Purging with Facebook Sales Groups: Tips, Tricks, Lingo

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I’ve been in a closet purging mood lately and I’ve turned to Facebook to sell my items.

I have four dogs and a toddler that I obviously need room for, so clutter just doesn’t fit in. After cleaning out my closets I will usually try to sell my purged items; at least the ones that were more expensive or items that I think people would buy again. Personally, I am not a fan of Craigslist (a certain lifetime movie may have had something to do with that) so I recently turned to selling via Facebook. These pages are generally listed as an online yard/garage sale, buy sell or trades and steals and deals. They are a great way to quickly sell unwanted items for cash without having to host a garage sale or use Craigslist.  

Why do I like using Facebook sales sites? 

  1. People get obsessive; they love Facebook and start to check these groups multiple times a day. Trust me you’ll start to see some of the same people constantly buying and selling…. I may be one of them!
  2. You can communicate with people through a Private Message rather than getting a ton of phone calls and texts.
  3. You do not have to plan a garage sale and hope that people drive by to look at your items.
  4. You can sell just about anything. I’ve seen infant clothing and furniture to cars and computers be sold on these sites.
  5. People can “tag” friends that they think might be interested in the item.

Tips

Know the rules. The basic rules are generally the same and will tell you to post a photo of the item with location and price. They will note that the first one to comment on takes the item.  Those that comment after are considered next in line if the first changes their mind or fails to follow through. Each group has their own set of rules. Read and understand them before you begin selling.

List quality items. Usually the best items go quick. Make sure your items are in good used condition or better. ** I do not recommend selling pets on any sale site. You never know who the person is and where they may end up.**

Price to sell. I usually offer my items (depending on condition and age) at 40-50% off. Remember most of the time items are used or are an older style/make so be reasonable. If you can leave room for negotiation, you will have offers.

Details count. Take good photos and give lots of details. Be honest about the condition of your items. Let buyers know of any flaws and be accurate in your descriptions.

Ask the right questions. Sellers can forget to add certain details into a listing. Be sure to check to make sure the item is in working condition. Ask for additional photos if needed.

Bump your post. Members may not check the group every day, so be sure to bump your post to the top every couple of days to keep your items fresh in their feeds. “Bump” means to comment on your own post by typing “bump” so it goes back to the top or the abbreviation “btt”. 

Communication is key. If you say you’ll meet someone to pick up/drop off an item, be there. I always confirm with someone before a meeting. There is nothing more frustrating than being stood up or have someone stop responding. Repeated “no show” offenders can often be banned from a group. If for any reason you can’t follow through, contact the other party ASAP.

Meet in public. For safety reasons I would suggest arranging to meet in a public place, preferably during daylight hours. I pick places like Target, Kroger, Kohls etc.

Pay with cash. I would suggest bringing the correct amount. Most sellers will not accept a check or be able to make change.

Keep selling. Don’t get discouraged if your items don’t sell. Try uploading your items at lunchtime or in the evening, when more people may be online. New members are constantly being added to groups each day bringing a new audience.

Lingo

  • Many sellers and buyers will abbreviate sales terms. Newbies to this may not understand and can lose out on an item. Below is a brief overview of some acronyms.
  • PPU = Pending pick up, means item is pending pick up from interested buyer. I have also seen PPU listed as porch pick up. This is where the seller leaves the item on their porch and the buyer leaves the money there.
  • NIL = Next in line, means next if first sale falls through
  • OBO = Or best offer, indicating that the listed item has a flexible price.
  • ISO = In search of, this is when you are looking for a specific item
  • MIB = Mint in box
  • NIB = New in box

How do you find a group?

In the search box [on Facebook] type “yardsale”, “sale” or something similar, and your city name or county. Click the yard sale, online garage sale or other group page that you want to sell on and click join. An administrator will most likely have to approve your request. If the yard sale or garage sale group says it’s a “closed group” you’ll need someone in the group to add you, which could take 24 hours.

Check with your friends and see where they’re selling items as well – there are lots in our area! 

Which local Facebook sales groups do you love? Tell us in the comments!

 

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Heather D
Hey Mama’s, I’m Heather. I am a native Daytonian, a wife, and working mom of an energetic two year old boy. While I’ve always dreamed of living somewhere else (the beach, sigh) I can say that my husband and I are happy to call the Centerville area our home. I graduated from Wright State University with a degree in Organizational Leadership and currently work in office administration and accounting. After having my son I was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic, and hope to educate others on living life with the “beetus” and a toddler. When I’m not working or testing my blood sugar I like spend to time with my family, friends and our 4 dogs (yes, I have a small circus in my house). I love a good laugh, trying new things, shopping, traveling and attempting pinterest projects. ::Favorite things about motherhood:: I love my son's laughter, his smile and unconditional love. Being a mom has given me a purpose and something to look forward to everyday.

2 COMMENTS

  1. The only thing I would add is that if you are a fan of a particular brand or looking to sell a particular brand, search for a B/S/T or buy sell trade group for that brand on Facebook. Same goods for specialty items like cloth diapers.

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