Facebook has launched a ‘buy and sell’ app called Marketplace and someone’s using it to sell their SOUL for $1
Social network rolls out new service which lets people buy stuff from people living nearby - and there's already some weird stuff on offer
FACEBOOK has launched a brand new Gumtree-style "buy and sell" app called Marketplace today and people are already posting some pretty strange things.
The social network said its new service is "a convenient destination to discover, buy and sell items with people in your community".
But Marketplace is almost inevitably destined to be a place where jokers go to post silly, strange or made-up items.
One found one woman in London who was trying to sell another man's soul.
Using the Facebook app's sleek mobile interface, we asked what condition it was in and were told: "For spares or repairs."
We asked how many were on offer and were simply told: "Sorry, I only have one in stock."
In London, we found a "boys' Roman soldier costume" on sale for a fiver, cannabis-flavoured lollipops and an Ann Summers "Moregasm" sex kit packed full of various rude toys and accoutrements.
We also found people looking for the sort of advice money can rarely buy.
One person posted a pic of a screaming child and wrote the words: "Is there another way of walking into the main part of Sherbourne without having to walk down the fast road from the new part of Popley?"
People are also using Marketplace to raise awareness of stolen items. There are a number of children's bikes posed on the service, as well as a horse that was rustled from Tidworth over the weekend.
Marketplace, like so many other places on the internet, is also packed full of adverts for escorts.
Not the sexy type, of course, but the once-ubiquitous Ford car beloved of boy racers and Essex dwellers.
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Here's what Facebook has to say about its new service: "In recent years more people have been using Facebook to connect in another way: buying and selling with each other.
"This activity started in Facebook Groups and has grown substantially. More than 450 million people visit buy and sell groups each month — from families in a local neighbourhood to collectors around the world.
"To help people make more of these connections, today we’re introducing Marketplace, a convenient destination to discover, buy and sell items with people in your community.
"Marketplace makes it easy to find new things you’ll love, and find a new home for the things you’re ready part with. We’ll continue to build new options and features to make this the best experience for people.
"To visit Marketplace, just tap on the shop icon at the bottom of the Facebook app and start exploring."