10 Secrets to Score Vintage Finds on Facebook Marketplace

These 10 secrets to score vintage finds on facebook marketplace will have you finding beautiful pieces for your home in no time!

I find so many of my vintage items on facebook marketplace and I’ve learned some secrets over the years to find the best scores. Specifically vintage finds!

ikea couch found on facebook marketplace — Ikea Ektrop couch found on facebook marketplace for $100

So if you are a vintage lover like me and looking to get some pieces for steal, then this is the place for you. I’ll teach you all I know young grasshopper.

1. Check Often | to score vintage finds on facebook marketplace

As with any thrifting venture, my biggest tip is to check often. With facebook marketplace in particular, it’s an algorithm you are working with. For best results, open the app every day. Even if you are just scrolling and not looking, the app will think you are using it and it will continue to serve you.

If you don’t get on often, it’s likely that it will show a bunch of junk with few items that you are interested in. I have experienced this to be true.

dining room with dark wood antique hutch, two white plates hanging on the wall, and vintage wood cabinet found on facebook marketplace — Pantry cabinet that I chalk painted. Found on facebook marketplace for $30.

2. Use Notifications | to score vintage finds on facebook marketplace

There is a little bell in the facebook marketplace app. Click on the bell and you can tell the app exactly what you are looking for and your price range. The app will then notify you when a listing within your search becomes available.

If you are really on the hunt for something specific as I often am, I would not encourage you to completely rely on your saved notifications, but it’s certainly a very helpful tool that has helped me score great finds!

women in a green flowy dress sitting in a french style chair pulling slightly up at the skirt — Minimal french style chair found on facebook marketplace for $8.

3. Save Items Simply to Teach the Algorithm What you Want to See

Save any and all items pertaining to your search. Even if it’s out of your price range or way out of state to a place you would never drive to, save it anyway. As long as the item and the description of the item fits what you are looking for, saving that item will teach the algorithm what you want to see.

Once you start doing this you will see a vast improvement in what the app will show you. In fact, I just hopped on the app to check something I’m writing about and got distracted messaging sellers for a full 30 minutes because my home page on marketplace was so full of good finds!

velvet wingback chair with a lambswool pelt draped over the back sitting under a vintage print of cow's in the pasture — Velvet wingback chair found on facebook marketplace for $30.

4. Say More Than Just the Automated Message to Seller

I like to make it personal, so I will use their name and state my interest in the piece. Compliments on the piece can go a long way. If I know my schedule, I will also let them know in the first message when I could come to pick up.

I know as a facebook marketplace seller as well, that when someone tells me when they could come pick up they are a more serious customer than the person who just said “is this still available”.

Think about what the seller might want to hear to know you’re serious. What would make your message stand out amoung the many “is this still available” messages. Can you come right away? Can you offer cash? Are you able to pay on Venmo instantly?

windsor style black bench sitting under a hanging basket filled with green stems — Black windsor style bench found on facebook marketplace for $50.

5. Never Judge a Listing Photo by it’s Cover on Facebook Marketplace

Some listing photos are absolutely terrible! However, some of my best finds have come from bad cover photos.

If the listing description is close to what you are looking for, click in and look at all of the photos. Also be sure to actually click on the photos and scroll through them from there. When you are in the actual listing the app doesn’t show you the entire photo and you want to see as much of that item as you can.

gray cabinet topped with antique mixing bowls and plants. — Antique mixing bowls found on facebook marketplace for less than $10 each.

6. Be Prepared to Get the Item ASAP | when looking to score vintage finds on facebook marketplace

As a seller, you can get so many inquires about your item that it’s overwhelming. I often only respond to the people who state in the first message when they might be able to come get the item.

This shows me they are serious and have time in the near future to get this item off my hands.

As much as you can, be prepared to pick up the item within a day or two. This will help you beat other buyers to the punch and the seller will be more likely pick you!

Antique hutch filled with white ironstone dishes — Antique pie safe found on facebook marketplace for $100.

7. Use Words Beyond Vintage and Antique in Your Search

Especially if you are looking for a deal, you want to avoid listing that state vintage or antique. Or items listed in the antique and collectibles category. This often means that the seller knows the value of what they have and will try to sell it for a higher price.

If you are looking for a vintage or antique table for example try verbage such as:

Old Table
Solid Wood Table
Project Table
Rustic Table

Within these searches you are more likely to find a seller who does not realize the worth of their old and possibly antique table. They are likely more in the camp of just wanting to get this item off of their hands and will make you deal.

dimly lit dining room with a raw wood farm style table sitting on a blue and white rug and a single candle lit sitting in the middle of the table — Farmhouse table sanded to raw wood and stained by us. Found on facebook marketplace for $50.

8. Don’t Be Afraid to Haggle

This is especially true if an item has been listed for longer than a few days. If it’s been mere hours since the post was listed it might be a hot item and you don’t want to offer less just yet.

However, if it’s been days and the item hasn’t budged the seller may be way more willing to make a deal. If it says the item has been listed for over a week, I may get even bolder in my lower offer.

gray french style table with glass vase filled with eucalyptus sitting on top. — Table chalk painted by me found on facebook marketplace for $25. Large basket found there as well for $10.

9. For the Best Deals Keep your Searches Set to Local

That’s not to say that you can’t find a great deal within the shipping feature (see tip 10) but when you get into the shipping feature you begin to deal with more sellers using marketplace as a business. These sellers know what they have and will price it higher than a local cleaning out grandma’s garage.

Obviously, keep your searches set to local as well when you are searching for furniture. Facebook Marketplace uses shipping as a default when you are listing an item as a seller and not every seller knows to turn that off. So it may seem obvious to say but no one is going to ship you their antique dresser across the country for $9.

old pie safe cabinet in a cream color with vintage baskets on top of it. — Antique pie safe cabinet found on facebook marketplace for $75.

10. Do Use the Shipping Feature For Smaller Items

Using the shipping feature definitely opens up way more options and your more likely to finds items that perfectly fit your style. You might pay a little bit more for items listed with a shipping option, but that can be so worth it to find the perfect piece!

The shipping feature is great for items like vintage art, curtains, and smaller lightweight items that won’t cost a small fortune to ship.

wire basket hanging on the wall above small peg rack found on facebook marketplace with a pitcher and plant in basket hanging from it. — Small peg rack found on facebook marketplace for $5.

Facebook Marketplace Decor Accounts

I can’t leave you here without sharing my number one decor account for the BEST facebook marketplace find inspiration – Alexis @iris_inspiredinteriors!

I’ve learned so much about being savvy on facebook marketplace from her! She finds so many beautiful pieces and she also sees the potential in pieces that I don’t think I would see. It’s so inspiring and helps me train my eye to watch her.

Here styling is so beautiful, yet unique! My eyes are often opened to new ideas watching her style her space with facebook marketplace and generally thrifty finds. Definitely check out Alexis if you are wanting to skill up on facebook marketplace!

Need Help Styling Your Thrifted Facebook Marketplace Finds?

Check out my 3 part series all about how to style thrifted decor:

a mantle decorated with facebook marketplace finds

PIN FOR LATER

Thank you so much for stopping by!

I truly hope you learned something new today about how to score vintage finds on facebook marketplace! There are definitely a few tips and tricks that can take your marketplace game to the next level and I found that to be true with the tips I shared with you today.

If you end up scoring your own vintage finds after using any of my tips would you please let know?

It would be a blast to hear about your finds!

Have a lovely day friends,