Moving to Norway comes with its fair share of culture shocks: grocery prices, winter darkness, and then there's Finn.no.
Finn is Norway’s ultimate online marketplace — a one-stop shop for buying and selling just about anything, from skis and sofas to cars and apartments.
Picture this: you’ve just found a place to rent and need furniture to make it feel like home, warm shoes to survive the weather, and activity gear to join in social gatherings. Buying everything brand new at full price can be overwhelming — and that’s where the second-hand marketplace comes in.
Last year, over 550 million searches were made on FINN, with 400 million of these on Torget (things) alone. FINN Torget saw solid growth in 2024, with over 525 million visits — an increase of 8.5 percent compared to 2023. In addition, over 16 million advertisements were published, a rise of more than 10 percent from the previous year.
The most visited categories in 2024 include “Furniture and Interiors”, “Clothing, Cosmetics and Accessories”, and “Sports and Outdoors”.
Buying tips
Head to “Til salgs” (For Sale): This is where you’ll find second-hand treasures, from IKEA basics to high-quality outdoor gear at a fraction of the original price.
Don’t miss “Gis bort” (Give away): A whole section dedicated to free stuff. People moving house often give away furniture, appliances, and more — a lifesaver for anyone setting up a new home.
Search in Norwegian: Even if you’re still learning the language, using Norwegian keywords unlocks more results. This feature is frustrating for international users. “Finn does not allow the browser’s translate functionality to work properly. If I have to use it, I need to have Google Translate open in front of me, pointing at the computer screen to translate and navigate,” points out Caslino Pereira.
Be ready to pick up: Most sellers expect buyers to collect items themselves, so plan for transport. Delivery isn’t common.
Use Vipps, not cash: Norway is almost cashless, and Vipps — a mobile payment app — is the go-to method for settling deals.
Act fast: The best bargains disappear quickly. Setting up alerts ensures you don’t miss out.
And what about selling?
If you’re planning to declutter or make some money, there are a few tricks to keep in mind.
Good pictures matter: Use clear, bright photos (preferably in daylight). Show the item from different angles and highlight details or flaws honestly.
Set a fair price: Price is the most important factor for buyers, according to their consumer report 2024. Check similar items on Finn before posting. Pricing slightly below average makes your ad stand out and helps it sell faster.
Write a detailed description: Include brand, size, condition, and any history (e.g., “only used twice”). A precise and trustworthy description builds confidence.
Be quick to respond: Many buyers message several sellers at once. If you reply fast, you increase your chances of closing the deal.
Not everyone is a buyer: Not everyone who writes will actually buy. Some may ghost you or never show up — don’t take it personally. Move on quickly to the next interested person.
Post strategically
Evenings and weekends are the best times to post when more people browse the marketplace. Refresh or “bump” your ad if interest slows down. “One trick I use is to save search queries before the season, so at the end of summer I can start posting or searching for next season’s items. I don’t worry about price; I care more about giving the item a new life as soon as possible,” says Fatima Sani.
Sell without talking to anyone
Finn recently launched Fiks Ferdig, which handles shipping for you. Once you choose this option, you’ll receive a notification when someone wants to buy your item. Posten, Helthjem, or PostNord will provide shipping details — you just wrap it up, write the code on the package and drop it off at the designated location, which might be at your doorstep or nearby grocery store. Once delivered, the money appears in your account within 48 hours.
Fun facts
- In the late 1990s, newspaper advertising revenue crashed. Data and the internet were here to stay, and paper ads were no longer what they once were. Five major Schibsted newspapers in Norway officially launched Finn.no in March 2000.
- This fall, sales of used electric cars have surpassed gasoline cars for the first time — though they’re still behind diesel cars. The most popular used electric models under 200,000 kroner include the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model 3.
- 59 percent of adults in Norway have bought second-hand clothes, mostly women. One in four parents buys second-hand clothes for their children at least once a month.
- Here are the top 10 keywords searched in 2024: 1) given away 2) sofa 3) bicycle 4) dresser 5) outdoor furniture 6) dining table 7) lawn mower 8) dog 9) Rolex 10) armchair
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