Help & Information
How Ugly Melon works
Everything you need to buy, sell, and stay safe on the marketplace.
What is Ugly Melon?
Ugly Melon is a free classifieds marketplace for buying and selling almost anything across the UK. List an item in minutes, browse what's near you, and message sellers directly to arrange a sale — no middlemen, no commission on your asking price.
We help everyone get more from their stuff. Sellers list for free, reach local buyers, and keep the full price they agree. Buyers find unique, useful, and affordable items from people nearby, with the option to pay by card and collect in person or have items posted.
To keep the marketplace running, buyers pay an extra 5% on any purchase made through Ugly Melon (for example, a £100 item costs the buyer £105). This fee is added at checkout — Ugly Melon takes 0% commission from sellers, so the fee is never deducted from the asking price. Ugly Melon does not cover payment processing: payments are processed through each seller's own connected Stripe account, so any transaction fees charged by Stripe are the seller's.
Getting started
Post your item
Add a title, description, price, and photo. Pick the right category and UK area so buyers can find you.
Chat with buyers
Interested buyers message you directly. Reply, agree a price, and arrange a time and place to meet.
Exchange & mark sold
Meet up, exchange the item for payment, then mark the listing as sold so it leaves the browse grid.
Make your listing stand out
A few small touches help your item sell faster and build trust with buyers.
Take great photos
- Use natural daylight and a clean, uncluttered background.
- Photograph the item from several angles, including any flaws or wear.
- Add a photo with a piece of paper showing the date — it proves the listing is real and current.
Write a clear title
- Name the item, brand, model, size, and condition in the title.
- Keep it honest and specific — “Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, good condition” beats “phone for sale”.
Describe it fully
- List dimensions, age, colour, and what's included (box, charger, tags).
- Be upfront about any damage — buyers trust honest sellers and leave better reviews.
Price it fairly
- Check similar sold listings to gauge a realistic price.
- Leave a little room for negotiation, but don't overprice — competitive listings sell faster.
Selling branded items? Prove it's authentic
Counterfeit goods are strictly prohibited and listings will be removed. When selling brand-name items (clothing, trainers, electronics, watches, handbags, cosmetics), help buyers trust that yours is genuine:
- Show close-ups of logos, tags, serial numbers, care labels, and stitching.
- Include the original receipt, box, dust bag, or authenticity card if you have them.
- For high-value brands, mention where and when you bought it.
- Never use stock photos — only real photos of the actual item you're selling.
Selling fakes, replicas, or “inspired by” items as genuine is against our rules and UK law. Buyers can report suspicious listings, and repeat offenders lose their account and may be reported to the authorities.
Buy now & delivery
Buy now lets you purchase eligible items (up to £250, paid in GBP) with your card. Your payment is held safely by Stripe until you've received the item — the seller is only paid once you confirm.
Choose your delivery method
When you tap Buy now, you'll choose between Collection (meet the seller in person, free) and Postage (item posted to your address, cost shown on the listing). Postage is only available if the seller has offered it.
Payment is held securely
Your card is charged by Stripe and the money is held in escrow — the seller doesn't receive it yet. A 5% platform fee is added to your total at checkout, so nothing is deducted from the seller's asking price — Ugly Melon charges sellers 0% commission, though Stripe's standard transaction fees apply on the seller's side.
Receive the item
Collection: meet the seller and give them your 6-digit collection code (shown in Your orders). They enter it to release the funds. Postage: the seller ships the item and enters a tracking number — you'll see it in Your orders.
Confirm & release funds
Collection: the seller enters your code at handover — done. Postage: tap "Confirm delivery" in Your orders once the item arrives. The seller is paid instantly either way.
Sellers: to receive Buy now payments, set up your Stripe payout account from Your listings → Payout account. For postage orders, you'll see the buyer's shipping address and can enter a tracking number once posted — with any carrier you like, including Royal Mail, Evri or an InPost locker. You'll only be paid once the buyer confirms delivery.
Changed your mind? You can cancel and refund a Buy now order from Your orders at any time before the item is handed over or delivery is confirmed.
Paying with Onelink
Onelink is Stripe's digital wallet — the one-click checkout you'll see on the payment page. Save your card once and future payments on Ugly Melon take a few taps instead of a full card entry. It's built into Stripe's payment page, so there's nothing to set up with us, and you'll see it on any payment here, including listing fees and subscriptions.
Learn more about Onelink on Stripe's websiteTap Buy now and enter your email
You'll land on Stripe's secure payment page. If you already use Onelink, your saved card and address fill themselves in from that email address — nothing to type.
First time? Save your details once
Tick the box to save your details with Onelink and confirm with the code Stripe texts to your phone. From then on your details are ready at any shop that uses Stripe, including here.
Approve, and you're done
Check the amount and approve it. Every Onelink purchase asks for your approval first, so nothing is ever charged without you, and the payee's name is shown before you confirm.
We never see your card
Card details are handled and stored by Stripe, not by Ugly Melon — we only receive confirmation that your payment went through. Onelink costs nothing extra to use, and it's optional: you can always type your card details in by hand instead.
Your protection here is unchanged
Onelink only speeds up the payment. A Buy now payment is still held by Stripe until you confirm collection or delivery, and the 5% platform fee is still added to your total at checkout. Onelink also offers purchase protection on eligible purchases.
Selling handmade items
The Handmade category is for UK makers selling items they've crafted themselves. Handmade listings are free to post — there's no subscription.
Free to list
Handmade listings cost nothing to post and don't renew, and your shopfront comes free with them. A bump is £0.79 and a highlight £1.20 for 3 days each, if you want one.
What's allowed
Items handmade by you, sold from the UK. Each listing must include a link to your website or one social media page so buyers can see more of your work.
What's not allowed
No AI-generated items, no mass-produced or bought-in goods. Listings that break these rules will be removed.
Fees
Listing is free for most categories. The fees below apply to specific listing types and optional promotions, all processed securely via Stripe.
Vehicle advert
per vehicle · 50 days · one free a year
One vehicle advert a year is free. After that, a one-off £20 fee per vehicle advert, paid via Stripe before the ad goes live — list as many as you like, each one the same £20. An advert runs for 50 days and can be amended for the first 30 minutes, then it locks; renew it for another 50 days for £20, or cancel it any time. The fee isn't refunded, whether the vehicle sells or not.
£20Trade & Business advert
per advert · 28 days
An advert in the Trades or Business section, showing your business details and a link to your own website. It's an advertising space rather than a shopfront — there's nothing to sell through it — and it locks 30 minutes after it goes live. One advert at a time per seller, and nothing renews: post another when your 28 days are up. A commercial seller account includes your advert for as long as the account runs. A vehicle trader uses the same advert: it's shown in the Vehicles section, keeps your website link, and locks 30 minutes after it goes live.
£15Commercial seller account
every 28 days
The one optional account, for members buying stock to resell rather than clearing out their own cupboards: a shopfront of your own — your own banner, shop photo, story and featured items — no limit on how much new stock you keep live, your Trades or Business advert included, and 3 free bumps and 3 free highlights a cycle. The account is listed in the Businesses directory, with a badge on your listings so buyers can tell you apart from an individual casual seller. Listing is free without it. Cancel the renewal any time from your account settings.
£15Highlight
for 3 days
Puts your listing in the featured row at the top of its category with a gold accent.
£1.20Bump
for 3 days
Pushes your listing to the top of its category and area feed.
£0.79Handmade listing
to post
For UK makers selling items they've crafted themselves. Free to list, with your own shopfront included — banner, shop photo, tagline, holiday announcement and maker story — and no subscription. No AI-generated or mass-produced items. Each listing must link to your website or a social media page.
FreeSellers pay 0% commission. Ugly Melon takes no cut of your sale price, and accepting payment by Onelink adds no fee either. Because payments are processed directly through your own connected Stripe account, you are subject to Stripe's standard transaction fees. The 5% platform fee is paid by the buyer on top of the item price at checkout, so it is never deducted from your price.
Frequently asked questions
How do I post a listing?+
Tap “Post” in the header, fill in the item details, set a price and UK area, add a photo, then publish. It's free to list anything.
How do I browse items near me?+
Use the category pills and the area dropdown on the home page to filter listings by type and location. The search bar matches titles and descriptions.
How do I contact a seller?+
Open any listing and tap “Message seller”. This starts a private conversation where you can ask questions, propose a meeting, and arrange payment.
What does highlighting do?+
Highlighting puts your listing in the featured row at the top of its category for 3 days, giving it more visibility. You can add it when posting or from Your listings.
Why is there a fee for vehicle listings?+
Every member gets one free vehicle advert a year — vehicles are the only things that carry a listing fee. After that, each vehicle advert costs £20, paid securely via Stripe before the ad goes live, and you can list as many vehicles as you like at that price. Each advert runs for 50 days, and you have 30 minutes after it goes live to make any changes, after which it locks. You can renew it from Your listings for another 50 days at the same £20, or cancel it whenever you want — when the 50 days are up, or when you cancel, the advert leaves the marketplace. The £20 isn't refunded, including if the vehicle doesn't sell or you change your mind. If you run a vehicle business, a Trade or Business advert is £15 for 28 days and appears in the Vehicles section with a link to your website, one advert at a time, editable for 30 minutes after it goes live and then locked. Your individual cars are still listed separately under Vehicles, where the first each year is free and further cars are £20 each.
How do the Trades and Business adverts work?+
Both sections work the same way, and one advert covers both: £15 per advert, which buys a 28-day run. There's no subscription and nothing renews. It shows your business details with a link to your own website. Each seller runs one advert at a time, so no single trader dominates an area. An advert is an advertising space, not a shopfront: your business details and a link to your own website, with nothing to sell through it. It stays editable for 30 minutes after it goes live, then it locks — remove it and post a new one to make changes. When the 28 days are up the advert leaves the marketplace, and you can post another whenever you like. A commercial seller account includes your advert for as long as that account runs. A vehicle trader uses the same £15 advert: it appears in the Vehicles section for buyers browsing there, keeps your website link, and stays editable for the first 30 minutes after it goes live, then it locks.
What is the Business section for?+
It's for local businesses rather than tradespeople — hairdressers and barbers, beauty and nails, therapists and massage, tattooists, personal trainers, photographers, caterers, party and wedding services, tutors, childminders, pet care and driving instructors, among others. It costs the same £15 per advert for a 28-day run as the Trades section, with no subscription and nothing renewing.
Is my payment secure?+
All fees are processed by Stripe. We never see or store your card details. You can test the flow with card 4242 4242 4242 4242.
How do I mark an item as sold?+
Go to Your listings, find the active item, and tap “Sold”. It moves to the sold section and stops appearing in browse results.
How does Buy now work?+
Tap Buy now on eligible listings (up to £250, paid in GBP) to pay by card. Your payment is held safely by Stripe until you receive the item — the seller is only paid once you confirm collection or delivery.
What's the difference between collection and postage?+
Collection means you meet the seller in person and give them a 6-digit code to release the funds. Postage means the seller ships the item to your address — you confirm delivery in Your orders to release payment. Postage is only available if the seller has offered it.
How do I receive payment as a seller?+
Set up your Stripe payout account from Your listings. When a buyer uses Buy now, the payment is held in escrow. For collection, enter the buyer's 6-digit code at handover. For postage, ship the item and enter a tracking number — the buyer confirms delivery to release your funds. Ugly Melon charges you 0% commission, so nothing is deducted from your asking price here — but because payments are processed directly through your own connected Stripe account, you are subject to Stripe's standard transaction fees. A 5% platform fee is added to the buyer's payment at checkout.
How do I sell handmade items?+
Handmade listings are free to post, like any other listing — there's no subscription. You must be a UK maker selling items you've handmade yourself — no AI-generated or mass-produced items. Each handmade listing must include a link to your website or one social media page. Your own shopfront comes free with it: a banner, a shop photo, a tagline, a short announcement — for holiday dates or turnaround times — and your maker story.
Can I sell new items I bought to resell?+
Up to a point. Members can keep 10 brand-new items live at a time, free. If you want to sell more new stock than that, you're running a shop, so you'll need the optional commercial seller account — £15 every 28 days. It lifts the limit, comes with a shopfront of your own, includes your Trades or Business advert, and brings 3 free bumps and 3 free highlights a cycle. Handmade, upcycled and restored items, free giveaways, vehicles and job adverts don't count towards the 10.
Marketplace rules
A few simple rules keep Ugly Melon fair and safe for everyone. Breaking them can result in listings being removed or your account being restricted.
For sellers
- Only list items you own and are legally allowed to sell.
- Use clear, honest photos — no stock images or filters that mislead.
- Describe the item accurately, including any faults or wear.
- Set a fair price and don't change it after agreeing a deal with a buyer.
- Respond to messages promptly and keep arrangements in the app.
- Mark items as sold as soon as they're gone so buyers aren't misled.
- For Buy now orders, ship promptly or meet as agreed — you're only paid once the buyer confirms.
- Don't list prohibited or restricted items (see the restricted items list).
- Handmade listings must be made by you — no AI-generated or mass-produced goods.
- Selling new stock you bought to resell? You can keep 10 brand-new items live at a time — beyond that you need a trade or business advert.
- Running a trade or business advert? One advert at a time per seller — edit or remove yours before posting another.
- Don't create duplicate listings for the same item to game visibility.
- You're in charge — this is your business. You decide your own returns, refunds, and collection terms. Ugly Melon is here for support, not to dictate how you run your sales.
- Report buyers who fail to collect their parcels or don't show up for arranged meet-ups so we can take action.
For buyers
- Only message sellers about genuine interest — no spam, lowballing, or harassment.
- Ask questions before agreeing to buy, and inspect items before paying on collection.
- Show up on time for arranged meet-ups, or let the seller know in advance.
- Use the 6-digit collection code at handover so the seller is paid fairly.
- For postage orders, confirm delivery in Your orders once the item arrives.
- Don't share bank logins, one-time passwords, or personal security details.
- Pay only through the app's Buy now flow or an agreed method you trust — never send cash upfront to a stranger.
- Leave an honest review after a completed transaction to help other members.
- Don't make offers you can't follow through on.
- Report any seller who seems dishonest or unsafe using the report tool in messages.
Verified members
Some members carry a verified tick, so you can tell who you're dealing with before you get in touch.
What the tick means
The Verified badge shows next to a member's shop name and on every listing they post. It means we've looked behind the account and checked the person is genuine: we've matched them to a real name, a working email address and a UK base, and they've been selling in good faith. It tells you who you're dealing with before you message them. It isn't a rating of their items or a promise about a sale, so still check the photos, ask questions, and follow the safety tips below.
How to earn the tick
Anyone can ask for one — casual sellers, makers, traders and businesses alike. Send us a message using the form at the bottom of this page, from the email address on your account, and tell us your shop name, what you sell and where you're based. A link to your shopfront, website or one social media page helps us check quickly. We look over your account and recent listings, and if it all lines up we'll add the tick and reply to confirm. There's no charge, and you only earn it once — it then follows you onto every listing you post afterwards.
How a tick is removed
The tick isn't permanent. We take it away if the details we checked no longer match — a name change, an email address that's stopped working, or an account that has changed hands — or if a verified member breaks the marketplace rules: misleading listings, items that never arrive, no-shows, or ignoring buyers after payment. Report anything like that in messages and we'll review it. When a tick is removed it disappears from the member's shopfront and from all of their live listings at once. You can also ask us to remove your own tick at any time.
Staying safe
- Meet in a safe, public place to exchange items.
- Inspect goods before paying, and pay only when you're happy.
- Never share bank logins, codes, or one-time passwords.
- Prefer cash on collection or a tracked payment method you trust.
Restricted items
The following are not allowed on Ugly Melon. Listings that break these rules will be removed.
Sellers · worth knowing
Tax and HMRC reporting
Since 1 January 2024, UK marketplaces have to collect information about the people who sell on them and report each year's sales to HMRC. The rules are set out in the Platform Operators (Due Diligence and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2023, and they apply to us as the operator of Ugly Melon.
What we collect from sellers
- Your full legal name, or your registered business name, and your date of birth if you sell as an individual.
- Your home address, or your registered business address, including the postcode.
- Your National Insurance number — or, if you sell as a business or live outside the UK, a tax reference such as a Company Registration Number, Unique Taxpayer Reference or the equivalent from your own country.
- Your VAT number, if you have one.
Professional sellers — trade and business advertisers, makers and paid seller account holders — are asked for them before their advert or shop goes live. If you sell casually, you won't be asked at all unless your sales in a calendar year reach the limit below, at which point we need them before you post again. You can add or change them any time in your account under Profile settings.
What we report
By 31 January each year we report to HMRC, for each seller, the total amount they were paid in the previous calendar year split into quarters, the number of sales, and the fees Ugly Melon has charged. We also send every seller a copy of their own reported figures by the same deadline, which helps if you fill in a tax return.
Who is not reported
Sellers who made fewer than 30 sales and took less than €2,000 (about £1,700) in a calendar year are left out of the report entirely, so a casual seller below that line is never asked for their details at all. And giving them doesn't mean you'll be reported. That line is our reporting threshold, not a tax-free allowance, so staying under it says nothing about whether you owe HMRC anything yourself.
The 30-sale and £1,700 figures are HMRC's reporting thresholds, not ours. Check the current ones on GOV.UK before relying on them.
What it means for you
Your own tax position is yours, and this reporting doesn't change it. If the total income you make from selling is more than the £1,000 trading allowance in a tax year, you may need to tell HMRC about it — even if your sales are spread across several platforms. HMRC explains the allowance on GOV.UK. Selling the odd personal possession you already owned is normally not taxable.
How we look after it
Your details are stored privately: only you and the Ugly Melon team can see them. We keep them for five years after the year they relate to, as the rules require, and they're shared with HMRC only as part of the yearly report. See our Privacy Policy for the full picture.
Still need help?
Send us a message and we'll get back to you by email.