A checklist before you buy from a third-party online seller

Last reviewed: 6 September 2026

Buying from an independent online seller — on a marketplace, a classifieds site, or their own small shop — is usually fine. A short checklist beforehand removes most of the risk and makes it much easier to sort out a problem if one comes up. This is general information, not legal advice.

1. Know your consumer rights, in general terms

In Australia, the Australian Consumer Law gives buyers a set of automatic consumer guarantees — for example, that goods are of acceptable quality, match their description, and are fit for any purpose the seller said they were fit for.

These guarantees generally apply when you buy from a business, including many sellers on large marketplaces.
When you buy from a private individual who is not carrying on a business (a typical classifieds sale), fewer of those guarantees apply, so inspection and records matter more.
Where a marketplace platform sits between you and the seller, responsibility for a problem can be shared or unclear. Keep evidence of who you dealt with and what was promised.

For the detail, see the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on consumer rights and guarantees and the national consumer information portal (consumer.gov.au). Each state and territory also has its own consumer-affairs or fair-trading office that handles complaints.

2. Use a payment method with buyer protection

Paying by card, or through the platform’s own checkout, usually gives you a dispute or chargeback path if the item never arrives or is badly wrong.
A direct bank transfer to someone you do not know has little or no protection. If a seller pushes you to pay by bank transfer, gift card, or an off-platform method, treat that as a warning sign.
Buyer protection has limits and time windows. Read what it covers before you rely on it, and act quickly if there is a problem.

3. Spot a listing that is too good to be true

The price is far below every other seller for the same item, with no clear reason.
A brand-new, sealed, high-demand item is offered at a small fraction of its normal price.
You are asked to complete the sale outside the platform, or to pay before any details are confirmed.
The account is brand new, with no history and no other listings.
The listing uses only generic stock photos and a vague description.

If several of these are true at once, walk away. You can report suspected scams to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au).

4. Keep records

A screenshot of the listing as it appeared when you bought — the title, description, price, and seller details.
Every message between you and the seller.
The order confirmation and the payment receipt.
Any tracking number and delivery updates.

Listings can be edited or removed after a sale. Your screenshots are what let you show what was actually promised.

5. If the item never arrives or is not as described

Work through the steps in order, keeping notes as you go:

Contact the seller first and give them a reasonable, specific time to fix it (send it, refund it, or replace it).
Open a case with the platform if the seller does not resolve it. Use your screenshots and messages.
Ask your card provider or payment platform about a chargeback or payment dispute, within their time limit.
Escalate to your state or territory consumer-affairs body if the amount or the principle warrants it.
Report a scam to Scamwatch, which helps track patterns even when your own money cannot be recovered.

6. Returns and postage reality

For a change of mind, returns are at the seller’s discretion, and you usually pay return postage. Check the policy before you buy.
For a faulty item or one that is not as described, your consumer rights are stronger, and the seller should generally cover the cost of putting it right.
Watch for “restocking fee” wording and short return windows, and factor return postage into the real cost of a risky purchase.

The one-page checklist

I know whether I am buying from a business or a private individual.
I am paying by a method with a dispute or chargeback path.
The price and the account do not show the warning signs above.
I have screenshots of the listing, the price, and the seller details.
I have saved the order confirmation and payment receipt.
I know the seller’s returns policy and the platform’s dispute window.
I know the escalation steps if the item does not arrive or is wrong.

Where to learn more

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on consumer rights and guarantees; the national consumer information portal (consumer.gov.au); Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au). Your state or territory has its own consumer-affairs or fair-trading office for complaints.

This guide does not recommend any product or seller.