The Top Sites to Buy & Sell CS Skins
What was once just a game (a great one nonetheless) changed forever in 2013 when CS:GO was completely revolutionized with the Arms Deal update – which saw the introduction of skins to the game.
This update was bigger than could have ever been anticipated – and it saw a massive demand for these in-game cosmetic items. Such a hit were they that these days, some of the most sought-after and rare skins sell for in excess of $250,000. It was the introduction of skins that created the famously thriving economy within Counter-Strike – which led to the famous Steam Community Market… and lots of sites and services that were created for players to buy skins, sell skins and trade these in-demand items.
There are all sorts of ways that you can get Counter Strike Global Offensive Skins. You can get free skins through in-game drops or crates – which adds an element of excitement and value to your gameplay – or you can purchase skins from markets and online trading platforms – where you’ll find cheap skins, expensive skins and everything in between to suit all budgets.
The Steam Community Market – Tried and Tested
It all started out with the Steam Community Market – which was the first marketplace where you could enjoy buying and selling skins directly. This has been a huge success because it is tried and tested – and it’s as simple as linking your Steam Account, looking for a particular skin, buying it and transferring it to your Steam inventory.
So successful has it been, that it makes more than half a million trades every single week – and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. It has been considered the best way to get in-game items.
By using your available Steam wallet funds, you can quickly and easily purchase whatever skin you like – with no hidden fees. It is one of the most user-friendly and straightforward ways to go about it. What’s more, it is also somewhere you can list your old or unwanted skins for sale – and when you manage to sell them, the money will be added to your Steam wallet. You can then use these funds to buy skins, other in-game items – or anything else related to the game.
Third-Party Markets
But these days, it’s not the only way, and it’s not even the best way to do it. If you want even more affordable skins – then as long as you pick the right site, you might find the skins you’re after a bit cheaper than you would at the Steam Community Market…
If you look carefully into it, you’ll find that there are several drawbacks to using the Steam Community Market for purchasing skins – especially compared to the top sites.
One of the biggest advantages of buying skins at third-party markets compared to the Steam Market is the lower prices that you’ll generally find. So, for example, you might find a Bayonet Tiger Tooth in Factory New condition that would cost you $495 on the Steam Market, whereas, on third-party marketplaces such as those we recommend, it could cost as low as $360. This basically means you’ll save a massive $135. Indeed, the prices of CS:GO skins at the best trading sites could be as much as 30% cheaper! What’s more, many of them offer more payment options – making it easier to make your purchases.
As well as this, the best third-party marketplaces often come with better search functionalities, so you’ll be able to find certain items with specific float values or finishes much more easily than you would at the Steam Market.
The Steam Community Market also has a price cap, which means that you aren’t able to sell items for more than $2,000 – which isn’t ideal for the most serious traders. This essentially means that if you want to sell (or even purchase) the most rare and valuable skins and items, you won’t be able to do so on the Steam Community Marketplace. For example, if you’re after a Ruby Doppler knife or some similar skin, it’s unlikely you’ll have any luck unless you look on a third-party market. If you want to spend thousands on a skin… or you want to sell a skin worth thousands, third-party markets are your only real option.
So, if you want super cheap CSGO skins – or incredibly expensive skins, a third-party market is your best option.
How to Choose a Good Third-Party Skins Marketplace
Whilst third-party markets are definitely the way to go, you need to make sure that you pick the right one. Unfortunately, there are some pretty bad ones out there – and you need to make sure that you avoid those. So – with that being said, here are some of the factors to consider when choosing your preferred CS:GO and CS2 skins market.
Reputation and Reviews
Firstly, we would recommend that you look for a marketplace that has a decent reputation in the industry. Before deciding where you want to buy a skin, make sure you read various online reviews, find out what is being said about them in forums, and find out the general user feedback so you can get some idea of the trustworthiness of the site. Obviously, those that we recommend have the very best industry reputations!
Top-End Security Measures
Because you’ll need to enter your information – and potentially financial details on the site, you need to be 100% sure that the marketplace you choose has the highest-end security measures. It’s a good idea to pick a site that offers features such as two-factor authentication, secure payment gateways, and encryption measures. What’s more, a decent site will also have a clear policy on how they handle user data and transactions – which you should be able to find easily.
Pricing and Fees
This is one of the most important factors you’re likely to want to consider… as you no doubt will be wanting to get the very best value for money. That’s why you need to make sure you compare the prices of skins across the various different marketplaces.
The very best platforms will sell skins at much better prices than others – and give you much better value for money. Also, you need to make sure you check the transaction fees – and make sure that there are no hidden fees that you need to concern yourself with. While third-party sites will normally offer much better deals than the Steam Community Market, the fees can vary massively between sites – and can make or break the whole experience. After all, there’s no good getting a bargain – and then having to pay through your teeth for the privilege.
The Inventory and CS2 Skins Availability
It’s also a good idea to pick a marketplace that has an excellent variety of items and CS2 skins. The bigger and better the inventory, the more chance you have of finding the specific CS2 skins you’re after – especially if you’re trying to hunt down particularly high-value or rare items that you’d not find on many sites.
Choice is key – and the more choice of skins and items you have, the better!
The User Experience
No matter how great the prices are – if it’s difficult to navigate and use, you’re likely to be put off using it. If the market has a well-designed and user-friendly interface, then it will make the whole buying, trading and selling skins process so much better.
That’s why we’d recommend you look for a site that has a great search function, clear descriptions of all the items and is easy to navigate.
Great Customer Support
If there’s money at stake, then a great customer support service is a must – just in case there are any issues you come up against. You need to make sure that the marketplace, whether it be CSGO marketplaces or any other marketplaces, you choose offers a responsive, reliable and professional customer service team. It should be contactable around the clock and be contactable in a number of convenient ways – live chat, phone, email and more.
Decent Selection of Safe and Secure Payment Options
Finally, you need to make sure that the marketplace you choose accepts a wide selection of payment methods – including real cash options such as credit/debit cards and eWallets like PayPal as well as cryptocurrencies – and skins. The more flexibility there is, the better and more convenient.
Also, look for any fees attached – ideally, there will be no (or very minimal) fees attached to your transactions.
The great news is that all of the sites we recommended are the very best out there, so you can enjoy the very best CS2 skins buying, selling and trading experience!
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How to Buy CS2 Skins at a Third-Party Marketplace
What’s more, buying skins on a third-party marketplace couldn’t be easier:
- Choose The Right Site: Pick one of the sites from our list for a safe and secure experience
- Register a New Account: Register and verify a new account.
- Look For the Skins: Use the search filters to find the skins you’re after.
- Check the Details: Make sure that the item’s float value and conditions meet your expectations.
- Add to Cart: Make your choice and add the skin to your cart.
- Complete the Payment: Pick your payment method and complete the transaction.
- Get Your Skin: Transfer the skin to your Steam account – and you’re good to go.
So, there you have it! You’re ready to go! Choose the right site for you, open an account, select your skin and enjoy.
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