Things to look out for when shopping from Facebook Marketplace -xoTani
1. Stranger Danger – Location
This one might be obvious, but something that can be easily overlooked when being desperate to score a great deal online. Sometimes, some non-genuine people may list things on Facebook for a very low price, hoping that you will message them and come to pick it up. Always make sure to check the location of the item/person. If it is in a shady area (i.e, a lonely non-residential place), take caution.
2. Precautions – Item pick up
In general, when going to pick an item up, never go alone. Always have someone with you for safety reasons, and be cautious of your surroundings. Once there, always check the item. If it’s furniture, check for stains or tears. If it’s technology, check if it works.
5. Look out for other deals
If the sole prospect of the cheap prices has attracted you to Facebook Marketplace, then depending on the item you are looking for, do research on whether it will be cheaper to just wait for a little bit and buy it elsewhere. An example I can give you is from the time when I bought the Sony wireless headphones, which were the newest ones at the time. However, mere days later, they were on sale due to black friday! Additionally, the original price of the headphones fell a little bit as an even newer version of the headphones was released a month later, too. Overall, it was my lack of research that led to a bad deal.
In this blog, I have also attached images of some of the best purchases I have made from Facebook Marketplace. I hope you can use this blog to make some great purchases for yourself, too!
– xoTani
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With the school year having just ended, I am very excited to shift into my new room! My best friend (who is also my roommate) and I have decided to swap rooms just to have the excitement of living in a different space. A new purchase I am eagerly wanting to make is a vanity. As a college student who needs to be wise with their spending, the first place I naturally turned to was Facebook Marketplace.
As a DePaul Student who lived on campus for my freshman year (read more about my experience HERE), then moved to an apartment with a couple of my friends (read more about living with friends in college HERE), I was in desperate need of furniture, including but not limited to a bed, a study table and a couch for the living room. After making several purchases from Facebook Marketplace, I have noticed some key things that will help you and other DePaul students when buying from the online marketplace.
3. Beware of Scams/ Retailer Items
Oftentimes, when you are trying to buy a high-demand item, I have seen multiple listings with the same images being used. This is a big sign that the listing is not genuine. Stay away from these postings. Another tell is how the accounts that reuse images have been created very recently (it showed joined in 2025) and have only one active listing on their account – the fake scam one. Additionally, retailers sometimes use the Facebook marketplace to sell their new products on the website. While there is technically nothing wrong with buying from a business, the point of Facebook Marketplace is lost. It is the same as buying from a store and does not help with the sustainability of reusing second-hand items.
4. Bargain!
While completely lowballing an offer is a no-go, as the seller will most likely just leave your message on read, asking to reduce the price by 10-20 dollars, depending on the original price and the item, is acceptable! Worst case scenario, they say no, and you are expected to pay in full, and best case scenario, you save yourself some money! Going back and forth to negotiate with the seller is usually completely fine, but I would suggest not annoying them too much, as at the end of the day, you will be meeting them if all things go well to buy your desired item!
