Have you seen someone using the abbreviation ‘PPU’ on Facebook Marketplace, or other similar websites like Craigslist?
Although PPU is a common term, it isn’t exactly obvious what it stands for.
In this article, I’ll be covering what PPU means, when it’s used, as well as some alternate meanings you’ll want to be aware of.
Let’s get to it!
What Does PPU Mean On Facebook, Or Facebook Marketplace?
When people use PPU while talking on Facebook Marketplace, the abbreviation most commonly stands for ‘pending pick up.’
It is commonly posted when the seller of the item has arranged for a buyer to meet with them and come pick up the item, to complete the transaction.
At this point, the seller is no longer accepting offers from potential buyers, as they have already agreed to sell the item to a specific person.
So, it is no longer worth reaching out to the seller to see if the item is still available. While there is a chance that the sale may fall through (Facebook Marketplace is notorious for flaky buyers and sellers), it’s usually a sign that the item is likely already sold.
You may consider monitoring the listing to see if the seller mentions that the item is available again – but you shouldn’t count on it.
Alternative Meanings Of PPU
In some cases, PPU may have different meanings depending on the context in which it’s used.
Therefore, it’s worth looking over all of the various meanings of PPU so you can recognize which the person means when you see it.
Some alternative meanings of PPU include:
- Porch pick up (commonly used for free items, stating that the item will be available to pick up on the seller’s porch.)
- Price per unit (when selling a large number of the same item.)
- Please pick up (when asking the buyer to retrieve the item at their location, rather than the buyer and seller meeting somewhere.)
Platform Specific Meanings
In some cases, abbreviations like this one can have different meanings on different platforms, like Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, texting and more.
However, PPU is really only used on marketplace websites like Facebook, Craigslist, OfferUp, LetGo, and Nextdoor.
In business, PPU is also commonly used as an abbreviation for price per unit. On other social media however, this abbreviation is rarely used.
PPU – Data And Usage Over Time
According to Google Trends, we can see the usage of PPU rising sharply after Facebook Marketplace was released in October, 2016.
The highest point in recent years occurred in July of 2017, when people were searching for ‘ppu meaning’ in Google more frequently than before.
Searches for the meaning of PPU have remained relatively stable as the years have passed, and still remain stable today.
So, this shows that PPU is still being commonly used on Facebook and other platforms.
Google Trends also shows us geographic information, showcasing where these searches are coming from.
It seems that PPU is used most frequently in the midwest of the United States, while it’s far less commonly used across both the East and West Coast.
So, you’re far more likely to see it used if you live in one of the darker blue states shown in the graph above!
Should You Use The PPU Abbreviation When Selling Items?
So, now that you know what PPU means, should you use it yourself?
I have mixed opinions of this.
The fact that searches for ‘ppu meaning’ are still so high indicates that a lot of people aren’t yet familiar with the term.
For casual Facebook Marketplace users, they may not have seen it used before, or taken the time to land upon an article like this one.
So, it can still be a bit confusing.
While you’re welcome to use it, you should provide a little bit of context as well so people can infer what it means without having to look it up.
For example, instead of simply commenting ‘item ppu’, write something like, ‘item ppu – I will post an update if the buyer doesn’t show up.’
Conclusion
Although PPU is a common term, the only social media platform it ever really appears on is Facebook Marketplace.
Because it can have several different meanings, it’s important to take the context into account so you’ll know exactly what the person is trying to say.
I hope that you’ve found this article helpful, and that it’s answered your questions. If you have any other questions about abbreviations on social media, please ask them using the comment form below.
Wishing you the best,
– James McAllister