Digital Garage Sale

Katie Shackelford Bennett (standing) created the Facebook group Memorial Area Trading, where residents like Lucy Branca (seated) can buy and sell items. (Photo: www.hartphoto.com)

Katie Shackelford Bennett is a busy mother of three. She spends a lot of time on Facebook but not looking at funny dog videos. She is the founder and administrator of a Facebook group with more than 3,000 members called Memorial Area Trading.

It’s a “secret” group where members can buy and sell high-end goods by posting photos, like a neighborhood Craigslist. To join a secret group on Facebook – it doesn’t show up in search results – a current member must add you and the request be approved by the group administrator.

The first member to comment, “Interested,” under a photo has first dibs and can then choose to buy or “Pass” the item. Items range from a used pair of skis to shoes to an antique armoire.

It was slow to catch on for residents after starting in March 2013, but with more than 3,000 members now, mostly women, it has gained momentum. Even Katie’s friends who are on the site, like accountant Lucy Branca, have to follow the rules.

“My husband and I bought a vintage Coke machine [on the site] from Katie and her husband,” said Lucy. Lucy followed protocol by commenting, “Interested.” “I didn’t want to get in trouble with Katie,” she said, laughing.

Katie’s duties, among others, are to put out little digital fires.

“Someone sent me a private message with three very long paragraphs complaining because people were ‘Liking’ the items she was posting but not buying them. She wanted me to make it a part of the rules people can’t ‘Like’ items,” said Katie. “I want to say, ‘Take it as a compliment. Calm down.’”

Members of the group best mind the rules of the game. “I removed one person from the site. Six people reported her for not showing up to look at an item,” said Katie. “I get about six personal messages a day from members.”

Katie spends a lot of her personal time running the site, without pay, just because she thinks it’s a cool idea for her community. “My husband is not happy with [the site], but I spend less time than he thinks I do as far as administrating it,” she said, laughing.

Other Facebook trading groups in Buzz neighborhoods include West University Trading and Westbury/Meyerland/ Bellaire Trading, which are “closed,” not “secret,” groups, meaning you can “see” the group page and ask to join. Any current member can approve and add you.

The social/support group Bellaire Young Mothers also has a trading site, but it’s not on Facebook. To join, an application is required through the group’s website, bellaireyoungmothers.org, along with proof of a 77401, 77005, 025, 027, 081 or 096 zip code and a child under the age of 5.

Tricia Onufer, a mom of two, has used the Bellaire Young Moms’ email listserv for years. The group has come in handy for locating nearly impossible-to-find items, like breast milk. “There was a mom who was looking for breast milk for a premature baby. At the time I had a three-month supply in our freezer,” said Tricia. “She was looking to buy it. I just gave it to her.”

Jennifer Buechler, a mom with four kids, is a member of all four groups. Memorial City Mall is her meeting spot of choice for Memorial-area trades. “My husband keeps asking me, ‘Why are you going to the mall again?’” She has even wondered what the mall security guards think when they see her accept cash in trade of her goods.

Jackie Sharbrough, owner of Urban Market Houston Antique Show, started Facebook’s West University Trading.

“Because of Urban Market, my friends would come to me all the time and say, ‘I have my grandmother’s dining table. She willed me all this furniture. I don’t know what to do with it now,’” said Jackie.

“I have people tattle tale a lot. There was one lady who emailed and said, ‘Is there any way to make it a closed group because my family in New Jersey is watching everything I am selling on Facebook,’” said Jackie, who agreed to change the security settings.

Jennifer Oakley, a mother of five and member of West University Trading, turned the overwhelming task of redecorating into a fun game by furnishing an entire room in her house with finds on West University Trading.

Instead of swiping her credit card at a pricey store, now she can just check her Facebook feed.

Editor’s note: Since this article first appeared, pediatrician Melanie Mouzoon has advised against promoting breastmilk sharing because of potential health risks. She urges mothers with extra milk to donate to the Milk Bank in Austin (milkbank.org) or join the Mother’s Milk Cooperative (www.mothersmilk.coop).