#Facebook #Marketplace #Close #eBay #WorthPoint
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Anyone in the vintage, reseller, or antique space knows that eBay is the OG of the reseller world. Whether it’s a car, vintage décor, or any one of a thousand other collectibles, eBay is the first stop for many, but recent indicators show that could be about to change.
According to Statista and recent news reports, Facebook Marketplace is coming in clutch in the number-two spot for people looking to pick up secondhand bargains. The availability of vintage and other used items on Facebook Marketplace, combined with users’ social media engagement, makes the platform a powerhouse for secondhand sales. It’s a go-to not just for vintage fans but also for those looking for affordable items like lamps or couches.
For sellers, the beauty of Facebook Marketplace is that it’s cheaper than other platforms. According to JungleScout, local sales on Facebook Marketplace incur no fees. Only items sold and shipped via the platform invoke selling costs, but most Facebook sales occur locally, making it very handy for sellers and buyers alike.
As reported by Yahoo! Finance, Facebook Marketplace has blossomed into a shopping mecca, especially for local deals. For example, WorthPoint reported on a spectacular find that one Facebook Marketplace shopper took all the way to Antiques Roadshow. The platform continues to grow, which can only mean that sellers and buyers have one more place to look for their favorite items.
As with anything sales-related, the numbers don’t lie. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, boasts 3.07 billion monthly active users (MAUs) as of the end of 2023. Of those, 40 percent (approximately 1.2 billion) are also using the Marketplace to shop, according to a recent report from Capital One.
Recently, eBay has made news as a leader in the luxury brand secondhand space, but it also offers verification and other safeguards that a local Facebook seller might not. As always, sellers and buyers must be cautious about meeting up, making payments, and checking out merchandise to verify authenticity. Still, it appears Facebook Marketplace is becoming a heavy hitter in the reselling space, so vintage fans and collectors would be wise to check it out and see if the platform is an efficient way to offload items or find new treasures.
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Brenda Kelley Kim lives in the Boston area. She is the author of Sink or Swim: Tales From the Deep End of Everywhere and writes a weekly syndicated column for The Marblehead Weekly News/Essex Media Group. When not writing or walking her snorty pug, Penny, she enjoys yard sales, flea markets, and badminton.
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