Facebook Swap Shop provides treasures

From garage sales to Internet auctions, the world of thrift knows no limits. Each town has a community of deals and bargains, and Kirksville has found a new avenue for dodging high prices.

Kirksville Swap Shop, a new Facebook group, gives regional residents the chance to post about items for sale or look for new deals others have posted. Members can invite others to the group and it is free to post.

Truman State senior Christine Trucke joined the Swap Shop after being invited by her friends found the variety of items on the Swap Shop were worth exploring.

"It's pretty neat when you're looking for something specific," Trucke said. "There's usually a bit of everything like furniture, clothes, cars, phones, electronics, a little bit of everything."

For local deals, the Swap Shop has found fans in both frugal buyers of everyday items and treasure hunters looking for rare gems.

Although buying items is a large part of the Swap Shop, some users have made the site their go-to place for selling personal items. Freshman Whitney Jackson sells items like video game systems on the website to earn money for college.

The Swap Shop isn't only about finding a deal on common items. Kirksville resident Alisha May discovered a rarity on the Swap Shop group's Facebook page, a grey and white kitten that was looking for a new home. May was not charged for the new pet.

Even if the goal isn't to make a profit through selling items, local users have found many of the deals and bargains too easy to resist.

The Facebook group is comparable to other more common websites for buying and selling items. While the national sites feature similar functions and ranges of interest like the Swap Shop, some who have used the Kirksville Swap Shop have found the Facebook page to have significant advantages over other sites.

"I think it's a little more accessible," Trucke said. "Everyone can see your stuff in pictures and can comment on it through Facebook."

The group conveniently is integrated into Facebook, so users who visit the website don't have to stray from their social network to explore local deals in Kirksville.

"You can search Craigslist, but you're usually on Facebook more, so it's more convenient to use this in Facebook," Jackson said.

With over 5,200 members and dozens of updates a day, the  Kirksville Swap Shop on Facebook  is bringing many residents the low prices they want at the convenience they enjoy.