I’m a shopping expert – four things to buy on Facebook Marketplace and five to avoid
FACEBOOK Marketplace is a great place to look if you want to get your hands on a bargain, but the key is knowing what to buy.
The social media site is an easy way to snap up items from people nearby and all you need is a Facebook account.
Most users are looking for a cheap deal, so if you’re hoping to sell old or unwanted items you probably won’t make a fortune.
If you’re looking to buy something for yourself however, or find an item you can sell for a profit – or both – you could be quids in.
You can find all sorts of items on Facebook Marketplace, from TVs to plants and even rare collectables like vinyl records and CDs.
But some items can be more worth your time than others.
Rebecca Bebbington, an online shopping expert at NetVoucherCodes, told The Sun: “Sometimes when you think you could be grabbing a bargain, it’s not all it seems to be.
“I’d urge everyone to be extra cautious when looking for deals, but if you go after the right items, you could find yourself grabbing a brilliant bargain.”
Of course, it’s important not to get swept up in the excitement of finding a bargain.
Remember, it’s only a good deal if you wanted to buy the item for yourself in the first place and do some research on prices before you look.
If you’re hoping to buy something you can make money from, it’s a good idea to do some research on where you can sell the items and what sort of price you can expect.
You can get an idea for what sells well – for a good price quickly – on other platforms like eBay and Depop.
Based on the items which sold for more money, you can hunt for similar items on Facebook Marketplace.
But some platforms may charge a fee or commission on any sales you make, so make sure you check the terms and conditions first.
Plus there’s no guarantee the item will sell and you could be stuck with it, or have to sell for less than you bought it for.
We picked Rebecca’s brains to find out what items you should always buy from Facebook Marketplace, and the items that are best avoided.
Items you should buy on Facebook Marketplace
Desks
When the pandemic began in 2020, and working from home became pretty much compulsory, workers rushed to get their hands on office equipment.
But with more and more people returning to the office, items that were once essential to a home office, have become obsolete.
Rebecca said: “Brand new desks could set you back hundreds of pounds.
“Take a look at secondhand desks in good conditions, as some people sell them for as little as £20.”
Gaming consoles
Rebecca said that second-hand games consoles are a common find on Facebook Marketplace – and they can be pretty valuable.
“The older the console, the more value it usually has as time goes on.
“Many underestimate their true value as they could simply believe they’re old and worthless, when in fact they could be worth a fortune.”
Retro gadgets including Nintendo 64s and Walkmans could be worth thousands of pounds.
A mint condition Nintendo 64, which was first launched in 1996 for £93, has fetched as much as £5,095 in eBay auctions.
Old Gameboys are also fetching nearly £1,000 in some online sales.
TVs
Most sellers get rid of their old TV when they upgrade to a bigger version, meaning they’re looking to get rid of their old one quickly.
Rebecca said: “It’s worth scrolling through the options available to make sure it’s the right size and quality for you.
“When you go to pick it up, always make sure to ask to see it turn on otherwise you could be left with a faulty device.”
When we checked Facebook Martketplace, we found a seller who was flogging a secondhand 42 inch Panasonic HD TV for £50.
While we couldn’t find the exact model, we found a similar model of the same size from Panasonic for sale at £999 at John Lewis.
This is a difference of a whopping £949.
Of course there is likely to be a big difference in quality between the new and the secondhand models, so it’s worth checking these out before you buy – but you could potentially make a huge saving.
Vinyl records
The vinyl revival is well underway, so it’s the perfect time to see if someone is selling their old collection of LPs.
Most people don’t know that their old vinyl could be worth a small fortune, so they could be giving away a valuable collectors piece.
A unique edition of Led Zeppelin’s self titled first album, for example, could be worth more than £1,000.
Rebecca said: “Vinyl records could be worth a fortune in the next decade, especially limited edition versions which collectors are after.
“Make sure to bargain for the lowest price and keep them stored away ready to sell in the future.”
We recently spoke to a vinyl expert about the most valuable and rare vinyl that could be worth up to £1,000.
Items you should avoid on Facebook Marketplace
Sofas
If you’ve recently moved house, or you’re just looking to refresh your living room, you might head to Facebook Marketplace in the hope of finding the perfect sofa.
But Rebecca said some buyers are often conned out of money when buying furniture secondhand.
“Many of the sofas available are often sold by scammers pretending to have exclusive deals for remarkably low prices – some even state that they have brand new sofas for £1.
“Be extra vigilant if you need a sofa, but it’s wise to steer clear of them.”
To avoid falling foul of a scam, don’t transfer money directly to the seller’s bank account and don’t pay before you’ve seen it.
If you’re invited to click on a URL, hover over the link to see the address it will take you to – does it look genuine?
To be on the really safe side, don’t click on unsolicited links in messages, even if they appear to come from a trusted contact.
If you think you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to your bank and to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use its online fraud reporting tool.
Office chairs
While getting a desk from Facebook Marketplace could be a good investment, an office chair might not be.
Rebecca said: “An office chair is a risky investment through the site as the chair might not be comfortable enough for you to sit on when working from home.
“It could result in you having to fork out for another one and you won’t be able to return the secondhand one.”
To find cheap desk chairs, simply have a look on the major furniture retailers’ websites to see what they’re offering.
It’s also worth using tools like Google Shopping to find the best deal for you and compare prices across different sites.
Clothing
If you’re wanted to refresh your wardrobe, Facebook Marketplace might not be the best place to look.
Rebecca said clothes sold on the site are usually sold for more than they are on other online marketplaces like Depop, Vinted and eBay.
She said: “When it comes to clothing, look around at all online secondhand sites to find the lowest price possible as you may find branded tops for as little as a pound.”
If you’re new to the world of secondhand clothing, but you want to dive in, you can read our guide to the best apps to buy and sell clothes here.
Mobile phones
Top of the range mobile phones are pretty pricey, but Rebecca says scrimping on price can often leave you with a dodgy deal.
“Dishonest sellers may be selling phones that could impose a serious safety danger,” she added.
“Some may even go out of their way to leave their location settings on to track where you are, so it’s not worth the risk to follow through with.”
But if you’re looking to get a cheap upgrade on your phone then don’t worry, because there are different avenues to explore.
It usually ends up more expensive to buy a refurbished phone directly from the manufacturer.
Instead, try a retailer such as musicmagpie.co.uk, mobiles.co.uk or fonehouse.co.uk, which carry all brands.
Nearly all refurbished phone dealers will offer some sort of warranty, in case something goes wrong.
Look for the longest-possible warranty, but a year as minimum should be standard.
Air fryers
Air fryers are all the rage at the moment as households look to slash their energy usage and save cash.
But you should avoid buying one second hand, according to Rebecca.
If a price is too good to be true, it usually is, so beware jumping on a deal just because it’s cheap.
There’s also a risk that you end up buying fake goods that are not up to scratch.
Rebecca added: “You could buy a gadget that’s left full of stubborn stains and the system itself may be fault, which is why someone could be selling it so cheaply online.”
Retailers often do great deals on air fryers, so it’s worth checking these out rather than buying from online marketplaces.
At the moment, B&M is selling the Tower Vortx 7.6ltr Dual Basket Air Fryer for just £99.
The gadget has seen its price cut by 33% after it originally retailed for £149.
While supermarket giant Asda is selling its own-brand black compact air fryer for £25 in store and online.
Meanwhile, we spoke to a car boot expert on the items you should always look for al your local sale – and those to avoid.
Plus, we spoke to a mum who made £300 with a side-hustle renting out her unused gadgets – some of which she bought from the Marketplace.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk