Buying a digital course safely with escrow

Buying a course from a stranger is risky. These are the checks to make first.

What to check before buying a course

The content:

• A detailed curriculum or syllabus
• Number of modules and lessons
• Total hours
• Format (video, text or interactive)
• Difficulty level

The access:

• Lifetime or time-limited?
• Which platform (Teachable, Kajabi, self-hosted)?
• Can you download it?
• Is there a community or group?

The instructor:

• Check their expertise
• Look for reviews or testimonials
• Ask for a portfolio or case studies

Any extras:

• Worksheets and templates
• Source files, if relevant
• A certificate of completion
• Ongoing support or Q&A

Also make sure the seller has the right to sell it. Access resold from someone else's account usually breaks the platform's terms and the creator's copyright, and can be cut off at any time.

Pricing guide

Prices vary with length, depth and the instructor's reputation. Check what the creator charges directly; a resold course far below that is a warning sign.

Using escrow protection

1. Agree the deal and pay into escrow
2. Receive the course access in the deal chat
3. Check the content matches the listing
4. Confirm receipt, which releases the money

If the content doesn't match or the access doesn't work, don't confirm. Open a dispute and a moderator will review it.

Selling a course

When you list a course:

• Include a detailed curriculum
• Offer a preview lesson if you can
• State how long access lasts
• Mention any prerequisites
• Price it on the depth of the content

Escrow holds the buyer's money until they've seen the course, which makes buying from a stranger easier.