How to use messaging

The messaging feature allows you to securely chat with other users on our platform. Use it to ask questions about items, make offers, and get advice from other buyers and sellers.

Access your messages

To access your existing messages, complete the following steps.

In the app On the web

1. Open the OfferUp app and log in to your account.
2. On the Home page, tap Inbox in the bottom navigation bar.
3. View your available message threads.

Send a message

There are many ways to send a message, depending on what you’re trying to do. Here’s how to start messaging with other users.

Ask a question

If you’re interested in an item, but have questions about it before you buy, you can send the seller a message.

In the app On the web

1. Open the OfferUp app and log in to your account.
2. On the Home page, tap on a listing you’re interested in from the feed.
3. On the listing page, tap Ask.
4. Tap one of the suggested messages to immediately send that question, or write your own, then tap Send.

Make an offer

If you’re ready to buy an item, you can make the seller an offer by sending a message.

In the app On the web

1. Open the OfferUp app and log in to your account.
2. On the Home page, tap on a listing you're interested in from the feed.
3. On the listing page, tap Make Offer.
4. Enter your offer price, then tap Make Offer to send it in a message to the seller.

Start a new chat *Beta*

If you want to chat with someone, but not about a specific item, you can send them a message invite.

NOTE

We're currently beta testing this feature in our mobile app. As a result, some users may not have access to it at this time. If you don’t see the Start a New Chat button, then it’s not available to you yet.

Start a chat in your messages inbox Start a chat from a user’s profile page
  1. Open the OfferUp app and log in to your account.
  2. On the Home page, tap Inbox.
  3. In your Inbox, tap Start a New Chat.
  4. On the New Chat pop-up, view the users you can invite to chat from these options:
    a. Suggested - This shows you the users you’ve most recently chatted with.
    b. Followers - This shows you the users who follow you. Learn more about followers.
    c. Following - This shows you the users who you’re following. Learn more about following.
  5. Tap on a user to start composing your message.
  6. On the Send a Message page, tap the New Message field and type in your message.
  7. Tap the Send button to finish.

Reply to a message

To reply to a message, complete the following steps.

In the app On the web
  1. Open the OfferUp app and log in to your account.
  2. Tap Inbox, then tap on the message thread you want to reply to.
  3. On the Message page, tap into the Message field at the bottom and type in your response.
  4. Tap the Send icon to finish.

TIP

Tap on a message you’ve received to react with an emoji.

react_with_emoji

Delete a message

To delete a message thread you no longer need, complete the following steps.

Note

Deleting a message thread is a permanent action that cannot be undone.

In the app On the web
  1. Open the OfferUp app and log in to your account.
  2. On the Home page, tap Inbox, then locate the message thread you want to delete.
  3. Long press or swipe left on the message thread, then tap Delete.
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