Jacob CurtisIf this is the first time you’ve heard of a For Sale Facebook group I wouldn’t blame ya. I just found out about them myself after a recent Facebook announcement introducing new features designed to improve the way people buy and sell within groups.
This week’s #SocialMediaMinute will cover how to create a For Sale Facebook Group to sell your stuff on Facebook just like a yard or garage sale.
The new “Sell” feature will allow members to create a post where you can add a description of the item for sale, set a price and set a pick-up or delivery location. Think Craigslist or eBay but on Facebook.
Learn more by watching the tutorial video below.
Video Tutorial
How to Create a For Sale Facebook Group
So it turns out you can’t just create a garage sale on Facebook and set up a For Sale Group by default. Members and groups admins will have to submit a request to Facebook nominating their current group to be converted into a For Sale Group.
To request a For Sale Group on Facebook navigate to Facebook’s official page here. You’ll then be brought to this form:
While Facebook has not detailed the requirements for converting a regular group into a For Sale Group, they did give a few examples of groups that have already been approved.
One group had 4,500 members and the other example had 34,000 members before they were converted and provided the new item selling features. Keep this in mind before you request your 10 member group as it will likely not make the cut.
For sale groups have grown in popularity but have never been officially acknowledged by Facebook. This meant the groups admin would have to monitor members posts, transactions, and wether or not the listing was still relevant. No easy task but that’s all changed now.
Benefits for Admins
The addition of the “Sell” feature will make filling out the necessary item information so much easier than before. Now group admins will no longer have to remind members that they’re required to list a price, for example, or that they need to specify their general location or neighborhood.
Benefits for Members
Group members will also benefit from the addition, as they’ll no longer need to comment or message the item’s owner in order to get basic information about the listing.
Sellers can also mark posts as Available or Sold and easily view their catalog of items previously sold.
Before you Buy or Sell
Remember, both buyers and sellers are responsible for things sold in a Facebook Group.
Buyers: Any transaction made through a Facebook Group is between you and the seller. Keep in mind Facebook doesn’t own or possess any items a seller lists, so use your best judgment.
Sellers: Please describe the items you’re selling clearly and make sure you’re following both our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and Community Standards.
Takeaway
Unfortunately the option for listing items for sale will not be rolled out further to public Pages, for example, which is where a lot of more professional selling takes place today from a number of e-commerce retailers of varying sizes. Facebook says that it will continue adding more features that will enhance these For Sale Groups in the months ahead that will make it easier for members to connect with each other, browse and search.
Are you a member of any For Sale Facebook Groups? Do you admin a group that would make sense to be converted? Do you even trust making a purchase from a Facebook user? Let me know in the comments below and make sure to come back next week for more social media tutorials.
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