Facebook just launched Facebook Marketplace, the social network’s latest attempt at being Gumtree.
Image: Facebook
Marketplace is accessible via a new shopping icon at at the bottom of the Facebook app.
Marketplace opens with photos of items that people near you have listed for sale. To find something specific, search at the top and filter your results by location, category or price. You can also browse what’s available in a variety of categories such as Household, Electronics and Apparel. Use the built-in location tool to adjust the region you’re looking in, or switch to a different city altogether.
When you find something interesting, tap on the image to see more details from the seller, including a product description, the name and profile photo of the seller, and their general location. You can also save the item to find it later.
Once you’ve decided on an item, you can message the buyer or seller to get the details of the transaction sorted. Facebook isn’t actually handling payments or delivery, this is all stuff users will need to handle themselves.
The feature is available in Australia, New Zealand, the US and the UK. Interestingly, it’s only on mobile now but Facebook says it will come to the desktop “in the coming months”.
By our count, this is at least the fourth time Facebook has tried to clone Gumtree. Facebook’s original “marketplace” launched in 2007 (and was forgotten about a few years later). Facebook introduced the ability to sell items in Facebook groups last year, and it’s been testing an iteration of this new marketplace feature for quite some time, too.
People already sell a ton of stuff through unofficial channels on Facebook, so this feature might actually end up being useful for more efficiently unloading old couches and side tables. Still, this is the internet. So buyer, you know, be aware.
[Facebook]