Why are there so many silicone babies on Facebook Marketplace???
Why are there so many silicone babies on Facebook Marketplace???
FB Marketplace is dead, here's where to go instead
Before I kick things off, I need to share the position wrote this entire newsletter in…
It’s important to note that Bó is my boss, my editor, and the neighborhood garbage disposal. If you find any mistakes in this edition of the newsletter, please email her!
Now, back to business. Or as Facebook marketplace might suggest, back to nonsense because what is this:
Actually, I can tell you what it is: a few marketplace listings I saw while scrolling for no more than 45 seconds! Is it just me, or are the sellers on Facebook marketplace especially out of their goddamn minds these days?
I think I’m particularly cursed living in Brooklyn because we have a combination of:
The “don't lowball me, I know what I have!” crowd
Clothing sellers (not the place IMO!)
New Jersey being added to my search radius against my will
Too many silicone babies for sale (I am scared!)
Whatever everything else in the above photo is
I’m here to say it: the once magical Facebook Marketplace is now dead.
The amount of silicone babies being marketed to me is both annoying and concerning. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason for this phenomenon (???) but one that does not involve me. So, I’ve moved on to bigger and better places and thus wanted to share my top spots to shop for furniture that are NOT Facebook Marketplace (RIP).
Etsy
As we sunset our hopes on Facebook Marketplace, Etsy rises back from the dead. While it may be cluttered with a lot of junk (see: stuff from Alibaba), I think Etsy’s furniture section is much easier to sort through than other categories on the site. My T.V. stand is handmade by a Canadian Etsy seller. There are so many great dining chairs, handmade desks, beds, rugs and more.
Best for: Something handmade!
Tips:
Make sure your search results include handmade (maybe even filter for *just* that). There are so many incredible makers on here who create beautiful customer furniture. Don’t overlook them! If you see something you love and want it tweaked a bit - see if the seller will customize it. Our T.V. stand is custom and cost us under $500 (including shipping from outside the USA!)
Which brings me to my next point: Include listings outside of your country. Sometimes shipping is suspiciously reasonable - I’ve gotten multiple pieces of furniture shipped from outside of the USA.
Read reviews. This should be obvious - but it must always be said. Read seller reviews before you buy from them. If you’re making a big purchase on there, chat with the seller and ask any questions you may have. Make sure there are no surprises (or you’re covered if there are).
LiveAuctioneers/Auction Ninja and other online auctions & estate sales
If you’ve never bid in an auction, it can seem daunting and confusing - but trust me, it’s extremely fun once you get the hang of it. There are SO many incredible pieces on auction sites across the interwebs. I’ve linked my top two sites above, but there are WAY more. In my opinion, these are the most fun (and often, most cost effective) places to shop.
Tips:
If you see an item you love, register for the auction. You need to do this to bid. Don’t miss out on a great piece because you aren’t registered!
Wait until the bid is live to bid. According to LiveAuctioneers: your chances of winning are three times greater when you bid during the live auction versus placing an absentee bid (aka a bid in advance of the live auction).
Set alerts for items you want. This will send you an alert once your item is almost live for bidding!
Vet sellers. I CAN’T STRESS THIS ENOUGH. Don’t trust a seller just because they are on a site. Sometimes things are too good to be true because they are too good to be true. Do your research!
Think of the MOST you would sell on something, and stick to it. You don’t want to get caught feeling pressured to keep bidding but it’s easy to get caught up. Set a maximum amount you’d spend on whatever item you’re bidding on and tap out if it’s passed.
Don’t forget to calculate buyers’ premiums & sales tax. Each auction includes a buyer’s premium (usually around 18%) & sales tax. Calculate that into what you’re willing to pay!
Read the item description and auction rules. This will talk about any weird pick-up/shipping rules, item faults or quirks, and everything else. Red these BOTH thoroughly before you bid.
Send a message. I was recently looking at a couch on LiveAuctioneers and had the option to go up to Connecticut and test it out before the live bidding began. A lot of auctions are “online preview only” aka you can’t go in person to check things out - but it’s always worth asking.
LiveAuctioneers has a great guide to auctions here.
***** wrote the absolute best newsletter on navigating auctions/estate sales. You can read it (and I highly suggest you do) HERE. I have it bookmarked lol*****
Modern Day Auctions & Estate Sales
This auction house has fewer items, making it less intimidating for first-time bidders. All items are located within the tri-state area.
Tips:
Make sure you’re in the live auction on time. These auctions are small and move quickly. Make sure you’re online when the auction is live!
All the same tips as above!
Instagram sellers in your area
So many of my favorite trinkets have been purchased from Instagram stories. (Would a list of specific stores be useful?). Get real time updates and build a rapport with stores you love by following them on Instagram!
Tips:
Set story alerts. This way you’ll know as soon as new furniture is live, especially if they do story sales.
If the seller specializes style you love, develop a rapport. I’ve had sellers who specialize in niche things (like vintage IKEA furniture) source specific items for me! This, of course, should be asks within reason - but it never hurts to ask!
Look at who else Instagram suggests. You know how when you follow someone, Instagram suggests more people? Use that feature to find more accounts! Go down a rabbit hole!
Follow your favorite IRL stores online. Sometimes they release things before they’re in the store.
Chairish
I prefer Chairish over 1stDibs because they carry more reasonably priced items. If you’re looking to potentially purchase a popular piece, you can use PinkBook to look up prices of recently sold items and see what price point it usually goes for. This is mainly a resource for sellers, but imagine it can be of some use to a buyer, too, in thinking about what items are worth.
Tips:
Filter for whichever country you are in. Shipping from outside of the country can be CRAZY. I wouldn’t even look…
Filter for your price range! Things can get very expensive, but you can also find great deals (and negotiate)! I got my nightstand on here negotiated down from its original price by $50.
Search by item category. Scrolling through Chairish can feel a lot like sorting through a poorly organized Goodwill. I don’t know about you all, but every time I walk into a disorganized thrift store I feel the need to take a giant shit. (I’m sorry but it IS true, I think it’s stress.) Chairish is kind of like that. Filtering is your friend.
Questions? Trying to source a specific piece of furniture? Tell me about it in the comments & I’ll do my best to share advice!👇