Consumer rights issue? Go legal
Our experts will guide you to step by step to achieve the best outcome for you.
Get legal advice£99 for a whole year or £9 per month + a one-off £29 joining fee. (Cancel anytime). Provided by W? Ltd.
What are my rights if I buy and sell on Facebook Marketplace?
Discover how Facebook Marketplace works and how to avoid scams
How does Facebook Marketplace work?
Facebook Marketplace is an online marketplace that allows you to buy and sell items. You can access it on via the Facebook app or on your desktop.
It uses what it knows about you, your likes, interests and location, to let you browse a relevant feed of things to buy from people who live near you. It also lets you list your own belongings for sale.
You can easily through a list of things for sale and make an offer, or snap a photo of your item, add a description, set an asking price, and publish a listing, all using your existing Facebook profile.
The drawback is that there isn’t an built-in payment feature, so it’s down to you to arrange payment or meet up in person.
Is Facebook Marketplace safe?
Facebook doesn’t verify the products for sale on its platform, so it's a good idea to check anything you want to buy in person before handing over your cash.
As always with online sales, and as a general rule, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
It's best practice to check independent reviews of anything you want to buy online. It’s also a good idea to check if the product has been subject to a product recall, or if a safety notice has been issued.
A person’s profile information, or lack of, could also give you a clue as to whether you want to meet them in person.
How to buy on Facebook Marketplace
Because Facebook doesn’t facilitate the payment or delivery of items, you'll have to work out these details with the seller.
Here are some tips we recommend if you are thinking of buying from a Facebook Marketplace seller:
Avoid advance payment: try to avoid paying for anything without having seen it.
Take a screenshot: it's a good idea to take a screenshot of the listing to keep a record of how the product was described when you purchased it. That way you have evidence should there be a dispute.
Buy for the right price: check other sites, such as Amazon, eBay, Gumtree, to see if the price is fair or if you could find what you're looking for cheaper elsewhere. It's also worth comparing the difference in cost of buying new versus secondhand.
Check the profile of the person you’re buying from: consider whether there's cause for concern - for example, you might want to check whether:
- the profile has been set up very recently
- there are lots of grammatical and spelling errors
- they’ve not been tagged in any photos - a real person usually will have been
- none of their Facebook friends are in their local area. The more global their friendship list, with very few or no local friends, the more suspicious.
What are my rights if something goes wrong on Facebook Marketplace?
Individuals and businesses can sell on Facebook Marketplace.
When you buy from an individual (as opposed to a retailer), the Consumer Rights Act says that the goods you get must be as they were described to you by the seller.
For example, something secondhand should not be described as new. If it is, the seller will be in breach of contract.
If a seller takes your money but doesn’t send you anything, or if a buyer takes your item without paying, this will also be a clear breach of contract.
But putting things right can be tricky. If you can’t reach an agreement between yourselves you’ll have to try alternative dispute resolution or the small claims court.
If you buy from a business on Facebook, you have additional protections than if you buy from a seller.
This is because the Consumer Contracts Regulations apply when you buy from a business, meaning you'll have a minimum of 14 days after receiving your item to decide if you want to keep it, and a further 14 days to send the item back after notifying the business of your return.
Report sellers not 'acting in good faith'
Facebook says buyers also have the option of reporting sellers who 'aren't acting in good faith'.
It says it will 'quickly review and take the appropriate action, which could range from removing a post to banning someone from Facebook altogether'.
However, the company neither facilitates the payment nor delivery of items posted in the marketplace, and also isn’t able to verify whether a buyer or seller received what was agreed upon between them.
Other online marketplaces such as eBay offer their own buyer and seller protection schemes.
Look out for scams on Facebook Marketplace
As Facebook doesn't offer an in-built payment feature, it’s down to you to arrange to pay or meet up in person - this means it's really important to carefully consider whether the seller is genuine to avoid any scams.
It’s tough for scammers with fake accounts and fake friends to build up much interaction on their profile, so if someone has plenty going on with a filled-out profile, it’s much more likely that they’re legitimate.
How to sell on Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace makes it easier than ever for you to snap a photo of your item, add a description, set an asking price and publish your listing.
But there are a few crucial tips to remember:
- Ensure any photographs and descriptions are honest and fair. If not, you could be on the receiving end of a claim for a refund.
- Keep a record of all correspondence with the buyer.
- Sell for the right price. Check other sites, such Amazon, eBay Gumtree to find out the going rate for your item.