Use a police safe exchange zone

Many police departments in the United States run a monitored exchange bay in their parking lot, free and open to anyone. It is one of the safest places to hand over an item.

Finding the nearest one

• Search for your city or county plus "safe exchange zone", "safe trade station", or "internet purchase exchange location". Most departments that have one list it on their own website with the exact address.
• Some sheriff's offices publish a county-wide list.
• Some are outdoors in the parking lot and available at any hour. Others are inside the lobby and only work during lobby hours, so check before you agree a time.
• If your local department has none, a bank lobby during opening hours is the closest substitute, and it is better for cash anyway.

How to propose it

Send it in the Jinu conversation, with the full address, and say plainly what it is: "There is a police exchange zone at [address]. Does 2pm on Saturday work?" A straightforward buyer or seller says yes. Somebody who talks you out of it has told you something useful.

What it does, and what it does not

It deters. Cameras, signage and the proximity of officers make it a poor choice for anyone planning to rob or defraud you, and that is most of its value.

It is not an escrow and not an inspection service. Officers do not check the item, do not hold the money, do not witness the deal, and are not there to referee an argument about condition. You still have to inspect the item yourself and count the cash yourself.

Two rules once you are there

• Do not agree to move. "Follow me around the corner, I am parked over there" defeats the whole point of the location you chose.
• Do the whole exchange inside the marked bay or the lobby, not in the road outside it.

Reporting and blocking

To report a listing, open it, use the more menu (the three dots), choose Report listing, and pick a reason: Spam or scam, Prohibited item, Wrong category, Already sold, or Other. A seller profile has Report seller, which offers a different set of reasons: Spam or scam, Harassment, Impersonation, Counterfeit or fake, Offensive content, or Other. A conversation has Report and Block this user, and the conversation report takes no reason at all.

Blocking is immediate and mutual: neither of you can message the other afterwards. Blocked people are listed in Settings under Blocked accounts.

For anything urgent, email safety@jinu.app. If you are in danger or a crime is in progress, call 911 first and tell Jinu afterwards.