Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist — local selling is fast and a little chaotic. The deal lives in a messy chat thread, the price gets "negotiated" again at the curb, and "as-is" was never actually said out loud. Most of that friction disappears with one small habit.
Where local sales go wrong
- The price moves at the meetup. "I only brought $80" when you agreed $100.
- Condition disputes. "You didn’t say it had a scratch" — even though the photos did.
- Buyer’s remorse. A refund request the next day for a final sale.
- Just a chat log. Screenshots are better than nothing, but they’re scattered and easy to dispute.
The two-minute fix
Before you meet, turn the agreed deal into a simple bill of sale: the item and its condition, the price, "sold as-is," and both names. You both e-sign from your phones and each keep a copy. Now the meetup is just the handover — the terms are already settled.
Stay safe, too
The agreement handles the deal; common sense handles the meetup. Meet in a public, well-lit place (many areas have designated exchange spots), bring a friend for higher-value items, and prefer traceable payment. A clear record plus a safe handover is the whole game.