Lip48a guide to private classifieds: selling, buying, finding work

An independent guide to private deals and finding work through ads. This is not a classifieds board: we do not publish or accept ads and are not connected with the former website on this domain.

Guides

Practical guides

The first article in this section explains how to buy a used item from a private seller so that you do not regret it later. The steps work for electronics, furniture and children's things alike: the details of the inspection change, but the order of actions stays the same.

A buyer's best protection is not cleverness but patience. If the seller is rushing you and you cannot check everything, it is better to walk away and look for another ad.

— Editor's view

What to prepare in advance

  • A list of what you want to check on the item: functions, size, appearance
  • A few similar ads, so you know what people usually ask for such an item
  • Free time for the inspection, so you do not decide on the run
  • Someone who will come with you or will know where you are
  • A charged phone and, if needed, an extension cable or batteries to test electronics

  1. Compare the ad with similar ones

    See how other sellers describe the same item and what they ask for it. If the price is noticeably below the usual and the description is vague, treat the ad with caution.

    Hypothetical example: everyone is selling a similar bicycle for roughly the same price, but one ad offers it almost for free, marked "urgent, prepayment only". It is wiser to skip that ad.

  2. Ask questions in messages

    Ask about the item's age, why it is being sold, known defects, repairs and what is included. Ask for extra photos from angles that are not shown in the ad.

    Hypothetical example: a buyer of a pram asks for photos of the wheels and the folding mechanism and learns that one wheel has been replaced. That is no reason to walk away, but it is a reason to check it especially carefully.

  3. Arrange a meeting, not a delivery

    Suggest meeting in a busy place during the day. Do not agree to pay a stranger in advance, and do not follow links "for payment" or "to arrange delivery" sent to you in messages.

    Hypothetical example: instead of meeting, the seller suggests paying for "safe delivery" through a link they send. The buyer politely declines and suggests a meeting: either the deal goes ahead on their terms, or they lose nothing.

  4. Inspect the item in good light

    Take your time: check the appearance, signs of repair, smell, and that every button and mechanism works. If possible, switch electronics on and test them in use.

    Hypothetical example: inspecting a laptop, the buyer opens several programs, checks the keyboard, ports and charging, and only then moves on to talking about payment.

  5. Check documents and what is included

    If the item comes with documents, a warranty card, a manual, a charger or spare parts, make sure everything listed in the ad is actually there.

    Hypothetical example: an ad for a sewing machine lists a set of presser feet and a foot pedal. At the meeting the buyer checks the set against the list and notices the pedal is missing, so the two sides renegotiate before any money changes hands.

  6. Pay when the item is handed over

    Hand over the money only when the item is already in your hands and you have checked it. That way the deal is completed at the moment it is made, and an oral agreement is usually enough.

    Hypothetical example: the buyer sends the payment from their phone on the spot, the seller shows that the transfer has arrived, and only then does the item pass to its new owner.

  7. Write a receipt if payment is not immediate

    If you agreed on partial payment, instalments or handing the item over later, put the terms on paper. Under the Russian Civil Code, deals between individuals over 10,000 roubles that are not completed at once must be made in simple written form; elsewhere, check local rules.

    Hypothetical example: two neighbours agree that the buyer will collect a wardrobe in a week but pays now. They write a short receipt: who is selling what to whom, for what amount, when the item will be handed over, and both sign it.

  8. Keep the messages and the ad

    Take screenshots of the ad and your messages, at least for the first while. If a hidden defect turns up that the seller knew about and kept quiet, this will help you discuss the situation calmly.

    Hypothetical example: a couple of days after the purchase it turns out the tablet's camera does not work, although the seller said otherwise in messages. The saved messages help agree on a return without unnecessary arguments.

Common mistakes

  • Sending a prepayment to an unknown seller to "reserve" the item
  • Following payment or delivery links sent in private messages
  • Telling anyone SMS codes or card details under any pretext
  • Agreeing to meet in a deserted place or late in the evening
  • Inspecting the item in a hurry because the seller is rushing you
  • Not checking the parts and documents listed in the ad

Other options

  • If the seller lives far away, ask someone you trust to look at the item for you, and do not transfer money before the inspection
  • If the item is complex, such as electronics, bring someone to the meeting who knows about it
  • If the seller refuses to meet in person and let you inspect the item, it is wiser to look for a similar one from another seller

Check yourself

  • The ad has been compared with similar ones and the price raises no questions
  • The seller has been asked about condition, defects and what is included
  • The meeting is set for a busy place in daylight
  • Someone close to you knows where you are going and who you are meeting
  • The item has been tested in use and checked from every side
  • Parts and documents have been checked against the ad
  • Money was handed over together with the item, or the terms are written in a receipt
  • The ad and the messages have been saved

Article catalogue for English-speaking readers

This is where standalone articles on private deals and job hunting will appear for English-speaking readers. They are written specifically for this language version rather than translated, and they focus on habits that work wherever you live, pointing you to check local rules where the law matters.

What the editors are working on

  • How to photograph an item for a listing in ordinary indoor light
  • Giving things away for free or swapping them: how to arrange it without wasting time
  • Writing your own job-search post without oversharing personal details
  • What to put in a simple written record when you sell something privately
  • Casual work found through an ad: what to clarify before your first shift

Editorial rules

  • Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
  • Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
  • We do not publish classified ads, job offers or CVs, advertising for platforms or services, rankings, prices or reviews.
  • Questions

    Short answers on selling and buying, job ads, money and safety.

  • Reference

    Glossary: oral and written deals, receipts, employment contracts, phishing links.

  • Collections

    Reading paths: your first sale, looking for side work, giving things away or swapping them.

Sources

  • Civil Code of the Russian Federation (arts. 159, 161)
  • Bank of Russia: financial literacy materials

Information is correct as of the date the material was prepared. Laws and official guidance change: check current wording of the Russian Civil and Labour Codes in official publications, ask your own bank about its rules, and if you live outside Russia, check the rules that apply in your country.