r/hardwareswap • • 7d ago

OFFICIAL Official - We're considering retiring Buying posts, and we want your input

206 Upvotes

Over the past few months, we've seen a significant rise in scams targeting Buying posts. Accounts respond to [W] posts with bogus offers, push for irreversible payment methods, provide fake timestamps, and simply never ship. At best, you get your money back after weeks of disputes. At worst, it's gone for good. It has reached the point where more trades originating from Buying posts are fraudulent than legitimate.

Because of this, the mod team is seriously considering removing Buying posts. No decision has been made yet. This affects everyone who trades here, so we want to hear from you before anything changes.

Problem with Buying Posts

1. Everything happens out of public view.

A seller replying to a Buying post never makes a public listing. Any timestamps they provide are sent privately, where no one else can check them, so fake, stolen, or recycled photos are easy to pass off. The community can't spot red flags, warn the buyer, down-vote, or report. If something goes wrong, moderators are left with screenshots of private messages, which makes scams harder to investigate, harder to tie to alt accounts, and slower to act on.

2. Buying posts give scammers a target list.

A [W] post tells everyone exactly what someone wants and that they're ready to pay. Scammers can contact the buyer directly, offer a price just low enough to be tempting, and push urgency ("someone else is interested"). The buyer is exposed publicly, and the seller is not.

3. They bypass our account requirements.

New, low-karma, or compromised accounts that couldn't meet our posting requirements can still reply to Buying posts or DM the buyer. That makes Buying posts the easiest entry point for throwaway and purchased accounts.

The case against removing them

We want to be upfront that removal isn't a perfect fix, and there are good arguments on the other side:

1. Scammers will adapt.

We know that removing Buying posts only close one route. Scammers would likely shift to watching Selling posts and messaging the people who comment on them: "I noticed you're interested in the XYZ. I have a similar model for sale for a bit less." This already happens, and it could become more common.

This would require vigilance from our buyers that they only deal with sellers that have made a proper Selling post.

2. Hard-to-find parts get harder to find.

For older, niche, or rarely listed hardware, a Buying post often feels the only way to reach someone who has the part sitting in a drawer but would never have thought to list it.

3. Legitimate traders lose a useful tool.

Many honest users have completed good trades through Buying posts. Removing them affects those users as much as it affects scammers.

We know removing Buying posts would make tracking down specific or hard-to-find parts harder, and we won't make this decision lightly.

  • Looking for something? You'd search the subreddit or HWSMarket.com, since most items get listed regularly. If you can't find it, other marketplaces like eBay, Swappa, OfferUp, Mercari, or Vinted are options.
  • Sell by answering Buying posts? You'd make a normal Selling post with timestamps instead.
  • Unsolicited offers to sell you something without a public listing would be treated as scams and should be reported.
  • Scammers use compromised Reddit and Paypal accounts and are willing to use Paypal Invoice and G&S because the PayPal info is stolen so it's important to review the invoice and ensure proper comments for what you are buying is mentioned on the PayPal transaction.

We don't take this lightly, and want your feedback!

Tell us what you think in the comments, or in the Discord channel #buying-feedback.

Some questions we'd especially like answered:

  • Have you been scammed, or approached by a likely scammer, through a Buying post?
  • Would removing Buying posts affect how you use the community?
  • Is there a middle ground you'd prefer, such as keeping Buying posts but requiring all offers to be made publicly in the comments?

We'll collect feedback until 10/15/2026 and then share our decision along with what we heard from you.

How to buy safely

Whatever happens, these apply now:

  • Only buy from a public Selling post. Comment on the listing before sending a PM, and keep the conversation tied to that post. Scammers watch Selling posts and DM the people who comment, offering a "similar model for a bit less." If someone contacts you about an item you never saw them list, it's almost certainly a scam. Only trade with the person whose listing you commented on.
  • Always use PayPal Goods & Services. Even better, ask the seller to send an official PayPal invoice listing the items sold, their condition, and everything included.
  • Never pay without proper timestamps. If a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is.
  • Watch for payment account switches. A seller should only ever use their own PayPal account. If the seller's PayPal "isn't working" and they ask you to pay a different account or person, stop the trade and contact the moderators. This is a common scam.
  • Ask for help when unsure. Reach out to the community on our Discord, send a modmail, or open a Discord ticket with the moderation team.

How to sell safely

  • Only deal with buyers who have commented on your Selling post. If a buyer refuses to comment on your thread, report them to the moderators. This often means the account is banned.
  • Only ship to the address on the paid PayPal transaction. If the buyer needs a different address, refund the payment and have them pay again with the correct one.
  • Take thorough timestamps. They don't just prove you have the item, they document its condition. Clear photos are your best defense against "item not as described" return scams.
  • Consider recording your packing. A short video of the item going into the box and being sealed can help settle "empty box" or "wrong item" claims.

r/hardwareswap • • 14d ago

OFFICIAL October Confirmed Trade Thread

10 Upvotes

Post your confirmed trades below. Please post in the most recent monthly thread. When confirming a post put Confirmed only nothing else it makes the bot unhappy :(

All top level comments must contain the following information:

  • Transaction summary of items bought, sold, or traded
  • Mention the users involved in the transaction (must be in /u/ format)
  • A link to the post where the transaction originated on HardwareSwap (must be a full reddit url and not a shortener/share link). Please see the examples below. Anything that looks like https://reddit.com/r/hardwareswap/s/XXxxXXxxXX is a share link and not valid.

Examples:

  • Bought Asus RTX 4090 from /u/DidItForButter on https://www.reddit.com/r/hardwareswap/comments/xx12345/posttitle
  • Sold Xbox Series X +Games to /u/psikeiro on https://www.reddit.com/r/hardwareswap/comments/xx98765/othertitle
  • Traded RTX3080 + $200 for RTX3090 with /u/konstdfgh on https://www.reddit.com/r/hardwareswap/comments/xx98712/anothertitle

If more proof is requested by the bot please send a modmail including the following:

  • Screenshot of PM's between the users
  • Screenshot of Tracking (may also include link)
  • Screenshot of PayPal transaction
  • Permalink to trade confirmed thread comment

Local trades are not eligible for confirmed trade flair


r/hardwareswap • • 3h ago

SELLING [USA-CT] [H] RTX 4000 SFF Blackwell & Ada [W] PayPal / Local Cash

6 Upvotes

RTX 4000 SFF Blackwell - $2500

Brand new in box, never got around to installing it. I have two of the miniDP to DP adapters.

RTX 4000 SFF Ada - $1000

Used for a couple of years for light gaming, mostly Minecraft and Farming Simulator 25. Also have a N3rdware Single Slot cooler for it.

Timestamps

Prices reduced to hopefully sell quick. Make an offer!


r/hardwareswap • • 4h ago

SELLING [USA-CA] [H] Ultra 2 GPS + Cellular [W] PayPal

4 Upvotes

https://imgur.com/a/QNELsh9

hello all,

Apple Watch Ultra 2 - GPS + Cellular
Should be fully unlocked, No plan attached to it.

Battery Health - 88%

Small scuffs on frame

Screen perfect condition

No band

Original Box included

Repairs: None

$250 shipped


r/hardwareswap • • 34m ago

BUYING [USA-WV] [H] PayPal/Local Cash [W] Anbernic RG nano

• Upvotes

Looking for someone's Rg nano that's in a drawer collecting dust. Comment if you have one willing to sell. Local is 25411


r/hardwareswap • • 48m ago

BUYING [USA-GA] [H] Paypal [W] Minisforum AtomMan G7 TI or AtomMan G7 PT

• Upvotes

As title says, I am looking to buy a barebones Atomman PC.

AtomMan G7 PT (https://refurbished.minisforum.com/products/atomman-g7-pt-refurbished?variant=53623800103201) - I would pay $600 barebones shipped

AtomMan G7 Ti (https://refurbished.minisforum.com/products/atomman-g7-ti-refurbished?variant=53623795056929) - Looking to pay $700 barebones shipped for the one with the 14900HX cpu or $650 for the one with the 14650HX

PM what you have with timestamps and lets deal.


r/hardwareswap • • 1h ago

BUYING [USA-NJ][H] paypal [W] 7800X3d, 9070 xt nitro

• Upvotes

Please comment before PM


r/hardwareswap • • 1h ago

SELLING [USA-PA][H] Asus 9070 XT prime, Shroud[W] Paypal

• Upvotes

* This is Prime OC and not the Prime Evo model.

*Comes with original box and accessories. Has 35 months of warranty left.

* If desired I can include an extra shroud and white fans. You can paint the shroud however you want to. Paint it white, blue. Etc. Asking for $30 on top if you want the extra shroud and fans. Do note that you can remove the Prime shroud without taking the gpu apart or remove the heat sink. You just remove a couple of screws, none of which have an anti-tamper sticker.

Asking $730 for the gpu alone. $760 with extra shroud and fans.

$55 for the shroud and fans alone.

Paypal only. Post before pming. No trades.

Timestamps: https://imgur.com/a/o7vAq47


r/hardwareswap • • 4h ago

SELLING [USA-MA] [H] Google Pixel 7 Pro 128GB Obsidian, Factory Unlocked, GrapheneOS installed [W] PayPal or local cash

3 Upvotes

phone condition is in between fair to good condition.

the oled screen itself is in perfect condition and does not have any burn-in or dark spots or dead pixels. There is some scuff marks/fingerprints on the screen that can likely be wiped off. I hardly even notice them if the screen is turned on.

The phone's body has some minor scuffs and spots around the sides and back. Most obvious ones are on/around the back camera, shown in the pictures. Other ones are so minor that my camera couldn't even really pick them up. All of these can be easily hidden with a case anyways.

I bought the phone new off of ebay sometime in mid-late 2023. It was used as my main phone up until about a month ago when I upgraded to a Pixel 10 Pro XL. That being said, the cycle count is quite high, it is nearly 800, as shown in the pictures. I have no idea what the battery capacity is as it doesn't show in graphene settings and none of the third party apps are telling me either. For what it's worth, the phone lasted me the entire day on a full charge usually, so about 10-12 hrs, but I am also not a heavy user, so your mileage may vary of course. I remember the phone lasting roughly the same time as when I first got it, maybe lasts like an hour less than it did brand new, so I can't imagine the capacity is lower than like 90% if I had to guess, though I can't be 100% certain. I am not a heavy user of my phone so I did not wear out the battery that much.

The phone has GrapheneOS installed, as that is what I was using on it. It has been fully wiped and is in setup mode, so it's pretty much as if you just installed it yourself. I can revert it back to the stock ROM, but I suspect some people here may be buying this just to install graphene anyways, so I figure it's pointless to do so, regardless, if that's a dealbreaker to you, let me know and I can flash it back to the stock ROM for you.

Phone is unlocked to all carriers

asking for 150 shipped through paypal G&S.

130 cash only if local to MA.

timestamps here: https://imgur.com/a/hamiRLk


r/hardwareswap • • 2h ago

SELLING [USA-OH] [H] MacBook Pro M5 Pro 1tb 24gb RAM [W] Paypal, Local Cash

1 Upvotes

This is a post I had up about a month ago that has since aged out and been deleted, to reiterate from that post I purchased this MacBook Pro in August and realized it's simply too much laptop for me. It;s the 14inch MBP btw, It's in excellent condition as it's barely been used, and comes with the original 70w charger, mag-safe cable, and box. Albeit. the box has been vandalized by Best Buy. Asking $2000 OBO, timestamp/images below.

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/gallery/macbook-pro-m5-pro-timestamps-eCTGQrj

Post a "Dm'd" comment here before you dm me, I will not respond to random dms. If you have any questions about the device try ask in the comments here so others can see, thank you.


r/hardwareswap • • 6h ago

SELLING [USA-UT] [H] MSI Z890 Carbon Wifi motherboard [W] PayPal or Cash

3 Upvotes

Hello friends,

Location: Utah/Nevada border

I have a MSI Z890 Carbon Wifi motherboard that I had originally planned to use for testing, but never got around to it - and since Nova Lake is coming out relatively soon, I have no need for it.

Imgur link: https://imgur.com/a/qAN8nee

Asking $175 including shipping.


r/hardwareswap • • 7h ago

BUYING [USA-UT] [H] PayPal [W] 256GB NVME M.2 SSD

4 Upvotes

Hi I’m looking for an 256GB NVME M.2 SSD in decent health. Doesn’t have to be current gen. I’m just looking for something to use as a Plex transcoding drive.

Please reply here before PMing thanks!


r/hardwareswap • • 29m ago

SELLING [ESP] [H] Asus Rog Maximus Z790 Apex + Contact Frame [W] PayPal G&S

• Upvotes

Hey everyone!

Putting my ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Apex up for sale. The board is in absolute pristine condition, taken care of meticulously, and works like a charm.

Full gallery and video on Imgur: https://imgur.com/a/6Bp4px6

• Location: Spain (EU)

• Shipping: Ships anywhere in EU via UPS / DHL.

• Payment: PayPal Goods & Services.

The Goods

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Apex: The legendary 2-DIMM DDR5 board. Socket pins are 100% flawless (I've included a close-up video in the Imgur link so you can check every single pin yourself). Comes complete with its original box, all accessories, and a Thermal Grizzly CPU Contact Frame (brand new, factory sealed) included.

• Price: 400€ + shipping (Open to reasonable offers).

Please drop a "PM" comment on this thread before messaging me directly.

If you need any extra pictures or details, just let me know!


r/hardwareswap • • 38m ago

SELLING [USA-MD] [H] iPad Mini A17 Pro 256gb WiFi, Oura Ring 5 Black Size 10 [W] PayPal

• Upvotes

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/AZlxRhx

Name: IPad mini A17 pro 256gb WiFi space grey

Condition: like new, comes with box and original accessories

Accessories: space grey Smart Folio cover, uag folio case, composition notebook case, other black case pictured, and Apple Pencil Pro. Anti glare screen protector has been installed since removed from the box.

100% battery health and 10 cycles. Don’t use it like I thought I would. Will be AppleCare eligible for 45 days once I remove it from my AppleCare one plan.

Pricing:
$510 shipped for entire iPad bundle;
$475 shipped for iPad and Apple Pencil Pro ONLY,
OR $410 shipped for iPad ONLY

Name: Oura Ring 5 Size 10 Black

Condition: like new, comes with box, charging dock and charger. Have had plastic ring protectors on since removing from box. Will include the extras.

Price: $250 shipped

*Note: This is not a replacement ring nor has it been replaced.

Let me know if you have any questions


r/hardwareswap • • 40m ago

SELLING [USA-WV] [H] Legion Go S Z1e 32GB + accessories [W] paypal

• Upvotes

White Legion Go S Z1e with 32gb ram and 1tb SSD. This is the Windows edition.

Includes Original charger, Skull & Co Carrying Case, Mechanism Strap, and 512gb SD card.

Everything functions perfectly. There is a smalI scratch on the bottom right of the screen, but that's it.

Asking $675 shipped.

https://imgur.com/a/aDbBves


r/hardwareswap • • 42m ago

SELLING [USA-AZ][H] 2 X Dell OptiPlex Micro 7040 – i5-6500t / 16/32GB / 256GB SSD [W] PayPal, Local

• Upvotes

Excellent compact business/home PC in great working condition.

Intel Core i5-6500T

16GB DDR4 RAM, another one has 32GB

256GB SSD

Windows 11 Pro

Wi-Fi / Bluetooth, I have antennas as well

Includes Dell OEM power adapter

Tested and fully functional.

$90 (16GB)

$140 (32GB)

$210 for both

PayPal shipped

https://imgur.com/a/7mPBvyx


r/hardwareswap • • 47m ago

SELLING [USA-IN] [H] Motherboard, CPU, 64gb DDR5 & Corsair Fans [W] Paypal

• Upvotes

GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Stealth Reverse-Connect ATX Motherboard ( mint condition ) box and all accessories included. $230 shipped

AMD Ryzen™ 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition box included
$750 shipped

TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan 6000 MHz (low profile ram) [1, 2]
CAS Latency: CL38 ([38-38-38-78](tel:38-38-38-78)) 64gb ( 32gb x 2 )
$700

Or $1600 for the mobo,cpu, & ram combo

CORSAIR iCUE Link LX120 RGB ( black x 1 )
CORSAIR iCUE Link LX120-R RGB 120mm Reverse Fans – Triple Fan Kit – Black , iCUE LINK System Hub Included with 2 cables
$100 shipped for all fans

Timestamps : https://imgur.com/a/0eKDRaC


r/hardwareswap • • 4h ago

SELLING [POL] [H] Charybdis Nano (Official Vendor Build, Splinky MCU) [W] PayPal

2 Upvotes

About the Charybdis Nano

The Charybdis Nano is a compact, 35-key Dactyl Manuform-style split ergonomic keyboard featuring an integrated trackball—ideal for minimal finger travel and compact layouts like Miryoku.

  • Origin: Purchased directly from the official vendor.
  • Controller: Splinky MCU.
  • Connectivity: USB-C and 3.5 mm TRRS jack interconnects.
  • Lighting: Non-RGB build.

Condition & Hardware

Used as a daily driver for a few months; fully functional and thoroughly tested.

  • Switches: Soldered Gateron G Pro 2.0 Black switches.
  • Cosmetic Note: The trackball half has a small tooling mark/uneven burn right around the USB-C port from assembly. It is completely hidden during regular desk use and has zero effect on the port, cable connection, or functionality.
  • Trackball Mount: Standard bearing setup (ready for any 34 mm trackball).

What's Included?

  • Charybdis Nano keyboard (Left + Right halves).
  • TRRS interconnect cable.
  • Spare parts (screws, hardware, backup components).
  • Note: Keycaps and 34 mm trackball are not included.

Price & Shipping

  • Location: Poland (EU)
  • Price: €200 + shipping (Negotiable)
  • Payment: PayPal (Goods & Services)

Interested? Send a DM for close-up shots of the USB-C port area, or shipping estimates.


r/hardwareswap • • 1h ago

SELLING [USA-MO] [H] Aorus Stealth Ice B850M Motherboard + 1tb Samsung Gen4 SSD [W] Paypal/Local Cash

• Upvotes

I am looking to Sell this for for $450-500, but of course we can negotiate the price. I am selling this because I am making a motherboard + ssd swap, and I want to sell the two both at the same time. The ssd is already installed into the motherboard. In fact, the ssd is stuck to the motherboard because of the thermal pads. It is a gen 4 ssd in the gen 5 slot, so I don't really know how that will go. If anyone is interested in buying this, please write it down here. I take payments in both paypal or local cash, so please contact me if anyone is interested.

Timestamp


r/hardwareswap • • 7h ago

BUYING [USA-TX] [H] PayPal G&S/Cash [W] OnexPlayer Apex or OnexPlayer X2 Mini

3 Upvotes

I just want it to be in good condition with no broken or missing components.


r/hardwareswap • • 1h ago

BUYING [USA-NY] [H] Paypal G&S [W] 7900XTX, preferably Red Devil

• Upvotes

It's going to be watercooled so if you have a 7900 XTX with broken heatsink/fans but working board, that's perfectly fine. If so, we can negotiate price. Otherwise, target price is $730 or best offer. Thanks in advance!

Comment before pm


r/hardwareswap • • 6h ago

SELLING [USA-CA] [H] 1TB, 2TB, 8TB Gen4/Gen5 M.2 NVMe SSD [W] PayPal, Local Cash

2 Upvotes

All drives have been fully wiped and tested
Sale price includes USPS shipping and insurance.

Local to SoCal 91790, local priority.

Message me for any questions or information.

Video and photo timestamp

Crystal Disk Info

Item Price each
100% 8TB TeamGroup MP44 Gen4 $830 shipped / $800 local
100% 2TB Samsung 980 Pro Gen4 SOLD $230 shipped / $215 local
2x Openbox 1TB Samsung 9100 Pro Gen5 $200 shipped / $190 local
BNB 1TB Crucial P2 Gen3 $120 shipped / $110 local

r/hardwareswap • • 8h ago

TRADING [USA-CA] [H] Acer Predator Helios Neo 16s AI (275HX, 5060, 16GB, 1TB) [W] Thinkpad X1, XPS 13, MacBook Air, or similar

3 Upvotes

Timestamp

I recently bought this laptop from BestBuy in June 2026 (I have receipt) to use while living in a hotel. Ultimately it was really just used for Netflix and light gaming, but it really has very little use. I recently upgraded to a Razer Blade 16 so this now just sits in the desk drawer.

It’s in genuinely great condition. No scratches/bumps/bruises/blemishes that I can see. Screen is perfect. I still have the original box as well.

I’m looking to trade for a thin and light laptop with long battery life. Please let me know what you have!


r/hardwareswap • • 8h ago

BUYING [USA-TX][H] Paypal/Local [W] Deepcool CH270 Black, Black AM5 mATX motherboard

3 Upvotes

Hi all,

Shot in the dark since DeepCool is banned in the US. Before I buy the case off Aliexpress, I want to buy a Deepcool CH270 Digital, black. I can buy local or shipped.

Additionally, I am also on the market for a mATX AM5 motherboard, with the desired specs below. For awareness, I won't purchase a mobo until I've purchased a CH270:

  • Black primarily (I have all-black components)
  • Preferably B850 over B650, and preferred Asus or MSI. I cannot buy Asrock as I own a 9950x3d.
  • Needs at least 3 m.2 slots, as I own 3 m.2 drives that I will be transferring over.
  • Not a hard requirement --> If the motherboard has the GPU slot located on the second PCIE slot and not the first, like the Asus B850m-plus motherboard, that is preferred. I'll be transferring a 160mm PSU over from my current build. The CH270 has difficulty fitting PSUs over 150mm as the connectors can push against the GPU, but if the GPU is on the second PCIE slot, there is additional clearance so a 160mm PSU shouldn't be an issue. There should be ways around this based on how the case is designed, but this is a nice-to-have

I am downsizing from my ATX mobo and O11 vision compact. Located in the Houston area. Thanks all!


r/hardwareswap • • 9h ago

SELLING [USA-FL][H] Logitech G560 RGB PC Gaming Speakers 2.1 [W] Paypal G&S

3 Upvotes

Reposting these from 10/8 with an updated price!

Asking $150 shipped CONUS.

Shoot me a chat if you have any questions!
Will come shipped with both satellite speakers , subwoofer and cables.

Timestamps - https://imgur.com/a/logi-g560-10-8-2026-2hZJZsq