Facebook marketplace vs buycycle: where to buy or sell your bike?

Is Facebook marketplace a good place to buy or sell a bike? If you are considering a new bike, there are many different places to buy one, some much better than others. If you are looking for the right bargain and the bike you want, you need to be smart and go down the correct route. 

Buying a secondhand bike online offers many choices but must be done correctly. We often get asked here at buycycle, “Facebook marketplace vs buycycle for buying or selling a bike?” In this article, we will be discussing each so you know exactly what you should be using.

Facebook Marketplace vs buycycle: Overview

Let us start with an overview of both buycycle and Facebook marketplace. Here is what you can expect when using both services. As you will gather, there is a very big difference between these services and what they offer in terms of protection for the buyer and seller. 

Comparing Facebook marketplace vs buycycle: the finer details

Now we have seen the overview, let us get into the finer details to explain it further. Here is everything that you need to know when it comes to Facebook marketplace vs buycycle. 

Who is the primary audience?

When it comes to buycycle, the primary audience is cyclists looking to buy a bike. They are actively going to the website to browse bikes and hopefully come away with their next trusty steed for those adventures or races. 

On Facebook marketplace the main audience is really just anyone with an account. When clicking the marketplace tab, Facebook will throw you recommendations of many Facebook marketplace bikes or goods that they think you will be interested in, which are generally local. 

How far does the platform reach?

Facebook reaches millions of people overall, but when it comes to listing or buying a bike, not as many as you might think, as this is just the marketplace section. You can actively see the views and click on the link, but a lot of it comes down to the popularity of the listing more than anything.

buycycle has a smaller reach than Facebook marketplace but is much more directed at the target audience of cyclists looking to buy and sell a bike. There is a lot less browsing and a lot more buying and selling. 

What are the main platform features?

buycycle offers much more than you might think when it comes to buying and selling a bike. It offers inspection services, you can use the value calculator, the blog is full of amazing information, and when buying and selling a bike, you have the support of an amazing team to help you through the process and offer security.

When it comes to Facebook marketplace bikes it is purely just listings more than anything. It is very basic. It will let you list an item for sale and add pictures after putting it in the relevant category. It doesn’t offer much more than that. There is no protection, no valuation calculator, and no basic description. 

Do they provide good details on bikes?

When buying and selling a bike on buycycle, many details go into the listing. This is because we want the buyer to know everything that they need to. You will get the brand and model, frame material, components, wear and tear details, how much it is compared to new, and it can even tell you changed parts.

When buying bikes on Facebook marketplace, you are getting a very basic description, which is completely up to the buyer. It could be as simple as “Road bike for sale,” or it could go into incredible amounts of detail that you need to know. There isn’t really a format with Facebook marketplace bikes compared to buycycle. We often find with lack of detail Facebook marketplace road bikes for example are well overpriced. 

What about buyer protection?

One of the biggest factors that scare people when it comes to buying and selling a bike is being protected. There is a lot to think about, such as what if the buyer returns the PayPal payment, what if it gets lost in the post, and even how do I know the buyer is who they say they are?

When buying bikes on Facebook marketplace, you don’t get this protection. In fact, there are a lot of people on there selling bikes that are probably not up to the standard they should be, and often, you might come across a scam. If the Facebook marketplace road bike is very cheap, there is always a reason why.

With buycycle, you get the protection you deserve. The bike must be listed properly, you have the support of the payment team ensuring both parties are happy, all the details must be added with proper photos, and even the delivery is organized by buycycle for you. It is the safest way to buy and sell a bike online.

Do you get a warranty?

If a bike is inspected at buycycle, you get a year's warranty. This, on a secondhand bike, is a great offer and ensures that you are buying a bike that is going to last and has had an expert check it over. 

With Facebook marketplace you do not get a warranty. In fact, if anything was to go wrong, there is very little that Facebook will do to help and support you. Being a free service where anyone can sign up makes it a place where you must be very careful.

Do they offer bike inspections?

Facebook marketplace does not offer bike inspection. Unfortunately, they are generally not able to facilitate that. When buycycle does offer an inspection of bikes, they can be taken to a buycycle store or approved store, and they will be checked over and often worked on ready for sale.

Is it easy to use?

Both platforms are very easy to use. buycycle is safe, simple, and gives you the best chance to sell your bike for a good amount of money with the support of a team behind you. Even buying a bike is easy with buycycle. They are all about streamlining the process to make it simple.

With Facebook marketplace bikes you are left to organize it all. It is easy to list, but when it comes to sorting delivery, payment, and meetups, it can be a lot more challenging. You also find that you often have to meet people in person which can often be quite awkward. 

How to sell a bike on facebook marketplace or buycycle

We often get asked how to list a bike on facebook marketplace and what category is a bike on facebook marketplace. Well listing is simple, just hit the marketplace tab and go to the sell icon. As far as categories go there is a section for bikes. With buycycle it is just as simple but more focused on you getting the right details for the buyer. 

Can I return the bike if it is not right?

With buycycle, you do have the option to return the bike if it wasn’t advertised properly or if there is an issue with it. This can be discussed with the amazing buying and selling team to see what problems might have arisen.

With Facebook, the term sold as seen is a lot more fitting. When buying a bike, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is in good condition and that it doesn’t have any issues. Unless you know bikes well this can be challenging.

Which is for you? Facebook marketplace vs buycycle?

Both Facebook marketplace and buycycle are places to sell a bike, but only with buycycle do you get the service and protection of using a company. With Facebook, it is just a listing site on the side of social media. 

We highly recommend buycycle to ensure that you are getting a safe and proper service. If you are using Facebook marketplace bikes, we recommend proceeding with caution and making sure that you get exactly what you want and need.