5 Reasons to Avoid Buying a Tracking Device from a Marketplace
Online purchases can be risky. Many scammers lurk in marketplaces to rob people of their hard-earned money. These individuals target consumers seeking affordable products to cut costs, often overlooking the risks of choosing the cheapest option.
Purchasing a tracking device from an online marketplace can be tricky and quite unsafe. Marketplaces were designed to provide vendors the opportunity to sell products that add value to customers but unfortunately, not every seller has a buyer’s best interest at heart. This is why buying a tracking device from an online marketplace might not be the best option for you.
Let us explore the reasons why buying a tracking device from a marketplace may not be the best choice.
What is a Marketplace?
A marketplace is an online platform where buyers and sellers interact to exchange goods, services, or information.
They act as a middleman, providing a space for multiple vendors to offer their products or services to customers, and then charging a commission fee for the use of the platform. There are four specific functions that these platforms operate in. Here’s a quick overview of what these functions are:
What does this have to do with Vehicle tracking, you ask? Well, there has been a recent surge of DIY GPS devices being sold online.
Buying a tracking device from an online retailer has many negative implications that people need to consider.
5 reasons why you shouldn’t buy a tracking device from a marketplace
The manner in which some vendors market their products on marketplaces is so enticing that it often leaves people caught up in the excitement, forgetting to weigh the potential downsides of purchasing a tracking device this way.
In a recent report, Bitsight a cybersecurity assessment firm, reported that they found vulnerabilities in a popular GPS tracking device which is available for purchase from many online marketplaces worldwide.
Some of the loopholes within DIY tracking devices include the lack of security and danger to a user’s safety. This is due to the weak security in the company servers which allows hackers to access user profiles. Enabling them to track you and your loved ones’ movements, or even remotely control vehicles to create dangerous situations. In extreme cases, hackers could attempt to disable vehicles on busy highways which could potentially put many lives at risk.
This story is not shared to scare you but to make you aware of the dangers of using a DIY vehicle tracking device. There are many other consequences to be mindful of; let’s discuss the five reasons you should avoid buying tracking devices from a marketplace.
No Stolen Vehicle Recovery
DIY tracking devices are a cheap and easy way to track your vehicle but they do not cover you in the event of your vehicle being stolen or hijacked. This means that in the unfortunate event, you’re a victim of a vehicle crime, you will not have the benefits of a service provider to recover your vehicle.
With every second that goes by, the chances of recovering your stolen or hijacked vehicle become slim that is why protecting your vehicle with a reputable company like Cartrack is essential for fast and effective vehicle recovery.
Compromised Location Data
We all value our personal information and that includes keeping our whereabouts private. Since a marketplace tracking device is not regulated by an official body and doesn’t need to meet certain standards, your data can be easily compromised.
Receiving inaccurate location information can be stressful when tracking your loved ones or in the event that your vehicle is stolen. With your data compromised, your location and vehicle information becomes easily accessible to criminals.
Lack of 24/7 Support
Let’s be honest, it is not possible to have your attention on your vehicle all day. Having a tracking device installed in your car that provides you with the ability to monitor your vehicle offers peace of mind. This can easily be done through a mobile app that gives you real-time updates on your vehicle location and the movement of your vehicle.
It is this around-the-clock cover that ensures that a response team will be dispatched in the event your vehicle is reported stolen. Additionally, getting early alerts from the specialised call centre adds an extra layer of security.
No Quality Assurance or Warranty
Having the ability to install a device on your own can be attractive to some. It’s an easy way to save money but not advisable. Having an installation done by a trained professional ensures that it is done correctly with best practices followed. Not only that, it also ensures that you avoid unnecessary damage to your vehicle. If an electrical fault occurs during or after the installation of a device with no quality assurance or warranty, you may find yourself spending an arm and a leg trying to fix the damage or have no means to fix it at all.
What makes Cartrack’s vehicle tracking devices reliable?
Marketplace devices lack the elements you need to protect your vehicle. If you are looking for the best safety and security for your vehicle, Cartrack is the solution for you. Cartrack is a dedicated vehicle recovery and monitoring company with an audited stolen vehicle recovery rate of over 90%. We specialise in advanced telematics technology and specialised stolen vehicle recovery services that you can count on.
Reasons why Cartrack is considered the best tracking
Owning a vehicle in Nigeria, especially with the alarming increase in vehicle theft, can be very concerning. The National Police Force (NPF) said it recovered over 1,500 stolen vehicles in 2024, and 52 vehicles were recovered in January 2025.
This highlights that stolen vehicle recovery is an essential part of owning a vehicle. With Cartrack on your side, a stolen vehicle will be recovered by our highly trained recovery team, which will be dispatched immediately.
Cartrack is equipped with advanced technologies and 24/7 support. If there is any tampering on your vehicle, such as a disconnected battery, a control-room agent will contact you promptly to find out if there is a problem. In the event your vehicle is stolen, as soon as you report it to us a ground response team will be dispatched immediately to recover it. Additionally, the Cartrack app allows you to live stress-free; by giving you all the safety features you need at the touch of a button. It provides you with:
- Vehicle tracking and stolen vehicle recovery response.
- Data on your driving habits so that you can improve your driving to save on fuel costs and vehicle maintenance costs.
These additional benefits are integrated into the mobile app:
- Driving reports to monitor driving behaviour and ways to implement better driving habits.
- Speeding reports to learn how to drive safer and more responsibly on the road.
- The last position reports on your vehicle.
- Live vehicle location.
- Alerts are also received on your parked vehicle when there is unauthorised movement through our CarWatch feature, your virtual car guard.
Added value with Cartrack benefits
Cartrack is not only a stolen vehicle recovery company but a comprehensive telematics company that offers many other benefits that make unfortunate events easier for you to handle.
These include:
- Panic Button: When you press the panic button a silent alert is sent to the control room where a trained agent will contact you. They will find out if you are safe and will respond accordingly should you need assistance.
- Logbook: The logbook feature allows you to retrieve telematics data on your vehicle to distinguish between business and private use. This makes claiming for tax returns easier and faster.
- Crash Detection: This feature provides medical and roadside response in the event of an accident. You will receive an automated call that checks in with you to confirm the impact. This will help us determine if medical and roadside assistance is needed, which will be dispatched immediately.
These added value benefits can make all the difference when trying to recover your stolen vehicle. Safety is a top priority, which is why relying on a tracking device from an online marketplace to protect your vehicle is not advisable. Your vehicle is a valuable asset that deserves reliable protection.
You paid for your vehicle with your hard-earned money. Would you want to put its protection in the hands of a product from an online marketplace? You want to have the peace of mind of knowing that your vehicle is protected and that there is someone you can call in a time of need.
It is Cartrack’s mission to provide customers with that sense of peace and assurance. By installing a Cartrack tracking device into your vehicle, you know that it is trackable at all times.
Want to know more? Contact us, a sales agent will be ready to answer everything you need to know.
