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 innovative and go down the correct route.
Buying a secondhand bike online offers many choices, but it 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 discuss each so you know exactly what you should use.
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 huge 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 that 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?
Regarding 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 primary 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 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, it does not reach 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." - Anja Benson @buycycle
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 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 a fantastic team to help you through the process and offer security.
Facebook Marketplace bikes are purely listings. They are very basic. You can list an item for sale and add pictures after putting it in the relevant category.
It offers little more than that. There is no protection, no valuation calculator, and no basic description.
Do they provide good details on bikes?
Many details go into the listing when buying and selling a bike on buycycle. This is because we want the buyer to know everything they need. 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.
There isn’t really a format with Facebook marketplace bikes compared to buycycle. We often find that with a lack of detail, Facebook Marketplace road bikes, for example, are well overpriced.
What about buyer protection?
One of the most significant factors that scare people when 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 I know the buyer is who they say they are.
When buying bikes on Facebook Marketplace, you don’t get this protection.
Many people selling bikes 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 appropriately listed, you have the support of the payment team ensuring both parties are happy, all the details must be added with proper photos, and the delivery must even be organized by buycycle. It is the safest way to buy and sell a bike online.
Do you get a warranty?
You get a year's warranty if a bike is inspected at buycycle. 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 were to go wrong, Facebook would do very little 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 inspections. 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." - Anja Benson @buycycle
Is it easy to use?
Both platforms are straightforward to use. buycycle is safe and simple, giving 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 it can be a lot more challenging when it comes to sorting delivery, payment, and meetups. 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 a bike is in on Facebook Marketplace.
The 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 can return the bike if it wasn’t advertised correctly or has an issue. 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 has no issues. Unless you know how to bike well, this can be challenging.
Which is for you? Facebook marketplace or buycycle?
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 buying at buycycle to ensure a safe and proper service. If you are using Facebook Marketplace to find bikes, we recommend proceeding cautiously and ensuring you get precisely what you want and need.
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