How To Safely Use Facebook Marketplace & Craigslist In Michigan

Bargain shopping is one of the many things we do today that directly correlates to how things used to be before technology has helped the world advance. Once upon a time, the only way to obtain things you needed was either to gather them yourself or to trade or bargain for what you needed based upon what you have. Bargain shopping is finding the best deal for what the budget you have or trading something of value.

Over the last 30 years there have been a number of online shops that have become popular in helping people find things they need, purchase collectibles, or even trade for something they have desired to own. This has never really been a safe procedure as you either have to do the entire thing electronically and hope they send the package or send the right package, or you have to meet up with someone you've never met which can be scary. Although all these problems still exist, there are some precautions that can be taken to make someone feel more protected in these transactions.

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Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, Etsy, and many other online shops have helped many small businesses, individual artist, and start-up companies find their way to success as they help the promotion, selling, and exchange of products and currency. Facebook Marketplace is simply an extension of the social media site that allows for people to post items for sell and accept messages and offers about the product.

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Most, if not all of these platforms allow for buyers and sellers to communicate only electronically and for all funds and products to be shipped or wired. Others have the option, or the product requires for there to be an in person meet-up, which can pose its own problems. Some people have expressed concerns of not feeling safe when going to meet someone from one of these sites in person.

To combat those feelings in those situations there are some things that you can do to feel safer:

• Take someone or a group of people you feel safe with along for the meet-up: People are less likely to harm someone if they are in a group.
• Arrange for the meeting to be in public and during the day: meeting in a public parking lot, park, or other common area during daylight provides bystander witnesses if something goes wrong.
• Arrange the meeting at your local police station: Most police stations have expressed wanting people to arrange their meetings on their property. Some have even said if you notify an officer they will stand nearby during the interaction.
• Check their profile and limit sharing personal information: In case of a scam or other concerns check to ensure that the person's profile is real and limit the amount of personal information you share with them
• Contactless Pickup: If possible, to arrange for someone to drop something in your mailbox, for them to ship something, or any other contactless pickup is always encouraged
• Use judgement and trust your instincts: If something feels off or your gut tells you no, don't second guess it. Trust those feelings and back out of the deal

Following these things above can go a long way in making someone safer in a situation where they have to meet up with someone to purchase something from online. They are not guaranteed but they do mitigate the chances a great deal.