Is Commonplace Too Good to Be True?
It is the question Commonplace buyers ask most. Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst on why a $1 hold, an inspection before pickup, and paying on delivery answer it.
Watch the episode: What We Talked About: Millions of Pelotons Collecting Dust (Ari Kimmelfeld's Marketplace), The Circularity Catalyst with Ken Alston, aired October 12, 2026. Listen on YouTube.
Short answer: No, and you do not have to take anyone's word for it. A $1 hold reserves the item, it gets a 30 to 50 point inspection before pickup that you approve, and on orders under $8,000 you pay the rest only after it is delivered. Over $8,000, you wire it at the pre-pickup inspection.
Ari Kimmelfeld talked about this on The Circularity Catalyst with Ken Alston, who asked whether people wonder if the deals are real.
What Ari said
I think that's our number one point of consumer feedback when one of our sales people is on the phone with a customer, and we're telling them, you know, you put $1 down to reserve the product... and yes, you can test it out at home, and if you think we're a scam, well, you don't pay anything until it's delivered and installed.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst, at 18:33
Our reply is, you know, it really is that great, and if it's not, then you don't pay anything.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst, at 19:00
Why the prices are lower
Everything on Commonplace is secondhand, listed by the person who owns it. Ari has bought used his whole life:
There's so much already out there. You can get it at such a better price. And if you just go through a little bit of friction and hassle, you can get a lot of value.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst, at 07:34
Commonplace takes that friction off the buyer.
What protects you
- A $1 hold. Nobody else can buy the item while you hold it.
- An inspection before pickup. A 30 to 50 point inspection, with a report you approve before anything moves.
- Free delivery within 100 miles. White-glove, stairs included.
- Pay on delivery. On orders under $8,000 you pay the rest when it arrives.
- A warranty. A free two-month parts warranty, with optional longer coverage.
It was more so it's apples to apples, you can actually make a good decision, we deliver for free within 100 miles, you can pay once it's delivered and you inspect it. We have a thorough 30-to-50-point inspection process so that the customer really feels like they're being taken care of.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Circularity Catalyst, at 10:16
Worried about scams on other sites? Read how to avoid buying a lemon on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. For the full conversation, read Why Do Pelotons Sit?: Ari Kimmelfeld on Circularity Catalyst.
Commonplace is the Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and OfferUp alternative for big items. Listing is free, and Commonplace handles pickup, inspection, delivery, secure payments, and a free two-month parts warranty. See how it works.
Related questions
Is Commonplace legit?
Commonplace is a marketplace for big secondhand items with pickup, inspection, delivery, and payment handled. You reserve with a $1 hold, approve the inspection report before pickup, and on orders under $8,000 pay the rest on delivery. Over $8,000, you wire it at the pre-pickup inspection.
Why are prices on Commonplace lower than buying new?
Because the items are secondhand, sold by their owners. Ari's point is that buying used has always been cheaper, and Commonplace removes the hassle that keeps people from doing it with big items.
What if the item does not work?
It is inspected before pickup, and if it does not pass, it is not picked up or delivered and you are not charged. After delivery, a free two-month parts warranty covers problems the inspection missed.
Thank you to Ken Alston for having Ari on The Circularity Catalyst. Quotes are from the episode, lightly edited for reading. Listen to the full conversation on YouTube.
More from Ari's podcast interviews: questions Ari answered on podcasts and every show he has been on.