Keeping your information protected and yourself safe should always be your number one priority when selling on Marketplace or any other online platform. Keep the following safety tips in mind when selling stuff on Marketplace:
1. View the person’s profile and rating. Before agreeing to meet someone in person to sell an item on Marketplace, take a few minutes to learn more about the person you’re interacting with. Review their profile, Marketplace activity and ratings to ensure they are legitimate.
2. Protect your privacy. Don’t ever give out your personal financial information, including bank account login information, account and routing numbers or answers to security questions. If you’re selling electronics, make sure you’ve cleared any personal information from the device.
3. Know About Delivery Options for Items. We suggest following the CDC’s guidelines for how to stay healthy and help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) while buying and selling items. Be sure to check out and follow local laws and directives that may be in place during this time.
If you’re meeting, we recommend arranging your meeting in a public, well-lit area or a police station. Let others know where you’re headed. Find a local law enforcement agency near you in the United States from the USACOPS directory.
Note: You can also use a shipping option or a pick-up or drop-off service that works for you.
4. Use safe payment methods. Suggest cash, Messenger or PayPal as valid payment methods that you accept as a seller.
5. Review our Commerce Policies. If you’re concerned that you might be selling or buying an item that is not allowed on Marketplace, take a minute to review our Commerce Policies before completing the transaction.
6. Verify the legitimacy of the item. Meet in person to show a potential buyer the item they are interested in purchasing from you. If you are not able to meet in person, you can offer a certificate of authenticity or proof of purchase for some high-value items such as jewelry or luxury bags.
7. Don’t sell recalled items. As a seller, it’s your responsibility to know whether the items you want to sell have been recalled for safety risk reasons. This is especially the case with vehicles, toys, car seats and other childcare equipment.
8. Be cautious when buying or selling vehicles. If you’re selling a vehicle, be careful of bounced checks from buyers or paying for fake transportation or insurance costs for your vehicle.
9. Trust your gut. Above all, if something doesn’t feel right at any time—if you feel uncomfortable about the buyer, the suggested location, the offer, the suggested method of payment or anything else—don’t move forward with the transaction.