Is Buying Video Games on the Facebook Marketplace a Good Idea?

It was only a matter of time before a marketer at Facebook decided that it would be a great idea to include a place to buy, sell and trade goods right in a social network. After all, Facebook has not been successful simply by allowing users to stalk ex-girlfriends and find out what that new girl in psychology class likes to eat so you can have an edge when you ask her out for dinner. It gained it's popularity through finding new and inventive ways to connect people with others on the Internet. Unfortunately, Marketplace was not their newest or most successful innovation. We'll examine the problems with Facebook Marketplace and video game sales and decide whether or not you should go there first to find a good deal on a video game or avoid it like the plague.Video Games and Facebook MarketplaceOne of the first things that you will notice when searching for video games on Facebook Marketplace is that it is tough to use. The search parameters can get confusing and, when there are no results, it simply shows you a group of unrelated goods that you might be interested in instead. Worst of all, many of the items are outdated. No purchase is handled within Facebook but, rather, they are handled privately outside of the web site. So, there is no guarantee that a listing is current. The video game that you get excited about may very well already have been sold. It is up to the seller to remove the listing or let it expire.In addition, it can be nearly impossible to find anything specific on Facebook Marketplace. Movies, video games and music are all lumped together in one category. If you just want to browse to see what is available, it can take you hours to find anything interesting. If you can't find anything in your local circle, finding something 250 miles away does not do you much good. Most Facebook Marketplace sellers have no clue how to ship a video game or what payments they can accept online. They may not have a Paypal account. Do you feel comfortable sending an envelope of cash to someone that you only know on Facebook? Do you feel comfortable accepting a check from someone buying your video game. Chances are, neither party can be happy without a face to face deal.Privacy Issues With Facebook MarketplaceAnother problem that many people cite with video games and Facebook Marketplace is the lack of privacy when using the system. Sellers cannot protect their privacy by listing a video game anonymously. Sometimes, buyer complaints are actually unfair or untrue. Having someone flame you on Facebook continually because the Xbox game they purchased was not as new as they expected can be frustrating. In addition, there is no anonymity to the buying process either. Sometimes, you would prefer to buy that copy of "Custer's Revenge" without anyone knowing who you are. On the Facebook Marketplace, this is not possible.Buyer and Seller Protection With MarketplaceThere is no buyer or seller protection on Facebook Marketplace. In essence, you are responsible for any transaction and there is no way that Facebook will step in and resolve issues between a buyer and seller. You can report a listing if it contains something illegal but, if you get ripped off by foolishly sending the seller a check for a video game, there is really nothing you can do. The seller will likely not send the item to you until they have received payment. You will not feel comfortable sending payment until you are guaranteed that the item will be sent to you. Buying video games on Facebook Marketplace puts you in a difficult position.Product Descriptions on MarketplaceFor the most part, product descriptions are the biggest problem with Facebook Marketplace. There is no set standard for describing a video game when making a listing. Some do not include pictures. Most do not contain enough information for you to make a good decision. Most people that post a listing on Facebook Marketplace have no clue how to do so. Thus, you get a terrible listing that may not even be clear that the item being sold is a video game. This problem is even more serious in describing the condition of used games. What does "good" condition mean on Facebook Marketplace? There is no standard for what these terms actually describe in the terms of quality.In the end, Facebook Marketplace might be a great place to look for a roommate or pick up some cheap textbooks from your friends that took the class you're taking last semester. However, for video games, there is almost no worse solution than Facebook Marketplace. On the web site itself, users have rated the Marketplace a 1.9 out of 5 stars. It might be a fun way to list quirky goods to add to your innovative dorm room. However, keep looking for a reliable video game purchasing solution.

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