How to sell used electronics locally without getting scammed

Used electronics are the most-searched category on TBuddy Marketplace — and the category where new sellers get burned most often. Fake buyers, screen-swap scams, ghost payments, meet-and-run pickups: they're all real, and they're all preventable. This is the exact playbook we recommend.

1. Price like a buyer, not like your invoice

What you paid two years ago is irrelevant. Buyers care about today's used price.

• Check the last 10 sold prices on TBuddy for the same model + year. Median = your starting price.
• Discount 10% for visible scratches, 15% for missing box/charger, 20% for out-of-warranty.
• Never post "OBO / negotiable" — it invites lowball spam. Post a firm price and one clear discount for pickup within 24 hours.

2. Photos: 3 that sell, 3 that build trust

• Photo 1: full device, front, natural light, on a plain surface. This is your thumbnail.
• Photo 2: back of the device, showing any scratches honestly.
• Photo 3: powered on, showing the actual model + storage in Settings.
• Photo 4 (trust): original box and accessories (or a note that they're missing).
• Photo 5 (trust): serial number match — box vs device. This screenshot alone stops 90% of buyer disputes.
• Photo 6 (trust): a shot of the current date on a piece of paper next to the device.

3. Listing template that answers every question

Model + storage + year · Battery health % · Any scratches (honest) · Original box: yes/no · Warranty left: yes/no · Reason for selling · Meeting area · Firm price · Payment: UPI on-meet only

Copy that exact structure. Buyers stop asking basic questions and jump straight to "can we meet tomorrow?".

4. Vetting the buyer — three green flags, three red flags

• Green: verified TBuddy profile, 3+ prior purchases, replies in short specific sentences.
• Green: happy to meet in a public place (metro station, mall, café).
• Green: wants to test the device on the spot — this is normal and good.
• Red: pushes for delivery or courier before meeting. Never ship electronics to a stranger.
• Red: "I'll transfer now and pick up tomorrow." Wait for money to actually arrive AND clear before handing anything over.
• Red: offers more than asking price. This is a scam 100% of the time.

5. The meet-up: 5 rules that never move

• Public place, daylight if possible. Metro stations and mall food courts are ideal.
• Bring one friend. Two people = far fewer bad-faith buyers.
• Watch the buyer inspect and test the device — but never let it out of your sight before payment lands.
• Accept UPI only, and confirm the payment SMS in your bank app before handing over.
• Screenshot the completed sale in the TBuddy chat and mark the listing sold immediately.

Follow this and selling electronics on TBuddy is boringly safe — exactly the way it should be.