Bargaining 101: How to Shop Using an Online Marketplace

Hey Shoppers, if you know me, you know that I love a good deal and some of the best deals I have ever gotten, while shopping, were through the use of online marketplaces. In this blog, I am going to share some of my tips and tricks on how to shop IV the Leaux and like a Pro using online marketplaces.

What is an online marketplace?

I am glad you asked. An online marketplace is like the virtual version of a flea market or yard sale, but much bigger. Many people in your area are selling many things, new or used. You may have heard of some of the marketplaces that are out there. Here are the ones that I have used previously: Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, 5miles, OfferUp, letgo, Poshmark, and Mercari.

There are some general tips that apply to using any of the options listed above. Typically if you are using these online marketplaces, you are searching for a particular item. So after entering the marketplace website and possibly signing up for the free membership, you can go directly to the search bar and type in the item that you would like to buy and your zipcode. The item can range from the smallest of things like a dog toy to larger items, such as a car. Once you press enter, all of the items for sale, and sometimes already sold, will appear. This is your stomping grounds and you can browse to your heart’s desire for the perfect match.

After you have found the perfect match, there are some things that we need to double check just to be sure. First, did you thoroughly look at all of the pictures that were provided? Secondly, did you read the description related to the item? If you are satisfied with the pictures and description, the next step is inquiring about purchasing the item, which requires a little skill and some patience.

As a buyer, I encourage you to ask questions about the items before submitting an offer or purchasing. Sometimes, you will come across details that the seller forgot to mention or was sneakily trying to get past you. Asking questions can help you avoid the stress of paying for what you did not expect or avoid wasting your gas to pickup the item, and instead leaving empty-handed because of misinformation.

What questions should I ask before sending an offer?

1. Is the item available?

2. What is the condition of the item?

3. If used: Are there any scratches or damages on the item?

4. If they did not provide enough pictures: Can you upload more pictures?

5. Optional: Is this a pet and smoke free home?

6. Optional: Is the price firm?

With the answers to these questions, you are more likely to make the best decision on if the perfect item really is just that…the perfect item.

The next step can be a little intimidating and frustrating, but this blog is here to ease any of those feelings. It is time to send your offer! The first thing to know is often times the seller will set the price higher than their expected selling price. Why? They expect the buyer to negotiate and offer to purchase the item for a lower price. Therefore, do not feel obligated to buy the item for the listed price. It is okay to send a lower offer, if you feel like the item is not valued at the listed price or if you just really would like the bargain deal to be even sweeter.

Will you offer 75 percent of the listing price or 50 percent? Ultimately, it is at your discretion to determine the offer that you decide to send, but there are definitely some best practices. Some sellers will jump at any offer, some will negotiate with you and other buyers, and others will be completely turned off and say “no, thank you” or not respond at all. It is a balancing act and you have to find the sweet spot to get what you want for the right price, which is not always your goal price.

Hopefully, you did just that and it is time to set a meeting spot to pick up the item and exchange the money. Most times, the seller will ask you to meet at their house to pick the item up. This can be scary and maybe even dangerous. I have never had any scares, but you are by no means obligated to go somewhere that you feel may be unsafe to you. So if they give you their home address and meeting them there makes you uncomfortable, go to maps and see if you can find a public place within five minutes of their home for you all to meet. Safety first! Also, I always try to agree to a time that I know will still have some daylight, unless the meeting spot is inside of an actual store.

The meeting place and time is set. Now, you are excited to pick up the perfect item for you! If the seller did not mention the form of payment that they accept, always assume that they want cash. Otherwise, ask the seller for confirmation. At the time of pickup, make sure you tell the seller when you are on the way or if there is a delay. Have the money ready and your eyes ready too! Before you give the money away and drive off with your new purchase, always check out the item to see if it is exactly as described. If it is not, you can decline to purchase the item. If it is, you are in luck and can gladly welcome your new addition!

I hope you found this blog helpful. Do you have any tips that you would like to share about this topic? If so, leave it in the comments. Happy Shopping!

- T

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