How to Buy Second-Hand Online: A Platform Guide
A tour of the major second-hand platforms: what each platform is best for, its quirks, buyer protection, and category-specific tips for furniture, electronics, and musical instruments.
Knowing which platform to use for which item saves time and money. eBay has everything but shipping is unpredictable. Reverb is built for musicians. Kleinanzeigen has great prices and no safety net. This guide covers what each platform does well, what to watch for, and a few category-specific tips.
Platform overview
eBay — The widest selection. Covers most countries, most categories. Strong buyer protection that sides with you in disputes. The "Buy It Now" price is often negotiable: send a fair offer rather than just paying full price. Filter by "Used" and check seller feedback (90%+ with 20+ reviews is a solid baseline). The biggest downside: shipping costs are often unclear until checkout, and many sellers don't list item dimensions.
Reverb — Built for musical instruments. The only platform with proper gear-specific filters: brand, model, year, finish, condition (New/B-Stock/Used/Non-Functioning). Sellers are musicians who know their equipment. Shipping costs shown upfront. If you're buying a guitar, amp, or synth, start here.
Vinted — Best for clothing, but has a growing electronics and home section. Prices trend lower than eBay because there are no seller fees. Buyer Protection covers non-delivery and clearly misdescribed items. Search is basic — use specific model names, not broad terms. You only need to search one Vinted domain; the catalog is shared across all of them.
Marktplaats (Netherlands) & 2dehands (Belgium) — Benelux heavyweights. Good for furniture, electronics, music gear. Dutch and Belgian sellers tend to list accurately and ship reliably within the Benelux. "Gelijk oversteken" safe-payment option exists but is optional — prefer sellers who accept it for cross-border purchases. Search in Dutch or French for the full inventory.
Leboncoin (France) — Massive selection across most categories. Integrated payment system is reliable. Domestic French shipping is standard; cross-border depends on the seller. Search in French. A lot of items are pickup-only, but you can filter for delivery. One of the richest second-hand markets in Europe by volume.
Kleinanzeigen (Germany) — Facebook Marketplace equivalent for Germany. Incredible prices, incredible selection, zero buyer protection. Mostly local pickup. If you're in Germany or can collect in person, this is where the best deals live. For cross-border, it's the riskiest platform — consider it local-only unless you know the seller.
Wallapop (Spain) & Subito (Italy) — Active southern European platforms. Good for furniture, electronics, local fashion. Most sellers prefer local pickup but some ship. Worth checking if you're in the region or looking for items specific to those markets.
Category-specific tips
Furniture
Shipping is the real cost. A €200 sofa can cost €300 to ship. Ask for dimensions and weight before committing, and search on the platform's local language for the full range of listings. "Used" means anything from "like new" to "needs restoration": look for sellers who show wear and tear in photos rather than hiding it. Never pay by bank transfer. If the listing is pickup-only, ask the seller if they'd accept a shipping label you purchase on Packlink or Eurosender.
Electronics
Check sold prices on eBay (filter by "Sold items") before buying. This is the single most useful price-checking habit. A "50% off" listing for a five-year-old laptop is often overpriced. Factor shipment into the price: a €50 difference between two listings disappears if one charges €30 shipping. Avoid sellers using stock photos: one real photo, even a bad one, proves they have the item. Avoid accounts less than a month old with zero reviews selling high-value items. Ask about battery health for phones and laptops. Honest sellers include this in the description, or don't mind providing the information when asked.
Musical instruments
Check for modifications. A "Fender Deluxe Reverb" with changed speakers is not the same amp. Good sellers list mods; great sellers post photos of the circuit. Verify the serial number: most Fender and Gibson instruments can be dated by serial. Amps are heavy (€40-80 to ship a tube combo), guitars need a hard case or proper packaging. Ask the seller how they will pack the item before buying, especially for acoustic instruments and hollow-body guitars.