Is Swappa Legit? Getting Scammed on Swappa

What is Swappa?

Swappa is a user-to-user marketplace designed to make the device selling and buying process straightforward, safe, and profitable. Similar to Craigslist , you may have heard horror stories about buying and selling devices online. With the increasing number of online marketplaces for these items, finding a reputable platform that values authenticity and transparency can be challenging. However, Swappa is one that prioritizes legitimacy. We’ll address frequently asked questions about Swappa so you can make an informed decision. Mainly, we’ll answer the most commonly asked “Is Swappa legit?”.

How does Swappa work?

Swappa Shipping: Sellers are responsible for packaging and shipping the item to the buyer. Swappa requires sellers to ship the item within two business days of receiving payment, but the seller can choose any preferred shipping provider, such as USPS, FedEx, or UPS, as long as they provide a tracking number. This ensures accurate delivery and prevents any misunderstandings between the buyer and seller.

Swappa Payment: Buyers and sellers use PayPal for transactions, which offers protection and security to both parties. According to the Swappa website, sellers receive payment before shipping.

Swappa Local: Swappa Local, available in 43 cities, allows sellers to find a local buyer and avoid shipping fees. Swappa Local offers the same verification and payment protection while allowing face-to-face meetings for same-day pickups.

Is Swappa legit?

Swappa is renowned as a trustworthy platform in the industry, with accreditations from reputed organizations such as the Better Business Bureau. With a B rating and an average rating of 4.41 out of 5 stars from nearly 250 customer reviews, Swappa has become a leading choice for those looking to sell their used devices, such as phones, iPhones, Macbooks, laptops, and shoes & sneakers (coming soon) directly to other consumers. Additionally, Swappa has earned an “Excellent” rank on Trustpilot with over 22,879 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5-star rating. To answer the question “Is Swappa legit?”, yes, Swappa is legit.

Who buys used cell phones near me?

If you’re looking to sell your used cell phone near you, check out Swappa. Swappa cuts out the middleman, meaning sellers can list their devices closer to market value. Instead of selling to a company that will flip the device for a profit, users can directly sell to the buyer. Additionally, Swappa sellers don’t pay any direct fees, as they’re built into the final selling price. 

An interesting tool that Swappa offers is the “Swappa IMEI Check“, which grants customers to do the following:

• Verify any iPhone IMEI
• Verify any smartphone ESN
• Confirm whether a phone is unlocked via Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile

Can I sell on Swappa when I am outside the US?

Swappa is a US-based marketplace. Sellers located outside the United States unfortunately cannot create listings on Swappa.

Can you get scammed on Swappa?

Swappa reviews listings before posting to avoid any spam and ensure authenticity. Swappa prioritizes consumer safety and provides the best possible experience for its users. The platform prohibits vendors from posting broken or malfunctioning devices, ensuring buyers receive the products they pay for.

Yes, you can get scammed on Swappa. For example, let’s say a buyer purchases an iPhone 14 for $700. But, the seller does not have possession of the iPhone. At this point, the funds are in the sellers possession, and the buyer requests for a refund. However, the refund cannot be processed because the seller does not have sufficient funds to process the refund. From this point, the buyer has to deal with PayPal dispute team for roughly a month or more to get a conclusive answer. Therefore, before you go buy anything from any marketplace or have any concerns like “Is Swappa legit?”, we recommend using a scam detector tool, such as Hogo.

It’s important that you don’t buy used stolen phones. Here’s a free checking tool.

What is Hogo?

Hogo is your personal online privacy defender. We equip our users with online privacy features, where you can scan websites and data brokers to identify who is selling your private information. Users can receive alerts anytime a new unknown site starts selling your sensitive information. On top of that, Hogo offers credit building and monitoring tools to help you achieve financial freedom. We are designed to protect our users from the following:

• Identity Theft
• Prevent Scams
• Stop Spam Texts
• Offer Free Fraud Insurance
• Offer Cash Value Rewards for protecting your personal information

To learn more, click here.

Does Swappa sell your personal data?

According to Swappa’s privacy policy, users have the right to opt out of the sale of personal information (Swappa does not sell user information). Users hold the right not to receive discriminatory treatment by Swappa for the exercise of the privacy rights conferred by the CCPA. To ensure your information isn’t found on unknown sites, consider running a privacy scan on Hogo to double-check.

It’s important to protect your Personally Identifiable Information, as it can lead to severe financial consequences and unnecessary stress.

What criteria should a product meet to sell on Swappa?

If you’re considering selling your device on Swappa, here are a few tips to sell it swiftly and profitably:

• Be honest and detailed in your description of the phone’s condition. Honesty and accuracy are essential to a successful sale.

• Post in Swappa Local. If your area offers Swappa Local, it can be a great way to attract local buyers.

• Price your phone realistically based on market value. Check other platforms to see how much phones of a similar model and condition are selling for and include shipping fees in the final price.

• Check your listing regularly. You have two business days to provide a shipment tracking number once your phone has been purchased. Don’t be afraid to turn down lower offers, and accept only the offers that meet your expectations.

Is Swappa Safe?

Ultimately, Swappa is a safe and trusted platform for anyone looking to buy or sell devices. With its user-to-user approach, it allows for a more direct and honest transaction, ensuring satisfaction on both sides. Swappa’s security measures, such as verifying transactions, prohibiting broken devices, and using PayPal, guarantee peace of mind for both buyers and sellers. So, if you’re looking to sell your device or purchase a used one, Swappa is a trustworthy option!

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Categorised in: Online Privacy

This post was written by Adrian Yang