Mastering the Art of the Price Strikethrough on Facebook Marketplace: A Seller’s Guide

So, you want to add a little visual oomph to your Facebook Marketplace listings and showcase a sale? Excellent! The question at hand: How do you strikethrough a price on Facebook Marketplace? Sadly, the short answer is, you can’t directly strikethrough text within the standard Facebook Marketplace listing interface. Unlike other platforms, Facebook Marketplace doesn’t offer a built-in formatting option to automatically apply a strikethrough to your original price.

But don’t despair, savvy seller! There are creative workarounds and alternative strategies we can employ to achieve a similar, and potentially even more effective, result. Let’s dive into the details.

Why Strikethrough? The Psychology of a Good Deal

Before we get to the ‘how’, let’s understand the ‘why.’ A strikethrough price visually communicates value. It subtly whispers to potential buyers, “Hey, you’re getting a deal!” This simple visual cue can significantly influence purchasing decisions.

• Highlighting Discounts: Strikethrough prices draw attention to the difference between the original price and the current selling price, making the perceived savings more apparent.
• Creating Urgency: A price reduction, highlighted with a strikethrough, can create a sense of urgency. Buyers might feel compelled to act quickly before the deal disappears.
• Building Trust: Transparently showing the original price builds trust with potential buyers. It demonstrates you’re not artificially inflating prices just to offer a “fake” discount.

The Workaround: Achieving the Strikethrough Effect

Since Facebook Marketplace doesn’t offer a direct formatting button, we need to get creative. Here’s how you can achieve a similar effect:

1. Using Unicode Characters:

This method involves using special Unicode characters that visually resemble a strikethrough. While not a perfect strikethrough in the traditional sense, they can be effective in drawing attention to the price reduction.

• Find the Characters: Search online for “Unicode strikethrough characters” or “combining long stroke overlay.” You’ll find websites offering lists of these characters. Examples include:
  • ̶ (Combining Long Stroke Overlay)
  • ₛₜᵣᵢₖₑₜₕᵣₒᵤgₕ (This uses subscript characters and may not display properly on all devices.)
• Copy and Paste: Copy the desired Unicode character and paste it after each character of the original price in your listing description.
• Example: Let’s say the original price was $50. Using the “Combining Long Stroke Overlay,” it would look like: $5̶0̶. You’ll need to add the overlay after each character, including the dollar sign if you want it struck through as well.

Pros: Relatively simple to implement.

Cons: Can be time-consuming, especially for longer prices. The appearance might vary depending on the device and font. It’s also not a true strikethrough, so it might not be recognized by screen readers for accessibility purposes.

2. Using Text Formatting in Images:

This is arguably the most visually effective method and offers more control over the presentation.

• Create an Image: Use a photo editing app (like Canva, PicMonkey, or even a simple drawing program) to create an image containing the product and its pricing information.
• Add Text: In the image, add two lines of text:
  • The original price, with a clear strikethrough applied using the app’s text formatting tools.
  • The new, discounted price.
• Highlight the Discount: Use different colors, fonts, and sizes to make the discounted price stand out even more.
• Upload the Image: Upload this image as one of the main photos for your Marketplace listing.
• Repeat the Discount in the Description: To ensure clarity, repeat the discounted price in the text description.

Pros: Visually appealing and highly effective in drawing attention to the discount. Offers maximum control over design and presentation.

Cons: Requires creating an image, which takes more time and effort.

3. Clearly Stating the Original Price and Discounted Price:

Even without a visual strikethrough, clear communication is key.

• Clearly state both prices: In your listing description, explicitly mention the original price and the new, discounted price.
• Use phrases like:
  • “Was: $X, Now: $Y”
  • “Original Price: $X, Discounted Price: $Y”
  • “Reduced from $X to $Y”
• Highlight the Saving: Emphasize the amount saved. For example, “Save $Z!”

Pros: Simple and straightforward. Ensures clarity, even without visual aids.

Cons: Less visually impactful than the other methods.

Mastering the Art of Presentation

Regardless of the method you choose, remember these tips for a successful price presentation on Facebook Marketplace:

• Accuracy is Key: Double-check all prices to ensure they are accurate. Incorrect pricing can erode trust and lead to negative feedback.
• Be Honest: Don’t inflate the original price just to make the discount seem bigger. Buyers are savvy and can spot this tactic.
• Compliance: Make sure your pricing practices comply with Facebook’s Commerce Policies.
• Test and Iterate: Experiment with different methods and see what works best for your products and target audience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about price presentation on Facebook Marketplace:

1. Can I use HTML or other formatting codes in Facebook Marketplace descriptions to create a strikethrough?

No. Facebook Marketplace strips out HTML and other formatting codes in listing descriptions for security and consistency reasons. You can’t use <strike> or other HTML tags to achieve a strikethrough effect.

2. Will using Unicode strikethrough characters affect my listing’s search ranking?

Unlikely. While search algorithms are complex, it’s unlikely that using Unicode strikethrough characters will negatively impact your listing’s search ranking. Focus on using relevant keywords in your title and description for better visibility.

3. Is it against Facebook Marketplace’s policies to advertise a discounted price?

No. Advertising discounts is perfectly acceptable, as long as you’re being honest and transparent about your pricing. Ensure that the “original” price you’re referencing was a genuinely offered price for a reasonable period.

4. What if I want to change the price again after using the Unicode strikethrough method?

You’ll need to manually edit the listing and replace the Unicode-formatted price with the new price. This can be cumbersome, which is why the image-based method is often preferred for more dynamic pricing.

5. Can I use emojis to highlight the discount instead of a strikethrough?

Yes, you can. Emojis like a “sale” tag or a “percentage off” symbol can be effective in drawing attention to the discount. However, use them sparingly and ensure they are relevant to the product. Overuse of emojis can make your listing look unprofessional.

6. What’s the best photo editing app for creating images with strikethrough prices?

Canva is a popular and user-friendly option. It offers a free version with plenty of features for creating eye-catching images with text and formatting options, including strikethrough. Other good options include PicMonkey, Adobe Spark, and even simple drawing programs available on your computer or phone.

7. Should I include the shipping cost when displaying the price on Facebook Marketplace?

Yes, it’s best practice to be transparent about shipping costs. Clearly indicate whether the price includes shipping or if it’s additional. This helps avoid confusion and potential disputes with buyers.

8. How often should I update my prices on Facebook Marketplace?

This depends on the product and market conditions. Regularly review your pricing and adjust it as needed to stay competitive. If you’re running a limited-time sale, be sure to update the listing with the original price after the sale ends.

9. What if a buyer asks for a further discount after seeing the strikethrough price?

Be polite and professional. Decide whether you’re willing to negotiate further. You can explain that the current price already reflects a significant discount or offer a slight reduction if you’re comfortable doing so.

10. Can I use third-party apps to automatically manage pricing and create strikethroughs on Facebook Marketplace?

While some third-party apps offer features that might indirectly help with pricing management, there are no apps that directly integrate with Facebook Marketplace to automatically create strikethroughs. Be cautious of any app that claims to do so, as they may violate Facebook’s terms of service.

11. Are there any alternatives to Facebook Marketplace for selling items with more advanced formatting options?

Yes. If formatting is a priority, consider using platforms like eBay or Etsy, which offer more robust text formatting options, including built-in strikethrough functionality.

12. My listing was removed after I tried using Unicode characters for the strikethrough. Why?

While it’s unlikely that the Unicode characters directly caused the removal, Facebook’s algorithms are sensitive to anything that might appear spammy or misleading. Ensure your listing adheres to all of Facebook’s Commerce Policies, including accurate descriptions, clear pricing, and high-quality images. If you believe your listing was removed in error, you can appeal the decision.

By understanding the psychology behind strikethrough pricing and implementing these creative workarounds, you can effectively highlight discounts and attract more buyers on Facebook Marketplace, even without a direct formatting option. Happy selling!