Buying second hand online almost always pays off. A pushchair, a pair of hiking boots, a games console or a designer lamp often costs half the new price, and sometimes it's practically new. What holds many people back is a very concrete worry, paying someone you don't know and hoping the item actually arrives and looks like it did in the photos. In this article we walk you through how we designed Lendmates so you can buy second hand online safely, step by step, from the moment you find the listing to the moment you open the parcel.
Before you buy, look at who is selling
On Lendmates every seller and every buyer is a person with a verified identity. When you sign up we ask you to prove who you are, and the same goes for anyone who publishes a listing. Knowing there's a real person on the other side, with a name and a profile, changes how people behave, on both sides.
On the seller's profile you'll also find reviews from people who have already bought from them. Read them, don't just look at the stars. A line like "packed really well, arrived in two days" tells you a lot about how your purchase will be handled. If the profile is new and has no reviews yet, that's not necessarily a bad sign, everyone starts somewhere, but it's a good reason to ask a few more questions.
Asking the right questions in the chat
Before paying you can message the seller in the in-app chat, without giving out your number or getting theirs. Don't be shy about using it. Ask for a photo of a detail the listing doesn't show, when it was bought, whether there's a receipt, whether it has any flaws. Someone selling in good faith is happy to answer, and often adds things you wouldn't have thought to ask.
Keeping the whole conversation in the app has another advantage. If something needs clearing up later, what you both said is right there in writing. We went into more detail in our article on how the in-app chat works.
For electronics, always ask for a photo of the item switched on, with a screen showing it works. For clothes and shoes, measurements taken with a tape measure are worth more than any size on the label.
How protected payment works when you buy used
This is the part that makes the difference. On Lendmates you pay directly in the app, and the money doesn't go straight to the seller. It stays protected until the purchase goes through, meaning until the item reaches you and matches what you bought. Only then does the seller get paid.
For you, that means no bank transfers to strangers, no sending money upfront and hoping for the best, and no turning up to a meeting with cash in your pocket. For the seller, it means knowing the payment is there before they even ship. It puts both sides at ease, and that's exactly why it works.
If someone asks you to pay outside the app, by bank transfer, a top-up or a link sent in the chat, don't. Protected payment only covers you when it goes through the app.
Buying from all over Italy with shipping
When you buy second hand on Lendmates you're not tied to your own city. You can buy a mountain jacket from someone in Bolzano or a coffee machine from someone in Palermo, and have it delivered to your door by courier. You see the shipping cost before paying, together with the price of the item, so you know your total straight away.
When the parcel arrives, open it calmly and check the item. If it's what was listed, the purchase closes and the seller gets paid. If something doesn't add up, message the seller in the chat before confirming and try to sort it out. Most misunderstandings are cleared up in a couple of messages.
After the purchase, the review
When everything has gone well, leave a review for the person who sold you the item, and they'll leave one for you. Two honest lines are enough. Those lines are what let the next person buy with the same peace of mind you had. If you want to know how they work, it's all in our guide to reviews on Lendmates.
A few practical tips for buying used online
Be wary of prices far lower than every other listing for the same item. A recent iPhone at a third of its value is rarely a bargain. Always compare two or three similar listings before deciding, so you get a feel for what the thing you want is really worth.
Read the description all the way through. Many flaws are honestly written there, and the seller expects you to have read them. And if you only need something for a short while, remember that the same account also lets you rent. For a wedding, a trip or a house move you sometimes don't need to buy anything, as we explain in our guide to peer to peer rental in Italy.
Frequently asked questions
How do you buy second hand online without getting scammed?
Buy from verified profiles, read the reviews, ask questions in the chat and always pay inside the app. On Lendmates the seller only gets the money once the purchase goes through.
What happens if the item never arrives?
The payment stays protected until the purchase goes through, so the seller doesn't get paid for an item that never reached you.
Can I buy second hand from another city?
Yes. Selling on Lendmates has no distance limit, and items are delivered by courier all over Italy.
Do I need separate accounts to buy and to sell?
No. With the same account you can buy, sell, rent and rent out your own things.
Lendmates is coming soon
Soon you'll be able to buy second hand from all over Italy with protected payment, chatting with verified people.
Meet Lendmates