Questions for the seller before buying second-hand

Prompt for targeted questions to private sellers before a second-hand purchase, with warning signs and a ready message. Paste it into an AI tool of your choice, which then puts the questions together.

Topic: Shopping & product search
Type: Prompt
Level: Beginner
Time: about 4 min

Results depend on the tool, the model and what you enter.

Result preview

Example: written by our editors, not real AI output.

1. Are there any scratches or dents on the frame, even small ones? 2. Roughly how many kilometres has the bike done? 3. Do you still have the receipt? Warning signs: only stock photos, pressure to pay quickly, no test ride possible. Message: Hi, I'm interested in the road bike. Is there any damage to the frame, how far has it been ridden, and do you still have the receipt? Thanks

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ItemWhat do you want to buy?

ListingPaste the listing text

PriceWhat does it cost?

Your prompt

I'm thinking of buying second-hand: [Item]
Details from the listing:
<listing>
[Listing]
</listing>
Price: [Price]
Create at most eight questions I should ask the seller first: condition and faults, age and use, accessories and original receipts, reason for selling, viewing or testing. Nothing the listing already answers. Then three warning signs typical for this item, and a short, friendly message with the three most important questions to copy.

Take particular care to ask only questions the listing doesn't answer yet.

Before you answer, check: Are all instructions met? If key information is missing or a placeholder in square brackets is still in the text, ask instead of guessing. Mark assumptions as assumptions.

This is an instruction for an AI, not the result itself.

Where this prompt works

These AI tools are a good fit for this prompt:

How to use it

Fill in the fields or tap a suggestion. Leave out names, addresses and other personal data.
Copy the finished prompt into an AI tool of your choice.
Send the message and only buy once the answers match the listing.

Why does this work?

Asking targeted questions first helps you spot problems before money changes hands. The ready-made message makes it easy to actually ask them.

Tips

With private sales, pay at handover if you can, using a method that lets you trace who received the money.

You may use our prompts freely, including at work. Please do not republish them as your own collection. We give no warranty for AI results; check them yourself. Terms of use

Questions for the seller before buying second-hand

Result preview

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Your prompt

Where this prompt works

How to use it

Why does this work?

Tips

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