Facebook launched Marketplace today for users in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. It is a tool for users to buy and sell items within their area on the Facebook app. According to Facebook, more than 450 million people visit Facebook groups dedicated to buying and selling each month. In Marketplace users find what they're looking for by filtering items for sale by category, location and price.
In order to buy an item, users message the seller directly from Marketplace. Facebook said they do not facilitate payment or delivery of the item. This is where Marketplace differs from eBay, which facilitates the transaction and delivery and has a money back guarantee.
In order to sell an item on Marketplace, the seller adds a photo of the item, gives it a name, description, price, category and then posts it. Users can post their items for sale both on the centralized marketplace and also on pre-existing buying and selling groups.
There are two major advantages to Marketplace: trust and convenience. Unlike Craigslist, which is anonymous, Marketplace allows users to see the Facebook profile of the person who is selling or buying an item. The hope is that this lack of anonymity will help prevent scammers.
USC student Jay Balagna said that he thinks Marketplace will be popular among USC students because of the perceived benefit of safety that a Facebook user knows a buyer or seller because they see their profile. Balagna says it is a feeling of, "we are not being scammed, it is like a security blanket."
Another USC student Anisha Jain said she would not necessarily feel safe taking the risk buying something on Facebook. Jain believes purchasing from a complete stranger would depend on "how established the person is that is selling it and if they had reviews."
At this time Facebook does not have a system for rating buyers and sellers besides the ability to see their profile.
Balagna said that he would be more likely to use Facebook Marketplace because Facebook is something he already uses on a daily basis.
Facebook's policies said Marketplace will prohibit the sale of certain items such as drugs, alcohol and weapons. Users will also not be allowed to sell non-physical goods such as services, digital products and rentals on marketplace.
Facebook said it will continue expanding marketplace to more countries and in the coming months will be releasing a desktop version of Marketplace.
Reach Staff Reporter Courtney Burke here or follow her on Twitter here
Annenberg Media