Buying and selling gear safely
Most transactions on SwapStage go smoothly. These guidelines help make sure yours does too — whether you're shipping across the country or meeting up locally.
Local meetups
Meet in a public place with foot traffic — a coffee shop, music store, or mall. Avoid meeting at your home or the seller's home.
Many local police departments offer their parking lot as a safe exchange zone. Look up your nearest station's "safe exchange" program.
Bring a friend. There's no reason to meet a stranger alone to hand over hundreds of dollars in gear.
Do the transaction during daylight hours.
Test the gear thoroughly before paying. Plug it in, play it, check the electronics, look for undisclosed damage. Once you hand over cash, the transaction is done.
Let someone know where you're going and who you're meeting.
Never meet at an ATM or accept a request to wire money or pay via Zelle/Venmo for a local transaction. These payment methods have no buyer protection and are a common scam vector. Use SwapStage's checkout for all transactions.
Buying safely online
Pay through SwapStage's checkout — never outside the platform. SwapStage's escrow holds your payment until you confirm delivery. Sellers who ask you to pay directly via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or wire transfer are a red flag.
Check the seller's profile — their tier badge, review history, and how long they've been on the platform all matter.
Verified Seller badges mean the seller has passed Stripe Identity Verification. It's not a guarantee, but it's meaningful trust signal.
If a deal seems too good to be true — a 1959 Les Paul for $400 — it is. Walk away.
Ask for additional photos if the listing doesn't show what you need. A legitimate seller will always provide them.
Check the serial number against stolen gear registries like CheckThatSerial.com before completing your purchase.
SwapStage will never ask you to pay via gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. If someone claiming to be SwapStage support asks for payment this way, it's a scam.
Listing gear honestly
Photograph your gear thoroughly — front, back, headstock, body, all hardware, any imperfections. The community's "Great Photos" signal rewards thorough photo documentation.
Disclose all known flaws in the description. A repaired crack, replaced tuners, refret — buyers deserve to know. Misrepresenting condition is grounds for a dispute and account suspension.
Include the serial number if you have it. It helps buyers verify authenticity and demonstrates you're the rightful owner.
Don't list gear you don't own or don't have in hand. Listing gear "on consignment" or gear you haven't personally inspected is prohibited.
Spotting scams
The overpayment scam: A "buyer" sends a check for more than your asking price and asks you to refund the difference. The check bounces. Never accept checks or money orders — use SwapStage checkout only.
The shipping scam: Someone asks you to ship gear before payment clears, or claims they've already paid and pressures you to ship. Payment is always confirmed in SwapStage's dashboard before you ship.
The off-platform pivot: A buyer or seller pushes to complete the deal via text, email, or another app "to save on fees." This removes all of your protections. Stay on SwapStage.
Fake escrow sites: A scammer tells you to complete a transaction on a website that looks like SwapStage but isn't. Always verify you're on the real URL before entering payment details.
If something feels off, trust your gut and back out. Report the user using the Flag button on their listing or profile. We review all reports.
If something goes wrong
Open a dispute within 14 days of delivery if your item doesn't arrive, arrives significantly not as described, or arrives damaged. Go to your purchase history to open a dispute.
For stolen gear: contact your local police department and provide the serial number. Also flag the listing so we can cooperate with any law enforcement inquiry.
Contact us at support@swapstage.com with any safety concern. We take these seriously.