Canada Post Swap Spot: handing over second-hand items at a post office, how to use it, what it costs, whether you can use it in Victoria, and how to avoid scams when buying and selling used items online

1. What Swap Spot is

In one sentence: the post office helps the buyer and seller "hand over" a used item. Canada Post's news release says Swap Spot is a new service being trialled for second-hand buying and selling, for people who buy and sell on sites such as Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, LesPAC and Craigslist. The service page names three of them: Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji and Craigslist.

First, be clear about what it does and does not do:

How it compares with "meeting at the roadside". The benefits the website lists are: each side goes at their own time, so you do not have to agree on the same hour; the hand-over takes place at a post office; neither side has to give out their home address; and if the post office collects the payment, the seller receives a transfer sent by the post office, so there is no need to count cash face to face, or to worry about whether the other person's transfer is real.

It is not a shipping service. The seller drops off and the buyer picks up at the same post office. The item is not moved from one post office to another. So both the buyer and the seller have to be able to get to that post office.

2. Where you can use it: Victoria is not among the areas listed on the website

Only four areas for now. The news release, the service page and the registration form all name these four places:

• B.C.: the Greater Vancouver Area;
• Alberta: Calgary;
• Ontario: Hamilton;
• On the border between Ontario and Quebec: Ottawa-Gatineau.

Victoria is not on the list. The website does not list a single city on Vancouver Island. Going by the areas the website lists now, if you live in Victoria, you cannot use Swap Spot locally for now.

Even in these four areas, not every post office offers it. The French page says "Offert dans certains bureaux de poste", which means "offered at some post offices". The website has not published a list of participating post offices. To find out which ones offer it, you have to enter a postal code in the registration form on the website; the results are listed from nearest to farthest from you.

How to check whether there is one near you:

1. Open the Swap Spot service page and click "Set up an exchange" near the top of the page, or scroll down to the "Set up your exchange" section;
2. Under "Find a nearby post office", enter a postal code in the "Postal code" box and click "Search";
3. From the list or the map, pick one that is convenient for both sides and click "Choose post office".

If you only want to see which post offices are nearby, you do not have to fill in anything else. A post office from the search results only counts once both sides agree to it.

The FAQ on the service page also has a link, "Find your nearest participating location"; it opens Canada Post's regular post office finder. We could not confirm whether this tool can show only the post offices that offer Swap Spot, so go by the results in the registration form.

If you live in Victoria, when might you use it? For example:

• You are in Greater Vancouver (for work, visiting family, or because your child studies there) and want to buy or sell something there, and both the buyer and the seller can get to the same post office;
• Your family members live in Greater Vancouver, Calgary or the other areas, and you can share this guide with them.

The website does not say whether it will come to Victoria later. The news release only says the service is being trialled; it does not say how long the trial will run or where it will expand to. CanDo Studio will look again at the next check.

3. What it costs, and what items can be exchanged

First, look at this table (Canada Post website, November 4, 2026):

An example (before tax). Say you live in Greater Vancouver and are selling a used set of building blocks on Facebook Marketplace. You and the buyer agree on $80, and agree that the post office will collect the payment:

• When registering, enter 80 as the sale price;
• When you drop off the item, you pay the $5 service fee at the counter, plus tax;
• The buyer pays $80 at the counter and takes the blocks;
• Within 5 business days, you receive an Interac e-Transfer of $80 at your email. The terms state that the post office only sends the sale price entered on the registration form; the service page states that the service fee is paid by the seller at the counter at drop-off. So the service fee is not deducted again from this $80;
• So what you actually end up with is $80 minus the $5 and the tax you paid yourself.

If the buyer does not pick it up, you will not receive this $80, and you will have to collect the blocks from the post office yourself within the required number of days (section 5).

What can be exchanged. The website says most everyday items are accepted, such as clothing, electronics, books, household items and toys. The general rule is: anything that can legally be mailed in Canada can be exchanged through Swap Spot.

What cannot be exchanged. The items the website names are: firearms, drugs and controlled substances, dangerous goods, perishable items (such as food), and anything prohibited by Canadian law. The terms also state that the seller must own the item or have the right to sell it, the item must be legal to buy and sell, the description must be accurate, and it must not be counterfeit, dangerous or prohibited; items that cannot be mailed under the Non-mailable Matter Regulations cannot be exchanged either, even though the item does not actually go through the mail.

If you are not sure whether something can be exchanged, check these two pages, or ask the post office first. The service page gives two references: Canada Post's "Acceptable for mailing" page and its "Non-mailable matter" page. For example, the "Acceptable for mailing" page says items with an odour are not delivered. The terms also state that the post office may open a package when it has reasonable grounds to suspect that what is inside cannot be mailed.

The post office can refuse. The terms state that Canada Post can refuse any item, refuse or cancel any exchange, and can also suspend, change or end Swap Spot altogether.

4. How to use it, step by step

Step 1: Agree on the details online, and choose a post office

While you are chatting on Marketplace or Kijiji, first make these things clear, ideally in writing in the chat: what is being sold (the model, the colour, any faults, whether all the accessories are included), the price, whether the post office will collect the money or you will settle it privately, and which post office you will use.

You could ask the other person:

"Would you be OK using Canada Post Swap Spot? I'd drop it off at the post office on ___ and you can pick it up when it works for you."

Step 2: Fill in the registration form (either the buyer or the seller can do it)

Fill it in under "Set up your exchange" on the Swap Spot service page. Every field must be filled in:

1. Postal code: enter a postal code, click "Search", and in the results click "Choose post office" to select the post office;
2. Seller's email address;
3. Buyer's email address: it cannot be the same as the seller's email;
4. Item title: say clearly what the item is. The form reminds you that there are limits on the size, weight and type of item;
5. Item sale price: $0.00 to $999.99. If the money is not being paid at the post office, enter 0.00;
6. Click "Submit". The page will show "Your exchange has been submitted" and ask you to check your email.

Check everything once before you submit. The form states that if you find a mistake after submitting, the only option is to fill in a new form.

Be especially careful with the seller's email. The website says the email the seller enters must be registered with the seller's own bank for receiving Interac e-Transfers. The terms state that the post office recognizes only this email, and once the money has been sent to this email, payment counts as made. If a single letter of the email is wrong, the money could go to someone else.

Only email addresses are collected. The website says that only the buyer's and seller's email addresses are collected for an exchange, and the post office does not give your email to the other side. However, one side has to enter both people's emails on the registration form, so you at least have to give your email to whoever is filling in the form.

Step 3: Each side accepts the terms in their email

After the form is submitted, Canada Post sends one email to each of the two addresses entered. Both sides have to open their own email and follow the instructions in it to accept the terms before the exchange can go ahead. The terms state that by accepting, you confirm that the details of the exchange are correct and that the email addresses are correct and can receive mail.

Keep an eye on your email yourself. The terms state that once the post office sends an email, you are considered to have received it; the post office is not responsible if an email is filtered, goes to spam or does not arrive. So check your spam folder often over these few days.

To see what stage the exchange is at, you can check its status. Click "Check exchange status" at the top of the Swap Spot page, enter the email you registered and the Exchange reference number (it is in every related email), and click "Check status". It will show one of the following:

Step 4: The seller drops off the item

1. Bring the item (ideally packed) and the QR code from your email (the square code on your phone);
2. Go to the post office chosen at registration, not another one. The terms state that if you go to the wrong post office, the counter will refuse the drop-off;
3. Show the QR code at the counter and pay the $5 service fee plus tax.

At the counter you could say:

"Hi, I'm dropping off an item for Swap Spot. Here's my QR code."

Step 5: The buyer picks up the item

1. Wait for the email notice saying the item is ready for pick-up. The QR code is in the emails the post office sends you; the service page says it is already in the first confirmation email;
2. Bring the QR code to the same post office. The terms state that without the QR code, the counter will not hand over the item;
3. If you chose to have the post office collect payment, pay the agreed amount at the counter;
4. Look at the item there and then. If you are not satisfied, you can reject it on the spot (section 7).

At the counter you could say:

"Hi, I'm picking up a Swap Spot item. Here's my QR code. Can I check the item before I accept it?"

The website does not say which payment methods the counter accepts (cash, debit card, credit card); you can call that post office and ask before you go.

Step 6: The seller gets paid

• After the buyer has picked up the item and paid, the seller receives an Interac e-Transfer within 5 business days, with a notice when the transfer is sent;
• You must accept the transfer and deposit it in your bank account within 30 days after it is sent. The terms state that if it is not accepted and deposited within 30 days, the money is forfeited and cannot be recovered;
• If the sale price was entered as 0, the post office does not send any money; it only handles the hand-over of the item.

What ID do you need to bring?

The official terms say that the counter will process the exchange when it sees a valid QR code, and will not separately verify your identity (that is, it does not check ID). Whoever holds the code can drop off or pick up the item. So:

• The website does not say you need to bring ID, but keep your QR code as safe as you would a key;
• If you cannot go yourself, you can give your QR code to a family member or friend you trust to go for you; the terms allow this;
• If you give your QR code to someone else, forward it or lose it, you bear the risk yourself.

5. Deadlines: what happens if you miss them

The website does not make clear which day "the day the exchange is confirmed" is. It could be the day the registration form is submitted, or the day both sides accept the terms. To be safe, count the 8 days from the day the registration form is submitted.

The days are counted from when the email is sent, not from when you see it. The last day shown on the status page says "before closing time", not 12 midnight, so allow for the time the post office closes.

A few things that are easy to miss:

• If the buyer rejects the item on the spot or does not pay, the seller likewise has only 7 days to collect it; do not assume the item will come back to you on its own;
• The post office may send reminder emails, but the terms say it "may" send them, not that it "will", so do not count on a reminder;
• If the buyer does not pay, the website says the item will be kept at the post office, and the seller must collect it within 7 days of receiving the notice.

6. What sellers need to watch out for

1. The item must be yours, and the description must be honest. The terms state that the seller must have the right to sell the item and the description must be accurate. For used items, say clearly in the ad and in the chat what faults it has and what accessories are missing.
2. Use the email that can receive e-Transfers, and enter it correctly. The money is only sent to the registered seller's email (section 4).
3. Take photos before you drop the item off. Photograph what the item looks like, the packaging, and the model and serial numbers. If the item is lost or damaged at the post office and you want to make a claim, the terms state that there is no compensation if the evidence is insufficient (section 8).
4. Pack electronics well. For items such as phones, tablets, computers, TVs and cameras, the terms state that you can only claim compensation for damage if the item was dropped off in one of these three kinds of packaging: the original manufacturer's packaging (undamaged and still able to hold its shape); packaging that meets Canada Post's packaging guidelines; or Canada Post's packaging made specially for electronics.
5. Do not send your own QR code to the buyer. The buyer picks up the item with the buyer's own code. If the other person says "send me a screenshot of your code", tell them to check the email they received themselves.
6. Keep an eye on your email and the deadlines. If the buyer does not come, rejects the item or does not pay, you have only 7 days to collect it (section 5).
7. Deposit the money within 30 days. When you get the transfer notice, accept it and deposit it as soon as you can.
8. If you are selling children's products, first check whether they have been recalled. Health Canada says Canada's product safety laws apply to new and used products alike; it is illegal to sell, give away or pass on to someone else a consumer product that does not meet current requirements. Banned products cannot be sold or given away, for example baby walkers. Health Canada has specific requirements for items such as children's car seats and cribs: check for recalls first, and look at the label and the date of manufacture; Health Canada says not to buy a car seat that has been in a collision. You can check for recalls by typing the product name or brand into the search box (Search alerts and recalls) on the home page of Canada's Recalls and Safety Alerts database. For car seat recalls, that Health Canada page says to check with Transport Canada.
9. Tax. The terms state that Canada Post does not calculate, collect or report any tax that may apply to the sale, and does not give tax advice; the buyer and seller have to find out for themselves whether any tax is owed.

Take extra care when selling to someone in another city. Swap Spot only hands items over at the same post office; it does not send them to other cities. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says that one common scam is a "buyer" who says they are in another city and wants to buy without seeing the item, and then cheats you with a fake payment (section 10).

7. What buyers need to watch out for

1. Ask everything you need to in the chat before you pay. The website says the post office is not responsible for the condition of the item or for whether the ad is accurate; any problem has to be sorted out between the buyer and seller themselves. It recommends making things clear before the exchange, and keeping a record of the ad and of what was agreed. For electronics, you can first ask the seller to send the model number, serial number, a list of accessories and a video of it turning on. The Saanich Police Department also reminds you: when buying electronics, check that the model and serial numbers on the box match those inside it; take your time, and look up the brand and model online.
2. Look at the item on the spot, and do not accept it if you are not satisfied. The terms state that the buyer can reject the item for any reason, and rejecting it cancels the exchange. When rejecting it, you can say: "I'd like to reject this item."
3. Once you take the item away, the post office no longer deals with problems you find later. The terms state that if the buyer takes the item without raising an objection at pick-up, there is no compensation if it is damaged or lost. If the item is faulty or not as described, that is between you and the seller (section 9).
4. If you cannot tell, do not accept it. The website does not say whether you can open a packed item at the counter to look at it; you can ask the counter first.
5. Keep your own QR code safe. Whoever holds the code can take the item (section 4).
6. If you are buying children's products, first check for recalls. Health Canada recommends checking with the manufacturer and Health Canada for recalls before buying a used item; read the labels, ask the seller how long it was used and whether it has been repaired, and check for cracks and for loose or missing parts (section 6, item 8).

8. If an item is lost or damaged at the post office

This is what section 16 of the terms says:

• Deadline: make a claim to Canada Post within 90 calendar days (weekends and holidays count) from the day the buyer rejects the item, or from the day the post office sends both sides a notice that it has been lost;
• Maximum compensation: up to $999.99 per exchange; some items have a lower limit:
  • Jewellery, gems, precious metals and stamps, and items whose value comes mainly from being rare, limited edition or collectible (such as sports cards, memorabilia, comic books, autographed items, antiques and artwork): up to $500 per claim;
  • Gift certificates, gift cards and phone cards: up to $100 per claim;
• No compensation for damage to: fragile items (such as vinyl records, glass, picture frames with glass, mirrors, crystal, ceramics and china), perishable items, temperature-sensitive items, and items that need refrigeration;
• No compensation for loss of or damage to: banknotes and coins; stocks, bonds and other instruments that can be cashed by whoever holds them; lottery tickets, loyalty cards and traveller's cheques; live animals and plants, and so on; and items that do not meet Swap Spot's item rules and should not have been dropped off in the first place;
• No compensation in these situations either: it was not Canada Post's fault; something the post office could not foresee or control; the buyer took the item without raising an objection; the evidence is insufficient; it was wholly or partly the buyer's or seller's own fault; or the amount claimed is not a direct result of the item being lost or damaged;
• Only one claim can be made per item, and you have to choose either "lost" or "damaged", not both.

The FAQ on the website puts it differently. The FAQ on the service page says Swap Spot does not assume liability for items while they are in Canada Post's care, and claims for loss, damage or theft follow Canada Post's existing claims process. Section 16 of the terms, on the other hand, sets out the deadline and compensation limits above. The website does not explain how the two fit together. It also does not say exactly where to submit a claim.

So if this happens to you, do this:

1. If you find the item damaged at pick-up, tell the counter right there; do not take it away first;
2. Take photos of the item, the packaging and the labels; keep screenshots of the ad, the chat history, and all the Swap Spot emails;
3. Email to ask exactly how to make a claim. The Swap Spot exchange enquiries email given in the terms is cpswapspot@paymentsource.ca (in French, pczonerevente@paymentsource.ca). You could write: "My Swap Spot exchange reference number is ___. The item was damaged / lost while at the post office. How do I file a claim?"
4. Remember the 90-day deadline, counted from the day of the rejection or of the loss notice.

Who Payment Source is. The terms state that Canada Post works with a company called Payment Source Inc. (PSI for short), which runs Swap Spot on its behalf: it collects both sides' email addresses, the item details, the post office and the exchange number, and sends the notices and QR codes. That is why the email address above ends in paymentsource.ca.

9. If the buyer and seller cannot agree

The post office does not act as a go-between. Both the website and the terms state: Swap Spot only helps with the hand-over and does not mediate disputes between the buyer and seller; disputes about things like the condition of the item or payment can only be resolved by the buyer and seller themselves, and Canada Post is not a party to them.

Consumer protection laws mostly do not cover sales between individuals. The Office of Consumer Affairs says: a sale between one individual and another is a private sale, and most consumer protection laws do not cover it. If something goes wrong, your provincial consumer affairs office may not be able to help either, and you have to deal with the other person directly; if they will not cooperate, the next step may be going to court, and if the amount is within the small claims limit, you can use small claims.

In B.C., disputes over a purchase or sale of up to $5,000 can go to the CRT. B.C.'s Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) is an online tribunal that handles most small claims up to $5,000, including "things you bought or sold". The CRT's Solution Explorer is free and anonymous: it asks you a few simple questions and gives you legal information and next steps, as well as template letters to send to the other person. If you actually file a claim, for amounts of $3,000 or less, applying online costs $75 ($100 by email or mail); for $3,001 or more, it is $125 online ($150 by email or mail). The CRT's page warns that because many people are applying right now, it may take several months before your claim is reviewed.

The terms also say which province's law applies. Section 19 of the terms says that disputes related to the Swap Spot service are governed by the law of the province where the seller's drop-off post office is located, and are handled by the courts with jurisdiction in that province. If the item is dropped off at a post office in Greater Vancouver, that is B.C. Disputes between the buyer and seller about the item's condition or payment are, as section 6 of the terms states, for the two sides to resolve themselves; in B.C., for amounts up to $5,000, you can start with the CRT as described above.

When you talk it over, you could start like this: "The item doesn't match the description in your ad. Here are the photos. Can we work out a refund?"

Being scammed is a different matter. If the other person deliberately cheated you, for example the box contained a brick, or the payment was a fake transfer, it is no longer just a dispute about a sale; report it to the police, and see sections 10 and 12.

Related: when you buy from a business (an online store, or a platform selling its own goods) and something goes wrong, there are more rules than between individuals; see Guide No. 45, Online shopping problems and returns; section 16 of that guide also covers buying used goods from individuals.

10. Common scams when buying and selling used items online

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) has specifically warned that scammers target people who sell things on social media and in online classified ads. Below are several common tricks described by the CAFC, the police, Interac and Canada Post's website.

Trick 1: Fake e-Transfer emails and text messages

How the scam works: A "buyer" sends you an official-looking email or text message saying they have already sent you the money, and asks you to click a link to "accept the transfer". The link takes you to a fake bank login page; as soon as you enter your online banking username and password, the scammer uses them to get into your account and steal your money.

How to protect yourself (the CAFC's advice): look carefully at the web address before you click a link; email addresses and text message numbers can both be faked; never give anyone your online banking verification code (the few digits you receive by text or in an app), no matter who asks. Interac says: if you receive a transfer notice you were not expecting, first contact the person who sent the money to check; if you cannot confirm it, forward the notice to phishing@interac.ca right away.

Trick 2: "I've paid already; send me the tracking number first"

How the scam works: You get a message saying a "payment is pending", which supposedly covers the item and the shipping, but you are told you must ship the item and provide a tracking number before the money will be "released". You ship it, and only then find out that no payment was ever made.

Trick 3: "There's a problem with your account; pay $500 first"

How the scam works: The other person says the money cannot go through because of a problem with your PayPal or bank account, and you have to pay $500 first to open a "business account"; they say they can pay this for you first, and you then pay them back through a money transfer company such as MoneyGram or Western Union. You send the money, and only then find out there was never any money waiting for you.

Trick 4: Overpaying and asking you to refund the difference

How the scam works: The other person pays more than your asking price, then asks you to send the extra back right away. After you send it, you find out their payment was fake. The CAFC says these scams use stolen bank accounts, fake cheques and stolen credit cards. The BC RCMP says: when selling online, do not accept a payment for more than the sale price; if you still think it is a real sale, return the cheque and ask the other person to write a new one for the correct amount.

Trick 5: Scanning a QR code to "receive payment"

How the scam works: The CAFC says scammers send a fake payment and say you have to scan a QR code to receive the money; once you scan it, you are asked to enter your online banking details. In another version, the other person says scanning the code is how they will pay you, but the QR code is actually a request for money from you; as soon as you enter your details, the money goes to the scammer, or your account is taken over.

Do not confuse this with Swap Spot's QR code: Swap Spot's QR code is emailed to you by the post office for the counter staff to scan; it is not something you scan with your phone to receive money.

Trick 6: Fake cheques, fake money orders and fake bank drafts

The BC RCMP says: if you receive a cheque in an online deal, do not rush to treat it as cash. Scammers use the names of banks and financial institutions to make fake cheques and fake money orders. A Canada Post money order held up to the light shows a beaver-shaped watermark at the top, and its maximum value is $999.99. In 2014, the Saanich Police Department dealt with a case where a seller accepted a bank draft that looked genuine at first glance and handed over a MacBook Air, and only when depositing it was told by the bank that it was fake. The police's advice: either accept cash only, or go to the bank to confirm the payment is real.

Trick 7: A price too good to be true, and pressure to decide fast

The CAFC's quick tips:

• First find out roughly what the item is worth;
• Do not trust an offer that is too low or too high;
• Be careful if the other person keeps pushing you to hurry and decide right away;
• Be careful with buyers who want to buy without seeing the item;
• Search online to see whether anyone has already reported this buyer or seller.

The CAFC also says scammers' fake ads sell almost anything: event tickets, puppies and kittens, electronics, clothing, rental housing, vacation properties and cars. Puppy and kitten scams often ask you to pay one charge after another, for shipping, vaccines, certificates and insurance, and in the end you get nothing.

A few cautions related to Swap Spot

The points below are reminders that CanDo Studio has put together from the official terms:

• The service fee is paid by the seller at the counter. The website states that the $5 service fee is paid by the seller at drop-off, the buyer pays no service fee, and nothing is charged if the item is not dropped off. So if someone sends you a link asking you to pay a Swap Spot service fee, a "deposit" or an "unlock fee" online first, do not pay; check the status page yourself.
• Do not click links in emails to "verify"; open the official website yourself. Canada Post says it does not send emails or text messages asking for your credit card or banking details, passwords or account details, and does not ask you to pay to "release" a package. Swap Spot is run by Payment Source on Canada Post's behalf, and the website does not say which address its emails come from, so do not go only by the sender. The safest way: open Canada Post's Swap Spot page in your browser yourself, click "Check exchange status", and enter your email and exchange reference number to check.
• A QR code is a key. The counter does not check ID; it processes whatever valid code it is shown. If anyone asks for your code, stop and think first.

You can forward suspicious text messages to 7726 (SPAM on the keypad); Canada Post says your mobile provider may then block future texts from that number.

If you have been scammed, or have already given someone your online banking details, call your bank first, then report it to the police, then report it to the CAFC; see section 12.

Related: if you have already handed over your bank card or online banking details, or money has been taken, for how to deal with your bank and how to escalate a complaint step by step, see Guide No. 31, Card fraud and scam transfers; if you are worried someone will use your information to get a credit card or borrow money, for how to check your credit reports and add a fraud alert, see Guide No. 34, Protecting your credit.

11. Where there is no Swap Spot: how to make in-person exchanges safer

Does Greater Victoria have a police "safe exchange zone"? In some cities, the police have marked out special parking spaces for people who buy and sell online to meet and make their exchange. For example, the Hamilton Police Service has a clearly marked "Buy and Sell Exchange Zone" in the visitor parking lot at Mountain Station, with video surveillance; it also states that the police do not mediate between the two sides, do not look at documents and do not act as witnesses. On November 4, 2026, we searched every web address listed in the site maps of the Victoria Police Department (VicPD, which serves the City of Victoria and Esquimalt), the Saanich Police Department and the Oak Bay Police Department for words such as exchange, trade, swap, buy, sell and marketplace (we only looked at the web addresses and did not read each page), and found no such zone; for the West Shore RCMP, the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP and the Central Saanich Police Service, we only looked at the home pages, and did not see one there either. If you want to be sure, you can call your local police department's non-emergency number and ask (section 12).

You could ask: "Does your department have a safe exchange zone for online buy-and-sell meetups?"

The BC RCMP's advice:

• Meet in a public place, such as outside a police station, a local coffee shop or a supermarket;
• Bring someone with you as a witness, such as a family member or friend;
• Avoid meeting in person to hand items over whenever you can, and use a secure electronic transfer for payment;
• If, once the other person arrives, they show a weapon or grab the item or the money, call 911 right away, and describe what they look like, their vehicle and which direction they went.

Consumer Protection BC's advice:

• Do not use your home address as the meeting place, and do not share details of your life online, such as that you are about to move or go on vacation;
• Do not give your credit card details to anyone;
• Meet in a busy, well-known place, such as a mall or shopping centre, or outside a police station;
• Tell a friend or family member where you are going, or ask them to come with you;
• If you do not want to meet a stranger and none of the options above work for you, you can take the item to a consignment store, or donate it.

Warning signs the Saanich Police Department points out:

• Electronics being sold out of a vehicle;
• A seller who says the items are "left over from an installation" or "extra stock";
• Taking cash only to "save on tax" may mean the goods are counterfeit;
• If the other person becomes aggressive, or the price is too good to be true, walk away.

In 2021, the Saanich Police Department dealt with a case where someone was approached by two people in a commercial parking lot on Shelbourne Street and paid cash for a home theatre system whose packaging looked factory-sealed; when they got home and opened it, they found the speakers were old and broken, the projector was an older model not shown on the box, and one of the boxes contained a cement block.

A checklist CanDo Studio has put together from the official advice above, to go through before an in-person exchange:

• Meet in the daytime, in a busy place;
• Bring someone with you, or at least tell a family member where you are going and who you are meeting;
• Check the item in person: compare the model and serial numbers, and turn it on to try it;
• Hand over the item and the money at the same time: if using cash, bring only as much as you need; if using e-Transfer, wait until the money has really arrived in your own bank account (open your banking app yourself and check; do not click a link the other person sent) before you hand over the item;
• Do not go to the other person's home, and do not invite them to yours;
• If something feels wrong, walk away; it is fine if the deal does not happen.

When an item is too big to move and can only be handed over at your home (such as a sofa or a fridge): Consumer Protection BC advises against using your home address as the meeting place, and also suggests telling a friend or family member where you are, or asking them to be there with you. When this really cannot be avoided for a large item, CanDo Studio suggests at least having a family member or friend there, and not receiving a stranger at home on your own.

Related: for how to call the police in an emergency, the phone numbers of local police departments, and how to protect yourself day to day, see Guide No. 20, Staying safe and getting help.

12. Who to contact if something goes wrong, and what to say

The CAFC phone hours in B.C. time. B.C. last moved its clocks forward on March 8, 2026, and did not move them back on November 1; it now uses Pacific Time all year (UTC-7). Toronto still changes its clocks. So: from the first Sunday in November each year to the second Sunday in March of the following year, the hours are 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. B.C. time; the rest of the year, they are 7 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

What to do first after being scammed (in the CAFC's order):

1. Stay calm and gather everything related: documents, receipts, and screenshots of emails and text messages (CanDo Studio suggests also taking screenshots of the ad, the chat history and the other person's account page);
2. Contact the bank that the money was sent from right away;
3. Report it to your local police department, and ask for a file number to keep for later;
4. Then report it to the CAFC as well. The CAFC explains that investigations are handled by local police; the CAFC collects information and helps police link cases from different places;
5. If you were scammed online, also report it to that website;
6. Watch out for "being scammed a second time": the CAFC warns that scammers often come back to victims, saying they can help get the money back, and ask for a fee first. Do not pay.

What to say:

• When calling your bank: "I think I gave my online banking details to a scammer. Please lock my account and check my recent transactions."
• When calling the police non-emergency line: "I'd like to report a fraud. I was selling an item on Facebook Marketplace, and the buyer sent me a fake e-Transfer link."
• When emailing Swap Spot: "My exchange reference number is ___. I need help with ___."

Swap Spot's promotional emails. The terms state that by using Swap Spot, you agree to Canada Post sending you promotional emails, such as special offers. If you do not want them, click the unsubscribe link in a promotional email; it takes effect within 10 business days. Notices about an exchange cannot be unsubscribed from.

Related: for local police non-emergency numbers (section 10) and what to do in an emergency, see Guide No. 20, Staying safe and getting help; for how to ask your bank for money back after it has been taken by a scam, and how to escalate a complaint step by step, see Guide No. 31, Card fraud and scam transfers.

13. Checklist before you act

Before you use Swap Spot:

• Both sides can get to the same participating post office (checked by entering a postal code in the registration form). Victoria is not among the areas listed on the website.
• The item is no more than 30 kg, and no side is longer than 1 m; the sale price is no more than $999.99; it is not a prohibited, dangerous or perishable item.
• In the chat, make clear: what is being sold, its faults, the price, whether the post office will collect the money or you will settle privately, and which post office.
• Check the registration form once after filling it in; the seller's email is the one that can receive e-Transfers; the buyer's email is different from the seller's.
• Both sides have accepted the terms in their emails; check your spam folder often.

Sellers:

• Drop off the item within 8 days; bring the item, the QR code, and the $5 service fee plus tax.
• Take photos before dropping off; use the original or compliant packaging for electronics.
• Do not send your own QR code to anyone.
• If the buyer did not pick it up, rejected it or did not pay: collect it within 7 days.
• When you get the transfer notice, accept and deposit it within 30 days.

Buyers:

• Pick up the item within 8 days of receiving the pick-up email, before closing time on the last day.
• Check the item on the spot, and reject it right there if you are not satisfied; if you take it away and find a problem later, the post office will not deal with it.
• Check for recalls before buying children's products.

Whether or not you use Swap Spot:

• Do not click an "accept the transfer" link and enter your online banking password; never give anyone your verification code.
• Do not accept overpayments, do not send back "the difference" for anyone, and do not pay first to "unlock" anything.
• In-person exchanges: in the daytime, in a busy place, with someone with you, and not at anyone's home.
• If you have been scammed: call your bank first, then report it to the police and ask for a file number, then report it to the CAFC.

Related guides

• → No. 45 · Online shopping problems and returns
  Problems when buying from a business (a company or an online store): what to do if a package never arrives, is marked delivered but you did not get it, is the wrong item or is broken, or if you just do not want it; the right to cancel and the refund deadlines under B.C. law; how to go to your credit card company if the business will not refund you; and where to complain if it is still not resolved. Buying used goods from individuals is covered in section 16.
• → No. 31 · Card fraud and scam transfers
  Card fraud, someone getting into your online banking, or being tricked into sending money: how much you may be responsible for with a credit card and with a debit card, whether an e-Transfer can be cancelled if it has not been accepted yet, what to do in the first hour, how to report to the police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and how to escalate your complaint step by step if the bank will not pay you back.
• → No. 34 · Protecting your credit
  If your information may have reached a scammer: how to check your two credit reports for free (section 2) and add a fraud alert (section 3), how to recognize common scams (section 10), and what to do step by step depending on what has happened (section 11). From August 2027, B.C. residents can also freeze their credit for free.
• → No. 20 · Staying safe and getting help
  When you call 911 in an emergency, first say clearly where the person is (section 2); after a scam, stop further losses first (section 9); and the non-emergency police numbers for Victoria, Saanich, the West Shore and several places in Greater Vancouver (section 10).

Main official links in this guide

These are all the official web pages used in this guide, sorted into groups by organization; the end of each section also lists the ones for that section. The email for Swap Spot exchange questions is cpswapspot@paymentsource.ca (in French, pczonerevente@paymentsource.ca); include your exchange reference number when you write. The pages of Canada Post, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, the BC RCMP, Consumer Protection BC, the Victoria Police Department, the Saanich Police Department, the Hamilton Police Service, Interac, the Office of Consumer Affairs, the Civil Resolution Tribunal, Health Canada, the Recalls and Safety Alerts database and the Government of B.C. were all opened and read on November 4, 2026; for Canada Post's parcel size and weight restrictions, the post office finder, the online reporting system and the home page of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, we only confirmed that the pages open, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's phishing page is listed as a reference only. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner's "Report a concern" page, Health Canada's page on reporting an incident involving a consumer product and the hint text on the Swap Spot registration form were read again during the review on the same day. The Swap Spot registration form and exchange status lookup are forms built into the service page; we read the text on them, but did not search any Victoria postal code on readers' behalf.

Canada Post Swap Spot

Other Canada Post pages

Fraud prevention and reporting

Police

Consumer rights, disputes and product safety

Time