How do I know a test strip buyer is real before I ship?

Ask for the business name, location and a working phone number, then search for the business yourself rather than through a link they sent. Get a firm quote in writing before anything ships. Be cautious if the buyer will not give a straight answer on payment timing, pushes you to decide quickly or asks you to send first with nothing in writing.

What is the most common test strip buyer scam?

The overpayment scheme. The buyer sends more than the agreed amount, then asks you to forward the difference to a third party. The original payment later fails or reverses, and the money you forwarded is lost. A legitimate buyer has no reason to overpay you and ask for change back.

Should I ever ship my test strips before I know how I will be paid?

No. Before you ship, you should know the payment method, when you will be paid and who pays for shipping, and you should have all of it in writing. Shipping on a promise leaves you with no leverage if the payment never comes.

Do test strip buyers actually pay?

Honest ones do, and they tell you the method and timing before you send anything. Common methods include PayPal, Zelle, check and cash for in-person meetups, though each buyer sets its own terms. Keep your tracking number and your written quote until you have been paid.

Can I sell test strips that were paid for by a government-run program?

Generally no. Reputable buyers will not take supplies that a government-run program covered, and reselling them can run into that program's rules. If you are not sure how yours were paid for, check your plan paperwork or call your plan before you sell.

Are Test Strip Buyers Legit? Questions to Ask First

Q: Are test strip buyers legit?

Many are. Legitimate buyers are ordinary businesses that buy sealed, unused diabetic supplies from people who no longer need them. The way to tell a real one from a bad one is to ask the same questions every time: who they are, what they buy, what your quote is in writing, who pays for shipping and how and when you are paid. A real buyer answers those plainly and in writing.

You have sealed boxes of diabetic supplies you are not going to use, and you have found a buyer online. Before anything goes in the mail, one question matters more than any other: is this buyer real?

It is a fair question. Selling small, easy-to-ship goods to strangers attracts fraud, and honest buyers know it. A legitimate buyer expects your questions and answers them plainly. This page gives you the questions, the answers that should satisfy you, and the signs that mean stop.

The short answer: yes, legitimate buyers exist, and you can tell them apart

Real test strip buyers are ordinary businesses that buy sealed, unused boxes from people who no longer need them. The sale is simple, which is why a real buyer can be open about every step. A buyer who is vague about the basics is not being private. They are telling you something.

You do not need special knowledge to check one out, just ten minutes and the same questions every time.

Questions to ask any test strip buyer

Ask these in writing, by text or email, so you have a record. Send the same list to two or three buyers and compare the answers side by side.

Who are you, and how do I reach you?

What is the business name, and where is it located?
Is there a working phone number I can call or text, not just a web form?
Can I find the business independently, without using a link you sent me?

A real buyer has a name, a location and a phone that a person answers. Search the business name and number yourself. Look the address up on a map to confirm it is a real place. If the only trace of the business is the person who contacted you, treat that as a warning.

What do you buy, and what don't you buy?

Which brands and products do you buy?
Which products do you not buy?
Does it matter whether my boxes are sealed and in their original packaging?

A legitimate buyer tells you up front what they decline, not after you ship. Expect to hear that boxes should be sealed and in original packaging, and that supplies paid for by a government-run program generally cannot be sold. A buyer who says they take anything, from anyone, in any condition, deserves extra questions.

What is my quote, and is it in writing?

Can you give me a firm offer for my specific boxes before I send anything?
Will you put it in writing?
What happens if you change your mind after my parcel arrives?

The last question is the most useful on this list. A trustworthy buyer has a clear answer: what could change the offer, how they would tell you, and what you can do about it, including having your boxes returned.

Who pays for shipping?

Do I pay for postage, or do you send a label?
When does the label arrive: before I decide, or after I accept your quote?
Will I have tracking?

Shipping terms should be spelled out before you commit. Be wary of any arrangement where you front the postage and are told it will be "sorted out later."

How will I be paid, and when?

Which payment methods do you offer?
When exactly am I paid: before shipping, on delivery, or after your check-in?
Will you send payment confirmation?

A real buyer names the methods and states the timing without hedging. Common methods are PayPal, Zelle, check or cash for in-person meetups, though each buyer sets its own. "We'll work it out once it arrives" is not an answer.

Red flags that mean stop

Any one of these is enough to pause the conversation. Two or more means walk away.

They send you more than the agreed amount and ask you to send back the difference. This is the overpayment scheme. The original payment is fake or reverses later, and the money you forwarded is gone.
They want you to ship first and promise payment afterward, with no written terms and no way to confirm who they are.
They push you to decide now. Pressure is a tactic. A real buyer will still be there tomorrow.
They insist on leaving the platform right away, especially to messaging apps, before you know who they are.
They ask for your banking login, routing number, Social Security number or a copy of your ID. Receiving a payment through the usual apps does not require any of that.
A third party appears, such as a "shipping agent" or "payment processor" who handles the money for them.
No business name, no address, no phone that rings. Or the phone number only works for texting through an app you have never heard of.
They will not put anything in writing.

If a marketplace listing or direct message started the conversation, our guide on what to do when someone on Facebook offers to buy your test strips goes deeper on these schemes.

How payment and shipping should work in general

Every honest buyer runs the sale a little differently, but the basic shape is consistent.

You describe what you have. Brand, product, how many boxes, and photos if asked. Nothing ships yet.
The buyer gives you a quote in writing. You can accept it, decline it or compare it with another buyer.
You agree on how you will get paid and when. Both of you know the method and the timing before the box moves.
Shipping is settled. Either the buyer provides a prepaid label after you accept, or the terms say clearly who pays. You get a tracking number and you keep it until you are paid.
You pack the boxes well. Use a sturdy outer carton and keep the contents snug so nothing shifts. Keep every box sealed and in its original packaging.
You are paid the way you agreed. The buyer confirms receipt and sends payment. If something differs from the quote, they tell you what and why, and your boxes can come back if you say no.

For local meetups, the same logic applies in person: meet in a public place during the day, agree on the amount first, and exchange the supplies and the payment together. For the full mail-in walkthrough, see how to sell diabetic supplies by mail.

What a legitimate buyer tells you before you ship

Before you send anything, a legitimate buyer will have told you:

Their business name, location and a working phone number
What they buy and what they do not buy
Your quote, in writing
Who pays for shipping and how the label reaches you
How and when you will be paid
What happens if their view of your boxes differs from yours
That supplies paid for by a government-run program generally cannot be sold

If any item is missing, ask. If asking gets you dodged answers, you have your answer.

Before you ship: a quick self-check

Are the boxes yours to sell, and are they sealed in original packaging? Our guide to whether selling diabetic test strips is legal covers the conditions.
Have you photographed each box, front and back, and saved the photos? This helps with any later disagreement and speeds up quotes.
Do you have the quote and payment terms in writing, and the tracking number saved?

If you want to talk to us

Cash For Test Strips USA buys sealed diabetic supplies by mail from anywhere in the US. Our process follows the checklist above: you send us a text, we reply with a quote, nothing ships until you approve it, we make the prepaid label after you do, and you are paid within 48 hours of your box being checked in. You can start with the mail-in kit or call or text 518-278-6008. If you would rather meet someone in person, the buyer directory lists local options.

Ask us the questions on this page. We would rather you ask.

Are Test Strip Buyers Legit? Questions to Ask Before You Ship