Facebook Marketplace has plants for sale in my area.
Facebook
Among Meta's many apps and services, Facebook Marketplace has quickly grown to be my favorite.
It's a great way to buy good furniture for an affordable price. It’s better than Craigslist or eBay.
One Facebook Marketplace user told me she thinks buying second-hand adds "soul" to her home.
Meta offers a wealth of services and products that are used daily by billions, such as Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp. But one product has become my favorite.
The logos for WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram.
Chesnot/Getty Images
And it's not the metaverse: While Meta's recent pivot to the metaverse has been the subject of scrutiny from investors and the corporate world, I'm convinced the company's best product is Facebook Marketplace.
Connect 2022: Mark Zuckerberg as an avatar
Meta
I've mostly stopped using Facebook as a social network, but I visit facebook.com nearly every day to check out Marketplace.
Facebook Marketplace lists all sorts of housewares on sale.
Samantha Delouya
Marketplace on Facebook allows anyone to sell or buy goods.
Facebook calls Marketplace "a convenient destination to discover, buy and sell items with people in your community."
Facebook
It's free to use, but Facebook takes a 5% cut whenever a seller ships an item. Meta doesn't share how much money it makes from the service, though last year, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that more than 1 billion people visit Marketplace each month.
A photo of Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO.
Facebook/Meta
Zuckerberg recently stated that Facebook Marketplace was a beneficiary of supply-chain problems that made it difficult for customers to purchase new items in stores without waiting long.
Supply chain problems in 2020-2021 were caused by a lack of shipping containers.
Alex Kantrowitz
It's a great way to buy high-quality furniture for an affordable price, and it's become my go-to source for decorating my new apartment.
This chair retails for $550 on Crate & Barrel's website. I bought it in perfect condition for $250.
Samantha Delouya
According to the EPA more than 12 million tonnes of furniture is thrown away each year by Americans. As furniture made cheaply has increased in recent years, the problem will only get worse.
According to the EPA furniture in landfills has increased by 450% since 1960.
By using Facebook Marketplace, I know I'm helping to keep furniture out of landfills – and I prefer using Marketplace for furniture over eBay or Craigslist.
Marketplace sold these bar stools for just $20
Samantha Delouya
Facebook Marketplace users must have a Facebook Profile to use the service.
This West Elm night table was a great deal second-hand. The lamp was $25 on Marketplace and retails for $60.
Samantha Delouya
There are some precautions that I still take. For example, I'd never enter a person's house by myself to pick up an item.
After pick up, I was able to secure a purchase on Facebook Marketplace in my backseat.
Facebook Marketplace
The site is simple to use. You can set filters only to show local items within a certain radius – I've set mine to offer items for sale within 9 miles of my Los Angeles apartment. It's not only used for furniture; you can also search for clothing and electronics. Marketplace has cars for sale.
I usually pay sellers in person using cash, Venmo, or Zelle, so I can check the item's quality before paying. You don't use Facebook itself to exchange payment; Facebook acts more as a classified ads service in this case.
Facebook Marketplace
Depending on the size of the furniture, some local sellers prefer to meet with buyers in public places. Others offer delivery or ask buyers to pick up purchases at the seller's doorway.
A Facebook Marketplace seller delivering dining chairs.
Samantha Delouya
One Facebook Marketplace user who sold me an item told me she thinks there's something "special" about buying previously owned items for her home. "They add a certain level of soul… beyond just being a pretty object," she said.
This sculpture was 50% cheaper than the retail price when I bought it through Facebook Marketplace
Samantha Delouya
I've met some pretty accommodating sellers through the platform. One person offered to drive a dining room table to my apartment, after I had difficulty fitting it into my car.
This table was ordered by an accident. It was wrapped in its original box and still in its packaging when I purchased it. It was brand-new, but it cost $100 more than if I had purchased it on Amazon.
Samantha Delouya
Overall, I'm very satisfied with the future I have bought on Facebook Marketplace for my new apartment.
This coffee table, a second-hand item, was the most difficult to transport.
Samantha Delouya
I intend to use Facebook Marketplace to purchase second-hand furniture. Next up: I'm on the hunt for a desk!
Marketplace has some desks available for purchase near me.
