SDHawk

I wasn't sure where to post this, but figured this might be a good spot.

The increase only applies to items that are shipped (and paid for through FB Marketplace). Increasing from 5% to 10%, ouch.

Here's the text of an e-mail I received:
The selling fee for listings sold with shipping on Marketplace will increase to 10%, or a minimum of $0.80 per listing, effective April 15, 2024.
This change helps cover the costs of payments processing, customer support, and Purchase Protection.
Local listings sold without shipping (such as through local pickup or dropoff) will continue to have no selling fees.

Catnap 

I sell stuff on FB all the time but never use their system, so I don’t get charged. They’ll probably close that loop hole at some point (sigh…)

prj71

Ditto.

Used their system once and never again. I sold a wheelset and Facebook holds the payment even though the product is shipped and it took them 2+ weeks to get me my money.

When I sell or buy on facebook, it's Paypal only.

bikingshearer 

I have yet to buy or sell on Facebook. This reinforces my thought that I do not need to learn how to navigate it.

Catnap 

In many parts of the USA, Facebook Marketplace has overtaken Craigslist as the place for bicycles. Facebook has enthusiast groups for every type and flavor of vintage bike collectors (and all cycling genres) and there is no better way to reach them. BF only gets a tiny fraction of the traffic. FB Marketplace is a terrible, shoddy product but if you use Facebook strategically (i.e. don't use their payment system, do post For Sale listings in relevant FB Groups) then it's the best non-eBay bicycle marketplace available. Nothing else comes close.

cudak888 

Don't know why anyone would consider shipping on Facebook Marketplace. Way too many scammers - both buyers and sellers - and every other real person you get through the messaging system is a real weird beard. As bad as eBay is, it's nowhere near the cluster that FB Marketplace is for non-local sales.

Yet, it is great for local sales and those remain free. It has wiped the floor with OfferUp, which is quickly going the way of Craigslist.

-Kurt

jdawginsc 

One bad experience in shipping and that was it for me. Local purchases only.

abdon 

Let me help you make up your mind. Say you post something for sale. you'll get about this many of these but no follow ups from there:

"is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?" "is this item available?"

The first line in my ads is "'is this item available?' default messages will be ignored". Which means I still get about half of the number shown above. Trust me, you do not want to deal with people that can't even read the first sentence of your ad. If they actually responds after that, they will ask you just about everything you already bothered to convey on your ad, which of course it was something that meant it wont work for them.

bikingshearer 

Why am I not surprised?

I am already an Olympic-caliber time waster. I don't need outside help.

himespau 

I sold through a private local facebook bike group. Cash changed hands in exchange for bike and no fees. Better response than Craigslist or Nextdoor. Not gonna do that distance selling stuff anymore after issues with eBay.

iab

FBM purchases shipped from Italy - 2 frames, hub, rims. No problems whatsoever. Then again, I'm fully aware I could be throwing away money. But I collect vintage bikes. I have been throwing away money for years.

Kabuki12

I have used Facebook marketplace once . It was nothing bike related. It was a suggestion from my neighbor who sells and buys on there .( I asked him if he knew anyone who needed a dryer.) I listed the item for sale as he instructed , with pictures. I was instantly “pinged” on my phone . Buyers waiting , setting up times that they would be able to come by , it was a clothes dryer so I just wanted it out of my garage! Less than 2 hours later the first to show up handed me cash and he and his friend loaded it the back of his pick up truck. With smiles and a nod ( buyer spoke no English) he drove away . I contacted the other potential buyers to let them know and removed the listing. It was swift and it worked , no fees , no problem . Something I was willing to give away netted $150 ! I just sold another bike on eBay and 13.3% fee was a hit but I knew it going in and priced accordingly. Craigslist has done nothing lately with listings just sitting . I sold on CL years ago with great results but lately it just hasn’t yielded any results. I think these results may be localized but it works. I don’t do Facebook like the 3 different forums I am on but it got rid of that dryer in my garage!

soyabean

Fb is really good for getting rid of stuff and without caring for the amount.

Like my premium kitchen fridge that was 15 years old (most fridges on fb are like 20-30 yrs old), it already got re-gassed 3 times and didn't want to schedule for a 4th, I actually got paid $100 for it and the buyers did all the work taking it out of the kitchen. Honestly I was just happy it was gone within hours of being listed, it wouldn't have mattered if I had given it away for free.

Basically you will have a hard time if you are purposely buying whatever just to flip on fb.

SDHawk

I mostly sell locally, esp. whole bikes. Shipping a full bike is expensive and time-consuming. Sometimes though, it's nice using FB shipping to reach a wider audience, and the former 5% fee was worth it.

Anyway, I've had good experiences selling a few parts though FB, but yes it does take a few days after delivery for the payment to hit my account.

I sell local regularly and agree that FB gets the most action. I usually list on all 3 (FB, CL and OfferUp). It's not much extra work to list on all 3 once the pics are taken and the ad is written. I'd say 60% of my sales are from FB, with 20% each for the other 2... enough to make posting on all 3 worth it.

Yah, of course there are some "is this available?" with no response when I say yes. Doesn't bother me. Scammers are easy to spot imo and easy to ignore. The serious buyers are obvious... they will ask questions that make sense

madpogue 

Question for those who use FBM -- do they prohibit (or block) links in ads you create? I fully intend to go to my grave never having gone to fakebook, but I'm flipping a bike for a friend who has FB. I have the craigslist ad posted. If she were to create a FBM ad and simply include a link to the CL ad in the FBM ad, would that be smacked down?

Slightly OT edit - for those on OfferUp, it appears you need to download and install their app in order to post ads; you can't simply use a browser like,,, well.... like humans have used the Internet for 35 years. Who here uses the app on a Windows PC, and have they had any privacy/security issues with it?

Edit edit - disregard OfferUp question. There's no privacy/security; the only way to download it is with Apple or ***gle.

cudak888 

Those inquiries are part of the territory (and it doesn't help given the FB mobile UI), but I've had some "serious" buyers who've truly driven me up the wall, including a trucker who was extremely persistent on parking his truck a mile away to hoof it into the neighborhood on some ungodly time of night.

-Kurt

slow rollin

I buy stuff on FB and offerup mostly. Craigslist I sometimes search but there are hundreds of flipped bikes and I don't need to look at them.
Last two bikes were from offerup, however I have been getting the run around with bike parts.
>yo meet me at x
>I meant y
>the dirt field at y-1+x
IDK what it is.
I have learned if they don't give me an exact address.... games will be played.

Have had better luck on facebook.

soyabean

Sellers sometimes don't give out addresses because they're afraid of getting stalked assaulted butthurt kidnapped killed, and thus such folks should NOT be selling to strangers at all and just donate their stuff to goodwill.

Usually I really want whatever they are selling, so yes it can be all games with these sellers and I have to make the call how far I want to put up with their wokeness.

SDHawk

I believe FB allows links, though it's possible they would block CL...dunno. However, I think a lot of people wouldn't click the link.

Imo you'd have better results if you copy/pasted the CL ad text and added pics to the actual FB ad.

RustyJames 

What I do as a BUYER on Marketplace, OfferUp, etc.;
- I don’t use the formatted “is this available” or whatever template is offered. I ask specific questions about things not mentioned in the ad.
- I don’t make offers until I see the item in person.
- I suggest meeting at a halfway point or place familiar to both of us if distance is reasonable.
- If the price is reasonable to start with I might make a slightly lower offer but I’m prepared to pay full price.
- If all goes well I leave the seller a 5-star review.
- If I’m running late I let the seller know.
- I let the seller know I’ll be driving a white F-150 or whatever vehicle I’m in.

You may say, “Rusty, I know how to spend money. Why are you blathering on about this!?” Well, good communication has yielded rewards. I’ve had sellers throw in freebies because they just want to get rid of stuff. A set of wheels also got me some new tires. A bike purchase also got me a set of skis, that I wasn’t interested in, but I sold those so the bike was free. Win! Also, if I’m buying bike stuff I ask if they have anything else that might be related and often the add-ons are VERY cheap or free. I’ll break my own rule on location if the seller says “I’ve got a bunch of stuff. C’mon over and check it out.”

Poor communication is a red flag whether I’m buying or selling. If the other person isn’t flexible about time or meeting place (exception noted above) I pass unless it’s something I REALLY want.

Unless it’s small stuff, I wouldn’t consider shipping. Too much potential for problems.

prj71

Truth.

I don't bother selling on Craigslist or Ebay anymore nor any of classifieds on any bike forum. Just advertise your sale as PayPal only. Easiest way to do it.

soyabean

My fb profile age (fb member since) is a big asset, fb nets about half my sales, I don't mess around on my fb account with weird cheating gaming crap like posting links to ANYWHERE.

I don't flip for friends, PERIOD.

I make it clear I will gladly buy their bike at the price I want to pay.

I will do all repairs and restore with original and of era parts.

I will polish that bike to showroom and make a photo gallery for my ad.

I will write a quality ad with specs galore.

I will list it across the board on all my regular selling venues.

I will securely store the bike indoors as my listings gain hits.

I will arrange the sale with the buyer.

I will KEEP ALL THE MONEY.

Anyone that asks me to do above for free is basically asking me to be their slave, picking cotton while they goof off and buy cocktails for their other friends with money from the bike I sell.

SirMike1983 

I've gotten a couple items off local FB Marketplace, both good transactions. The couple times I've tried selling locally on FB Marketplace, 2/3 were people who wanted to low-ball or barter for garbage (not counting the people who use "Is it still available?" and disappear). I would still offer bikes in a private group on Facebook devoted solely to local bike enthusiasts, but I'll be damned if I offer another item on the general FB open market. I've had better luck selling stuff on eBay, Bikeforums, or the CABE.

Catnap 

Everyone has their own degree of patience for navigating the BS that comes from selling online. Posting on Craigslist usually unleashes a torrent of scam emails in the first 24 hours, but I expect that, so whatever. I buy a lot of stuff on FB that needs to be shipped to me, via 1:1 transactions. You just put in place a process and parameters that you're comfortable with, and if the seller / buyer is on board, great. If not, move on. Always insure packages and require signature, so if the buyer claims it didn't arrive, you get your money back.

dedhed

I've been selling from my parents estate on Marketplace for a few years now as well as some surplus things at my church. My experience has been very good with few issues. I've been ghosted a couple times with no shows and a few easily detected scammers. Yeah, you get a lot of "Is this available" and that's the end of that, Just part of the game and doesn't really bother me.

I've shipped small items only if it's going to fit in a flat rate box or envelope and buyer pays shipping. I have delivered a few items locally usually charging $20 delivery. I've had people show up from 100 miles or more away. After a quick check of profiles/google I typically just meet them at the homestead or my house and church stuff at church. I'll work with them if we can find a reasonable meeting place if requested.

I have had few people not just pay my asking price but a lot of that is right pricing. I've bought a number of things as well. I've met some really nice and interesting people along the way. I like the fact I can look at someone's profile to at least see if they're local or whatever as well as see mutual friends. I rarely look at craigslist anymore nor sell on it.