I recently used FaceBook’s marketplace for the first time (I know, I am a VERY late adopter).  It was easy to post an entry, the interface was intuitive, communications through their messenger application was fast and it was simple to flag when the item was sold. 

Technically it was not a sale as I gave it away.  I offered for free a pair of working computer speakers I had been dragging around with me for about 10 years but was loathe to simply throw out.  

Speakers – free to a good home.

Facebook and Freebies

By giving away those speakers, I delayed their entry into the recycling system or more than likely the landfill.  They will end up there someday but at least for awhile they are being used – and this is where Facebook could improve its Marketplace … and earn some kudos.  

Why Not Support Free?

Facebook facilitated this delay to the dump and it should take credit for this.  Right now their interface is tailored or biased towards selling but could easily promote the freebie.  This would build user loyalty and a sense of real-community via the online community. Heck, they could run statistics of so many ‘cubic feet, pounds or number’ of items diverted from the waste pile in such and such a city. How is that for a triple bottom line!

Supporting the Local Shopping Mall

One more suggestion for Facebook, something that can help them grow the marketplace, build local communities and sustain itself as its user base grows older – a shopping mall lock box.  

I met the person I was giving the speakers to in a local shopping mall food court.  I don’t want strangers coming to my home and it is always better to meet in a public place.  Of course this was contingent on me waiting at the mall and the buyer driving to my location.  Why not remove time from the equation and build local spaces at the same time.  

Meet You at the Lock Box

Here is the idea.  Facebook partners with a few shopping malls to install lock boxes in their public space.  The seller goes, places the item in the lock box and logs the transaction on Facebook.  The buyer, on their own time picks up the item from the lock box.  Insert security protocols, etc. to manage the transaction. 

The payment is made electronically when the lock box opened and the buyer takes the item out.  If it is not what they wanted, the put it back and cancels the transaction.  

Facebook would take a small transaction fee, e.g. $0.50 which it shares with the mall.  The mall gets some revenue, walk in traffic and can have its tenants cross promote on the sale.  Based on the category, different stores would advertise to both the seller and the buyer. For example, for the above speakers, the stores selling electronics could promote their computer departments.  

3 L’s and Conclusion

Insert liabilities, logistics and lawyers – but heck, this is only a thought exercise.  In the meantime, I will use Facebook to get rid of other working stuff I do not want to throw away.  To close, anyone have Mark Zuckerberg’s home phone number?

In other words, making a difference in our society and the environment (reducing consumption, materialism, reuse/recycling) can be as simple as creating the interface to do it efficiently. What say you Mark Zuckerberg?