FIELD GUIDE
Buying safely from strangers.
Plain, practical notes on verifying private-party sellers, spotting marketplace scams, and getting real proof before any money moves. No fear-mongering. Just the routine that holds up.
How to Verify a Private-Party Seller Before You Pay
A Rokslide veteran's step-by-step routine for confirming a private seller is real and has the item in hand, before any money changes hands.
What to Ask a Seller Before Paying for a High-Value Item
The exact questions I ask before sending money for an expensive used item, learned over 30-plus private deals and one expensive lesson.
The Private-Party Gear Deal Checklist
A printable, field-tested checklist for buying used gear from a stranger online: what to read, what to ask, and what proof to require before you pay.
Common Red Flags in Used Gear Listings
After 30-plus classifieds deals, these are the listing patterns that make me slow down: stock photos, urgency, off-platform pushes, and prices too good to be real.
How to Tell If a Facebook Marketplace Seller Is Real
A new profile and a stock photo prove nothing. Here is how I check whether a Facebook Marketplace seller is a real person who actually has the item.
PayPal Goods & Services vs Seller Verification
PayPal Goods & Services can help you claw money back after a bad deal. Seller verification tries to stop the bad deal first. Here is how they fit together.
Why Live Video Proof Beats Screenshots
Screenshots and saved photos prove almost nothing about who you are buying from. Here is why a live, prompted video clip is the stronger signal.
The Safe Word Method for Private Deals
A safe word said out loud on camera proves a seller's video was recorded live for you, not pulled from an old listing. It started DealProof's very first deal.
Why Timestamped Proof Matters in a Private Deal
A video buried in a chat thread is easy to dispute later. A timestamped record of when proof happened is worth far more if a deal goes sideways.
How Honest Sellers Prove They're Legit Without Oversharing
As a seller I get asked to prove I'm real all the time. Here is how to put a nervous buyer at ease without handing over your address, ID, or private details.