What Happens If a Used Item Fails Inspection?
On Commonplace it is not picked up, the sale is cancelled, and your $1 hold is released. Ari Kimmelfeld on Selling Circular explains how the inspection works.
Watch the episode: Bulky Secondhand Resale: Why Trust, Not Price, Is the Real Barrier to Buying Used, Selling Circular with Garr Punnett, aired October 27, 2026. Listen on Apple Podcasts.
Short answer: On Commonplace, a used item that fails inspection is not picked up, and the sale is cancelled. Every item gets a 30 to 50 point inspection before pickup, and the buyer sees the report first. If it fails or you decline it, you owe nothing more and the $1 hold is released. Commonplace will help you find another one.
Ari Kimmelfeld walked through what happens when an inspection turns something up on Selling Circular with host Garr Punnett.
What Ari said
If there is an issue... that is one of the better case scenarios. Because if we can let you know, hey, this is the issue, do you want to cancel this order? We have many other hot tubs that are available, but this specific one has a leak on one of the jets.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Selling Circular, at 20:14
It's likely that if you went to go inspect this hot tub, you would not have found this leak. So we kind of saved you that trip.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Selling Circular, at 20:37
Minor issues versus real problems
Not every finding ends a sale. Ari said the buyer sees everything, and decides:
Last week, we had where there was a hot tub and the floor... they took the panel off and they had shown that the floor was peeling off. And to the buyer, that was okay. And it's basically just an aesthetic thing.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Selling Circular, at 26:49
So in the case where something actually is broken, like a panel is cracked or in a case of a treadmill, we've had where the treadmill is making a weird noise. So in those cases, you can cancel the transaction and we'll help you find another one.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Selling Circular, at 27:26
So usually the customer is really happy that we discovered something and they didn't have to drive out 45 minutes and waste all of their time.
Ari Kimmelfeld on Selling Circular, at 27:40
How it works on Commonplace
- A $1 hold. It reserves the item while it is inspected.
- Seller videos. When an item sells, the seller sends specific videos of how it works, chosen for that category.
- A 30 to 50 point inspection before pickup. You get photos and a function video, and you approve the report.
- If it fails, or you decline. The item is not picked up, the sale is cancelled, and you owe nothing more.
- After you approve. Under $8,000 you pay the rest on delivery. Cancelling before delivery carries a fee, except for damage in transit.
- A warranty. A free two-month parts warranty, with labor coverage as an optional add-on.
Read how to avoid buying a lemon on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, or browse used treadmills and used hot tubs. For the full conversation, read Why Do People Buy New?: Ari Kimmelfeld on Selling Circular.
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. Labor coverage is available as an add-on. Delivery is free within 100 miles, and Commonplace ships nationwide. See how it works.
Related questions
Do I pay anything if the inspection finds a problem?
No. If the inspection fails or you decline it, you owe nothing more and the $1 hold is released.
Can I cancel after I approve the inspection?
Once you approve, cancelling before delivery carries a fee, except for damage in transit, which Commonplace handles. Cancelling before you approve costs nothing.
What does the inspection check on a used hot tub?
Ari said Commonplace asks for videos of the heating element, the main console, the jets, and the tub with water in it, then its crew inspects it at pickup. How to inspect a used hot tub.
Is there a warranty after delivery?
Yes. Every sale includes a free two-month parts warranty. Labor coverage is an optional add-on.
Thank you to Garr Punnett for having Ari on Selling Circular. Quotes are from the episode, lightly edited for reading. Listen to the full conversation on Apple Podcasts.
More from Ari's podcast interviews: questions Ari answered on podcasts and every show he has been on.