Lower Merion Resident Starts Facebook 'Yardsale' Group for Community

For those looking to trade goods and services online in Lower Merion and Narberth, there's Patch Classifieds. There's LM-Narberth Totally Free Items on Yahoo! Groups. There's Craigslist and eBay and plenty of others.

And now, exclusively for residents, there's the Lower Merion & Narberth Yardsale Group on Facebook.

Belmont Hills resident Karen Toole-Ebbert started the site July 20, and as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, it had accumulated 77 members.

By far the biggest attraction of the group, according to members polled on the page, is that it is only for them and their neighbors.

"There is a level of accountability that makes sellers more responsible because the buyer may know them and their friends. This protects against scams. It's more transparent and safer than on other online sites," said Toole-Ebbert, who has started other community-related Facebook pages such as the Lower Merion Community Network (formerly Parents Network).

Toole-Ebbert was removing that group's classified postings before deciding, by popular request, to make a group specifically for the purpose.

"I've done Craigslist before," member Jan Klincewicz said, "but somehow there is an intangible comfort to dealing with 'neighbors.' Bala-Narberth has a definite community feel."

Another group member, Regina Durante, commented, "It reinforces the idea that community connection is the best way to serve the greater good. I can help my neighbor by buying her stuff while helping myself save money. It's a win-win for everyone."

Postings need pictures, descriptions and the prices sought, whether fixed or negotiable. Political and religious solicitations aren't accepted.

In the group's first week, about 20 posts have advertised goods for sale to about a half dozen posts from people in the market for things.

"I do understand that we will ultimately need a larger volume of buyers and sellers to make it successful. I hope that happens," Toole-Ebbert said. "LM-Narberth Freecycle (on Yahoo! Groups) has done extremely well with just over 200 members, so if we get that many or more, I think we will do well. There are no plans right now to open the group up to surrounding areas."

To confirm group applicants are local, Toole-Ebbert checks their Facebook profiles or any friends in common with hers.

"Most likely, a local town shows (on the applicant's Facebook profile) and we have many common friends," the group administrator said. "That has been the case for everyone who has been approved."