Buying on FB marketplace - clueless!

[Sadik]

I want to buy an item from FB marketplace, to go on a pallet for collection (buyer happy to do this). I've never used marketplace this way (only very local / low value items). Annoyingly no-one seems to list stuff on ebay anymore, presumably because of the cost whereas FB is free.

With ebay it feels like there's some sort of comeback, but obviously nothing like that with marketplace. Is it just a question of taking the risk? It's about £200 plus the cost of the pallet collection, so not a trivial amount, though it wouldn't be a complete disaster if it didn't work out.

Yeah, there's no way I'd be buying anything like that on FB marketplace.

You get a lot of protection as a buyer on eBay, but you don't as a buyer on FB marketplace.

It's so tricky - can't find any other source for what I'm looking for (slightly obscure bit of 2nd hand tractor kit)

Hmm, will you be collecting it, and able to inspect it before you hand over any money?

No - that's the problem, it's 3 hours drive away (otherwise would just go & pay cash). I guess I just need to decide whether it's worth taking the risk. It's not a breakable item / something that could be damaged or not working, so it's purely whether the seller actually has it & sends it to me or not IYSWIM.

I wouldn't like to do this, but I appreciate that's not very helpful when you can't buy the item elsewhere.