Sell Console Online vs Facebook Marketplace: Which Is Better?
If you've recently upgraded your gaming setup, you may be wondering where is the best place to sell your old games console?
One option is Facebook Marketplace. You can list your console yourself, set an asking price and wait for someone nearby to make an offer.
But there's another, much simpler option: selling directly to a specialist console buyer.
For UK gamers, Sell My Game Console is designed specifically for people looking to sell their PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo console for cash.
So, Sell Console Online vs Facebook Marketplace — which option is best?
For many people, the answer is simple: sell directly to a specialist and avoid the hassle of Facebook Marketplace.
What Is Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook Marketplace is an online platform where individuals can advertise items for sale to other people in their local area.
It's possible to sell almost anything, including:
- PS5 consoles
- PS4 consoles
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
- Xbox One
- Nintendo Switch
- Controllers
- Games
- Gaming accessories
The attraction is obvious: you can create a listing and potentially find a buyer quickly.
However, you're essentially becoming the seller yourself.
That means you're responsible for deciding what your console is worth, creating the advert, answering messages, negotiating with potential buyers and arranging collection or delivery.
And that's where things can become frustrating.
Sell My Game Console vs Facebook Marketplace
When comparing the two options, there are some major differences.
| Sell My Game Console | Facebook Marketplace | |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist console buyer | ✅ | ❌ |
| Get a dedicated console valuation | ✅ | ❌ |
| No need to create a listing | ✅ | ❌ |
| No negotiating with buyers | ✅ | ❌ |
| Free UK postage | ✅ | Depends on how you sell |
| UK-based specialist | ✅ | Marketplace |
| Potential local collection | ❌ | ✅ |
| Dedicated console recycling service | ✅ | ❌ |
Sell My Game Console currently advertises free UK postage, fast payment and a simple three-step process: select your console, send it and get paid.
The Biggest Problem With Facebook Marketplace: Low-Ball Offers
You've probably seen it before.
You list your PS5 for what you believe is a fair price.
Within minutes, someone messages:
"£150 cash mate?"
You say no.
Then another person offers even less.
Then someone asks:
"What's your lowest?"
And another person wants you to deliver it 30 miles away.
Suddenly, selling your console doesn't seem quite so appealing.
Why waste your time?
With Sell My Game Console, you don't need to spend your evening negotiating with strangers.
You simply select your console, choose its condition and receive a valuation.
No Facebook messages.
No endless negotiations.
No arranging meet-ups.
No waiting around for someone who says they're coming and then doesn't turn up.
That's the difference between selling privately and selling directly to a specialist.
You Could Be Selling Your Console Too Cheaply
One of the biggest problems with Facebook Marketplace is knowing how much your console is actually worth.
Let's say you've got a PS4 Slim.
You might search Facebook Marketplace and see other PS4 Slim consoles listed for £100.
So you list yours for £95.
But does that mean your console is actually worth £95?
Not necessarily.
The other listings might be:
- Overpriced
- Old listings
- In poor condition
- Missing accessories
- Still waiting for a buyer
- Open to negotiation
A listing price isn't necessarily the same as the price someone is actually willing to pay.
That's why getting a specialist valuation can make much more sense.
Why Choose Sell My Game Console?
Sell My Game Console was built specifically around buying games consoles.
That's important.
Rather than being a general marketplace where you have to find your own buyer, you're dealing directly with a company that specialises in games console recycling and trade-ins.
The website currently highlights:
- Top prices paid
- Free UK postage
- Same-day payment after receiving your console
- Dedicated customer service
- UK-based support
- A secure selling process
The whole purpose is to make selling your console straightforward.
We Aim to Pay More Than the High Street and Other Recyclers
If you're selling your console, naturally you're going to want the best cash price you can get.
That's one of the reasons Sell My Game Console is worth checking before selling elsewhere.
Our service is specifically focused on games consoles, and our aim is to offer highly competitive cash prices across a wide range of PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo models.
Prices can vary depending on the model, condition, accessories and current market demand, so it's always worth checking your specific console's current valuation rather than relying on an old price.
Why sell for less if you don't have to?
Before accepting a low-ball Facebook Marketplace offer, check what your console could be worth through Sell My Game Console.
You might be surprised by the difference.
No Need to Deal With Time Wasters
Facebook Marketplace can be great when you're looking for bargains, but selling isn't always quite as enjoyable.
You may encounter people who:
- Ask questions that are already answered in your advert
- Make very low offers
- Ask you to hold the console
- Agree to collect and don't arrive
- Try to negotiate when they arrive
- Ask for discounts
- Want you to travel to meet them
Even if you eventually make the sale, you've potentially spent hours dealing with messages.
With Sell My Game Console, you're not searching for a buyer.
We're the buyer.
That's a major difference.
Avoid the Headache of Selling Expensive Electronics Privately
A games console isn't exactly a £10 item.
A newer PS5 or Xbox Series X can be worth hundreds of pounds, which means you need to be comfortable with the person you're dealing with when selling privately.
Selling online through a specialist gives you an alternative.
Instead of advertising your console publicly and arranging a meeting with a stranger, you can send your console to Sell My Game Console using the available free UK postage service.
The company says it provides a secure process and UK-based support.
What About Scammers?
Another reason some sellers prefer a specialist is that they don't want to deal with the uncertainty that can come with private transactions.
When selling privately, you need to be careful about:
- Suspicious messages
- Fake payment confirmations
- Unusual requests
- Pressure to move the conversation elsewhere
- Buyers who want to change the agreed arrangement
That doesn't mean every Facebook Marketplace buyer is a scammer — far from it.
There are plenty of genuine buyers.
But if you don't want to deal with those risks and the hassle of private selling, selling directly to a specialist can be much simpler.
Sell Your Console Without Creating an Advert
Think about everything involved in selling on Facebook Marketplace.
Facebook Marketplace
Take photographs
↓
Write the advert
↓
Choose a price
↓
Publish
↓
Wait
↓
Answer messages
↓
Negotiate
↓
Arrange collection
↓
Hope they turn up
↓
Complete the sale
Compare that with Sell My Game Console:
Sell My Game Console
Select your console
↓
Get your valuation
↓
Send your console
↓
Get paid
That's exactly the sort of no-faff experience many people are looking for.
You Don't Need to Find the Right Buyer
This is probably the biggest advantage.
With Facebook Marketplace, your success depends on finding someone who wants your exact console at a price they're prepared to pay.
With a specialist buyer, you don't need to find that person.
You're selling directly to a business that already wants games consoles.
That's why Sell My Game Console is such an attractive option if your priority is simply:
"I want to sell my console and get my money without all the hassle."
What Consoles Can You Sell?
Sell My Game Console specialises in major gaming brands, including:
PlayStation
Sell your PS5, PS5 Slim, PS5 Pro, PS4, PS4 Slim, PS4 Pro and other supported PlayStation models.
Xbox
Sell your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and other supported Xbox consoles.
Nintendo
Sell supported Nintendo Switch and other Nintendo consoles.
The easiest way to find out whether your specific console is accepted is to visit Sell My Game Console and search for your model.
Does the Condition of Your Console Matter?
Yes.
The condition of your console can have a significant impact on its value.
For example, a console in excellent condition is likely to receive a different valuation from one with significant cosmetic damage or a hardware fault.
That's another advantage of using a specialist.
You don't have to guess what your console might be worth based on somebody else's Facebook listing.
You can provide the details of your own console and get a valuation based on its condition.
What If Your Console Has Cosmetic Damage?
Don't automatically assume your console is worthless.
A few scratches or marks don't necessarily mean you can't sell it.
The important thing is to be honest about the condition when requesting your valuation.
At Sell My Game Console, condition is taken into account when determining the value of the console.
So if your PS4 has some cosmetic wear from years of use, check its value rather than writing it off.
What If Your Console Is Faulty?
You might also be surprised to learn that faulty consoles can still have value.
A console with a problem such as a faulty HDMI port, disc-drive issue or another hardware fault may be worth less than a fully working example, but that doesn't automatically mean it's worthless.
If you're unsure, check the options available at Sell My Game Console.
You could potentially turn a console that has been sitting unused in a cupboard into cash.
Free UK Postage Makes Selling Even Easier
One of the biggest advantages of selling online is that you don't have to take your console into a shop.
Sell My Game Console currently advertises FREE UK POSTAGE.
That means you can package your console securely, send it off and wait for the inspection and payment process.
No petrol.
No parking.
No queues.
No arranging a meeting with a stranger.
Just package it and send it.
What Should You Do Before Selling?
Before sending your console to us, we'd recommend:
1. Factory reset the console
Remove your personal information and accounts.
2. Give it a clean
A quick wipe can improve its appearance.
3. Include the controller
Having the correct controller can help maximise your valuation.
4. Include the cables
Where possible, include the power cable and HDMI cable.
5. Package it properly
Use bubble wrap and a sturdy cardboard box to protect the console during transit.
Then send it using the available postage service.
Facebook Marketplace Isn't Necessarily Bad — But Is It Worth the Hassle?
To be fair, Facebook Marketplace can be useful.
If you have a rare console, want to sell locally or enjoy negotiating with buyers, it can work well.
But if your priority is:
Getting a competitive cash price
Saving time
Avoiding low-ball offers
Avoiding endless messages
Not having to create a listing
Not having to find your own buyer
then Sell My Game Console is the obvious option to consider.
Sell Your Console to the Specialists
If you've upgraded from a PS4 to a PS5, moved from Xbox One to Xbox Series X, or simply don't use your Nintendo Switch anymore, don't leave your old console gathering dust.
You could sell it.
And you don't need to spend hours trying to find a buyer.
At Sell My Game Console, we're a UK-based specialist games console recycling company, focused on buying PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo consoles.
We advertise top prices, free UK postage and fast payment, with a straightforward three-step process.
Why waste your time with low-ball Facebook Marketplace offers?
Get your console valuation from the specialists instead.
Ready to Sell?
Get Your Console Valuation at Sell My Game Console
Competitive cash prices. Free UK postage. No unnecessary hassle.
Sell your console to the specialists.