.
How far would you drive for a purchase?
I’m fortunate to live near a bigger city so I normally haven’t had to drive more than 30 minutes for any pick up. Over Christmas, I did drive an hour and a half to pick up a dresser because I felt it was unique enough to make it worth the drive and honestly, I needed to get out of the house for a minute. . . . :) Also–you can set the maximum mile radius for the listings you want to see.
Do you ever sell pieces online or just buy?
I very rarely sell. I’ve done it a few times but we had a weird Craigslist transaction several years ago and it made me a little weary of selling anything that requires someone coming to our house. The guy showed up really late (almost 10 pm) and would not leave our house. (He didn’t even end up buying anything.) It was strange.
On the flip side, I always take someone with me to pick up. Please do this.
What has been your best find so far?
I’m going to have to give it to this chinoiserie secretary I found a month or so ago. I saw it listed and contacted the seller immediately. She told me it had just sold. Fast forward three weeks later and I saw it again so I reached out to her just to double check. Lucky for me, the buyer never showed up and the seller was ready to move it out. I paid a whopping $75 and Venmo’d her immediately. My husband and son were a little less thrilled when they had to haul it home and upstairs. . .
I’m sharing a quick video of some of my favorite thrifted finds on Instagram today. What’s the best thing you’ve ever found for your home by thrifting online? Also, feel free to add any other Marketplace tips in the comments below!
Great post Emily. So happy to see that I’m not alone in stalking Marketplace many times a day.😀 I found a gorgeous fine leather sofa, bedroom set, dresser that I use in my living room and a few other pieces. I’ve also sold a few things.
Emily, I loved this post and your chinoiserie find. About the same time I found a fabulous Ethan Allen chinoiserie sideboard for my dining room at an unbelievable price on Marketplace. When we picked it up, the tags were inside. It was brand new! It’s the 4th EA Marketplace bargain over the past months of the pandemic—a source of joy for me for sure. I totally agree that looking frequently, and not dilly dallying to make a decision, is part of what makes the hunt successful.
Best wishes! Nan
Hi Emily, love your tips and funny you posted this, as I just posted something for sale on FB marketplace yesterday. I agree with the haggling part. I was actually selling a pair of armchairs in good condition for $180, and I was offered $100 for both. Like really? I wouldn’t even bother replying that buyer. I sell often, and I also pick and choose buyers who are easy to work with. One that comes across as legit would be my first choice.
Sherina,
Just a piece of unsolicited advice. I’ve bought and sold (mostly sold) for years through various channels and it’s best not to let your emotions get the best of you or take things personally. A simple response of “ I’m sorry I can’t go that low” leaves room for the buyer to come back with a better offer. You’d be surprised how often they’ll come back (if they really want the item). I learned negotiating from the best, my grandfather who taught me it’s just a conversation and the longer you can keep that conversation going (and friendly) the better chance of a favorable outcome.
That Secretary! Good grief, what a find, it’s beautiful!
You have some beautiful finds! My husband posted some exercise equipment on FB and 2 very large men showed up around 9 p.m. to pick it up. I was happy to get rid of it, but I told my husband that we need to be more careful if we decide to list anything else. For instance only have items picked up during the day and have my neighbors hanging around outside. My best purchase is a Baker Furniture chinoiserie four poster bed and it’s gorgeous! It was originally listed for $600 and I got it for $300! I was looking for a four poster to paint, but I’m not going to paint it. It’s just too pretty!
Clearly your FB Marketplace is better than mine! You got some gorgeous pieces.
I have my husband hooked on Marketplace now. Our greatest pandemic find was an entire room of work out equipment and thousands of pounds of free weights. Gyms were closed and everything was selling immediately. He found it on a Saturday afternoon for $700 immediately after it was listed. He responded and got no reply. He responded back offering $1000 and was going to rent a truck and go the next day. We decided we needed to go then, before he got other offers. We rented a truck at Home Depot and found out if you rent at the end of the day you can keep til the next morning and only pay for 1 hour. There was so much equipment, we kept what we wanted and sold off the rest. Of course that started a basement remodel.
I see so many ads disguised as listings on FB Marketplace. Am I doing something wrong or is this what everyone sees?
Input your search term in the search bar, hit enter and then on the left under “Delivery method”, you’ll want to filter by “local pick-up only”. That typically will weed out the sponsored listings.
Thanks, Karen. I’ve done this, though, and still see sponsored listings. I’ve never figured out how to get rid of them completely. . .
Thank you for the tips! Do you wait to pay until you get there and see the piece or do you pay when your offer is accepted?
Hi Emily,
To add to your advice about never picking up alone, I’d recommend the same guidance when selling. Always make sure there’s another adult on the premises with you if someone is coming by to inspect or purchase. Not a child, a grown-up. And insist on daytime hours only. Nothing after dark, ever. Also, if at all possible (and this is made easier with “porch pickups” now popular as a result of the pandemic), place the item to be sold in the garage or on the front porch so that strangers do not have to come inside your home and cast their wandering eyes on your other furnishings. Most buyers/sellers are extremely reputable, but you can’t be too careful!
To the person wondering if you make payment when your offer is accepted? Maybe I’m “old school”, but I’d never “make payment” until I’d actually physically inspected the item I was planning to purchase. Pictures are one thing, seeing it in person can be quite another. Also, “exceptional” or “like new” condition means different things to different people.
One last tip, arrive on time for an appointment to purchase or be in contact with the seller to let them know you’re unavoidably delayed (perhaps traffic or some other reasonable explanation). Sellers appreciate and deserve this basic common courtesy and will often reward it with a bit of a “discount” when making the final transaction. Seriously, we’ve had this happen MANY times purely because the sellers were so appreciative we showed up on time!
Thanks for the great post. Congrats on the many wonderful things you’ve been able to find. We’ve had similar good luck through the years and an added bonus is the “story” each piece brings with it as a result of “the hunt”.