Swappa

Swappa was founded by Ben Edwards and launched on December 5, 2010.[1] Swappa is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, and is a remote workplace with employees spread across the United States and around the world including Ecuador, Greece, India, and Thailand.

The Swappa marketplace was launched with the goal of building a safer and simpler marketplace. It was launched to serve as an alternative to other online marketplaces such as eBay and Craigslist.

Swappa launched in 2010 as an Android only marketplace but started expanding the available device categories in 2012. The first new category was added in 2012 and allowed sellers to create listings for iPhones. The Swappa marketplace now allows sellers to list the following:

• iPhone and Android smartphones
• iPad and Android tablets
• Smartwatches
• Cameras
• Camera lenses
• Home tech
• Video game consoles
• Video games
• Select laptop computers

Swappa users can purchase a listing from a Swappa seller with a Swappa account or using a guest account.[2] The Swappa marketplace allows buyers to find items using the on-site navigation system or using the search bar. Buyers pay the amount that is shown on the listing page, and the price shown to buyers includes standard shipping costs. After a buyer makes a purchase, they are given access to a private sale page to communicate directly with the seller and Swappa staff.

All Swappa sellers are required to have a Swappa account.[3] Swappa users can use a standard Swappa account to list items for sale. Swappa also has a Trusted Seller program[4] and an Enterprise Seller program.[5]

Listings from sellers using a standard Swappa account or from sellers who are part of the Trusted Seller program are reviewed by Swappa’s moderation team before they are approved for sale. The listing review process includes reviewing verification photos, checking the ESN or Serial Number, making sure the device meets the required criteria, and the sellers account history.  

Swappa uses PayPal for Marketplaces to process payments. According to Swappa, PayPal is used for payment processing because of the protections offered for buyers and sellers.[8]

PayPal Purchase Protections for buyers include coverage for items that are damaged or lost in shipping and for items that are not as advertised. PayPal’s buyer protections also include dispute resolution and are valid for 180 days from the date of purchase. PayPal protections for sellers include fraud protection and offer protection against unauthorized transactions and item not received claims.[9]

Selling on Swappa is free for sellers. Buyers pay a sale fee that is already included in the displayed price on the listing. The Swappa sale fee is tiered based on the sellers asking price.

Swappa facilitated $500,000 in seller proceeds in 2011 and reported $1,000,000 in seller proceeds for 2012. Reported seller proceeds for years 2013 - 2017 are as follows:

• 2013: $7,000,000
• 2014: $23,000,000
• 2015: $43,000,000
• 2016: $60,000,000
• 2017: $77,000,000

Seller proceeds for 2018 were reported as $92 million, and total over $300 million since Swappa was founded in 2010.[12]

In 2013, mobile software development community XDA made Swappa its official marketplace for devices.[13]

In 2016, the Wall Street Journal noted Swappa as being The Smart Way to Trade in Old Gadgets for Cash.[14]

In 2018, the New York Times noted Swappa as being a good way to buy a used phone without getting fleeced.[15]

In 2018, Swappa received the Sitejabber Customer Choice Award.[16]

In 2019, Swappa was noted as one of the most reputable places you can shop online for used phones by CNN.[17]

In 2020, the Los Angeles Times included Swappa as part of a list of the best places to sell your used phone online.[18]

In 2020, The Today Show included Swappa in their story about creating a virtual classroom at home.[19]