Meeting Safely for In-Person Transactions

The overwhelming majority of in-person sales go fine. A few simple habits make the rest far safer.

Meet in public, in daylight

Busy places with staff and cameras — supermarket car parks, bank forecourts, cafés. Many police stations now offer designated safe exchange zones, which are ideal for higher-value items.

Take someone with you

Two people changes the dynamic of an interaction significantly. If that is not possible, tell someone where you are going, who you are meeting and when you expect to be back.

For items that must be collected from home

• Arrange the meeting for a time when someone else is present
• Keep the transaction at the door or driveway where possible
• Move the item to the garage or front room in advance
• Never leave a stranger unattended inside your home

Handling payment

Cash should be counted before the item changes hands. For bank transfers, confirm the money has actually cleared into your account — a screenshot of a pending transfer is not proof of payment.

Trust the feeling

If a meeting feels wrong when you arrive, leave. No sale is worth overriding that instinct, and no reasonable buyer will hold it against you.