8 Tips for Shopping on Facebook Marketplace and Scoring Big

These simple tips will help you score deals like a pro.

I love shopping for deals on Facebook marketplace. It’s like online thrifting, and it can be just as rewarding as in-person thrifting. However, if you’ve ever had a bad experience shopping on the platform, you know it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. From overpriced listings to never being able to find what you’re looking for, there are certainly things to overcome. Have no fear! As someone who has consistently scored good finds on Facebook marketplace, I’m here to help and share all my top tips so you can do the same. Here are my top eight tips for shopping on Facebook marketplace like a pro.

Be Specific in Search

First and foremost, it’s important to be very specific when searching for items on Facebook marketplace. This will help the right items show up. Include keywords like the type of item (i.e., dresser, side table, table lamp), the brand, the colour, the size, etc. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to find the kind of item you want and have the Facebook algorithm show you similar items as soon as they are posted in your area.

Know the Value

The only way to know whether you’re about to get a good deal is to know how much the item is normally worth. Ensure you’ve done your research ahead of time so you can spot a good deal when you see one. I also like to determine how much I’m realistically willing to spend on a specific item before I start searching. That way, it’s an easy “yes” or “no” as I start to see listings pop up. At the end of the day, everyone’s just trying to make a buck, but sometimes I find the prices can be a little outrageous, so, be careful out there, friends!

Set Your Radius

My next tip for shopping on Facebook marketplace is simple: set your radius to reflect how far you’re willing to travel. Are you noticing listings from cities and towns over an hour away from your location? If you are seeing items listed in areas that are too far away from you, it’s important to adjust the radius on your marketplace dashboard. Facebook’s default is 50km (that’s 31 miles for my American friends), which is definitely further than I’m willing to travel on a regular basis.

Narrowing your radius won’t just help you find listings that are located in your area, it’ll also save you lots of time as you’re browsing Facebook marketplace. You’ll likely still see a section of listings titled “More picks further away” but these listings won’t be cluttering up your main feed.

Set Alerts

Facebook marketplace has a handy feature where you can save a search and set alerts for that search term. I’d recommend doing this if you are on the hunt for something specific. If I’m honest, I find this feature a bit glitchy at times (I don’t always get notified when new items are posted) but at the very least it tells the Facebook marketplace algorithm that you are interested in this type of item. You’ll probably notice similar items popping up in your marketplace feed more regularly after you save a search!

Patience is Key

Patience, patience, patience. This is perhaps one of the most important parts of thrifting successfully, whether you are shopping in-person or online on a marketplace like Facebook. You have to be willing to wait for the items you want to have a chance of finding them being sold secondhand.

For example, when I was redoing our dining room I knew I wanted three IKEA BILLY bookcases with doors in white. I managed to score the first two relatively quickly, but I ended up having to wait months for the third one. However, I found it eventually and it was worth the wait. I saved hundreds of dollars by buying them used, and they all came to me in near-perfect condition. Plus, I truly feel good about upcycling items where possible rather than jumping to buy them new.

Be Open to Upcycling

Speaking of upcycling, being open to upcycling or refinishing is one of the best ways to consistently score good finds and even better deals. Of course, this isn’t something everyone is comfortable with, and that’s okay! But for those who are willing to get their hands a little dirty and try some DIYs, it’s well worth it in my experience.

For example, I was recently looking for a wood toy trunk for my daughters’ playroom. As it turns out, wood toy trunks can be anywhere from $150 to $200 online, and that’s just from Amazon! I knew I could find a used option cheaper and was open to giving it a makeover if needed. Within a week I scored a cute toy trunk on Facebook marketplace for just $20. It had some water damage and chipped paint, but with lots of sanding, a few coats of primer, and some pink paint, it’s now looking good as new and displayed proudly in the playroom!

Check Often

It should go without saying but I’m going to say it anyways: you have to be checking Facebook marketplace frequently in order to score. Just like physical thrifting is most successful with frequent trips, online thrifting is most successful when you’re on the platform regularly. Exactly how often will depend on your schedule, how much you’re willing to invest in the hunt, and other factors, but I usually end up doing a quick browse on the site multiple times a day. And by quick, I mean a few minutes or less. That’s all you need!

Watch for Scams

I usually run into scams the most when I’m selling on Facebook marketplace versus buying, but it’s still worth mentioning. There are a lot of scammers on marketplace, unfortunately. As a general rule of thumb, if something seems fishy, walk away. It’s simply not worth the risk, and your intuition knows best.

On that note, I’ve noticed that certain shopping categories are especially scammy. For example, last summer I was trying to find a patio set on Facebook marketplace…bad idea. The platform is absolutely overrun with scam patio furniture listings. Couches, beds, and other large ticket categories seem to be the same, in my experience.