Which Online Marketplaces Have Purchase Protection Included?

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eBay

eBay includes purchase protection through their "eBay Money Back Guarantee" policy. The details of their terms can be found here.

Poshmark

Poshmark includes purchase protection through their "Posh Protect" policy. The details of their terms can be found here.

Mercari

Mercari includes purchase protection through their "Buyer Protection" policy. The details of their terms can be found here.

Depop

Depop includes purchase protection through their "Depop Protection" policy. The details of their terms can be found here.

Facebook Marketplace w/Shipping

Facebook Marketplace includes purchase protection for orders with shipping through their "Purchase Protection" policy. The details of their terms can be found here.

Craigslist

Craigslist does not include purchase protection for transactions conducted using their platform. All items bought are final sale in "as-is" condition.

Kijiji

Kijiji does not include purchase protection for transactions conducted using their platform. All items bought are final sale in "as-is" condition.

Facebook Marketplace Local Sales

Facebook does not include purchase protection for local, in-person sales conducted using their Marketplace platform. All items bought are final sale in "as-is" condition.

What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of a Marketplace With Purchase Protection?

Using a marketplace with built-in purchase protection gives you peace of mind knowing you'll get your money back if you don't receive what you were supposed to. These marketplaces also have a wide inventory to choose from. The downside is prices are higher due to the fees sellers are charged.

What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of a Marketplace Without Purchase Protection?

Marketplaces without purchase protection still have a wide inventory to choose from, but prices aren't as high because sellers aren't charged any fees. The downside is there's no built-in purchase protection if the transaction goes awry.

What Is a Marketplace Fee and What Is the Purpose of It?

Marketplaces with purchase protection charge a "marketplace fee" for every transaction conducted on their platform. The revenue from these fees help offset website operating costs and buyer protection efforts (among other things). Buyers don't usually see these fees as a line item on their purchase. Instead, the seller absorbs the fee from the proceeds of the sale. Marketplace fees range on average from 10-20% of the total transaction value. To compensate for the fees, sellers increase their listed prices accordingly.

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Updated: 2024-08-28
First published: 2024-08-28