Quick checks and what they tell you
| Check | How to do it | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Real store | Get the street, plaza and shop number, then visit or send someone | A vague address, or a meeting point that keeps changing |
| Account name | Check the name your bank shows before you confirm a transfer | A personal or third-party name that doesn't match the business |
| Goods exist | Ask for a live video call and the IMEI or serial numbers | Only photos or recorded clips, and excuses about video |
| Reputation | Ask other traders and past customers you can contact yourself | Only reviews or contacts that the seller supplied |
| Clear terms | Ask them to confirm the spec, price and faulty-unit terms in writing | "Same thing, just pay", or a refusal to put anything in writing |
| Test order | Buy a small quantity and inspect it properly | Pressure to skip straight to a big order |
Checking a seller you found online
Follower counts, reviews and comments are easy to fake, so don't rely on them. Look for a history you can trace: how long the page has been active, whether photos repeat or look copied, and whether real customers you can contact have bought from them. Search the business name and phone number, along with words like "scam" or "fraud". Finding nothing doesn't prove the seller is honest, but a pattern of complaints is a clear warning.
Business registration: useful, but not proof
You can ask for a registered business name and check it on the Corporate Affairs Commission's public search. A real registration helps, but it doesn't prove the person talking to you belongs to that business, or that the goods are good. Many honest market dealers also trade without showing paperwork. Treat it as one signal among several.
What a Dealrs verified badge means
On Dealrs, dealers verify their identity with a shop-front photo and a selfie, and the team verifies their store, sometimes with an in-person visit from a field agent. A dealer with a verified store shows a Verified dealer badge. It means we've checked who the dealer is and that their shop is real. It doesn't guarantee a product or a deal, so you should still inspect the goods. Read how dealer verification works.
Before you make a large payment
- Confirm the account name again, and call the dealer on a number you already know if the details change.
- Agree any deposit and balance up front, and link the balance to inspection or delivery.
- Have the spec, quantity, condition and faulty-unit terms in writing.
- Get an itemised invoice with serial or IMEI numbers.
- Keep all messages and receipts until the goods have arrived and been checked.
When to walk away
- The price is far below every other dealer on the same spec.
- You're rushed to pay before you can check anything.
- New fees keep appearing after you've paid.
- The seller gets angry when you ask for a video, numbers or an address.
Our guide to common bulk buying scams shows how these play out, and what to do if something has already gone wrong. For a longer-term relationship, see how to choose a reliable supplier.
Letting Dealrs do the search
If you'd rather not check every seller yourself, send a product request with what you need. Our team looks among verified dealers and sends your quote by email, usually within 24 to 48 hours. If you accept, our team calls you to arrange payment and delivery. Inspect the goods when you receive them, and tell us straight away if something isn't as quoted.