How Facebook Marketplace Shipping Works

The Facebook Marketplace has made it easy for entrepreneurs and even everyday people to sell their products via social media. It allows people to engage in two activities at the same time – scroll their social media feed and make money. If you’re looking to sell some of your products on Facebook Marketplace, you might be wondering how the platform’s shipping feature works.

Don’t worry because you’ve come to the right place. This article will cover everything you need to know about Facebook Marketplace shipping. We will also give tips to help you become a successful seller on the platform. So, let’s get started.

How Does Facebook Marketplace Shipping Work?

The Facebook Marketplace shipping feature is an excellent way for sellers to expand their businesses because they can ship their products to any state in the U.S. In addition, they can ship products to other countries as well. 

Fortunately, the feature is pretty simple to use. Here’s how it works in a nutshell: 

1. You list a product for sale on the platform and specify how you’ll ship the product.
   
2. Someone purchases the product.
   
3. Facebook alerts update you that the item has been sold and needs to be shipped.
   
4. You ship the product and provide valid tracking information.
   
5. Once the item is shipped, marked as “Delivered,” and the buyer confirms that they have received the product, Facebook will release the revenue generated from the sale to your specified bank account within five business days. 

Note: Facebook takes a 5% commission on each sale, so the amount you receive on your account will be less than the price at which it was sold.

To set up shipping for your Facebook Marketplace store, follow the steps:

1. Log into your Facebook account and navigate to the “Marketplace” tab.
   
2. Go to “Create new listing” to list the product you want to sell.
   
3. Once you’ve provided all the product information, click the “Set up shipping” button.
   
4. In the form provided, enter your legal name. Please double-check that the name is correct because you can’t edit it later.
   
5. Next, enter your address, banking information, and date of birth before proceeding to the next page.
   
6. Once you’ve entered the above information, you must choose from two shipping options. These include using your preferred shipping label or a prepaid shipping label. 
   

The only difference between the shipping labels in step 6 above is that the prepaid shipping labels give you an estimated shipping fee. On the other hand, using your own shipping label allows you to charge a flat rate for shipping the product. Also, many sellers say that a prepaid shipping label is slightly cheaper, allowing you to charge buyers less, which gives you an advantage over your competitors.

Once you know how much you’ll be charging for shipping, proceed with the steps below:

1. Specify the weight of the package you’re shipping.
   
2. Select a shipping carrier from the options provided under the “Shipping carrier” dropdown menu.
   
3. Specify whether you want to receive offers on the listing and hit “Publish” to complete the listing.
   

If you’re offering buyers free shipping, then Facebook will automatically deduct the shipping fees from the revenue generated from selling the product.

After making a sale, you’ll receive a notification to ship the item within three business days. To ensure a successful transaction, please package the item securely and ensure it’s in good working order. Additionally, the item should follow Facebook Marketplace guidelines to avoid:

• Getting negative reviews from buyers. 
• Being banned from the platform forever.
• The rankings of your listing being affected.
• Getting limitations on seller protection. 
• Removal of your listings. 
• Facebook offering the buyer a refund at your loss.

Once you have shipped the item, the next step is to print out the shipping details and provide the buyer with valid tracking information. After that, go to the Facebook Marketplace and mark the item as “Shipped.” To do so, follow the steps below:

1. Go to Facebook and click the notification bell.
   
2. Click the order notification and go to “Create Shipping Label.” You should now see a screen that allows you to key in the required shipping information.

Once you have provided the above information, both you and the buyer should be able to see where the item is during the delivery journey. Facebook will also give the buyer an estimated time of arrival. 

It’s best to ship the product and provide the tracking info as soon as it is sold. Not only will this keep your account and reputation as a seller in good standing, but it will also give the seller peace of mind knowing that they have not been scammed.  

Receive Your Revenue From the Item Sold

Once the buyer has received the item, the shipping information will update to “Delivered.” After five business days, Facebook to release the revenue generated from the item sold, minus its 5% commission. The remaining earnings will be directly deposited into your bank account once the item is delivered and the seller is satisfied with the product.

 Why Can’t I Offer Shipping on Facebook Marketplace?

There are various reasons why Facebook may restrict you from providing shipping on their marketplace. Some of the common reasons include the following:

• Violating the policies of the marketplace
• Receiving many order cancellations in a short period
• Not completing identity verification. In this case, you may have to provide Facebook with additional information, such as your Social Security number and bank details, before the feature is enabled again.

If you believe the shipping feature has been disabled by mistake, you can appeal the decision via the Facebook support page.

Additional FAQs

What happens when the buyer doesn’t receive the item I shipped, or it gets damaged during shipping? 

If the buyer reports not receiving the item or if it gets damaged during shipping, your first step is to reach out to the shipping company. It’s recommended to work with a reputable shipping company to prevent such occurrences. Although Facebook Marketplace claims to offer seller protection, they may issue a refund to the buyer and leave the seller to bear any losses.

What’s the disadvantage of selling and shipping products through the Facebook Marketplace?

One major disadvantage that sellers face when vending products through the Facebook marketplace is that the platform does not offer customer support, unlike other e-commerce giants such as eBay and Amazon. If something goes wrong during the shipping process, you must take care of the customer service yourself. There have also been complaints about the difficulty of reaching the Facebook support team.

Why was I charged extra fees from what was listed in the app before shipping?

One mistake that many sellers make is in weighing the item before it’s packaged. The packaging material, such as the cartons and the padding, can slightly increase the weight and, thus, the shipping fee. The rule of thumb is to weigh the product after packaging to take into account the extra weight. 

Seamlessly Ship Your Products on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook marketplace is a great platform to provide an extra source of income through selling items as a side business or that you no longer need. While shipping is the most hectic process in any e-commerce business, that’s not the case with Facebook Marketplace. The platform makes the process simple so you can focus on the activities that generate income rather than struggling with shipping.

One of the best practices when using Facebook Marketplace is to ensure that you ship the items as soon as possible and in secure packaging. Doing so will boost your reputation as a seller and give the buyer you’re working with peace of mind.

Have you tried selling items on the Facebook Marketplace before? How was the shipping experience? Please share with us in the comments section below.