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7 min 1 sec

Q&A: “Should I add shipping to my Marketplace listings?”

A local-only seller is debating shipping. We’ll cover when it’s worth it, the safest ways to get paid, and a simple two-week pilot that won’t put you at risk.

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What It's About

Is shipping a smart expansion for a local-only Marketplace seller?

Notes from Chris

Episode 3265
Opening the door to shipping can 3–10x your buyer pool—especially for collectibles—but it also introduces new headaches: bad payments, chargebacks, and boxes arriving in pieces. The trick is to start narrow, use platforms that include buyer/seller protection, and set up packing and payment rules you never break. Let’s walk through a cautious rollout.

"I list furniture and collectibles locally on Facebook Marketplace with ‘pickup only’ in the description. Lately buyers keep asking me to ship, sometimes offering to prepay through sketchy methods. I know shipping could expand my pool of customers, but I’m worried about scams, returns, and damage. Is it worth adding shipping as a growth lever, and if so, what safeguards—payment platforms, packaging techniques—help a small seller avoid getting burned?"

Listen to today's episode to learn more...

 
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To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau