Meetups and handoffs

The listing is the easy part. This page is about the handoff: where to meet, how to do a porch pickup, what to do with a couch, and how to pay.

The rules of thumb

Daylight, a public place, and a friend if you can.
Look at the item before you pay. Pay in person.
No shipping, no paying ahead, no checks, no codes.
Don’t put your street address in a listing.

Pick a handoff style

Public meetup

Best for small things: electronics, bikes, lamps, a mini fridge. You never go to a stranger’s home or bring one to yours.

Porch or curb pickup

Fine for big or heavy things. The seller sets the item at the door or curb, the buyer comes at a set time, and the seller stays outside. Share the address only after you have talked, and don’t let strangers in.

Either

Tell the buyer which you prefer when you reply. Sellers can pick a style on the posting form, and it shows on the listing.

Public places to meet (ideas)

These are ideas, not partners. None of these places know about this site, hours change, and nobody is there to supervise.

A busy grocery or pharmacy parking lotLit, with cameras and foot traffic. Pick one near where you live and park near the entrance.
Tuscaloosa Public Library, main branch1801 Jack Warner Parkway. Open most days, closed Sunday. Meet in the lot or outside the front doors during open hours.
Tuscaloosa Police Department, 3801 Trevor S. Phillips Ave.The lot is public and busy. We could not find an official exchange zone there, so don’t count on anyone watching. Check with the department before you rely on it.
A coffee shop with big windowsGood for small items. Ask first if you will be carrying something in.
Near campusBusy lots at daytime. Avoid empty lots, side streets, and parking decks at night.

Move-out pickups

Put a pickup-by date on the listing, and a window in the pickup times box, like “Fri 5 to 8pm or Sat morning”.
Answer the first buyer who can make your window. Say so in the listing when it is spoken for, or mark it sold.
Dorm items: agree on the building and a time. Many halls have rules about guests, so meet outside.
Anything left on your last day can go to a donation center or a bulk pickup. Don’t leave it on the curb unless your landlord allows it.

Couches, beds, and other big stuff

Seller: measure it, take a photo of it in the room, and say if it goes through a narrow door or up stairs.
Buyer: measure your doorway, hallway, stairs, and truck or car first. Bring blankets, straps, and a second person.
Check couches and mattresses for bed bugs and smoke before you load them. Look at seams and the underside.
Keep it at the door or curb. The seller doesn’t need to leave the house empty or let strangers walk through.

Payment

Pay when you have the item in hand and have looked it over. Cash is simplest. Bring small bills.
Don’t ship, and don’t pay ahead, even a deposit, even “to hold it”.
Don’t accept a check, money order, or overpayment with a request to send back the difference. That is a common scam.
Don’t share verification codes, passwords, or bank logins with anyone.
Be wary of a buyer or seller who won’t meet in person, rushes you, or wants to move the chat to another app.

Game-day parking handoffs

Confirm the date, time, and exactly where to park, in writing.
The owner gives the address after talking. It isn’t in the listing.
Pay the owner directly. Never pay a stranger on the street.
No city streets, yellow curbs, fire lanes, or blocking driveways. A listing that does that gets removed. See the parking rules.

After the handoff

Sellers: open your manage page and tap “Mark as sold”. If something goes wrong with a listing or a person, use the report form. If you feel unsafe, leave and call 911 or the police.