While scrolling through Instagram used to be my go-to time killing habit, now I’ve switched my attention to Facebook Marketplace (FBMP). With two little kids, there is rarely time for roaming the aisles of antique stores or thrift shops. Facebook Marketplace has become my replacement.
Like Craigslist and Ebay combined, Facebook’s personalization algorithms best either of the two former sites, serving up tailored recommendations and providing me a rich feed of items that suit my personal style. You can make your feed even more relevant by “following” sellers who tend to post great stuff at amazing prices. I have also set up probably 50 “notifications” for keywords of items or brands I’m looking for.
I love a good bargain and almost every major piece of furniture in my house is either a hand-me-down from a friend or relative, or a Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist find. Friends gasp when I told them I found my gorgeous four post king bed on FBMP for less than $200. Or when I sell baby gear my kids have outgrown for more than I bought it for.
The only person not as impressed by my FBMP impression is Andrew (my husband) who is a real trooper about driving all around the city pick up the random furniture pieces I have purchased and always letting me borrow his cash. (I never have cash!) Luckily, he also loves a good deal, and, now that I’ve proved I can sell things for more than I’ve bought them for, he’s pretty on board.
I love talking about my finds so I thought it might be fun to share a little recap of what I’ve bought and sold this month, plus what I missed out on. (For those of you who haven’t done it much, FBMP can be VERY competitive. To snag good deals you often have to act fast and be a savvy negotiator.)
Without further ado, here’s my October buying and selling recap!
What I Bought
This month, I was more focused on selling than buying. That said, I did find a few good buys. I spent $120 and bought two Ethan Allen Wingback chairs, 10 blue willow plates and a Pottery Barn Duvet with Euro Shams. Not a bad haul! Scroll to read the details on these purchases.
Pair of Ethan Allen Arm Chairs
Listing Link
Bought for: $80
I recently used Havenly to redesign our Living Room and this past month our new couch came in. While our designer spec’d some incredible chairs, I just couldn’t justify spending $1,000 on upholstered chairs that my kids will likely color, drop food and spit up on.
I have been transitioning our living room from a “Joanna Gaines farmhouse” style to more Grandmillenial, or what I like to call “Southern Sorority House style.” I love polka dots and blue and white, and something about these chairs just spoke to me. I was a little weirded out by the creepy dog in the photo and worried about the condition as vintage chairs often need reupholstering.
I watched the listing for a good two weeks before the price dropped, and then I finally made an offer I was comfortable with. Even when I went to pick them up, and saw they were in excellent condition I hesitated whether I liked them enough. Now that they’re in my home, I can confidently say I’m in love!
As you’ll read below, I sold the chairs I had in this place before for $100 so I covered my costs. Plus if I decide to change them up or if the kids spill something on them I won’t worry having only spent $40 a chair.
Blue Willow (Unmarked) Bread Plates – Set of 10
Listing Link
Bought for: $20
I have been digging hard on all things “grandmillenial” lately, and when I saw this YouTube video on how to make a plate wreath, I knew I had to make one for myself.
Earlier this summer I purchased a set of Churchill Blue Willow plates, but unfortunately it didn’t come with any salad or bread plates which are the size I need. Given these were for a wreath, I wasn’t bothered by the fact that they were unmarked.
I needed at least 6 plates though and the original listing was for 4 plates for $8. When I told the seller about my goals and my project she mentioned that she actually had 10 plates, but had 6 with one pattern and 4 that were slightly different. The sample wreath I saw had mismatched plates, and the price was so good – $2 a plate with free shipping – that I decided hop on it! She created a custom listing for me and I purchased through Facebook.
These plates were my first foray into purchasing something over Facebook Marketplace for shipping and using their payment portal. It was a great experience it, and for items like dishes I will definitely consider doing it again, or even selling that way!
King Duvet Cover
Listing Link
Bought for: $20
When I told my sister I bought my new bedding on FBMP, she, without missing a beat, replied “You bought your sheets at a flea market? Come on, Ross, you gotta loosen the purse strings a little!”
Of course, her Friends quote made me laugh, but it didn’t give me pause. After selling a very lightly used Pottery Barn duvet set (listed below) for my mom earlier in the month, I was open to the idea of buying bedding. I have been craving a bedroom refresh since we’ve had the same bedding since we got married 5 years ago, but am prioritizing spending money in our living room right now.
After conversing with the seller I learned that she didn’t know the brand, but that her mom had purchased the set for her and she had it on the bed for a week before she decided it was “not her vibe.” Also, important when buying upholstered or fabric goods, I made sure it came from a smoke and pet free home.
I hesitated mainly on the fact that there were only two Euro shams included. Luckily, I had three Navy Linen Quilted Euro shams from Pottery Barn that I purchased that I thought might – and do – coordinate well. Lastly, I loved how closely it resembled Schumacher’s classic Lansdale Bouquet fabric and for $20 I was willing to gamble a little bit.
When I got the set home and further inspected it I realized this was actually a Pottery Barn Duvet set! I looked it up and the pattern is Bettina Palampore, which is actually pretty rare. I love how it looks in our room and for $20 it gave me just the quick refresh I needed!
What I Sold
I was in purge mode and sold quite a bit on marketplace. Because several of these things were things I bought on marketplace, I didn’t really “make” much money, but I was pleased to get as much or more out of most of them as I put in.
I also sold a few things for my mom this month which I included too.
2007 Mazda3
Listing Link
Sold for: $3,750
Last week, I got a new Toyota Highlander. With all the kids and gear I am now hauling, I needed a real “mom car.” My little Mazda served me well for thirteen years, and I have to admit, I was sad to see it go.
After doing a lot of research on Kelly Blue Book and various sale sites, Andrew and I came up with a price we wanted and listed it on FBMP. The first two days were a little slow with two non-serious inquiries but then the algorithm picked it up and I had several seriously interested buyers.
I ended up selling it to someone I was happy to see it go to and for full asking price.
Two Slipcovered Wingback Chairs and Matching Ottoman
Listing Link
Bought for: $40
Sold for: $100
I bought this chair and ottoman set shortly after we moved in our house five years ago for $40. A hotel was redecorating and had hundreds of these chairs in the parking lot. My mom made these adorable slipcovers for them and they were a perfect placeholder in our living room for a long time.
Before selling I washed and steamed the slipcovers and repainted the feet. I had immediate offers for them. In hindsight I wish I had put them up for $100. A woman who owns a vintage shop in Dripping Springs purchased them and now has them for sale on her showroom floor for more than double what I sold them to her for. You win some, you lose some!
Owlet Smart Sock 2 with Extra Sock
Listing Link
Sold for: $160
Bought for: $160
When we moved Callahan from our room to his when he was around three months old, I was having major anxiety. I had a friend who lost her baby to SIDS at five months old, and though it had been a while the loss and fear really stuck with me.
Finally, I just bit the bullet and found a used Owlet on FBMP. I figured $160 was worth some better sleep, and I would try to sell it when I was done using it.
We used it religiously for about 5 months and when Callahan turned 11 months and started sleeping better, I decided it was time to sell.
I was very pleased that I was able to get the same for it that I bought it for. I did buy one new sock for $12, but I consider that a pretty fair “rental” fee for six months of use!
Summer Infant Bath Seat
Listing Link
Sold for: $10
Bought for: $15
I bought this seat when Callahan turned 5 months so that I could more easily bathe him and Annabelle at the same time. It was an excellent item to purchase second hand, and I was glad to have it. Once Callahan started standing up and wiggling around, it was time for the bath seat to go.
I was a bit surprised that I ended up selling this for $5 less than I bought it for given the difficulty I had finding one reasonably priced when I was looking less than 6 months ago, but after no hits for a few weeks I was just ready to get it out of my garage.
Slipcovered Farmhouse-Style Wingback Chair
Listing Link
Sold for: $150
My mom did some cleaning out this month too and asked me to sell a few things on her behalf. After selling my white chairs for $100 so quickly, mom asked me to list another chair she had recovered.
I originally listed it for $250 and didn’t get many offers. Mom wanted at least $50 for it. Once I dropped the price to $200 offers started rolling in around the $120-$150 mark. I ended up selling it for $150, which my mom was very pleased with!
Pottery Barn Brighton Queen Red Duvet Cover with Two Euro Shams
Listing Link
Sold for: $50
A few weeks ago mom and I did a big clean out of her cedar closet. She wanted to sell this Pottery Barn duvet set. It went surprisingly quick for just what I asked for it – $50.
What I Missed Out On
Solid Cherry Wood Cheval Mirror
Listing Link
Listed for: $25
My mom has a standing mirror and I love how elegant it looks in her bedroom. It is also so functional. When I saw this gorgeous mirror on sale for $25 I knew I wanted it. I messaged the seller within two hours of the listing going up, but unfortunately I was too late.
Beautiful Christmas Dishes
Listed for: $30
The listing is now deleted, but I was super quick to reply once I saw someone was listing 12 large plates, 11 small plates, 4 mugs of the Johnson Brothers “Twas the Night Before Christmas” china for $30.
I messaged the seller several times over the course of a week but never heard back and then the listing was deleted. This was my biggest bummer of the month, and now I’m on the hunt because I would love to own this set!
Blue Willow Cream and Sugar
Listing Link
Listed for: $20 + Free Shipping
I saw this set pop up shortly before I bought the bread plates for my wreath. At the time I had not bought anything for shipping on FBMP and was hesitant to. I waited too long and these ended up getting snatched up.
It is the best price I have seen on a set like this so far, but I also am sort of glad that I held out for a true Churchill set to match the collection I have going.
What I’m Looking For
Here’s what I’m still on the prowl for. If you see anything like this, let me know and I’ll be eternally grateful!
Mantle Mirror
I am looking for a mirror, preferably gold, or something I can paint gold, to go above my mantle. I love the Anthropologie Primrose Mirror but am confident I can find something just as cute for cheaper!
More Blue or Rosa Willow Bread & Salad Plates
After making my plate wreath I’m obsessed and want to make more! I am considering making them to sell. In order to do that I’d need to find a lot more reasonably priced plates in a smaller size. This is difficult since many people want to sell as part of a larger set.
I also would love to find a set of red rosa willow plates to make a Christmas plate wreath.
Every Day Christmas Dishes
After missing out on that set of Christmas dishes I’m on the hunt for an a steal for “everyday” Christmas dishes.
Do you frequent Facebook Marketplace or Craiglist? Which site do you prefer to buy? To sell? Let me know and tell me what you’re looking for in the comments below!
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