Facebook Marketplace is great for fast local sales. It’s also where deals go sideways: ghosting, “I paid you already,” surprise disputes, and confusion about condition or what was included.
This guide is a practical safety checklist you can use on your next sale, especially for higher‑ticket items (electronics, tools, furniture, vehicles, rentals, and equipment).
Goal: make the deal clear, collect payment with proof, and leave both sides with clean documentation (including a bill of sale or receipt).
1) Before you meet: lock down the terms
Most Marketplace problems happen because the terms were never actually agreed to. Before anyone drives across town, confirm:
- Item + condition: model, serial (if applicable), and any known issues
- What’s included: accessories, chargers, keys, manuals, extra parts
- Price: exact amount, taxes/fees (if any), and whether it’s negotiable
- Delivery/pickup: where, when, and how long you’ll wait
- Return policy: usually “as‑is” for private sales. Make it explicit.
2) Use payment that creates proof
Cash is simple, but it’s also easy to dispute later (“I never got it” / “you shorted me”). Cards and bank rails create a record, and that record matters if anything gets questioned later.
For higher‑ticket transactions, a structured checkout flow is even better because it ties the payment to the specific deal details.
3) Create a bill of sale (even for non‑vehicles)
A bill of sale isn’t only for cars. It’s just a clean, dated document that answers: who bought what, in what condition, for how much, and on what terms.
When you’re dealing with tools, electronics, equipment, rentals, or anything with a serial number, a bill of sale is the difference between “he said / she said” and “here’s the signed document.”
What to include (the simple version)
- Buyer + seller names (and optional phone/email)
- Item description (brand/model/serial, photos if possible)
- Price and payment method
- Date/time and location
- Condition statement (e.g., “used, as‑is”)
- Signatures for both parties
4) Don’t leave the meetup without a “done” moment
A safe Marketplace handoff has a clear finish line:
- Buyer confirms the item matches the listing and terms
- Payment is completed (and recorded)
- Both parties sign and a PDF/receipt is saved
Want the “done moment” built in?
Dealio is built for Marketplace and P2P deals: both parties sign, checkout is required to record payment, and you get a clean PDF + audit trail.
Open Dealio → Ask an AI agentOr compare Dealio vs. Quotely on the overview page: Dealio & Quotely.
5) Optional: use protection for higher‑ticket deals
If you’re doing higher‑ticket Marketplace transactions, it can be worth adding a protection step (verification, checklists, delayed payout) so both sides have confidence the deal was completed correctly.
Dealio’s overview page explains the flow at a high level and links you into the app.
Quick checklist (copy/paste)
- Confirm item + condition + what’s included
- Agree on price + meetup terms + “as‑is”/return policy
- Use payment that creates proof
- Generate a bill of sale / receipt
- Both parties sign and save the PDF
Related reading
- Bill of Sale Guide: What to include (with a simple template)
- Dealio vs. Quotely: Deals vs. Quotes (which should you use?)
Note: This article is for practical documentation and safety planning. It’s not legal advice.