Sell Test Strips Online or Locally? How to Choose
We buy sealed diabetic supplies for cash. We do not sell supplies.
You can sell test strips online or locally, and both work. Local is simplest if a buyer meets people in your area. Online by mail is better if you live farther away or don't want to meet anyone.
Selling? See how we buy test strips.
This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own care.
Here's how the two compare, what each costs you in time and money, and how to compare offers.
How do the two options compare?
| Selling locally | Selling online by mail | |
|---|---|---|
| Effort | Show up with the boxes | Pack and ship a box |
| Shipping cost | None | You pay |
| Payment timing | At the meetup | After the box arrives |
| Payment types (with us) | Cash, Zelle, Venmo or PayPal | Zelle |
| Where it works | San Bernardino and Riverside County | Anywhere in the U.S. |
Both start the same way. You send photos, and you get a written quote before anything changes hands. You can text photos to (909) 619-5262 or use our quote form. There's no cost to ask and no pressure to say yes.
What's good about each?
Selling to a local buyer has some clear pluses:
- No shipping. You don't pack a box or pay postage.
- You can ask questions face to face.
- You're paid as soon as the boxes are checked.
- There's no chance of a box getting lost in the mail.
The catch is that it only works if a buyer serves your area. You also need to find a day to meet. With us, you pick the day, and we meet at a public place near you.
Mail-in has its own pluses:
- It works from almost anywhere.
- You don't have to meet anyone.
- You drop the box off on your own schedule.
The catch is that you pack the box, pay for shipping and wait for it to arrive. With us, you pay by Zelle within 48 hours of delivery if the items match the description. Items that don't match aren't paid for and aren't sent back.
If the box arrives damaged, it can affect your payment, so padding matters. Wrap each strip box and fill empty space so nothing shifts. Take photos before you seal the carton.
Our guide on how to ship diabetic supplies covers packing and tracking.
What are the risks of each?
Most risks come from strangers, not from the way you sell. Watch for these red flags either way:
- A buyer who wants you to ship before agreeing on a written offer
- A request to pay a "fee" to get your money
- Pressure to decide fast
- A buyer who sends too much and asks for the difference back
The CFPB says that last one is a common scam. For a local meetup, pick a busy public place during the day. For mail-in, use tracking and keep your receipt until you're paid. USPS says Priority Mail includes tracking and some insurance.
How do you compare offers?
Send the same photos to each buyer and ask for a written quote. Then compare:
- What they'll pay for each box
- Who pays for shipping
- How and when they pay
- What happens if a box doesn't match
- Whether you can reach a real person by phone
The highest number isn't always the best deal. A slightly lower offer with no shipping cost can leave more money in your pocket.
Watch out for vague quotes, too. A quote that says "up to" a price may drop once the buyer has your boxes. A written quote that lists each item is easier to trust.
Which strips can you sell?
We buy these when they're sealed and unexpired:
- Contour Next and Contour, 100 count
- Accu-Chek Aviva Plus and SmartView, 100 count
- Accu-Chek Guide, 50 and 100 count
- FreeStyle Lite, 100 count
- OneTouch Ultra, 100 count
We don't buy OneTouch Verio, expired strips, opened boxes or boxes marked "NOT FOR RESALE." We also don't buy strips paid for by Medicare or Medi-Cal. See our test strips page for details.
Strips must stay sealed for a reason. The FDA warns that pre-owned test strips can give wrong results. That can lead someone to take too much or too little medicine.
A real-life example
Say you live in Corona and have six boxes of Accu-Chek Guide strips. You get two quotes.
An online buyer offers a little more per box, but you'd pay for shipping and wait for delivery. We offer local pickup with payment on the spot. After you subtract shipping, the local offer comes out about even, and it's faster.
You pick local and meet on a weekday evening at a busy store parking lot. You count the boxes together and get paid by Venmo before you hand them over. Now say you lived in Sacramento instead. Local pickup wouldn't be an option, so you'd accept the best written quote and ship with tracking.
Should you sell online or locally?
Here's a simple rule:
- Live in San Bernardino or Riverside County? Local pickup is usually simplest.
- Live anywhere else? Mail-in is the way to go.
- Can't get out easily? Mail-in lets you drop the box off whenever it suits you. A friend or family member can drop it off for you, too.
Either way, start by checking every box for a whole seal and a future date. Never sell expired or opened strips. And keep boxes cool and dry until you sell, as the FDA says to store strips as the maker directs.
Keep reading
Questions
Is it better to sell test strips online or locally?
Local is simplest if a buyer serves your area, since there's no packing or shipping. Online by mail works from almost anywhere.
Who pays for shipping when I mail strips to you?
You do. You get a written quote first, and then you ship at your own cost.
How fast do I get paid?
Local sellers are paid at the meetup. Mail-in sellers are paid by Zelle within 48 hours of delivery, if the items match.
Do you buy OneTouch Verio strips?
No. We buy OneTouch Ultra, Contour, Accu-Chek and FreeStyle Lite strips.
Sell online or locally with us
We buy test strips online or locally, so you can pick what works for you. Send a photo of each sealed box and its date for a free written quote.