As well as introducing Sell buttons to its website, Facebook has now added an improved search tool, complete with category filters. Users can now navigate an eBay-style menu in order to sort and find posts from sellers.
Search by category to find the product you are looking for
Owen Williams from The Next Web spotted the feature, noticing that on the left-hand menu of his Facebook page there was a group called “All Sale Groups,” with an accompanying drop-down menu for categories, which include Appliances, Event Tickets, Household Items, Mobile Phones, Real Estate and Rentals and more.
Once a seller has assigned a sales post to one of these categories, buyers are able to search all items in that relevant category which appear in public sales groups, as well as private groups that they have joined.
Right now the new feature is undergoing testing, and Facebook expects it to be introduced for all users “in the coming months.” Official sales groups saw the introduction of the Sell button back in February, which Facebook said was one a series of “improved features for buying and selling.”
Sellers are able to set pickup and delivery locations, as well as marking their posts as Available or Sold, while buyers can view a catalog of goods that the seller has sold previously. Admins for sales groups can fill in an online form to make sure that their group appears on the official list.
Facebook only lists ads, does not handle payments
Payments between members of these groups are made directly between the buyer and the seller, with no involvement from Facebook. “Any transaction made through a Facebook Group is between you and the seller,” according to Facebook.
“Keep in mind Facebook doesn’t own or possess any items a seller lists, so if you have any questions about the things you’re buying in a Facebook Group, try contacting the seller,” the company continued.
Guidelines dictate that sellers should describe their items clearly, as well as being sure not to sell anything which might breach the site’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and Community Standards policies.
One advantage of trading on Facebook is the fact that user details are clearly displayed, unlike on eBay and Craigslist.
Source: TheNextWeb
