A buyer’s question on your listing is the closest thing to a sale you have before someone clicks Buy. Answer it fast and clearly and the device usually sells; leave it for a day and that buyer is already looking at the next listing. This guide covers how quickly to reply, what to say to the questions buyers ask most, how to accept an offer the right way on Swappa, and which comments to ignore or report.
Quick Answer
Answer listing questions and offers within a few hours, in the public comments on your listing. Give direct answers about battery, carrier, condition and what is included, and add a photo when it answers better than words. To accept an offer on Swappa, reply in the comments and then edit your listing price, because anyone can buy at the new price. Ignore and report requests for local pickup, off-platform contact or a different shipping address.
Listing is free. Sellers pay 3% plus payment processing when it sells.
Why Response Time Matters
Before a sale, buyers and sellers on Swappa talk in the public comments on the listing page. After the sale, the conversation moves to the private sale page. That makes the comments section your storefront: every buyer who scrolls down sees your questions and your answers.
Swappa tells buyers that most sellers respond within a few hours, and to allow up to 24 hours for a standard seller. In practice, a buyer comparing a dozen listings for the same phone will not wait 24 hours for you. They ask two or three sellers the same question and buy from the first good answer.
Three habits keep you fast:
- Check your listing a few times a day while it is live, and keep an eye on your email.
- Answer in one reply. Cover the question and the obvious follow-up, so the buyer does not need a second round.
- Fix the listing, not just the comment. If two buyers ask the same thing, add the answer to your description or upload a photo, so the next buyer never has to ask.
A public answer also works for every future buyer. One clear reply about battery health can close a sale with someone who never comments at all.
Answers to the Five Most Common Questions
Most buyer questions fall into five groups. Here is what each buyer is really asking and how to answer.
| Buyer asks | What they want to know | How to answer |
|---|---|---|
| “What’s the battery health?” | Will I need a new battery soon? | Give the number and how long it lasts in a day |
| “Will it work on my carrier?” | Is it unlocked or compatible with my network? | State unlocked or the carrier, and offer to check their carrier’s compatibility page |
| “Any scratches?” | Does the condition match the photos? | Name each mark and where it is, then add a close-up photo |
| “What’s included?” | Charger, case, box? | List exactly what ships, and what does not |
| “Can you ship today?” | How fast will it arrive? | Say when you will ship; Swappa requires shipping within two business days |
Battery Health
Give the exact figure if your device shows one, such as an iPhone’s Battery Health percentage, plus a plain description of daily use: “Battery health 86%, lasts a full day of normal use.” Swappa does not set a minimum battery percentage to list, but the battery must charge and discharge properly. On an iPhone below 80% with Apple’s battery message showing in Settings, you must disclose it on the listing. For what buyers look for, see Battery Health in Used Electronics: What to Know.
Carrier Compatibility
Say whether the device is unlocked or tied to a carrier, exactly as it is listed. Do not post the IMEI in the comments. Swappa treats it as private until the device sells. Instead, a buyer can send you a link to their carrier’s bring-your-own-device checker, and you can run the check and reply with the result. After the sale, you can share the IMEI privately on the sale page. Unlocked vs. Carrier-Locked Phones: What It Means When Buying Used explains the differences buyers care about.
Scratches and Condition
Be specific. “Two light scratches on the back near the camera, invisible with a case” is far more reassuring than “minor wear.” Then click Upload Photos on the listing page and add a close-up. If the marks are worse than your condition grade suggests, change the grade now rather than after a return. Swappa Condition Grades Explained: New, Mint, Good, Fair defines each grade.
What’s Included
List what ships, item by item. For phones, a charger is not required for any condition grade, so buyers ask. If you are including the original box or a case, say so; it can be the detail that wins the sale.
Shipping and Returns
Tell the buyer when you will ship. Swappa requires sellers to ship with tracking within two business days of purchase, and shipping sooner is a selling point. If a buyer asks about returns, point to your listing’s Returns & Refunds section. You are not required to accept a change-of-mind return, but you must accept returns for items that are not as described.
Handling Offers
On Swappa, offers arrive as comments: “Would you take $400?” There is no separate offer button, so how you respond decides whether the sale happens.
If you accept, do it in two steps:
- Reply in the comments so the buyer knows: “Sure, I’ve lowered it to $400.”
- Edit your listing and change the Ask Price, so the buyer-facing price matches.
Swappa is first come, first served. You cannot hold a listing for one buyer, and anyone can buy at the new price once you change it. That is usually fine, because a lower price sells faster either way. It also means you should only edit the price to a number you are happy to accept from anyone.
Remember the fee math when you agree to a number. Your Ask Price is what you are paid before fees, and buyers see a price 3% higher. If the buyer offers a total, such as “$400 shipped,” work out which Ask Price produces that listing price before you edit.
If the offer is too low, a short, polite reply that restates the market keeps a real buyer talking. Check what the device actually sold for on Swappa’s price guide before you answer, and see How to Handle Lowball Offers When Selling Tech for when to counter, hold or walk.
Quick tip: A buyer who made an offer will not always see your price drop. Reply to their comment every time you lower the price, even if you lowered it for other reasons.
Comments to Ignore or Report
Most comments are real buyers. A few are not, and some come from the same accounts posting the same templated lowball on many listings. Swappa’s comment guidelines say comments should be about buying and selling that listing. These are the ones to watch for:
| Comment | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| “Can we meet locally before I buy?” | Decline | Arranging a meetup before purchase and skipping checkout is not permitted |
| “Text me at…” or an email address | Do not reply off Swappa; report | Sharing contact details on listing pages breaks the guidelines and is a classic scam opener |
| “Can you ship to a different address?” before purchase | Decline, or ship only to the checkout address | You must ship to the address the buyer entered at checkout to keep PayPal protection |
| “Send me the IMEI” | Decline politely | IMEIs stay private until the device sells |
| Links to other sites, insults, or price policing | Report | Swappa removes these with a warning |
| Copy-paste lowballs posted on many listings | Ignore | No reply is needed |
Two of these have nuance. Local pickup can only be arranged on the private sale page after a buyer has paid through checkout, if both of you agree, and Swappa does not advise it because it can void PayPal’s protections. International buyers can use a US freight forwarding address, but outside Swappa’s partner services they must ask your permission before buying, and you can say no. If you agree, ship with tracking and insurance to the address PayPal provides.
To report a comment or listing, contact Swappa support through the Help Desk with a link to the listing and a short note. Never move a conversation to text, email or another app to “save on fees.” Seller-Side Scams: How to Protect Yourself When Selling covers the tricks that follow, and Why You Should Never Pay Outside a Marketplace explains what you lose.
Templates You Can Copy
Keep these short replies handy and adjust the details to your device.
Battery: “Battery health is 88% and it easily lasts a full day of normal use. No battery warnings in Settings.”
Carrier: “It’s factory unlocked. If you send me your carrier’s compatibility page, I’ll check the IMEI there and post the result.”
Condition: “There’s one light scratch on the back near the camera. I just added a close-up photo to the listing so you can see it.”
What’s included: “It ships with the original box and a USB-C cable. No charging brick or case.”
Shipping: “I ship the next business day with tracking.”
Accepting an offer: “Deal. I’ve lowered the price to $400, so it’s ready to buy. It’s first come, first served, so grab it when you’re ready.”
Declining local pickup: “Thanks, but I only sell through Swappa checkout so we’re both protected. I ship fast with tracking.”
IMEI request: “I keep the IMEI private until the sale, per Swappa’s rules. Send me your carrier’s compatibility link and I’ll check it for you.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast should I reply to buyer questions on Swappa?
Within a few hours. Swappa tells buyers that most sellers respond within a few hours and to allow up to 24 hours for standard sellers, but buyers comparing several listings usually buy from whoever answers first.
How do I accept an offer on Swappa?
Reply to the buyer’s comment to say you accept, then edit your listing and change the Ask Price. Swappa is first come, first served, so anyone can buy at the new price once you change it, and you cannot hold the listing for one buyer.
Should I give a buyer the IMEI before they buy?
No. Swappa asks sellers not to share the IMEI, ESN or serial number publicly. A buyer can send you their carrier’s compatibility link and you can run the check yourself. You can share the IMEI privately on the sale page after the device is purchased.
Can a buyer pick up my device locally on Swappa?
Not before purchase. Arranging a local meetup before buying and skipping checkout is not permitted. After a buyer pays through checkout, local pickup can be arranged on the sale page if both sides agree, but Swappa does not advise it because it can void PayPal’s protections.
How do I report a spam or scam comment on my listing?
Contact Swappa support through the Help Desk with a link to the listing and a note about the comment. Swappa removes comments that break its guidelines, such as shared phone numbers, links to other sites or personal attacks, and can lock comments on a listing.
Turn Comments Into Sales
Fast, specific answers sell used devices, and a price edit is how a good offer becomes a sale. Reply within hours, fix your listing when the same question comes up twice, and keep every conversation on Swappa. For the full selling process from listing to payout, see How to Sell Used Electronics: The Complete Guide.
Payment goes straight to you as soon as your item sells.
