Most Facebook Marketplace prices have wiggle room. The listed price is a starting point, not a final offer. Here’s how to negotiate effectively without wasting time or annoying sellers.

Before You Message

Know the Market Value

You can’t negotiate effectively if you don’t know what something is worth. Before messaging:

  • Check eBay sold listings for the same item
  • Search Marketplace for similar items in your area
  • Factor in condition, age, and included accessories

This gives you a target price and the confidence to negotiate.

Read the Listing Carefully

Many sellers signal their flexibility:

  • “OBO” (or best offer) means they expect negotiations
  • “Price firm” means don’t waste your time lowballing
  • “Motivated to sell” or “Moving, must go” means they need it gone
  • Recently reduced prices suggest flexibility

Have Your Budget in Mind

Know your maximum price before you start. It’s easy to get emotionally invested and pay more than you should. Set a limit and stick to it.

Opening Messages That Work

Be Specific

Bad: “Is this still available?” Good: “Hi, is the blue Herman Miller Aeron still available? I’m interested and can pick up this weekend.”

Specific messages show you’re serious. You’ve read the listing. You’re ready to buy.

Ask Questions First

Before negotiating, ask about anything unclear:

  • Condition details
  • Why they’re selling
  • How old it is
  • What’s included

This builds rapport and sometimes reveals information useful for negotiating.

Be Polite and Direct

Marketplace is casual. You don’t need formal language, but basic politeness goes a long way. Sellers deal with a lot of flaky buyers. Being pleasant and responsive makes you stand out.

Making an Offer

Start Reasonable

Lowballing wastes everyone’s time. If something is listed at $500 and worth $400, offering $200 just annoys the seller. They’ll ignore you or get defensive.

A reasonable opening offer is 15-25% below asking, depending on how long it’s been listed and how the price compares to market.

Justify Your Price

Don’t just throw out a number. Give a reason:

  • “I’ve seen similar ones sell for $X recently”
  • “There’s some wear on [specific thing] so I was thinking $X”
  • “My budget is $X—would that work for you?”

Reasons make your offer feel less arbitrary.

Be Ready to Meet in the Middle

Negotiation is a dance. You offer low, they counter higher, you meet somewhere in between. If you’re not willing to budge from your opening offer, you’re not really negotiating.

Tactics That Work

The Bundle Ask

If you’re buying multiple items or the seller has other listings, ask about a bundle discount:

“I’m also interested in the coffee table. Would you do $X for both?”

Sellers love moving multiple items at once.

The Quick Pickup

Sellers hate no-shows and flaky buyers. Offering to pick up quickly can be worth a discount:

“I can pick up today and pay cash. Would you take $X?”

The Cash Advantage

“I have $X cash and can be there in an hour” is a powerful offer. It’s immediate, certain, and hassle-free for the seller.

Ask About Flexibility

Sometimes just asking works:

“Is there any flexibility on the price?”

Many sellers have a number in mind that’s below their asking price. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

When to Walk Away

The Price Is Already Fair

If something is priced at or below market value, negotiating aggressively is pointless. Someone else will pay asking price. Just buy it.

The Seller Is Firm

If they say “price is firm” or reject your offer without countering, they mean it. Move on.

It’s Been Listed for Days

Actually, this is when you have leverage. Items that sit for a week or more often have motivated sellers. They may have started firm but are getting flexible.

You’ve Hit Your Limit

If negotiations stall above your maximum price, thank them and move on. There will be other deals.

After You Agree

Confirm Everything

Restate the agreed price, pickup time, and location in writing:

“Great, so $350 and I’ll meet you at [location] tomorrow at 2pm?”

This prevents “misunderstandings” later.

Show Up When You Say You Will

Nothing kills deals faster than flakiness. If you agree to a time, be there. If something comes up, tell them ASAP.

Inspect Before Paying

Even if you’ve negotiated a great price, inspect the item before handing over money. Make sure it matches the listing and works as expected.

Using Spottable for Negotiation

When you analyze a listing with Spottable, you get:

  • Market value comparison (“This is 30% below typical prices”)
  • Ready-to-send opening messages
  • Lowball offers when the data supports it

Instead of researching prices and crafting messages yourself, tap a button and get AI-generated options based on actual market data.

Want AI to help you find and negotiate better deals? Use Spottable AI for Chrome today. Spottable for iOS is coming soon.

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