Where it goes wrong
Discord DMs from someone with three days of history. A payment that arrives and reverses. A "sent it" with no tracking. The common thread is that you can't tell who you're dealing with, and there's no record of the deal outside a chat you can't prove.
What to check before you deal
How long the seller has been around, and whether other people have dealt with them before. Whether the item is priced against what it actually sells for, not what it listed at. A clear handover: tracked post, or a meet in a public place, agreed before any money moves.
Why a Discord-verified marketplace helps
When everyone who lists or messages has a real account tied to their own Discord, the anonymous burner problem mostly goes away. Reviews only from people who've actually dealt with the seller. Prices next to live sold comps so you know what's fair. Messages kept on the platform so there's a record.
Minted's marketplace works like that, and browsing is open to anyone so buyers can see what's on offer before they sign up.
Minted doesn't handle payments
Minted does not take, hold or release money for marketplace deals, and there is no buyer or seller protection from us. Every deal, including payment and delivery, is agreed and settled directly between the two members, and you trade at your own risk.
Anything you agree in a chat is between you and the other member. If someone pushes you to pay in a way you can't get back, to rush, or to move the conversation somewhere else, treat it as a red flag, report the conversation and don't send money.