Have you ever wanted to sell something online like on Kijiji or Facebook, but shipping would be complicated, and you are not feeling comfortable sharing your home address or receiving a strange on your place? Now you have a safe option: The safe trading zone.
The SPVM – the police department for the city of Montreal – had a great idea. They set up a security area to allow you to meet your potential buyer, and trade on a neutral and security area called a “safe trading zone”. This area is a great initiative that provides safety and security to Montrealers when trading online. It is also intended to help stamp out scams and fraudulent activities.
The area is close to a police station and is under video surveillance 24/7. The zone is open to all traders who need a place to exchange goods, but are not comfortable sharing their home addresses with strangers. It’s an excellent way for Montrealers to get ahead and explore their trading potential from online classifieds.
Image, for example, if you want to sell some toys from your kids. Online tools like eBay, Facebook, Kijiji might be what you need. They are free or low-cost to publish the announcement, and it has a large audience. However, at one moment you have to meet your potential buyer to exchange the goods. The price and the hassle might not justify using a delivery service at this point, and you are not comfortable sharing your home address with somebody from the internet. This dilemma might discourage you to try selling online.
That is where the safe trading zone enters. It allows you to trade securely without fear of theft or fraud activity. You can schedule the meeting at one of those locations to exchange the goods. In this way, you do not need to share your home address. On top of it, the zone is a safer place as in case of any problem the police are just beside.
You can schedule the meeting with your buyer at your convenience as the trade zone is 24/7. You do not need to take any further action to use the zone. The SPVM wanted to create an environment where traders feel comfortable and secure. I believe that the safe trading zone will help the community to use more effective online classifieds.
According to the SPVM website, there are currently eleven trade zones in different boroughs, and you can find their address on the website.
Finally, it was a very good idea by the SPVM. I think it makes online trading a bit safer for all.
