5 warnings concerning the purchase and sale on Facebook Marketplace, say the experts

Consider these factors before using the platform.


If you are still looking for an agreement, there is a good chance that you have spent time on Facebook Marketplace. If you redecorate Your living room And in search of the perfect ancient accent table or has decided to get in shape and is looking for a stationary bicycle that will not make sure that even certain things you are.

And if you are in mind that when you bring something new to the house, something should take place - the sale on Facebook Marketplace could not be easier. But even if he has exceeded Craigslist as an essential site for the purchase and sale of second -hand goods, it is certainly not without his problems. Read the rest for certain warnings that you should be aware before using Facebook Marketplace.

Read this then: 4 warnings on the use of turbotax, according to experts .

1
Pay attention to your personal safety when you meet in person.

package on porch
Wnstock / Shutterstock

Facebook Marketplace offers both a local collection and items shipped. If you are going to conclude the agreement in person, there are things you need to be aware, including your personal safety.

You should always find a well -lit collection location and avoid going alone, Amanda Manera , founder of The resale doctor Blog, tells Better life . She says that police posts have places for these meetings.

For porch microphones (where you do not meet the other person directly), the rules differ depending on whether you are the buyer or the seller. Buyers who collect from someone should indicate a family member or a friend at their location, says Manera. On the other hand, if you leave an item on your porch for pickup, this is a case where you want a buyer to pay you in advance.

If you prefer to send items as a seller or send them by post as a buyer, take care when you give your address or phone number. Both can be used by bad players to "find you", according to Ben Michael , lawyer of Criminal defense lawyers for mergers and acquisitions .

2
You run the risk of getting ripped off if you want an article shipped.

scammer using a smartphone
stepon8211 / Shutterstock

While Samuel Park ,, technology expert And the founder of Techmaestro.co, says to "stick to people in person for secure transactions", you can find something that you have been looking for that is simply not in your region. If this is the case, be sure to show reasonable diligence to ensure that the agreement is legitimate. In the digital age, it's much easier So that bad actors scam you - And it's no different with Facebook Marketplace.

"According to consumer opinions, buyers often do not receive the purchase or do not receive bad products, and not as described in the list", " Michael Podolsky ,, CEO and co-founder of pissedconsumer.com. "We have seen claims shared by consumers in the stolen photos of other accounts with modified prices that intend to attract potential customers to scams."

Park says that's why you want see The article before putting one of your hard -won money. "A golden rule for buyers: wait until you pay before getting the item," he said. "Always give the article a good overview before sealing the agreement. I learned that to the hard after buying a perfect mixer who was defective."

On the other hand, do not be labeled yourself as a crook. As a seller, be sure to precisely describe the state in your article. "Fudging The truth about the state of your article will only bother buyers and harm your reputation," warns the park. "Believe me; I saw articles wrongly damaged as" slightly used "."

Read this then: 6 warnings to customers of USPS operators .

3
Avoid communicating outside Facebook.

facebook marketplace on phone
Pixieme / Shutterstock

Experts also warn that you must limit your communication with buyers or sellers to Facebook.

"Many joint scams on the Facebook market involve withdrawing the conversation of Facebook Marketplace in one way or another", " Ann Martin ,, Director of Operations For Creditdonkey, said. "Buyers or sellers asking for your phone number, then sending them a six-digit code, are some of the most widespread crooked crooks."

Michael also underlines this, explaining that a crook will say this six -digit code is used to verify that you are a "real person". However, their real intention is to use the code to access one of your accounts, such as Facebook or a bank account.

4
There are not many options to get help in the event of a problem.

Upset middle-eastern guy in casual sitting on couch, having phone conversation with lover or business partner, experiencing difficulties
Istock / Prostock-Studio

If you are scammed (we were all there), it is likely that you will want to take it with customer support. But this is another area that is lacking on Facebook Marketplace, says Podolsky Better life . AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

"Thousands of online consumers share their frustration with Facebook Marketplace saying that the platform ignores requests for help," he said. "The platform uses automatic algorithms for verification and reports that often question its users and cause problems with accounts. All user problems cannot be resolved automatically, so that consumers are stuck with Their complaints because Facebook customer service does not provide a timely assistance. "

The opinions left on pisdconmer.com echo this, with a user writing: "Do not use the market because your goods may be stolen ... and Good luck call And try to easily repair something. I couldn't imagine if I had a real serious problem, you would probably put the phones on me ... "

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5
Your account could be blocked.

Photo of anger female frustrated at computer when work from home during the COVID-19.
istock

If you've already forgotten your password and have been excluded from an account, you know how frustrating it can be. The websites and applications have these safety measures in place to ensure the safety of your information (just in case it is not really you who have entered different passwords). However, Facebook Marketplace software sometimes blocks users for no reason.

"We see that a high number of complaints left by consumers on our website relate to blocked accounts," explains Podolsky. "Users often do not know the reasons for the sudden blocking and we do not know why they were launched from the platform. This is a serious problem for a company that is based on Facebook Marketplace for marketing."

In addition, if you are a seller, being locked or blocked can also compromise your reputation with customers.

"When you pay the service, consumers expect to be able to use it and get help if necessary," said Podolsky. "Instead, they lose access to their corporate pages."


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