Facebook Marketplace is a great way to sell unwanted items. With no transaction fees like other e-commerce platforms, it’s simple and shows your items for sale to thousands of users. However, Marketplace does not have a built-in payment feature. It is up to the buyer and seller to agree on an acceptable form of payment.
Naturally, sellers fear that they won’t get paid. With so many online scams, you have to be careful with payment methods. In this article, we’ll discuss the best ways to get paid when selling an ad on Facebook Marketplace.
The safest ways to receive payments when using Facebook Marketplace
Once you have a confirmed buyer, the next step is for them to pay you. This is the most important part of the transaction, so you want to make sure you get paid in the safest way possible. Never ship an item before receiving payment. Although most Marketplace buyers are honest, there are scammers among them. To avoid problems, these are the most reliable payment methods you can use.
Arrange a local pickup
Facebook Marketplace is designed for local sales. The default listings are set to a local 40 mile radius. Although users can extend the search range, its maximum search radius is 100 miles.
If you meet the buyer in person, you can request to be paid in cash. This will eliminate any type of online payment scam. You can also use your preferred person-to-person online payment method. Apps like Venmo, PayPal, and Google Pay are popular. However, some may charge a transaction fee. Arrange for the buyer to send payment through the app and once you receive confirmation, you can deliver the item to them.
Always meet the buyer in a public place. A local coffee shop or retail store, places where there are other people around are good options. Some police stations allow people to gather in their parking lots to ensure everyone’s safety. If you don’t feel comfortable meeting a stranger, you always have the option of bringing a friend with you.
Online payment methods
When meeting with a buyer in person or for items you need to ship, an online payment app is a secure way to receive payment. google pay, apple payment, Venmo, PayPaland Zelle They are all good options. They are trustworthy and do not directly reveal their banking information to the buyer.
Since the buyer will be communicating with you via Facebook Messenger, it makes sense to pay them through the app. Although it is not directly linked to your Marketplace account, buyers can pay using this method. Messenger will allow you to send and receive money using PayPal or a Mastercard or Visa debit card.
If you don’t already have this option configured in Messenger, here we explain how to do it using an Android or an iPhone:
- Launch the “Facebook” application.
- Tap the three horizontal lines.
- Scroll down and find “Settings & Privacy,” then select “Settings.”
- Tap “Payments.”
- Locate and click on “Facebook Pay.”
- Choose “Add payment method.”
- Press “Credit or Debit Card” or “PayPal.”
- Enter the required information and press “Done” when complete.
You can now accept payments directly from the Messenger app and the funds will go directly to the account you set up in Facebook Pay. Here you can request payment from the buyer. If you are not sure how to do this, follow these steps:
- Launch the Messenger app and open the chat with the buyer.
- Tap the “+” icon located just below the chat window on the left side of the screen.
- Select the “Dollar Sign” icon.
- Click the “Edit Amount” button and enter the payment amount.
- Press “Pay.”
The buyer will receive a payment request and can easily pay you for the Marketplace item they want to purchase.
Things to consider when accepting a Marketplace payment
To ensure that you get paid safely for a Marketplace sale, there are a few things you should keep in mind. As stated above, receiving cash payments or using an online person-to-person application are the safest ways to receive payments. However, some Marketplace buyers may want to pay you by other means. To safeguard your payment, here are some things to consider when accepting other methods.
- Payments by mail
Some buyers may not want to use online applications to make payments and would prefer to send you a check. If you accept this form of payment, do not mail the item until you have received the check and your bank has cleared it. Unscrupulous buyers could cancel payment on the check before cashing it.
Another thing to consider when accepting payments by mail is that you will need to give the buyer an address to send the payment to. This will reveal your home address, which is something you may not want to do. If you are not comfortable accepting payments by mail to your home, consider purchasing a PO Box at your local post office.
- Make sure payment methods are legitimate
If a buyer prefers to make payment by cashier’s check or certified check, this could be a red flag. These types of payments can be fake. With a variety of trusted apps and online banking services, check payments are obsolete. Beware of a buyer who wants to pay by these means.
Do not accept gift cards as payment, as they may also be counterfeit and unusable. Gift cards are intended to be used as a gift, not as a form of payment. Shoppers who insist on paying with a gift card are probably trying to scam you.
- End contact with a buyer you are not comfortable with
Fortunately, you do not have any legal contract with a potential Marketplace buyer. If you have agreed to sell your listing to a buyer, under no circumstances will you have to provide the item before payment has been made. Buyers who harass or insist on a payment method you are not comfortable with have no legal right to force you to accept their terms.
If this happens to you, end the conversation and do not interact with them further. If your contact with them has been on Facebook Messenger, you can block them. This will prevent them from trying to continue the conversation.
To block someone on Messenger, follow these steps:
- Open the chat with the person you want to block.
- At the top of the screen, tap your “Profile Photo.”
- Scroll down and select “Block.”
- If you believe they have been abusive, you can also click “Report” and provide Facebook with information about the incident.
Secure payment methods on the market revealed
It is extremely important to ensure that you are paid safely for a Marketplace listing. Although most people have good experience selling items through the platform, sellers should be on the lookout for potential scammers. Only accept trusted online payment apps like Google Pay or Venmo. Cash is a safe payment method if you are meeting the buyer in person for a local sale. However, always meet in a well-lit, busy public place.
