Question 1

How do I get rid of a hot tub, treadmill, or sofa without hauling it myself?

Accepted Answer

List it on Commonplace for free and set the amount you want to take home. When it sells, a local crew comes to you, takes it apart if needed, carries it out, and pays you at pickup. Nothing leaves your home until you are paid, and you pay nothing if it does not sell. Start a free listing .

Question 2

Why is it so hard to let go of expensive things I don't use?

Accepted Answer

Ari calls it friction, and it is not only physical. It is the guilt of paying thousands for a Peloton, treadmill, or sauna you are not using. Be honest with yourself: if you are not using it, the space is worth more, and the item still has resale value you can recoup.

Question 3

Why do I feel guilty getting rid of exercise equipment I don't use?

Accepted Answer

Ari sees two sources of guilt: you paid good money for it, and you know you should have let it go already. Selling helps with both. You get some of the value back, someone else uses it for the reason you bought it, and it does not go to the junkyard.

Question 4

How do I avoid scams when selling furniture or fitness equipment online?

Accepted Answer

On open marketplaces people message you for a phone number or ask to pay with Zelle. On Commonplace you never deal with a stranger. Buyers pay through the platform, a Commonplace crew picks the item up, and you are paid on the spot by Venmo, bank transfer, Cash App, or PayPal before anything leaves your property.

Question 5

Why does selling on Facebook Marketplace take so much time?

Accepted Answer

Managing listings can become a part-time job. Even two or three listings can bring a flood of messages from people who did not read the listing, plus scheduling a 30-minute drive that often falls through. Commonplace buyers can buy or reserve directly, so sellers do not manage messages or meetups.

Question 6

Why does it help to reach buyers outside my area when selling something expensive?

Accepted Answer

A high-value item sells best when the most qualified buyers see it. Ari described a premium sauna listed in Texas that sold to a buyer in California who wanted that exact model. Selling only within 20 miles of home might not have reached that buyer. Commonplace delivers across state lines.

Question 7

I'm moving and can't take my furniture. Should I put it in storage?

Accepted Answer

Storage that just sits there means fees and a pile of decisions later. With Store to Sell , Commonplace picks up the pieces most likely to sell, stores and photographs them, and lists them. When one sells, you get paid wherever you live, and the buyer gets delivery and assembly.

Question 8

What happens to old hot tubs, appliances, and furniture nobody resells?

Accepted Answer

Most of it ends up in a landfill. Old appliances hauled away by dealers usually go to the landfill, and working hot tubs are often removed for a fee when a new homeowner wants the yard back. The value is there, but the friction of moving these items stops resale. Sell a hot tub .

Question 9

How do I know a used hot tub or appliance works before I buy it?

Accepted Answer

Most buyers would not crawl under a hot tub, pull the panels, and check every jet. Commonplace crews inspect each item at pickup and send the buyer walk-around and operating videos before it is picked up. If it does not pass, it is not picked up or delivered, and you are not charged.

Question 10

How can I reserve a used item before someone else buys it?

Accepted Answer

On Facebook Marketplace there is no way to make sure you get the item you want. On Commonplace a $1 hold reserves it, nobody else can buy it while you hold it, and you are not charged the full price until it is delivered.

Question 11

Should I buy fitness equipment new or used if I'm not sure I'll stick with it?

Accepted Answer

Ari suggests trying a few modalities to learn what you actually like, and that costs far less secondhand. Buy used, and if a bike or rower is not for you, list it and get back a big part of what you paid. Sell a treadmill .

Question 12

What should I do with a treadmill I don't use?

Accepted Answer

Start with the space, not the treadmill. Ari's question: what should be in that space now? If the answer is not running, sell it. Listing is free, and when it sells a crew takes it apart, carries it out, and pays you at pickup. Sell a treadmill .

Question 13

Is winter a good time to declutter and sell fitness equipment?

Accepted Answer

Ari sees an uptick in winter, both in people listing and in people shopping for equipment to use at home. With fewer events on the calendar you spend more time at home, and you notice what adds function and what is just clutter.

Question 14

How do I start decluttering when it feels overwhelming?

Accepted Answer

Start with the smallest thing. Ari's advice: even taking one item off a shelf counts, because it shifts your mindset and you want to do more. Be kind to yourself, skip the new-year reinvention, and do not turn decluttering into a scoreboard.

Question 15

What is a Tonal?

Accepted Answer

A Tonal is a wall-mounted strength trainer with a large screen, on-screen classes, and arms you pull against for moves like bench press. It can even work as a rowing machine. Ari called it one of the more popular products on Commonplace: expensive new, and it takes up almost no floor space. Sell a Tonal .

Question 16

How do I sell bulky furniture before I move?

Accepted Answer

Start early and skip the meetups. List it free on Commonplace: buyers reserve with $1, a crew inspects it and carries it out, and you are paid at pickup. If moving day comes first, Store to Sell keeps it listed until it sells. Sell furniture .

Question 17

Do used items on Commonplace come with a warranty?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist sales are usually final. On Commonplace every item gets a 30 to 50 point inspection before pickup and a free two-month parts warranty for anything the inspection missed, with optional longer coverage. See the warranty .

Question 18

How often should I declutter?

Accepted Answer

Ari's one tip: put it on the calendar. A monthly session to get rid of things keeps them from piling up before a move. Handing things to family does not count. That just moves the clutter from one home to another.

Question 19

How is Commonplace different from Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or OfferUp?

Accepted Answer

It is a marketplace like they are, with the hard parts handled. Commonplace does pickup, inspection, delivery, and payment. Buyers pay the rest on delivery, sellers are paid at pickup by Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, or bank transfer, and nobody meets a stranger.

Question 20

What does an inspection of a used hot tub check?

Accepted Answer

Ari described an expert checking that the jets work, looking for leaks in the jets and plumbing, and confirming listing details like voltage. The buyer gets the videos and report before pickup and is not charged in full until the tub is delivered and running. Sell a hot tub .

Question 21

What does white-glove delivery include?

Accepted Answer

The crew brings the item in, sets it up, and makes sure it works before you are charged in full. A Tonal is mounted on your wall with its bracket and bolts, and you log in and test it first. For hot tubs, Commonplace coordinates the electrical and plumbing hookup with you.

Question 22

How did Commonplace get started?

Accepted Answer

With Pelotons. Many were bought during COVID and sat unused once people went back to the gym. Ari and Naomi inspected and delivered them with accessories and a warranty, then expanded to hot tubs, saunas, golf carts, home gyms, and appliances.

Question 23

How do I avoid buying a lemon secondhand?

Accepted Answer

Most buyers do not know what to look for in a used hot tub or sauna. Commonplace has seen these items many times, inspects each one before pickup, and will tell you if it is a lemon you should skip, free of charge.

Question 24

Is Commonplace too good to be true?

Accepted Answer

Ari says it is the number one question buyers ask. The way you pay answers it: a $1 hold reserves the item, it gets a 30 to 50 point inspection before pickup, and on orders under $8,000 you pay the rest on delivery. If it is not right, you do not pay.

Question 25

Why is it so hard to buy big items secondhand?

Accepted Answer

There are only a few listings nearby, the item will not fit in your car, many movers will not handle it, most buyers cannot judge its condition, and you usually pay a stranger in full up front. Commonplace handles pickup, inspection, delivery, and payment.

Question 26

How are Commonplace delivery drivers trained?

Accepted Answer

Every category gets a driver course and a quiz. Drivers must pass it before they can be assigned that product, brand, or category, and Commonplace often recruits drivers who already know the category, like appliance or hot tub experts.

Question 27

Can I use HSA or FSA funds to buy used fitness equipment?

Accepted Answer

Many fitness and wellness items qualify for reimbursement through a health savings account or flexible spending account, which you cannot use with a stranger on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Ari said Commonplace accepts HSA and FSA payments for fitness and wellness equipment. See how it works .

Question 28

Are some hot tubs easier to repair than others?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ari said some hot tubs have foam all around them that has to be pulled out to reach a leak, while others have an outer casing that comes off easily so you can get straight to the leak. Sell a hot tub .

Question 29

Why is it called Commonplace?

Accepted Answer

Ari's wife and co-founder came up with the name. The company started as Trade My Spin, then Trade My Stuff. Ari found Trade My Stuff too transactional. Commonplace describes the goal: make buying secondhand a normal shopping channel, as ordinary as ordering online.

Question 30

Is it worth buying a used refrigerator?

Accepted Answer

Often, if you get what a new one comes with. Ari's list: delivery, installation, an inspection by someone who knows refrigerators, financing, and a warranty. Commonplace inspects it before pickup, delivers free within 100 miles, and includes a free two-month parts warranty. Sell a refrigerator .

Question 31

Can I list on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist at once?

Accepted Answer

Yes. List free on Commonplace and choose optional promotion, for a small percentage of your listing price, and your item is promoted on Google, Facebook and Craigslist. Ari said inquiries come back to the Commonplace listing, so you skip the messages and meetups.

Question 32

Where do Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace fall short?

Accepted Answer

Ari said local marketplaces work best in big cities with lots of inventory, and shipping marketplaces suit small items. Both break down over long distances, with very large items, and when an item is expensive but you cannot inspect it before you pay.

Question 33

Can businesses like gyms sell equipment on Commonplace?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ari said gyms already list equipment they want to get rid of, and medical practices such as med spas list high-value equipment that buyers want inspected first. Commonplace is built mainly for people selling from home and has no separate business plan yet. Start a free listing .

Question 34

Is Commonplace a logistics company?

Accepted Answer

Ari calls it logistics first. Commonplace is a marketplace for big secondhand items, but it runs on its own pickup and delivery crews. He said that without being able to deliver and install an item without damaging anything, listings alone would not earn buyers' trust.

Question 35

What is the hardest part of building a marketplace?

Accepted Answer

Ari said every part has to be tailored. Sellers and buyers want different things, and every category is different, from the landing page and ads to deliveries, inspections, and warranties. His early mistake was assuming new categories like hot tubs would be easy.

Question 36

Can AI help you buy and sell secondhand?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ari said AI is making it easier to find a specific model at the best price, and paying on delivery keeps the risk low. You can connect your own AI assistant to Commonplace to search listings, quote delivery, and list items. See the AI connector .

Question 37

Is trust more important than price when buying secondhand?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes. Ari said trust and convenience can matter even more than price, which is why people pay full retail. Commonplace adds those layers to secondhand: a $1 hold, an inspection before pickup, delivery, and paying the rest on delivery for orders under $8,000.

Question 38

Can I list everything in a room at once?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ari described taking one photo of a garage, living room, or kitchen, getting pricing suggestions, and listing several items at once. Try Sell Your Room .

Question 39

Can you finance a used hot tub?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on Commonplace. Ari said you can pay by card, finance, or use an HSA or FSA, none of which a stranger on Craigslist or Facebook will take. Eligible items from $500 to $20,000 can be financed at checkout for up to 48 months on approved credit. See financing .

Question 40

Why is buying big items secondhand so hard?

Accepted Answer

Ari said buying new and used are not apples to apples. Retail comes with logistics, payments, safety, a warranty, financing, installation, and inspection. Buying used from a stranger leaves all of that to you, which is what Commonplace adds back.

Question 41

Is buying secondhand better for the environment?

Accepted Answer

Ari's view: if big items are not easy to buy secondhand, people buy them new. Making used as easy as new, with delivery, a warranty, and financing, keeps well-built products in use longer.

Question 42

Can Commonplace sell my things after I move?

Accepted Answer

Yes. With Store to Sell , Commonplace picks the item up, keeps it at its warehouse, and delivers it to the buyer when it sells. Ari suggested it for a few high-value items, not a whole house.

Questions Ari answered on podcasts