Facebook Marketplace vs. the Competition for Business

What comes to mind first when you want to make your goods available to the public for online sale, whether it is new or used?

A bell rings. Craigslist.

Or perhaps not. You may use Facebook Marketplace to complete the task and call it a day if you have a Facebook account. However, are those your only choices? Furthermore, shouldn’t you keep things simple by using just one listing service? It varies. Various retailers can assist you in unloading your goods more quickly and for the greatest price depending on what you are selling.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace was founded in 2016 as a method to bring all buyers and sellers together on the site. Marketplace is a totally free one-stop store somewhat similar to Craigslist that is integrated with Facebook Messenger, via which you can discuss the items, argue over pricing, and arrange for pickup or delivery.

Each transaction is linked to a Facebook account, providing you with some background knowledge about the buyer or seller. In contrast to Craigslist, the transaction is not anonymous, which provides an additional measure of security. Your buyer may know more about you depending on how much information your firm puts on the network than they would if they used Craigslist, where you simply had to provide your corporate email address and only after engaging with a possible buyer.

The following well-known Marketplace rivals can strengthen your listing if you don’t have a Facebook account or if you do but want to promote your product in front of more people.

Craigslist

After Craigslist, the hugely successful private internet marketplace, arrived, newspaper classified advertisements were never the same. Craigslist has kept its simple, text-based, unattractive online presentation, which makes it incredibly simple to discover the precise item you’re looking for by browsing via well-defined categories and geographic locations.

There aren’t many obstacles to entrance and no costs associated with purchasing and selling. Simply fill out the online form with your information, attach images of the item, and Craigslist’s throngs of users will see it. Your Craigslist ad must be regularly managed because it automatically expires after seven days. If your item hasn’t sold by then, you’ll need to amend the posting to extend the run period by another seven days. You could be forced to register with the service depending on how frequently you repost you’re listing.

Amazon Marketplace

On Amazon, you may sell practically anything to anyone because the selection of goods available on this global marketplace is vast. You have the option of selling as a professional ($39.99 a month) or as an individual (free). In general, Amazon is the greatest option for selling bigger quantities of goods, however individual sellers can list items in up to 20 categories. The price is 99 cents per sale for sales of up to 40 products per month, with extra referral and variable closing costs.

In general, the things that are most likely to sell on Amazon include things like textbooks, household goods, secondhand gadgets, video games, and name-brand clothes. Once your things begin to sell, Amazon sends a direct deposit into the bank account you specified every two weeks and deducts the necessary fees.

Through Amazon Storefronts, you may also establish the center of your own company. However, it’s not yet obvious how you may enroll in that programmed.

Amazon Handmade is another option for makers who want to reach a large yet niche consumer. While membership is $39.99 a month and listings are free, Amazon gets a 12 percent share of every transaction.

Etsy

As an online community for artists, craftspeople, and antique enthusiasts, Etsy was founded in 2005. It has transformed into a market for oddball, handcrafted, distinctive, and artistic goods for the home, apparel, jeweler, toys, or the materials used to manufacture them. Depending on your product, Etsy is a good way to attract a smaller but more specific audience that is looking for more distinctive things. You pay 20 cents for each listing. The transaction fee for any sale you make on Etsy.com or EtsyStudio.com is 5% of the purchase price, including delivery.

eBay

eBay is well-known for its auction method, in which the vendor lists the item’s beginning price and deadline and invites interested parties to submit bids. Although you may purchase and sell products for a defined amount, bidding might increase the price of your item over what you may have asked for elsewhere (Buy It Now).

Similar to Amazon, eBay distinguishes between high-volume merchants and individual, sporadic vendors. Similar to Amazon, eBay has a global customer base. Simply establish an account and then a listing for the item you wish to sell is all that is required.

eBay, unlike other businesses, offers a money-back guarantee, protecting you in the event that a product you purchased didn’t come, is defective, or differs from the listing. The transaction is more secure when made through PayPal. Clothes, shoes, and books are among the merchandise that sells well on eBay. Every eBay seller is entitled to 50 free listings each month; each additional listing costs 35 cents. When your items sell, you as the seller also have to pay a final value charge. It is 10% for the majority of things, including shipping and handling. Keep in mind that eBay has disclosed a number of charge adjustments planned for this fall.

Glyde, Swappa, Gazelle for tech

Despite the fact that all the markets will be happy to host your tech sales, if you want to sell smartphones, tablets, laptops, video games, or other electronic devices, have a look at the specialist marketplaces Glyde, Swappa, and Gazelle, or comparable shops like upsell and declutter.

Your item lists on Glyde for no cost, and the service connects you with potential customers. When your product sells, Glyde keeps a 15% commission. The price listed for “in your pocket” when you post an item for sale represents the profit you will gain from the transaction. Your outlay for a shipping kit will range from $1 to $6, depending on the goods.

Swappa is a neighborhood market that connects buyers and sellers in person. It comprises all of Glyde’s categories as well as smartwatches, VR headsets, and home technology. One significant distinction is that Glyde or eBay transaction costs are paid by the seller, but Swappa’s charge is included in the listing price and paid by the buyer upon purchase. PayPal is used by both Swappa buyers and sellers, offering both sides safety.

With Gazelle, a “reCommerce firm,” you can exchange your used devices for cash. It buys secondhand laptops, desktops, cellphones, and tablets, inspects, certifies, and sells them. In malls and stores, you may find Gazelle coat kiosks, which are automated devices that enable you sell old smartphones and tablets and be paid right away. Checks, Amazon gift cards, or PayPal are accepted forms of payment.

Selling on multiple marketplaces

No one marketplace has a legal or moral monopoly on your sale. You have the freedom to use any platform you want as an ethical seller up until a buyer shows interest in your product. Multiple marketplaces are advantageous for selling difficult-to-sell things since they expose them to a variety of eyes and buyers who are looking for your particular item on just a few marketplaces.

Start looking for local buyers on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Then, depending on your product, expand your reach to international marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay – or, for electronics, industry experts like Swappa, Glyde, or Gazelle.

You must sell an item to the highest bidder if you put it up for auction on eBay. If you plan to sell your item in many locations, leave an eBay auction off the list, use it as a last resort, or clearly say that your item is listed elsewhere to warn that an auction might be cancelled. It is considered impolite to withdraw the item from the sale because you sold it elsewhere.