If you know me you'll know I'm a big advocate of Facebook for buying/selling, especially Facebook Marketplace. But, it's not just Marketplace that you can buy and sell on, Facebook groups can connect you to others in your local area or across the country to buy from. Such is the power of social media.
One thing to know about Facebook is that people will try to flog the tattiest of tat. I'm constantly amazed at the type of things people try to sell, but that kind of makes me love it even more. A small porcelain teddybear? Don't tempt me. Oh, you're selling a bowl of dusty potpourri? Count me in.Facebook Marketplace
Once you wade through the crap - and, trust me, this is something you have to have patience for.... you can find some true gems. A large portion of the furniture in our house came from Facebook Marketplace, and people are often amazed when I tell them how cheap it was, or in some cases, that it was free.
Sofa - £80 FB Marketplace, originally Ikea.
I mostly use Marketplace to find furniture for our house or, even to source things for friends. Recently, my best friend moved to London and she's obsessed with antique dark-wood desks, so my current challenge - in the middle of a global pandemic nonetheless, is to try and source her one for her new home. I love a challenge, and that's part of the fun of thrifting!
I like to challenge myself to find unique, quirky pieces at a fraction of the price of what they would be brand new. If you have expensive taste, like I tend to, thrifting allows you find pieces for less money and with less of an environmental impact, as you're simply extending the lifespan of an existing piece of clothing or furniture, rather than driving businesses to create more.
If you're into mid-century furniture, Facebook Marketplace has some really great finds. Search for keywords such as 'Danish' 'Mid-century' 'Vintage' 'Retro' to find what you're looking for. The TV unit we have in our living room is a 1960's midcentury piece and it was completely free as somebody was moving house and getting rid. We initially had a chunky white TV unit here which was also free from the side of the road. I've found some good free things on the side of the road before - some of the things people get rid of are wild.
One of the best things about Facebook Marketplace is that is does work like an actual market. Once you find something you like, you can contact the seller to barter or haggle on price. Most things are incredibly reasonable anyway, but if there's something that's a little out of budget, you can make an offer! Perfect for those who are doing their home up on a budget. Some things may need a lick of paint, a new handle or sanding, but if you're getting something for a steal it makes it totally worth it.
Coffee table - £0 FB Marketplace, vintage piece.
Something to bear in mind when you're browsing or buying on Facebook is that just because something is cheap, it doesn't mean you actually need it. I nearly bought 3 dining pink chairs the other day, because they were £15 - now I already own dining chairs, so I didn't need them, but they were gorgeous. I really had to hold myself back. Overconsumption can be easy when things are cheap, so you still have to stay true to the same set of values you would when you shop for anything else. Do you really need it? Are you going to use it? If so, go for it. If you're only buying it because it's cheap - avoid.
Facebook Groups
I use groups regularly to buy, sell and swap clothes. My two favourites are 'Swap Family' and 'The Swop Shop'. They're great for picking up secondhand bits, with both branded and vintage pieces available to buy.
As charity shops are closed during lockdown, Facebook Groups can provide an affordable, alternative source of secondhand clothing. This ultimately, makes fashion more accessible for those who are otherwise driven to shop fast fashion for reasons beyond their control - time, money, sizing issues. Secondhand shopping and swapping through Facebook means a diverse range of sizes and styles, with items that can be posted from the seller directly to your door.
Swap Family, the group mentioned above - has a £5 maximum pricing structure for all items. If you want to sell something on that group, it has to be affordable, which helps make secondhand shopping more appealing and accessible to those on a budget. For people that usually charity shop, you know how time-consuming charity shopping can be. It's something you have to dedicate time to, and you might not always find something when you go in. For people that need clothes in their size that are affordable and require them with urgency, charity shops are not always the answer.
Swap/shop groups, however, allow you to search for brands and sizing on your phone using the search function of the group. Scrolling social media is something most people spend time doing in the evenings anyway, so it's easy to start checking groups regularly to see if something you like is listed.
With 1000s of users, there's bound to be things you like listed, so my advice is just to check it every now and then to see what's available in your size/style. Postage is usually additional, and it may not arrive the very next day like fast fashion can, but if it's something you truly love - it's worth the wait.
My top thrifting tips for Facebook
Marketplace
- Search using keywords on Marketplace to narrow down search results
- Set yourself alerts on certain keywords, e.g. Ikea drawers or vintage mirror using the small bell icon that sits to the top right under the search bar.
- Make sure you have your distance radius set for as far as you're willing to drive for furniture. If you'd drive 100 miles for the perfect sofa - set it as that!
- Check Marketplace regularly, as things do go quick.
- Sort items by the date listed to ensure you're on top of all new listings and don't miss anything.
- Filter by category. Sometimes people can list something as a household good when it's actually a piece of furniture - check all the categories to ensure you're not missing your perfect piece.
- Post 'looking for' posts if you know what you're after as a discussion post on the page. That way, sellers can come directly to you and post photos of their item that suit your request.
- Be quick! Items can go quite quickly, especially if they're worth more than they're being sold for or are a popular brand.
- Search by brand using the search function of the group. If you know you love stuff from Urban Outfitters, search for that.
- If you're not sure about an item, don't be afraid to ask for more photos of it on from the seller via comment or DM. They want to sell the item so this shouldn't be too much hassle for them.
- Definitely swap where you can! Once you've listed your own items, people may respond to your post asking you to swap with them. Take a look through their items and if there's something you like the look of, feel free to swap! Just DM them to exchange addresses, post off your item and wait for yours in return. This does require a bit of trust, but I haven't had a bad experience to date, and swapping is the name of the game - so report any fraudulent behaviour to the group admins and they will help you resolve it I'm sure.
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