How to trade safely.
Five rules for a safe, smooth meetup. Public spots, inspection checklist, and what to do if something feels off.
Pick a public, well-lit spot
The simplest rule: trade only at busy public places during daylight hours. Good options:
- Police station parking lots - many have designated "internet sale safe zones." This is the safest option, full stop.
- Public library entrances - cameras, daylight foot traffic, plenty of staff around.
- Busy coffee shops - Starbucks, Colectivo, etc. Bonus: indoor seating if you want to test the cartridge in a Switch you bring.
- Grocery store entrances - Sendik's, Pick 'n Save, Festival - cameras and constant foot traffic.
Avoid: residential addresses (yours or theirs), parking garages, late-night anywhere.
Inspect before you pay
For buyers
- Verify the cartridge is in the original case
- Check the cartridge contacts for damage or corrosion
- If you brought a Switch, boot the game and confirm it loads
- Confirm the price matches what was locked in your CartridgeBond email
For sellers
- Count the cash before handing the cartridge over
- If accepting digital payment, confirm the transfer hits your bank before leaving
- Don't accept partial payment with a "rest later" arrangement
Bring backup if you can
Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back. Better yet, bring a friend or family member. Trades take 5 minutes - it's worth the small inconvenience for the safety upgrade.
Use the price we locked
The whole point of CartridgeBond is that the price doesn't change. If your counterparty tries to renegotiate at the meetup, walk away and email us. We'll re-match you and ban the bad actor. Locked prices are the deal.
If something feels off, leave
Trust your gut. If the meetup spot looks different than expected, the person seems agitated, or anything feels wrong - just leave. Email us and we'll find a different match. Your safety matters more than any single trade.