If you’re looking for a newish phone, laptop, or tablet, Swappa is the place to buy it. Never heard of Swappa before? There’s no time like the present. In this article, we’ll do a deep dive into the buying process on Swappa. We’ll try to leave no stone unturned so you can get a good feeling of what it’s like to buy from one of our stellar sellers.
Swappa has built a massive community of passionate sellers and buyers over the years who are looking for quality and affordability. Don’t take the risk of getting scammed by a local seller with an unknown history at a sketchy meetup.
Sellers on Swappa work hard to meet your high expectations for quality devices at great prices. Individual sellers offer fantastic deals on gently used devices to fund an upgrade or pay the bills. Or you can purchase from a Power or Enterprise seller and know that you’re buying from an established US-based business that is experienced in selling new and used tech.
Buying on Swappa is easy and getting ahold of Swappa support is even easier. Have a question about anything in this article? Shoot our Support Desk a message through our contact form and you’ll get a lightning-fast response.
Why Buy on Swappa?
There are many reasons to buy your next device on Swappa. Here are just a few:
Buyer Protections – Buy with confidence. Swappa uses PayPal as a primary payment processor giving buyers industry-leading buyer protections.
Free Standard Shipping – Keep more money in your pocket. Standard shipping is included in the price so you don’t have to worry about paying additional shipping costs.
Keep it Out of the Landfill – By buying a gently used device, you are extending the life of a device that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill.
Human-Powered Support – Devices on Swappa are moderated by people. Swappa has 24/7/365 people-powered support. Email our support desk and you will receive a quick response from a real person. It often takes less than 20 minutes to get a response.
Did you know our catalog is more than just phones?
You can find smartwatches, cameras, earbuds, computers, shoes, and more.
Let’s jump into the buying process on Swappa
Listings on Swappa are Product Based
Unlike marketplaces like eBay, on Swappa, sellers create listings under a specific product. So, all iPhone 12 listings on Swappa can be viewed on a single page. You won’t have to go scrolling through a mix of cases, phones, chargers, and other accessories. You’ll only see phones when you’re shopping for a phone. Not a bunch of other junk cluttering the page.
Every listing on Swappa is assigned a unique Listing Code. The listing code identifies the device a seller has for sale and serves as both a reference number and a fraud prevention measure. The listing code is unique so no other listing on Swappa has that exact code.
The listing code is used to create a verification photo. The verification photo is an image with the listing code written on a piece of paper next to the device being sold. It shows the seller has the device in their possession. This photo serves as a simple fraud prevention measure.
Please note: Power and Enterprise sellers are not required to use the listing code in their verification photos. They have established trust on Swappa through good customer service and established a significant sales history. Instead of a listing code, they can use their Profile Code. This is a unique code that is associated with their Swappa account.
Start Your Buying Journey
Swappa has an extensive catalog of devices that continues to grow. To start your buying journey on Swappa, use the big search bar at the top of the home page or browse through our menus and pages to find the product you’re looking for. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, there’s a chance we have not yet added it to our catalog. If you looking for a particular device, let us know by submitting a product request form.
Once you’ve found a product you’re interested in, it’s time to sort and filter the available listings to find the perfect device for you.
For this article, let’s use the iPhone 13.
We searched for ‘iPhone 13’ in the search bar and clicked through to the iPhone 13 Product Listings Page that looks like this:
Take a minute to look through the different links and elements on the page.
The next step is using the on-page filters to narrow down the available options and find what you want.
Please note: available filters may vary based on the product category.
For the iPhone 13, we have the following filters:
- Carrier
- Color
- Storage
- Model
- Condition
We also have a sort filter that allows you to sort by:
- Featured
- Price (low to high)
- Price (high to low)
For this example, We’ll look for a Mint condition iPhone 13 from Verizon with 128GB of storage. Color won’t be a significant factor in the buying decision because it’s just going to go in a case. We added the Price (low) filter as well to start with the lowest cost, Mint condition listings at the top of the results
The lowest price listing matching the criteria on Swappa right now is $394 from user Chad Z. His listing (LYBX91553) is a Red iPhone with 88% battery health. If we look down the page a little, we can see there are other sellers with phones at 100% battery health for a couple of dollars more. It might be worth spending a couple of extra dollars to pick up a phone with 100% battery health.
Cory W. and William T. are new sellers on Swappa with no ratings. That doesn’t mean you should avoid their listings. The rating stars you see are sale ratings as a seller. Many members of our community have dozens or even hundreds of purchases but haven’t sold a device yet. Their listings would show zero ratings.
Who knows, you may be able to get a better deal from an individual seller than an enterprise seller with a set price point. You can leave comments on individual seller listings to negotiate the listing price.
A seller with an established rating like Karl B. with 607 ratings is very impressive. Karl has been selling for a long time on Swappa and you’re certain to have a good experience buying from a seller with an established history on Swappa. We have a large number of experienced sellers that offer a great customer service experience at a very reasonable price.
Scrolling down the page a little further, we can see a couple of business seller listings.
There are three types of sellers on Swappa:
- Individual Sellers – anyone with a PayPal account and a used device that meets our listing criteria can sell on Swappa. It doesn’t cost anything to list and sellers only pay a small fee once their listing sells.
- Power Sellers – an established, registered business in the US. This type of seller must have an established history on Swappa with a high level of customer service and device quality.
- Enterprise Sellers – these sellers process a high volume of sales on Swappa and are held to the highest standards when it comes to customer service and quality.
Individual Seller vs Business Seller
What’s the difference between individual and business sellers?
Anyone can sell as an Individual seller on Swappa. All you need is a PayPal account, a camera, and a Swappa account. If your device meets our listing criteria and passes Swappa’s moderation process, you can sell it. Individual sellers use the unique listing code to create verification photos for their listings.
Power sellers have a couple of additional tools at their disposal. They have access to a tool called ‘Incoming Inventory’ which allows them to create a large number of listings quickly. Power sellers can use their profile codes instead of listing codes in their verification photos.
Enterprise sellers have the same tools Power Sellers have in addition to being able to create listings with multiple quantities. Unfortunately, buyers are not able to comment on enterprise seller listings. So, if you need a specific question answered, look for individual or power seller listings.
All sellers on Swappa can receive ratings on their sales. Only sellers receive ratings on Swappa. Unlike eBay, buyers do not receive ratings from the seller on a sale. So, a Swappa seller with a 9-year history can have zero ratings because only sellers receive ratings.
We’ve covered the types of sellers on Swappa. Now let’s walk through each section of a Swappa listing.
Inspect the Listing Photos
When you’re browsing through listings, look through all the photos the seller has provided. If they only have a couple of listing photos, you’ll have to rely on the condition definition and listing description. We’ve found that the more detailed, in-focus photos a seller provides on their listings, the easier it is to determine the true condition of the listing and the easier it is to purchase the listing with confidence.
Look for scratches on the screen as well as chips or cracks to the glass. This inspection should include the back of the device and the camera glass.
Sellers will usually include a photo of any accessories that are included with the device. There may be a photo showing the original box, phone case, charger, or other accessories. Unless specifically stated in the listing description or shown in the photos, you should not assume the seller will include a specific item
Photos can make or break a listing and they are the first thing you see when you open a listing. In the example below, you can see 5 photos of the device with the listing code in the photos. Clicking on the photos will open a lightbox where you can see the full-sized photos. There are an additional 5 photos that you can scroll through by clicking the ‘+5 More’ link. You can see the seller did a great job with their verification photo. The device is powered on with the listing code shown next to the device.
Look for listings with well-lit photos that are in focus and clearly show the condition of the device. Swappa does not have a photo limit like some marketplaces so sellers can upload photos of every corner, edge, and side of the device with closeups. If there’s a particular angle you’d like to see of the device, feel free to leave a comment on the listing asking the seller to upload that angle.
Note: Buyers are not able to leave comments for Enterprise Sellers on Swappa
Some questions to run through in your mind when scrolling through a listing’s photos:
- Can you determine the condition of the device based on the photos provided by the seller?
- Are there any signs of damage to the screen or frame?
- Is there any cracked or chipped glass (front, back, camera lenses)?
- If there are scratches to the screen, how severe are they?
- What is included in the listing (charger, cases, etc.- accessories are not always pictured)?
Listing Conditions and Criteria
Swappa has a ‘No Junk, No Jerks’ policy. All devices on Swappa must be fully functional and have no cracked or chipped glass. When the buyer receives the device it should be ready to be activated and free of any financial obligation (not under contract).
These are the strict listing criteria and condition guidelines that we expect our sellers to adhere to.
The condition of the phone is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a used device. Do you want a phone that’s in Mint condition and looks like it’s never been used? You might have to pay a little more to get a pristine phone. On the other hand, if you don’t mind a phone with a couple of cosmetic issues like screen scratches that disappear under a screen protector, Good or Fair condition may be more your speed.
The price difference between a flawless device and a device with a few cosmetic issues can be just a few dollars or it can be significant ($50+ or more). Unless you have a strong condition preference, we recommend you include all conditions in your search until you narrow down your options. If screen scratches bother you, we highly recommend New or Mint condition. Fair and good condition devices can and do have noticeable scratches.
Your budget and willingness to accept cosmetic wear to a device will determine what condition listings you will consider. Read over the phone conditions below to get an idea of what you may be interested in.
Condition requirements on Swappa can vary from category to category. Below are the available conditions for Phones.
New condition iPhones on Swappa must be sealed in the original manufacturer’s packaging. If sealed from the factory, the seal must be intact. Otherwise, the device must be unused and unactivated.
Please note: We do allow refurbished devices that have been repackaged but they must be listed in Mint or lower condition.
Mint condition iPhones on Swappa should show zero signs of wear (however small). The phone should be in pristine cosmetic condition. The battery doesn’t have to be 100% but does need to function properly. It’s common for newer sellers to think their phone is in Mint condition but that’s typically not the case. Even one scratch or permanent mark to the device disqualifies an iPhone from being considered in Mint condition.
Good condition iPhones can have very minor cosmetic wear. A small ding, scuff, or scratch would qualify the phone as Good condition. We often see at least micro scratches to the screen unless the iPhone was immediately protected by a screen protector. Another common area for cosmetic wear on a phone is around the charge port where a cord was plugged into the device potentially hundreds of times.
Fair condition iPhones on Swappa will show significant wear. The screen and/or body of the phone is typically scratched with deeper marks than you’d see on a lightly used, Good-condition phone. Fair-condition devices are often dropped on the ground and have dents to corners or scrapes from the pavement. The phone may have been used without a screen protector and the glass of the screen was scratched to the point where the wear is visually noticeable.
Here is an example of the condition section from an iPhone listing. The condition along with the battery health is shown. Under the condition is a bulleted list describing ‘Good’ condition for the phone category on Swappa. You can see the condition guidelines for all device categories on the Condition Guidelines page.
iPhone Battery Health
Some Apple products on Swappa will have a battery health percentage. For iPhones, the maximum battery capacity of the device is a consideration. The Maximum Capacity shown on the battery settings page in the iPhone is a percentage indicating the battery’s maximum capacity when compared to when it was new. Unlike other manufacturers, Apple shows the max capacity number as a metric of the battery’s health. They recommend replacing the battery if the max capacity is below 80% but if the phone is still able to charge and discharge without random restarts or other issues, it isn’t required.
If the max capacity of the battery is 80%, the iPhone’s battery can hold 80% of its original charge when new. Just because the battery’s capacity may be diminished doesn’t mean it’s junk. It just means that the iPhone’s ability to hold a charge is diminished and the phone may require charging more often throughout the day.
If you’d like to know more about iPhone batteries and how to charge them, read our article How to Charge Your iPhone the Right Way.
Swappa Prices
Prices on Swappa are set by the seller and include standard shipping with tracking and insurance. On top of the listing price, buyers cover any state-mandated sales tax (calculated at checkout based on the buyer’s shipping address). Swappa collects the sales tax on the seller’s behalf and remits it to the appropriate state.
The cost of standard shipping is included in the listing price so buyers don’t need to worry about a large added cost when checking out. Sellers are expected to factor in the cost of shipping when listing their device. In the image below, the seller has listed an Unlocked iPhone 13 128GB Midnight in Good condition. The listing price is $366 which includes both the shipping and insurance. The only additional cost a buyer will pay on top of the $366 is the sales tax which is calculated at the time of purchase. All you need to do as the buyer is click the big green ‘Buy Now’ button to start the checkout process.
Note: there is an additional flat shipping fee for shoe purchases charged to the buyer to cover the seller’s shipping costs.
If you have any questions about how the fees work on Swappa, check out our Fees Page.
So how do you get a great deal on Swappa?
Here are a couple of tools and strategies you can use to get the best deal. At the top of the product listings page, there are a couple of links that will help you get a great deal on Swappa.
Price Trends – a graph with a historical view of the device’s price.
Recent Sales – a table of recent transactions for that particular device. You can click the listing link to view the sold listing. The recent sales panel has limited sort functionality.
Subscribe – be notified when new listings are approved on Swappa that meet your criteria. You will need to be logged into your Swappa account to see the Subscribe link on product pages.
Subscribing to a product on Swappa is one of the most powerful ways to snag a great deal on Swappa. When a new listing that meets your criteria is approved, you will receive an email with a link to the listing. You’ll have to be quick though because the best deals go quickly on Swappa.
Make an Offer – you can leave comments on non-enterprise seller listings negotiating the price of the listing. The comment section is where you should ask the seller any questions you have about their listing. If you go this route, make sure to keep an eye on your email. Listings on Swappa are first-come-first-served. If a seller drops the price on their listing, anyone can purchase at the lower price.
Look at Seller Ratings – individual sellers that are new to selling on Swappa are often looking to liquidate their device quickly (to fund an upgrade) and tend to be more willing to negotiate the price. Look for individual sellers with a lower number of ratings.
Listing and Damage Description
As a rule of thumb, always carefully read the headline, listing description, and damage description. These sections are where the seller will mention any wear or damage to the device and any relevant history including repairs. You may find warranty and return policy information in the listing description.
The warranty and return information for business sellers is in its own section on the listing page.
Listing Damage Description
Listing Headline and Description
Check the Seller’s Profile
Sandwiched between the condition and listing description sections is the seller’s profile. You’ll see a profile photo along with their sale rating, the date they joined Swappa, and their past and current listing count. Ratings on Swappa work a little bit differently than other marketplaces. Only sellers receive ratings on Swappa so any stars you see next to a profile across Swappa are ratings a buyer left for the seller.
Click on the seller’s profile and you’ll be taken to a page where you can read the ratings left by their customers along with a list of their currently active listings.
Many members of the Swappa community are dedicated buyers that do not sell. If they created a listing, their profile would show zero stars. This is why we include the ‘Member since’ date.
Shipping & Handling
Near the bottom of the listing, you will find the Shipping & Handling section. This section has a link to Swappa’s Shipping Policies page along with a bulleted list of shipping details. With the exception of shoes, shipping on Swappa is free.
The top bullet is the location of the seller. It’s where the package will be shipped from.
We require sellers to ship their devices with tracking and proper insurance. Sellers can choose the shipping carrier but the package must include those two things.
Swappa has a two-business-day shipping window requirement. After your payment is completed, the seller has two full business days to ship the device. We’ve created a page that explains the shipping time frame requirements.
We do not support international shipping at this time. If you are outside the US and would like to purchase a device from Swappa, read our International Shipping FAQ. Some sellers are willing and able to ship to a freight forwarding address. However, if you plan on using a re-shipper or freight forwarding company, you must ask the seller if they agree to ship to a reshipper before purchasing.
Buying a Listing on Swappa
Before we walk through the process of buying a listing, let’s go over a couple of common payment-related questions.
What payments does Swappa accept?
Swappa uses PayPal and Stripe (available to power and enterprise sellers) to process payments. You can use any major US credit card or debit card through either payment service to purchase a listing. In addition to credit and debit cards, you can use any payment form available to your PayPal account during the checkout process. These could include PayPal credit, an existing balance on your PayPal account, or a connection to your bank account.
Can I use a credit card if there is no credit card form at checkout?
Yes, if there is no credit card form on the Swappa checkout page, you would select PayPal and enter your credit card information during the PayPal checkout process.
Do I have to have a PayPal account to buy on Swappa?
No, you can enter your credit or debit card information without logging into your PayPal account. Select the ‘Pay with Debit or Credit Card’ button highlighted in the image below.
You’ve decided on a listing to purchase. Let’s hit that big green Buy Now button!
Listing Checkout
After hitting the ‘Buy Now’ button, you’ll be on the checkout page. This is where you enter your shipping address and payment information. The price is broken down in an itemized list including any applicable sales tax.
If the seller is a business seller with Stripe payments enabled, the payments section may look like this:
You can enter your credit card information directly into the checkout page to be processed by Stripe.
Swappa Sale Page
Once you enter your payment information, a private sale page will be created for the transaction. A unique sale code is assigned to your purchase which you can use as a reference point if you need support from Swappa.
This sale page is only visible to you, the seller, and Swappa staff. The sale page cannot be seen by the public.
The sale page is somewhat unique to the Swappa marketplace. It’s a page we create for every sale that shows information about the transaction and facilitates communication between the buyer, the seller, and staff.
The seller should upload tracking information for the package to the shipment section of the sale page within two business days of your purchase.
You can communicate with the seller and Swappa staff on the sale page by leaving a comment in the comment section. The comment will be emailed to the seller and you should receive a reply within 24 hours. The sale page comments is the first place you should go if you have a question for the seller or if there is an issue with the device you received.
How Do I Get to the Sale Page?
After the payment is processed you will be taken to the sale page. If you want to get back to the sale page in the future, you can click the Sale Page link in your confirmation email or visit the My Swappa > My Purchases page.
My Swappa is where you can find all the information you need related to your Swappa account. You can change your settings, view your listings, sales, and purchases.
Keep an Eye on Your Email
After you complete your purchase, you will receive the following emails:
Purchase Confirmation – an email confirming your purchase with a link to the sale page
Shipment Tracking – sent when the seller uploads tracking to the sale page
Sale Page Comments – sent when the seller or Swappa staff leaves a comment on the sale page
When Will It Ship?
We require sellers to ship their devices with tracking and proper insurance. Sellers can choose the shipping carrier but the package must include those two things.
Swappa has a two-business-day shipping window requirement. After your payment is completed, the seller has two full business days to ship the device. We’ve created a page that explains the shipping time frame requirements.
If the seller has not communicated about the shipment on the sale page or uploaded tracking information and the shipping window has closed, contact Swappa support by leaving a comment on the sale page or emailing our help desk through our help page. If you send in an email, be sure to include the sale code so our staff can quickly assist you.
It Arrived! Now What?
After receiving your purchase, it’s time to inspect and test the device.
Read our blog post on testing your newish device.
If you have any issues or questions, reach out to the seller by leaving a comment on the sale page.
If everything looks good, complete the sale by pressing the ‘Complete Sale’ button on the sale page and leave the seller a rating.
That’s it! There’s nothing else you need to do.
What to Do If There’s a Problem?
If you have a problem with your purchase, the first step to take is to reach out to the seller by leaving them a comment on the sale page. It might be a condition or activation issue but you should always start on the sale page.
Swappa expects sellers to respond to sale page comments within 24 hours. If the seller does not respond within that time frame, the next step is to let Swappa staff know. You can either leave another comment on the sale page with the ‘I need help (Swappa Staff)’ box checked or contact our helpdesk.
If it’s a condition issue or the device isn’t working quite right, you can upload photos and/or videos to the sale page. Photos can be directly uploaded to the Pictures section of the sale page. The video will have to be uploaded to a third-party website like Google Drive or Dropbox and you can leave a comment with a link to the video in the comments section.
If the device was damaged in transit, the next step is still the same. Let the seller know and work together to file an insurance claim with the shipping carrier.
If a return is required, reference our Return Policy FAQ page. We also have a page that covers who pays for the cost of return shipping.
Here’s an example screenshot of a sale page [SYCH59819].
Warranty and Returns on Swappa
One important question that every used tech buyer should ask is: Does it come with a warranty? This question can make or break a purchase decision. Buyers want to know that the seller stands behind the product they are selling. Swappa has basic listing criteria that every listing must meet. Swappa does not directly warranty any devices sold on our marketplace. We expect sellers to meet the listing criteria and condition requirements and stand behind the devices they sell.
Many sellers on Swappa offer a 30-day return policy. In some cases, the seller may even offer up to a 1-year warranty on the phone for parts/labor. As a buyer, you should closely read over the seller’s listing description and warranty/return policy before deciding to buy. If there’s any doubt as to the seller’s policy, feel free to leave the seller a comment on their listing.
If it’s a newer iPhone, the device may be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty but you should not assume that to be the case. Usually, the seller will know if the iPhone is covered by Apple Care or Apple Care+ and will include the relevant information in the listing headline or description.
Looking to sell some devices that are just sitting around the house? Try selling them on Swappa!
