🧪 Deadly deals: Toxic substances have been found in cheap products from Shein and Temu at levels hundreds of times above what’s acceptable. Case in point: A pair of shoes on Shein contained phthalates at 229 times the legal limit. The chemicals make plastics more flexible but can cause infertility or worse. Not worth it, folks.
Bestselling items on Facebook Marketplace - and how to score them
There’s a lot of weird stuff for sale on Facebook Marketplace. It’s not just old strollers, an elliptical that collected dust for three years and a gross old couch. We’re talking drugs and a lot more … adult things.
But if you can sift through the strange listings, low-ballers and flaky folks who never respond, there are a lot of deals to be had and money to be made if you’re the one selling.
Insider Monkey rounded up the top five hottest-selling categories on Facebook Marketplace based on keyword search interest. Let’s go through the list, and I’ve got pro tips to help you snag a good deal or make the most cash.
Top 5 Facebook Marketplace categories
🏋️♀️ Fitness equipment, 11.13 million searches
Fitness equipment priced too low might not be too good to be true. Many people don’t know the actual value of what they have — or they need to dump it quickly because they’re moving. That stuff is a pain to lug around. Either way, you win.
Selling? Give your gear a thorough once-over so you know what you’re selling. For bigger equipment, include the manufacturer name and model number if possible. For weights and all the rest, take enough pictures to make the condition clear.
🏡 Rugs, 11.32 million searches
Look for rugs with high-quality, natural fibers like wool, silk or cotton. They’ll last the longest. If a listing doesn’t include this information, ask the seller.
Selling? List the dimensions so you don’t have to keep fielding that question. Include high-resolution photos of your rug from several different angles, too. It’ll help you sell it faster. Call out imperfections, like fraying and staining, and whether the rug comes from a smoke-free or pet-free home. (These are key phrases!)
👠 Shoes, 12.01 million searches
Freshen up used shoes before wearing them. Replace the insoles if they’re too worn or dirty. Disinfect the insides of the shoes with spray or wipes. Baking soda and vinegar kill fungus in sneakers, and rubbing alcohol disinfects suede and leather.
Gen Zers are paying people to style them with thrift store finds
What a world we live in. Use Instacart, and someone else can brave Costco for you. An Uber Eats driver will pick up your dinner. And, for a couple hundred bucks, someone with a great eye will sift through all the crap at Goodwill to find the thrift wardrobe of your dreams.
$812,500
Current bid for the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” (1939). The shoes were stolen in 2005 by a thief who thought they were decorated with real jewels. It took the FBI 13 years to track them down. Imagine Dorothy talking to her grandchildren: “When I was your age, I murdered a woman and stole her shoes.”
The best puzzles and toys to get your dog's mind working
Dogs love their humans unconditionally. You can see it in their eyes as they gaze up at you and in the excited wag of their tails. Since the average lifespan of your furry friend is only about a decade, don’t you owe them the best life has to offer?
Tired of buying shoes that don't fit? Measure your feet with this free app
Buying new shoes should easy. You’ve been doing it your entire life. But according to a recent study, many people are wearing the wrong shoe size without even realizing it.
Only 37% of people wear the correct shoe size for their feet’ length and width. How is it possible that almost 60% of shoe wearers don’t know what size to buy? Well, that stems from incorrect measuring. Tap or click here to see how Adidas is turning plastic bottles into shoes.
$100,000 set aside
By Minnesota lawmakers to buy Dorothy’s stolen ruby slippers. They could go for 100 times that at auction. The shoes were stolen in 2005 while on loan from their owner to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota (her hometown). After being recovered in 2018, they’ll be back up for sale at the end of the year.