I'm new here and I know this thread has been going on for 3 years about these two tradeline companies that pay card holders, but has anyone sold directly to buyers? If so, what's been your experience?
Yes. Twice. Both times to members on this board.
You can charge more, because the tradeline company is not taking a cut.
You take on the risk of evaluating the person to see if you're comfortable with adding them as an AU. You have to manage the timing of the adding and deleting. You have to communicate terms of the agreement with them, and possibly negotiate or explain the process. You have to decide how to answer their questions about whether it works, and any other questions they may have. You have to work out a payment method and you have to ask them for personal information such as name, address, DOB, SSN. They may not like doing that.
If you're simultaneously selling lines to individuals directly and through a tradeline company, you have to coordinate blocking out a spot with the tradeline company so you can add your private sale; the timing of this may make you lose sales with the tradeline company. The tradeline company could be bothered by what you're doing, because they could view it as increasing the risk of card shutdowns that you may blame them for, or they may just not like the hassle of blocking slots.
My experience was that the tradeline companies were professional and courteous. While I didn't explain exactly what I was doing, they weren't born yesterday so I'm sure they knew. It doesn't seem to have bothered them.
The individuals I worked with were both good and it went smoothly both times. Both situations worked out somewhat differently and were somewhat better or worse in various respects. Out of respect for them, since they may still be members and may still be reading this thread, I probably won't comment more specifically than that.
I would probably do it again if the opportunity arose, but probably only to someone I at least sort of know. I probably wouldn't add a random person without some sort of connection (like this board, or a friend) or via the tradeline company.