How Trademe Blocks Foreign Buyers (and How VPN Users are Getting Around It)

Navigating Geo-Blocking on Trademe and the Real Reasons Behind It

TradeMe, New Zealand's most popular online marketplace, has become an essential platform for buying everything from electronics to everyday household items. However, for users outside New Zealand and Australia, accessing and purchasing items on TradeMe can be tricky, thanks to its geo-blocking mechanisms. While these restrictions are meant to combat fraud and protect local sellers, international buyers are often left searching for workarounds.

Why Does TradeMe Geo-Block Foreign Buyers?

TradeMe enforces strict geo-blocking policies to prevent international buyers from making purchases. This is part of their broader fraud prevention strategy. International transactions are often seen as higher risk due to increased fraud and payment issues, so TradeMe limits buyers and sellers to New Zealand and Australia.

Additionally, TradeMe’s policies require users to be physically located in one of these countries for security and legal reasons, which are outlined in their Terms and Conditions. While this approach helps prevent fraudulent transactions and protects local sellers, it often creates difficulties for legitimate buyers who may temporarily be located outside these regions.

Anecdotal Experience with Geo-Blocking

An interesting case came up when I attempted to purchase a MacBook from TradeMe while in Europe. Initially, the transaction went through smoothly, but it was flagged due to my location. TradeMe detected that I wasn’t in New Zealand and put the purchase on hold. After responding to an email and answering some questions to verify my identity, the transaction was allowed to proceed. This experience highlights TradeMe’s pragmatic fraud prevention approach: while they’re strict with transactions flagged as potentially risky, they are flexible enough to work with legitimate users to approve valid purchases.

Similarly, while shopping for a $20 electric toothbrush for my wife, who is currently back in New Zealand, I used a VPN to simulate a local presence. This allowed me to complete the purchase without triggering any geo-blocking restrictions, ensuring TradeMe didn’t flag the transaction and inconvenience both myself and the seller.

Why Do People Use VPNs to Bypass TradeMe's Geo-Blocking?

While not everyone is trying to game the system, many international buyers use VPNs to bypass geo-blocking and purchase items on TradeMe. Here are some common reasons:

• Access to New Zealand-based Goods: International buyers who want access to local goods, such as rare items, vehicles, or property listings, often turn to VPNs.

• Temporary Location Changes: Like my own experience, users temporarily abroad but who still need to purchase items for themselves or family back in New Zealand can use VPNs to ensure their transactions go through without problems.

• Avoiding Fraud Checks: Using a VPN simulates a New Zealand IP address, bypassing TradeMe’s stricter fraud prevention measures aimed at international locations.

Balancing Fraud Prevention and Accessibility

TradeMe’s geo-blocking policies are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they protect users by preventing high-risk international transactions, which helps reduce fraud. On the other hand, it often leaves genuine buyers, like those temporarily abroad, searching for ways to complete simple purchases. For many, VPNs offer a convenient, albeit unofficial, solution.

Conclusion

TradeMe’s geo-blocking policies, while essential for fraud prevention, sometimes create challenges for legitimate users. However, the platform’s pragmatic approach, allowing verification for valid international transactions, strikes a balance between protecting users and keeping the marketplace accessible.

For those temporarily outside New Zealand, using a VPN can be a convenient way to complete purchases without triggering fraud flags. But it's essential to remember that this workaround, while effective, may still violate TradeMe’s terms if detected.

Ka kite anō! (See you again!) – New Zealand

David Awatere
Founder of CicadaVPN