Designing a Secure Marketplace UX for Eskro Mobile App
Onifade Ifeoluwa
Eskro Mobile App (V1) — UX Case Study
Role: UX Designer
Platform: iOS & Android
Product: Secure peer-to-peer marketplace
Website: eskroapp.ca
Overview
Eskro is a trust-first peer-to-peer marketplace that enables people to safely buy and sell local items, including high-value goods. The platform combines identity verification, escrow payments, QR-verified meetups, and buyer protection to eliminate fraud and uncertainty common in traditional classified marketplaces.
As the UX Designer, my responsibility was to design a mobile experience that builds user confidence, reduces transaction anxiety, and guides users from discovery to a successful in-person exchange.
The Problem
Local marketplaces often fail at the most critical moment: trust.
Through research and competitive analysis, several key issues emerged:
Buyers fear paying upfront with no guarantee of receiving the item
Sellers are wary of fake buyers and no-shows
Most platforms allow anonymous or unverified users
In-person meetups feel unsafe and unstructured
Users lack visibility into transaction status, leading to confusion and drop-offs
Disputes and refunds are unclear or difficult to initiate
These issues discourage high-value transactions and result in abandoned deals.
🟢 The UX Solution
Eskro’s mobile app was designed around trust-first UX, guiding users through a safe, transparent transaction flow.
1. Verified-Only Marketplace
Mandatory identity verification ensures all buyers and sellers are real people, immediately increasing trust and accountability.
2. Escrow-Based Payment Experience
Payments are held securely and only released after the buyer confirms item satisfaction — removing fear around upfront payments.
3. Guided Transaction Flow
A step-by-step progress indicator clearly shows:
Payment secured → Meetup confirmed → Item approved → Funds released
This clarity reduces anxiety and improves completion rates.
4. QR-Verified Meetups
In-person exchanges are authenticated via QR code scanning, preventing fake meetups and ensuring both parties are present.
5. Built-In Buyer Protection
Buyers can reject items at the meetup and receive automatic refunds, reinforcing confidence when purchasing high-value items.
Design Goal
Create a clear, secure, and confidence-building mobile experience that:
Makes trust visible at every step
Protects both buyers and sellers
Simplifies complex transaction flows
Bridges digital payments with real-world meetups
Result
By turning trust into a visible, repeatable UX pattern, Eskro transforms risky local transactions into safe, confident exchanges — encouraging more completed deals and higher-value listings.
IMAGES OF SOME OF THE UX SCREENS (ZOOM IN TO VIEW)
UX- Homepage, Filters, Notifications and Offers
Single Product flow, favorite and user profile
Chat Screens and Sellers Review
Meet & Verify User
List new item flow
My listing and transactions flow
Research & Insights
Methods
Competitive analysis of Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and similar platforms
User interviews with frequent buyers and sellers
Early usability testing on transaction flows
Key Insights
Users want proof of legitimacy before engaging
Visual reassurance is just as important as actual security
Step-by-step guidance significantly reduces anxiety
Users need confirmation when transitioning from digital to physical interactions
These insights informed a trust-first UX framework.
User Flow Summary
Sign Up → Identity Verification → Browse or List Item → Secure Escrow Payment → QR-Verified Meetup → Item Approval → Funds Release
Each step reinforces trust through:
Clear feedback states
Progress indicators
Safety-focused microcopy
Testing & Iteration
Usability testing revealed confusion around the final payment release step.
This was resolved by introducing a visual escrow progress indicator and reassurance copy such as “Your money is safe until you confirm.”
Result:
Improved clarity and reduced transaction abandonment.
Outcome
Increased user confidence during transactions
Reduced drop-off rates in payment and meetup stages
Stronger perception of Eskro as a safe alternative to traditional marketplaces
Users reported feeling more secure compared to other local buying and selling platforms.
THANKS FOR READING
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Posted Dec 23, 2025
Designed the UX for a trust-first mobile app to enhance safe marketplace transactions.
