MarketplaceRoam.com / Buyer tools
Road-trip tools
Marketplace buyer tools
Small, free helpers for the parts Marketplace leaves to you. They all run in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Message the seller
Sellers get dozens of “Is this still available?” messages. A specific offer with a pickup time stands out.
Is it worth the drive?
A cheaper listing far away can cost more once you add fuel and time. Check before you go.
Before you pay
Eight quick checks that rule out most Marketplace scams.
Search tricks power shoppers use
Search the misspellings
Listings with typos get fewer views, so they sit longer and sell for less. Type your item in the search tool and pick from Also try: we suggest common misspellings (“dinning table”, “matress”, “credensa”), other names (sofa, couch, settee) and joined or split words (lawnmower, lawn mower).
Use the words sellers use
Sellers describe what they see, not the designer’s name. Try “old wood desk” as well as “secretary desk”, or a material (“chrome”, “solid oak”, “rattan”) instead of a style.
Leave words out where you can
Facebook can’t exclude words, but Craigslist and eBay can. Add words like “broken”, “parts” or “wanted” to Leave out and those tabs drop them.
Check what it actually sells for
Asking prices aren’t sale prices. After you build a search, use What’s it worth? to open eBay’s sold listings for the same words.
Sweep on a schedule
Good listings go fast. Build your search, then choose Remind me to re-run this. You’ll get a calendar reminder that opens the same search, newest first, every day or week. Saved searches also offer New since…, which shows only what’s been posted since you last looked.
Use the keyboard
Once your tabs are ready, press A to open them all or N to open the next batch.