A useful Marketplace reply answers the buyer’s question and makes the next step clear. For local pickup, that usually means the item, the agreed price, a place and a time.
The examples below are original templates for ordinary local enquiries and unpaid holds. Replace the item, amount and times with your real arrangements. They are not automatic cancellation terms for paid orders.
Start with a stock check
Before confirming availability, check the item is still in your possession and has not sold on another marketplace. If you have agreed a hold, honour that arrangement rather than promising the same item to a second buyer.
Keep the conversation in the relevant Facebook message thread. Meta’s Marketplace safety guidance recommends communicating on Facebook and meeting in a public, well-lit place when arranging an in-person exchange.
Reply to “Is this available?”
Yes, the denim jacket is available for A$35. Pickup is in Glenelg. Would Saturday between 10 and 11 am or Sunday between 2 and 3 pm suit you?
Offer times you can actually keep. Include the suburb before discussing a precise address so the buyer can judge the journey. For clothing, add a missing measurement before arranging collection if the buyer needs it to decide.
If the item is reserved:
It is currently held for a collection this afternoon. I can message you if that arrangement falls through, but I cannot promise it while the hold is in place.
Only promise that follow-up if you intend to send it. A waiting list is useful when it stays short enough to manage.
Respond to an offer without starting a long negotiation
If the offered price works for you:
I can accept A$30 for the jacket. That is for pickup in Glenelg. If Saturday at 10:30 am works, please confirm and we can agree the meeting details.
If you want to counter:
Thanks for the offer. I can do A$32. The cuff wear is shown in the last photo. Let me know if you would like to arrange pickup at that price.
If the price is firm:
Thanks for checking. I am keeping it at A$35 for now. You are welcome to inspect it at the agreed pickup before deciding.
Do not create a false competing offer to pressure the buyer. Clear terms are enough. If you agree a different price, record it in the conversation so both of you can refer back to it.
Confirm collection in one message
Once the buyer agrees, bring the details together:
Confirming the navy jacket for A$32 on Saturday at 10:30 am, meeting at [agreed location]. Please message before setting off. If your plans change, let me know here. We will use [agreed payment method] when you collect and inspect it.
For a bulky item, add the dimensions, access details and what the buyer needs to bring. “Please bring another person to help lift it; I cannot assist with loading” is more useful than discovering that problem at the door.
Use a general area in the public advert and exchange precise meeting details privately. For home collection of a bulky item, think through access and have another person present where practical.
Make an unpaid hold specific
“I will hold it for you” leaves the end of the arrangement unclear. Agree a collection time and what should happen if plans change:
I can hold the jacket for your confirmed 10:30 am pickup until 11 am on Saturday. If you need a different time, please message before then so we can agree it. Does that work for you?
The time window is an example, not a platform rule. Choose something reasonable for the item and the journey. Once agreed, respect it yourself.
If the item is also listed on eBay or Depop, manage its availability there before treating the hold as secured. The pending and sold guide explains why a Facebook status alone does not establish what happened to another listing.
Follow up when the buyer is late
Start with a neutral check:
Hi, we arranged 10:30 am for the jacket. Are you still coming? Please let me know your arrival time. Our agreed hold runs until 11 am.
If the unpaid hold expires without a new arrangement:
The collection window has passed and I have not heard back, so the unpaid hold has ended. I am making the jacket available again. If you would still like it, please check with me before travelling.
Do not send repeated messages or publicly post the buyer’s details. If they reply later, check current availability before arranging another time. If money has already changed hands, resolve that payment and order directly before reselling the item.
Close the sale and the other adverts
Give the buyer a chance to inspect the item against your description. Confirm receipt of the agreed payment through your own account or payment service where relevant, rather than relying solely on an image sent in chat.
Be cautious if a buyer asks you to send money back from an alleged overpayment; this is one of the warning signs described by Scamwatch. A normal collection should not require you to follow an unfamiliar payment link.
After handover, mark the item sold where appropriate and check every matching advert. For a bundle, that includes individual listings for all the pieces. Record the completed sale while the details are still fresh, then move on to the next enquiry with an accurate stock list.
Frequently asked questions
What should I reply to 'Is this available?' on Marketplace?
Confirm availability after checking your stock, restate the price and general pickup area, and offer two collection times you can keep. Do not promise the item if it has already sold or is being held for someone else.
How do I handle a Facebook Marketplace no-show?
Send a short message asking whether the buyer is still coming. Follow the hold arrangement you agreed, then tell them when the unpaid reservation has ended before offering the item elsewhere. A paid order needs to be resolved separately.
Should I share my pickup address in the listing?
Use a suburb or general area in the public description. Share the precise meeting details privately once the arrangement is confirmed, and choose a suitable public meeting place for portable items where practical.