Facebook Selling Groups 102: Managing Unresponsiveness

This is the second part to the “Selling in Facebook Groups” series.

If you haven’t read the first part, I reccomend you read it here! 

When I started selling on Facebook, I had no idea what to expect. I hastily posted my first item in a very popular local selling group. There were over 20,000 people in the group, I assumed someone would want my item? Right?  I spent many days anxiously waiting for a response, but never received one. Selling on Facebook seemed so easy, I was confused why no one wanted my item (which I thought was a very good item, for a great price.) Since then, I learned through trial and error some of the tricks and methods that help sell things on Facebook when no one seems to respond. 

There are several reasons why your item may not be selling on Facebook. Below is some common problems and solutions to managing unresponsiveness on Facebook.

Problem 1: Your Item is Getting Lost in the Shuffle

If you are posting in a large Facebook selling group (groups that have over 10,000 members), chances are other people are frequently posting their items. The problem is if you post during a busy time, you may have 100 people post directly after you. This causes your post to be pushed to the bottom of the page before anyone can see it. Luckily, there are a two things you can do to solve this issue: timing, and bumping.

Timing

The first thing you can do is to be mindful about when you post. I have come across blogs and articles that have theories about when the perfect time to post items for sale are. I understand the logic, but every city, and region differ. In my area I have noticed if I post about an hour before “rush hour” my posts usually get viewed the most. Fridays, and during the first week of the month seem to also be a more popular time to sell things, due to people getting paid. In all honesty, it really depends on your area, so learn your local market and you have more chances of being successful.

Bumping

The next thing you can do is “Bump” your post daily to bring your item back to the top of the selling group’s page. If you don’t receive a response within a day in Facebook selling groups, chances are you won’t, that is where “bumping” your item becomes important. In order “Bump” go to your posting and comment on your post. Some people will simply put a * in their comment, others will say things like “Still Available”. Put whatever you feel comfortable with. Some Facebook groups have rules about when you can “Bump” your item, so make sure you follow those rules. If their aren’t any rules, don’t be obnoxious and “Bump” ever 10 minutes, people will get annoyed.

If your item still isn’t getting any response, there may be other reasons why it’s not selling.

Problem 2: You’re Asking Too Much for your Item

Asking too much for your item is a common problem. I myself am guilty of this on several occasions. If no one is responding, even though you have been managing your post diligently, chances are your price is too high. Try lowering your price, or selling your item on a different platform. If you are not sure of how to price your used item, I cover the basics of pricing in this article.

Problem 3: You are Selling a Niche Product

Sometimes there are certain items that only cater to a small population. You might be lucky and have people in your area that enjoy certain niche items, but chances are they live in Springfield, Midwest 1000 miles from where you live. I have these dragon statues that I have not been able to sell in local groups. I know they are priced right, but no one in my area seems to want them. This happens frequently, so if you really want to get rid of them you will have to try to use different venues such as EBay, or other online stores.

Problem 4: You are Selling Something Nobody Wants

If your item is in bad condition, or an out of date piece, people may not want to pay for your “junk”. If you are selling an item with stains on it (Such as a rug, or a couch) take the time to remove the stains. This will make the item more appealing.

If it is an out of date item, such as a large piece of furniture (like an entertainment center) market it as a potential repurposing project. I knew a lady that had an old entertainment center she was having a difficult time getting rid of. She found a picture of an entertainment center being turned into a kid’s play kitchen and marketed the potential project on Facebook. She sold the entertainment center within hours. Be creative, it can pay off!

If you aren’t able to clean it, market it, or  invest any more time and energy into it, donate it! You get a tax credit, and help those in need. Please do your research and make sure you are donating to a reputable, honest, non-profit organization!

Considering Other Venues

Luckily, Facebook isn’t the only place to sell your stuff. You could have a garage sale, sell on Craigslist, or sell your item online. If Facebook just isn’t working out, try other venues.

For More information on selling secondhand items check out my post here!

For the 1st part of Selling in Facebook Selling groups click here! 

Have you experienced any of these problems? Do you have any tips to sell on Facebook more successfully?