I was recently looking for an old iPhone and visited multiple used electronic goods websites. I even did a few transactions. Here is my learning from this experience.
- Always be wary of sellers who have a very good deal. For example, somebody selling a brand new iPhone for 20 K. These just fake products. I did enter in conversations with few of them and many of them quickly wanted to take you off the platform and have a WhatsApp conversation with me. These people generally had mobile numbers registered abroad. I found a few sellers with mobile numbers with country code of Nigeria.
- Always do a due diligence of sellers. You will generally find them listing a single product across multiple cities. If you find similar spelling mistakes in products listed in different cities, generally not above board sellers.
- Use a platform that provides pickup and delivery and always use that. Even though not absolutely guaranteed, there is a better chance of you getting a genuine product if it was delivered by the platform. Three of my orders were never delivered because the seller refused to answer the phone after accepting the order.
- If the platform offers Assured service, like QuikrAssured, buy products through that even if they cost more.
If you can afford, stay away from this platform.