Trust & Safety
Safe local pickup, every transaction
BuildMET is a local pickup marketplace. Buyers inspect materials in person and pay sellers directly with cash or Interac e-Transfer. Use these guidelines to keep every deal safe.
How a transaction works
- 1Buyer contacts sellerSend an inquiry through BuildMET. Discuss condition, quantity, and pickup logistics.
- 2Inspect & arrange pickupMeet at the jobsite or seller's location. Verify materials match the listing before paying.
- 3Pay with cash or e-TransferPay in person. Sellers should confirm e-Transfer is fully deposited before releasing materials.
Buyer safety tips
- Inspect materials in person before paying.
- Verify dimensions, quantities, and condition match the listing.
- Meet during daytime when possible — choose busy or business locations.
- Bring help for heavy or oversized items.
- Use secure payment methods (cash or Interac e-Transfer).
- Avoid sending deposits to unknown users.
- Have code-sensitive items (electrical, gas, structural) verified by a licensed pro.
Seller safety tips
- Never release materials before payment is fully confirmed.
- Enable Interac Auto-Deposit to reduce fraud risk on e-Transfers.
- Verify buyer communication before sharing exact pickup address.
- Use jobsite or business pickup locations when possible.
- Avoid suspicious payment requests (overpayment, third-party cheques, gift cards).
- Document expensive transactions with a simple bill of sale.
Interac e-Transfer — recommended for safer payments
Use Interac e-Transfer with Auto-Deposit enabled so funds land directly without a security question. Never release materials until the payment is fully confirmed in your bank account. Refresh your banking app at pickup to verify deposit before handing over the goods.
Watch out for scams
- Never pay before verifying the materials in person.
- Avoid moving the conversation off BuildMET.
- Confirm exact quantity and condition before payment.
- Use caution with unusually low pricing or pressure tactics.
- Prefer safe meetup locations and bring a second person.
- Reject overpayment, cheque, or gift-card payment requests.
Coming soon
Verified Seller, Verified Contractor, Business Verified, Phone Verified, escrow payments, in-app messaging, ratings & reviews, and delivery marketplace.