OfferUp Launches Enhanced Public Profiles to Elevate User Reputation and Verifications

SEATTLE, Dec. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OfferUp, the largest mobile marketplace in the U.S. for local buying and selling, announced today new profile enhancements in its quest to increase transparency and build the most trusted experience possible. The feature releases are the company's latest trust-focused innovations, building on other initiatives such as their Community MeetUp Spots program, TruYou, and secure chat.

"Building and establishing trust with consumers has been a priority since day one, which is why we've built products, features and programs with a focus on safer transactions," said Nick Huzar, CEO and co-founder at OfferUp. "Trust is at the heart of every marketplace transaction, and therefore central to the machine that fuels the business. Removing anonymity and increasing transparency can only benefit our community, helping buyers and sellers make more informed decisions."

When users sign up or log into their profiles, the following profile attributes will now appear:

• Verification badges: Users now receive badges on their profile when they verify their phone number and email address and connect their Facebook account. These features build on OfferUp's TruYou member program, which gives users the opportunity to receive a badge when they confirm their phone number and securely provide an image of an ID and a selfie in the app.
• Positive review attributes: In addition to listing the number of reviews and showing a one through five star rating, OfferUp shows attributes such as "timely", "friendly", "item as described" and "reliable" that have been rated by other users.
• Average response time: OfferUp profiles now showcase user response time to help potential buyers manage expectations. The response time range varies from "a few seconds" to "a few days" and is based on how long it takes users to respond to previous interactions. Response times become more precise the more the app is used.
• Trusted connections: OfferUp profiles that are integrated with Facebook now allow users to find mutual connections with other buyers and sellers, giving users increased confidence in transacting with that individual.
• Personalized background image: Users can add a banner photo to enhance their profile, allowing people to get a clearer sense of what that user likes, where they're from and/or what they sell.

"By definition, an online marketplace doesn't directly control the quality of the products or services that are bought and sold on its platform, which is why it's critical to put mechanisms in place to ensure users have little or no fear about conducting business on the site," said Jerry Howe, VP of customer experience and trust. "Our larger goal is to eliminate improper behavior, and building out a robust verification and reputation system is the first step towards empowering our community to make informed and responsible decisions."

Additional information on these features and more can be found on our blog and at https://offerup.com/trust/.

About OfferUp
OfferUp is dedicated to building the simplest and most trustworthy way for people to buy and sell in their communities. As the largest and fastest growing mobile marketplace for local buyers and sellers in the U.S., the company offers iOS and Android apps that make selling an item as easy as snapping a picture from your mobile device. The privately held company is based in Bellevue, WA. and backed by top investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Warburg Pincus, GGV Capital, Altimeter Capital and Allen & Company. For more information, visit www.offerup.com and follow us at www.twitter.com/offerup and www.facebook.com/offerup.

SOURCE OfferUp

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