Is it safe to sell diabetic supplies? How to vet a buyer
The short version: Yes, if you check the buyer first. A legitimate buyer gives you a firm offer before you drive or ship, never charges a fee, tells you plainly what they won't buy, and is happy to meet somewhere public. If any of that is missing, walk away.
Questions to ask any buyer
Ask these of us, and of anyone else you are considering. The answers should come quickly and plainly.
- Will you give me an offer before I ship or drive? The answer should be yes, in writing, by text.
- Is that number final? It should be, as long as the boxes match what you described.
- How and when do I get paid? You should hear a specific method and a specific day.
- What don't you buy? A real buyer has a list: expired, opened, recalled, and Medicare or Medicaid supplies. A buyer who will take anything is a buyer to avoid.
- What happens to boxes that don't qualify? You should be able to get them back.
- Who are you? A business name, a phone number that someone answers, and a website with terms on it.
Red flags
- A fee of any kind: for a kit, a label, or "processing."
- No offer until after they have your boxes.
- Pressure to decide right now.
- Willingness to buy Medicare or Medicaid boxes, or insulin. That is not legal, and a buyer who ignores it will ignore other things too.
- A request to meet somewhere isolated, or at your home when you would rather not.
- Payment by a method you can't verify on the spot.
Meeting in person safely
- You pick the place. A busy parking lot at a grocery store or pharmacy works well. So does the public lobby of a police station.
- Meet in daylight when you can.
- Count the cash before you hand over the boxes. A real buyer expects that.
- For large lots at your home, have someone else there if it makes you more comfortable.
Shipping safely
- Never ship without an offer in writing and a prepaid label from the buyer.
- Photograph the boxes and the packed carton before you seal it.
- Keep the drop-off receipt and tracking number.
- Read how mail-in works so you know what to expect.
Selling to strangers online
Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and neighborhood groups feel easy, but you are dealing with someone you can't check up on. Marketplace often removes listings for sensors and pods. Common problems are payment apps that reverse, counterfeit bills, and buyers who renegotiate in the parking lot. If you sell this way, meet in public, take cash, and count it.
How we do it
You get an offer by text before anything else happens. We meet at a public spot you choose anywhere within about 50 miles of Dallas, check the boxes in front of you, and pay cash. By mail, the label is free and you are paid the day the box arrives and checks out. We don't buy Medicare or Medicaid supplies, and we will tell you up front if something you have isn't worth selling.
Common questions
Are diabetic supply buyers legit?
Many are. They are ordinary businesses that buy sealed supplies from people who no longer need them. You tell a real one from a bad one by asking who they are, what they pay, when they pay, and what happens to boxes that don't qualify.
Should I ever pay a fee to sell my supplies?
No. A real buyer pays you. Shipping labels should be free, and there should be no kit fee, membership, or deposit.
Is it safe to meet a buyer in person?
Yes, if you choose the place. Pick a busy public spot in daylight, such as a grocery store or pharmacy parking lot, or the public lobby of a police station.
What if a buyer offers much more than everyone else?
Be careful. A very high quote that drops once the boxes are in the buyer's hands is the most common complaint in this business. Ask whether the quoted number is the number they pay.
Related guides
Is it legal in Texas? · What supplies are worth · Expired and short-dated boxes · Box condition guide · How to photograph boxes · Selling by mail in Texas · Pickup or mail-in? · Selling 20+ boxes · Selling a relative's supplies · Leftovers after switching
Selling something specific? Test strips · Accu-Chek strips · Contour Next · FreeStyle Lite · Dexcom G7 · FreeStyle Libre · Omnipod · Medtronic · Tandem · Where we buy in Texas