A Message For the OfferUp Community
Below is an article originally published on Apr 22, 2020 in OfferUp blog. Go to OfferUp's company page on PowerToFly to see their open positions and learn more.
As a marketplace that promotes interpersonal connection, both online and offline, we are deeply saddened to see the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis span the globe. Our hearts go out to all of those who have lost loved ones or fallen on hard times as a consequence of this concerning and rapidly-changing situation.
In order to adapt to the challenging times both behind us and ahead, and provide the best possible support to our employees and the OfferUp Community, we've changed a few things about our business and have some suggestions for buyers, sellers, and shippers with our best tips for navigating online marketplaces in the days to come.
The trust and safety of our community is our number one priority. Certain medical and healthcare items are not allowed for sale on OfferUp, including listings that claim the item can diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent a disease or virus, or any items that claim to be CDC or WHO approved.
We will continue to remove items that violate our prohibited items guidelines and monitor for price spikes and items with false claims through a mix of automated and manual review.
Posts that violate any of our guidelines, policies, or terms may be removed at our discretion. Additional actions including account suspension may be taken for severe or repeat offenses.
We will continue to monitor this situation and we will provide updates on this blog to communicate any changes to the OfferUp platform or our policies in response to COVID-19. Please click here to read more about how we are supporting our paying Autos Dealers as they adjust to the difficult economic times ahead.
Our Employees
Out of an abundance of caution and in line with local and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, our employees are working from home until further notice.
Our team is contributing to the broader conversation on best practices to support remote work, so keep an eye on the Life at OfferUp Instagram for some of the creative solutions they have come up with to make their work-life work better at home.
Our Buyers and Sellers
These are unprecedented times, and many are changing their daily routines in order to adapt. Some community members have started doing "no-contact porch pickups", and others have shifted their sales entirely from in-person pick up to shipping. Here's how to activate shipping for your existing items:
"Turn On" Shipping For Posted Items
If any of your items are shippable (learn more about OfferUp Shipping Policies), you can easily edit those items so they show as shippable to OfferUp buyers. This will help you reach new buyers, and remain in compliance with any stay-at-home orders in your area.
You can easily "turn on" shipping for any items you have already posted. Here's how:
- Go to the Selling Tab under "My Offers"
- Tap the item you'd like to enable for shipping
- Tap "Edit"
- Go to "Delivery Method" and tap the button next to "Sell & ship nationwide"
- Tap "Save" and that's it! Your item will now appear as shippable nationwide.
Our Community
OfferUp has always been local first, and we want to support our local communities in this challenging time. OfferUp was created in Seattle and we have been welcomed with open arms in our second home in Miami. As a commitment to our home locations, we're pledging to give back and help some of those hit hardest by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic:
- We've donated to The Plate Fund in Seattle — an organization that provides one-time $500 payments to furloughed restaurant workers.
- Donations were also sent to Frontline Foods in Miami — an organization that works with local restaurants to provide meals to medical workers on the front lines of the pandemic
For our auto dealer community, we've updated our billing rates for Verified Dealers. Click here to learn more about how we're supporting our autos customers.
To help with ongoing support, our Customer Support team is standing by to continue to provide assistance to OfferUp buyers and sellers across the nation. You can reach our Support team for help seven days a week on the Help Center, Facebook, or Twitter.
We will continue to look for ways to empower our community to connect and prosper. Thank you for being a part of the OfferUp Community.
FAQ
Sharing Responses to the OfferUp Community's Most Frequently Asked Questions Related to Coronavirus
Should We Be Meeting Up In-Person?
We know that many OfferUp buyers and sellers continue to complete in-person meetups during this time. In accordance with current CDC guidelines, we recommend keeping the following tips in mind before scheduling a meetup:
- Stay home if you don't feel well, and do not meet up if you or someone in your household displays symptoms of coronavirus or other respiratory illnesses.
- Maintain a distance of at least six feet at all times.
- The CDC recommends wearing a cloth face mask when in a public place where it's difficult to maintain social distancing, such as grocery stores. You can purchase these on OfferUp.
- Wash your hands before and after completing a meetup, and avoid touching your face (eyes, mouth, and nose).
- Meet at a Community MeetUp Spot or SafeTradeSpot and avoid meeting at others' homes wherever possible.
We appreciate our community doing their part to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
What is A "No-Contact Porch Pickup"?
To avoid more than one party leaving their home to complete an OfferUp transaction, and reduce direct contact with others, many online marketplace buyers and sellers are opting for "No-Contact Porch Pickups". This means the seller provides a buyer with their address and leaves the item on their porch. The buyer will then come, leave cash in a predetermined location, or use a digital money transfer service like (PayPal or Venmo), and take the item home.
Per our safety guidelines, we recommend meeting at a Community MeetUp Spot, or in a public, surveilled, and brightly-lit location whenever possible.
If you feel comfortable completing a porch pickup, here are a few things to consider:
- Take a look at the buyer or seller's profile. Are they TruYou verified and highly-rated from past meetups? Always look at the other party's OfferUp profile before completing a meetup.
- Trust your gut. If something seems "too good to be true" it most likely is. Even in these difficult times, no item or sale is ever worth your safety.
- Consider getting a doorbell camera. This is an easy way to keep an eye on your porch pickup without having to make direct contact.
- Set a window during the day when the item will be available to the buyer. Always aim to complete online marketplaces during the day, either in-person or with "no-contact porch pickups."
You can read our tips to more safely use online marketplaces here.
How Do I Ship Items From Home?
The USPS is an essential service and will remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, though shipping times may be delayed and hours of operations may be reduced.
OfferUp shippers have the option to visit their local USPS office to pick up shipping supplies or drop off packages that are ready to be shipped.
The USPS also carries free shipping supplies they can send to your home, as well as scheduled pickups so you can get your OfferUp items shipped without leaving your home. To schedule a USPS pickup, click here.
If you need help with a shipping transaction, contact OfferUp Support.
What Are Some Popular Items to Buy or Sell on OfferUp?
Demand for items from the following categories has been growing in popularity during this time:
Should I Disinfect Items Before Selling/After Buying?
According to the CDC, the Coronavirus is transmitted in close contact (less than six feet) through respiratory droplets. Cleaning as well as disinfecting visibly dirty or frequently touched surfaces/devices is considered a best practice to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses.
While OfferUp sellers should avoid listing items as "Coronavirus-free" or "COVID-19-proof," it is a good idea to share any increased cleaning/disinfecting steps you have taken to clean items for potential buyers.
Here are some popular items for sale that should be cleaned and disinfected before selling and after buying when using online marketplaces, per CDC recommendation:
- Tables
- Hard-backed chairs
- Doorknobs and handles
- Light switches
- Tablets, phones, e-readers, any touch-screens
- Remote controls
- Desks
- Appliances
- Toys, and all kids' items
- Bikes
- Board games
- Video games and consoles
- Books
Empowering Success on the Global Business Group Team in India
When I’m asked about the last two years of my career journey, the first thing that comes to mind is the people I’ve worked with and the impactful change we’ve made together. After four years in business operations at another tech company, I started thinking about how I could apply my leadership skills to a new challenge. After exploring a few different opportunities, I was introduced to a position with the Global Business Group team in India that aligned with my experience and interests in developing a team of client partners and client solution managers. I was struck by something else I discovered through my interactions with my Meta colleagues as well: an incredibly inclusive culture where it was clear that the team was intentional about empowering one another to grow. Collaborating with a diverse group of people from unique backgrounds has been one of the most rewarding parts of my experience over the last two years with the company. I’ve also been inspired by observing how, despite the different paths people on my team have taken throughout their career journeys, we all share several key traits and skills: empathy, curiosity, authenticity, and the ability to think ahead. Looking back, I’ve reflected on how each of these characteristics are helping to power our collective success.
1. Empathy
Empathy not only helps me connect with my team, but it empowers us to build relationships with one another, the cross-functional partners we work with internally, and our clients - advertisers across the travel, financial, media, and professional services industries. Strong relationships enable us to establish a foundation of trust, facilitate open and honest conversations, and see things from a perspective outside of our own. This is especially important for my team. Our clients depend on us to advise on their advertising strategy, and in order to help them meet their goals, it’s critical that we understand who they are, what they’re doing, and what matters most to their customers. With this, we must also recognize that there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach. What works for one client won’t necessarily work for another, and solving problems often means working together to think about a creative idea we haven’t tried before. Having deep care for the end-user and being empathetic about their needs is a north star that helps us continuously strive for building the best experience possible.
Shweta and the GBG In Market team enjoying time together at the Meta office in Gurgaon, India.
2. Curiosity
At Meta, we’re on the frontier of inventing cutting-edge ways to develop new advertising solutions—and with that, we’re implementing methods we haven’t tried before. Innovation is a key element of our team and company culture, and introducing new ideas calls for deep curiosity. Rather than doing things as they’ve always been done, people who thrive on my team challenge each other to be bold, think bigger and share outside-of-the-box ideas. We ask ourselves questions like, “What can we do for the client if we think beyond product or bandwidth constraints”, “What could this look like in the long-term?”, and “We might not have the skills internally to answer all of our client’s questions, but who can we partner with cross-functionally—or globally—to solve this problem?” As the first point of contact for clients, bringing our curiosity to our cross-functional teammates is incredibly valuable. We ask questions to introduce new ideas, and we collaborate closely to solve challenges.” Curiosity also means being open to change, and it’s a trait I look for when meeting with potential team members. Outside the questions focused on skills, I usually ask potential candidates for their honest view on Meta technologies, what do we do exceptionally well, and where we could do better as a company from their perspective. While we hire for specific roles, we leave space for people to help redefine their roles and take on new challenges as our work evolves. This not only empowers team members to employ their curiosity to explore different interests and possibilities, but to think more broadly about how to make the most meaningful impact.
3. Authenticity
Authenticity—bringing your full self to work—makes it possible to be open, transparent, and vulnerable. In turn, we can communicate more effectively, foster strong relationships and lead by example. Having these capabilities is like having superpowers when collaborating cross-functionally, developing a team, and working with clients. Despite the incredible benefits of being authentic, I wasn’t always certain how to balance being my full self and showing up as a strong leader. I initially felt hesitant to share details about my life or talk about what mattered to me outside of work—and that prevented my team from being more open with me. At Meta, being authentic is at the heart of our culture. Leaders embrace transparency and demonstrate what it means to be open. Experiencing this has inspired me to rethink my own approach and grow. “When we’re comfortable being our authentic selves, we’re most empowered to put our best foot forward.” Now, one of my favorite parts of the week is the first 15 minutes of our weekly team meeting. We talk about anything and everything—as long as it’s not work-related! This bonding time helps us learn more about one another. I’m proud of the relationship we’ve formed together, and they know I truly care about each of them. This comfort and connection extends to our work with clients as well, helping us bring a transparent, people-first approach to our work. We won’t suggest a product that doesn’t align with their goals just to fulfill ours, and we’ll be realistic when we need to think about changing course. While these authentic interactions may seem small, they make a big impact.
4. Forward-thinking
No two days are the same here, and we’re constantly thinking about what’s next. No matter a team member’s experience or role, having the ability to look ahead enables us to keep the big picture in mind and work toward longer-term goals. It also inspires us to be creative and start conversations about how small decisions today can contribute to what happens tomorrow.Right now, we have a massive opportunity to shape the future and make an impact across India in the travel, financial, media, and professional services industries. I often think about how this is the first time that India’s digital advertising industry has surpassed the TV industry, and how WhatsApp and Instagram have exploded in popularity over the last few years. The work we do with our clients is part of this shift in the way people consume advertising and media, and everyone on the team is able to drive change for the community. While we’ve already accomplished so much together, there’s still limitless opportunity to look forward to!
Stay connected!
- Are you interested in joining our team? Explore open roles.
- Learn about Meta Careers on Instagram (@MetaCareers).
- Like our Meta Careers Facebook Page for the latest updates.
