Platform update: clearer offline-payment guidance

What we changed

Localads remains an offline settlement marketplace. This update improves communication defaults so each listing can display explicit meetup timing, exchange method and handover requirements.

The goal is simple: fewer back-and-forth messages and fewer ambiguous transactions.

What offline settlement means for members

Localads.ie does not hold the purchase price for classified items and does not provide an escrow account for buyer-to-seller transactions. Buyers and sellers choose their own lawful payment method after inspecting and agreeing the deal. Stripe payments shown elsewhere on the site relate to optional platform services, such as clearly labelled listing promotion or a professional subscription, and not to the purchase price of an advertised item.

The updated wording is intended to remove ambiguity at the point where members arrange collection. It does not guarantee a transaction or replace independent checks. A request for an unexpected deposit, insurance fee, courier release charge or gift card should be treated cautiously. Members can decline a payment method they are not comfortable with and report suspicious behaviour. Clear payment expectations in the advert and message thread reduce last-minute pressure for both parties.

Offline payment does not mean payment without precautions. It means Local Ads does not hold buyer funds or provide escrow for classified transactions. Each party should choose a method they understand, verify the item and identity appropriate to its value, and retain a receipt or written record. Never follow a message link claiming Local Ads needs card details to release delivery or confirm a purchase. Paid platform services, including clearly labelled advertising promotion, are separate from the buyer-seller payment and do not guarantee an item, seller, sale outcome or position in organic results.