Key takeaways
- Price slightly above your minimum. Marketplace buyers expect to negotiate.
- The first photo and the title decide whether anyone opens your listing.
- Never share verification codes, accept overpayments, or ship to buyers you have not met.
- Meet in public, ideally at a police station safe exchange zone, and take cash or an instant payment in person.
Write a listing that gets clicks
- Title: brand + item + key detail. "IKEA Hemnes 8-drawer dresser, white" beats "Nice dresser."
- Lead photo: the whole item, well lit, on a clean background.
- Description: dimensions, condition, flaws, age, why you are selling, and pickup details.
- Category and condition fields filled in, so you appear in filtered searches.
Price it to sell
Search Marketplace for the same item and note what is listed, then check eBay sold listings for what actually sells. Price within the lower half of comparable local listings, and roughly 10–15% above the minimum you will accept, to leave room for negotiation.
If nobody messages within three to four days, the price or the first photo is the problem. Drop the price by about 10% (Marketplace notifies people who saved your listing) or retake the lead photo.
Common Facebook Marketplace scams
- The "verification code" scam: a buyer asks you to read back a code sent to your phone. It is used to hijack your Google Voice number or accounts. Never share codes.
- Overpayment: a buyer "accidentally" sends too much and asks for a refund of the difference. The original payment reverses later.
- Fake payment emails: messages that look like Zelle, PayPal, or Venmo saying funds are pending until you pay a fee. Real apps do not work this way.
- Shipping requests: buyers who want you to ship and pay through a link. Keep local sales local.
Meet safely
Meet in a busy public place during daylight; many police stations offer marked safe exchange zones. For large items picked up at home, keep the item in the garage or driveway, have someone else present, and do not let strangers wander through your house. Count cash or confirm an instant payment has landed before the item leaves your hands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the safest way to get paid on Facebook Marketplace?
Cash in person, or an instant payment app confirmed in your own app (not via an email or screenshot) before handing over the item.
How do I stop lowball offers on Marketplace?
Include "price is firm" or your minimum in the listing, price fairly from the start, and use a polite saved reply for lowballers. See our negotiation scripts.
Prices and tips in this guide are general guidance for U.S. sellers based on typical resale markets. They are not a certified appraisal or a guarantee of what an item will sell for. For insurance, legal, tax, or high-value items, consult a qualified appraiser.