shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use Kaiyo?

Please enable cookies. - kaiyo.com

Skip. Kaiyo was a NYC secondhand furniture marketplace that announced a wind-down in August 2024 amid seller complaints and unpaid balances, and the site now serves only a bot wall. Nobody should buy or sell on it today; those owed money should pursue claims, everyone else should use a live alternative.

Confidence

High. Based on ~11 public sources. Many 'Kaiyo' search results are unrelated brands (Japanese whisky, sushi restaurants, a VTuber); excluded from this report.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of useNo reliable evidence; service is offline.
  • Feature depthNo evidence to score.
  • Support quality
  • Security postureNo findings either way; site effectively offline.

Pricing

Not disclosed

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed

Best for

  • No one — Kaiyo ceased operations in August 2024
  • Sellers owed money, who should file claims rather than transact

Not for

  • Anyone buying or selling furniture today — the marketplace is defunct
  • Sellers expecting payouts — users report unpaid balances
  • Anyone needing working customer support or claims processing
  • Shoppers confusing it with same-name Kaiyo whisky or sushi brands

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Any transaction now has zero buyer or seller protection — the company is gone.

high

Sellers report outstanding balances unpaid; pursue any claim immediately if owed money.

high

Site serves only a 'Please enable cookies' bot wall; effectively offline.

medium

'Kaiyo' name is shared by unrelated whisky, sushi, and merch brands — don't confuse reviews.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Was VC-backed: $36M Series B raised in March 2022
  • Historically worked well for secondhand furniture buying and selling (2022 press)

Cons

  • Wound down August 2024 after seller complaints
  • Website down; Reddit reports company still owes sellers money
  • Sellers reported not being paid before closure
  • Post-closure claims went unresolved per user reports

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/27/2026 - 11 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

review x6security x1news x4

Key stats

  • Value for money: 1/5

    Rating

  • Not disclosed

    Starting price

  • 11

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 1/5. Company defunct; purchases carry no recourse.
  • Ease of use. No reliable evidence; service is offline.
  • Feature depth. No evidence to score.
  • Support quality: 1/5. Sellers report unpaid claims and silence.
  • Security posture. No findings either way; site effectively offline.
  • Wound down Status Announced August 2024
  • $36M Funding Series B, March 2022, led by Edison Partners
  • 2.4/5 Employee rating Indeed, job security & advancement reviews
  • ~26 reviews Trustpilot base kaiyo.com on Trustpilot

Pricing

Not disclosed

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Users report an abandoned site and unpaid seller balances since the 2024 wind-down, though earlier press coverage was positive.

“Kaiyo website is DOWN - still owes me money”
Reddit, r/AskNYC
“So Kaiyo is not paying?”
Reddit, r/AskNYC
“Anyone had any experience buying or selling furniture on ...”
Reddit, r/FurnitureFlip

Alternatives

Compare Kaiyo with each alternative.

Full analysis

Based on ~11 public sources. Many 'Kaiyo' search results are unrelated brands (Japanese whisky, sushi restaurants, a VTuber); excluded from this report.

Kaiyo wound down in August 2024 owing sellers money. Do not buy or sell here.

Methodology

Based on ~11 public sources. Many 'Kaiyo' search results are unrelated brands (Japanese whisky, sushi restaurants, a VTuber); excluded from this report.

Sources

  1. Kaiyo says it will 'wind down' business by the end of the month after sellers file complaintsmodernretail.co
    news
  2. Kaiyo Abruptly Calls It Quitssurfacemag.com
    news
  3. Kaiyo Raises $36 Million In Series Bedisonpartners.com
    news
  4. Kaiyo website is DOWN - still owes me moneyreddit.com
    review
  5. So Kaiyo is not paying?reddit.com
    review
  6. Kaiyo claims updatesreddit.com
    review
  7. Read Customer Service Reviews of kaiyo.comtrustpilot.com
    review
  8. Kaiyo job security and advancement reviews (Indeed)indeed.com
    review
  9. Kaiyo Helps You Buy and Sell Secondhand Furnitureapartmenttherapy.com
    review
  10. The Rise and Fall of Kaiyoturkofamerica.com
    news
  11. Product security pagekaiyo.com
    security

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