Jewish Knowhow - How to buy a secondhand item online

More people than ever are using the internet to sell the secondhand items online, which means it is easier than ever for you to grab a bargain on secondhand furniture, cars, electronics etc. Buying something from a stranger online does not have the same security as buying something from an established store, so we at JewSurf have put together a list of the top things you should consider when purchasing a secondhand item online. JewSurf has a page just for buying and selling items for our community. Check out what has been posted on the Jwall under “buy and sell” and you might find exactly what you are looking for! 1. Look carefully at the item you want to purchase. Make sure you have a good look at the photos the seller has uploaded to their post. Look for scratches and marks, and take note of any angles of the product that they don’t show in their post. Read the description of the item carefully, a good post shouldn’t leave you with many questions about the condition of the item for sale. 2. Ask questions. If you examine the post carefully and still have questions, don’t be afraid to ask them! A trustworthy seller will be happy to answer any questions you have. You can also ask them to send extra photos or a short video proving that the product works. 3. If you can’t find the item you want, you can put up at WTB post. If you are looking at the Jwall Buy and Sell page and can’t find what you are looking for, you can put up a post saying you are seeking a particular item. A WTB post, or a Want To Buy post, can remind someone of something they have at home that they no longer use but maybe hadn’t considered selling, or someone could see the post and point you in the direction of someone they know who is selling that item. You have nothing to lose by posting and it is a lot easier than searching through multiple websites. 4. Verify the identity of the seller. Make sure you know exactly who you are dealing with, especially if you intend to meet with them in person alone. Suggest connecting with the seller on LinkedIn or Facebook so that you can put a face to the name and verify their identity. Someone who is willing to show you who they are is much less likely to scam you than someone who insists on remaining anonymous. 5. You are allowed to change your mind. Even if you take the steps to verify the sellers identity and examine the item via photos, sometimes things can go wrong. If you meet up with the seller and the item is not as described in the post, or something just doesn’t seem quite right, it is always okay to change your mind. Remember to use our Buy and Sell page on the Jwall the next time you are looking to purchase a secondhand item online. It is completely free to make an account and post there, so you have nothing to lose, but you could potentially gain your next favorite secondhand purchase.