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Buying secondhand safely checklist

Assume nothing about an item until you've checked it yourself — a good photo and a confident description tell you almost nothing about what's actually being sold.

18 items

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The items

  1. Listing checked for consistencyPhotos that all match the same item, a description that matches the photos, and a price that isn't suspiciously below everything similar.
  2. Seller's other listings or reviews checkedA new account with nothing else for sale isn't automatically a problem, but it's worth knowing before you commit.
  3. Questions asked before you arrange to meetCondition, reason for selling, any faults — asked in writing, so there's a record of the answer.
  4. A public meeting place agreedA café, a supermarket car park, somewhere with people around, not a stranger's house on your own.
  5. Someone else told where and when you're meeting
  6. Daylight arranged where possibleEasier to check an item properly, and generally the safer time to meet anyone you don't know.
  7. The item checked in person before paying
  8. Switched on and tested, if it's electrical
  9. Serial number checked against any paperwork
  10. Damage looked for beyond what the photos showed
  11. Moving parts worked through, not just looked at
  12. Proof of ownership asked for on anything valuableA receipt, a box, an account it was registered to. No proof at all is a reason to walk away, not a detail to overlook.
  13. Payment method that leaves a recordBank transfer with a reference, or cash counted together on the spot — never money sent before you've seen the item.
  14. Nothing paid upfront for delivery or 'holding' the itemA common way to take a deposit and never turn up.
  15. A recent photo of the seller's ID for anything high-value, if you're comfortable asking
  16. A friend brought along, for anything expensive or if the meeting feels offThere's no obligation to go alone, and no obligation to go through with the meeting at all.
  17. An exit taken if something feels wrong on arrivalThe saving on any item is never worth staying somewhere that doesn't feel right.
  18. The price checked against similar sold listings, not just similar asking pricesAsking prices are aspiration; sold prices are what it's actually worth.

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Questions people ask

Where should I meet to collect something bought secondhand?
Somewhere public and busy, in daylight if you can arrange it, and tell someone else where you're going. A stranger's doorstep or an empty car park isn't worth the saving.
How should I pay?
In a way that leaves a record — bank transfer with a reference, or cash counted and confirmed in person. Avoid anything that asks for money before you've seen the item.
What should I check before handing over money?
That the item is actually what was described, that it switches on or works as claimed, and that any serial number or paperwork matches. Ask questions before you arrive, then check the answers in person rather than taking them on trust twice.