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Complete Selling Journey

This comprehensive guide walks you through the entire process of selling an item on RTC Collector, from setting up your seller account to receiving your payout. Whether you're selling one item or building a marketplace presence, this guide covers every step.

Overview​

The complete selling journey includes:

  1. Prerequisites - Subscription tier, email verification, Stripe Connect
  2. Stripe Connect Setup - Onboarding for seller payouts
  3. Creating a Listing - Choose mode, set details, pricing, shipping
  4. Managing Offers - Receiving, accepting, declining, counter-offering
  5. Transaction Process - Payment, shipping, delivery confirmation
  6. Receiving Payout - Platform fee deduction, Stripe transfer, bank deposit
  7. Rating System - Receiving buyer rating, building reputation

Time to First Sale: Varies (setup: 10-30 minutes, sale: depends on demand)

Requirements:

  • COLLECTOR or ENTHUSIAST subscription tier
  • Verified email address
  • Stripe Connect account (for receiving payouts)
  • Items to sell (from collection or standalone)

Prerequisites​

Subscription Tier Requirements​

Marketplace Access by Tier:

All tiers have full marketplace access. Fees and listing limits vary:

HOBBYIST (Free):

  • ✅ Marketplace access
  • Up to 5 active listings
  • 7.5% marketplace fee on sales
  • Standard payout timing

COLLECTOR (£5/month):

  • ✅ Marketplace access
  • Up to 10 active listings
  • 5% marketplace fee on sales
  • Standard payout timing

ENTHUSIAST (£15/month):

  • ✅ Full marketplace access
  • Unlimited active listings
  • 2.5% marketplace fee (lowest rate)
  • Bulk listing features
  • Priority support

To Upgrade for Lower Fees:

  1. Go to Settings → Subscription
  2. Click Upgrade button
  3. Choose COLLECTOR or ENTHUSIAST
  4. Complete payment
  5. Lower fee rate applies immediately

Email Verification​

Required: Email must be verified to access marketplace.

Check Status:

  • Settings → Profile
  • Look for green checkmark next to email
  • If not verified: Click "Verify Email" button

Why Required:

  • Account security
  • Password reset capability
  • Transaction notifications
  • Fraud prevention

Bank Account / Payment Method​

For Receiving Payouts: You'll need to connect a Stripe account (covered next section).

Step 1: Stripe Connect Setup​

Before you can receive payouts from sales, you must complete Stripe Connect onboarding.

What is Stripe Connect?​

Stripe Connect:

  • Secure payment processing platform
  • Handles seller payouts automatically
  • Industry-standard security (PCI-compliant)
  • Used by millions of businesses worldwide

Why Required:

  • RTC Collector doesn't directly handle payments
  • Stripe ensures secure, compliant transactions
  • Automatic payouts to your bank account
  • Protection for buyers and sellers

Accessing Stripe Connect​

Navigate to Marketplace Settings:

  1. Click profile icon (top right)
  2. Click Settings
  3. Navigate to Marketplace tab
  4. Scroll to "Stripe Connect" section

Or:

  • Settings → Marketplace → Stripe Connect section

Initiating Onboarding​

Before Setup:

  • Set aside 10-15 minutes (uninterrupted)
  • Gather required information (see below)
  • Ensure you're in a secure environment

Click "Connect Stripe Account" Button:

  • Button appears in Stripe Connect section
  • Click to start onboarding process
  • Redirected to Stripe's secure onboarding form

Required Information​

Personal/Business Details:

  • Legal Name - Full name as it appears on bank account
  • Date of Birth - For identity verification
  • Address - Residential or business address
  • Phone Number - For account security
  • Email - Stripe account email (can differ from RTC Collector)

Business Information (if applicable):

  • Business name
  • Business type (Sole proprietor, LLC, Corporation, etc.)
  • Tax ID (EIN or SSN)
  • Business website (optional)

Bank Account Details:

  • Bank Name - Your bank or credit union
  • Account Number - Full account number
  • Routing Number - Bank routing number (US) or equivalent
  • Account Type - Checking or Savings

Identity Verification:

  • Government ID - Driver's license, passport, or state ID
  • Photo Upload - Clear photo of ID (front and back)
  • Selfie (sometimes required) - For identity confirmation

Onboarding Process​

Steps:

  1. Redirected to Stripe's secure onboarding portal
  2. Enter personal information (name, DOB, address, phone)
  3. Enter business information (if applicable)
  4. Provide bank account details for payouts
  5. Upload government ID for verification
  6. Review and accept Stripe's terms of service
  7. Submit onboarding form
  8. Redirected back to RTC Collector

Redirect Back: After completion, you're returned to: rtccollector.app/settings/marketplace?stripe=complete

Status Update:

  • System fetches your Stripe account status
  • Success message: "Stripe Connected - Your Stripe account has been successfully connected and is ready to receive payouts"
  • Stripe Connect section shows: ✅ Connected (green checkmark)

Onboarding Status​

Complete:

  • ✅ Green checkmark: "Connected"
  • onboardingComplete: true
  • chargesEnabled: true
  • payoutsEnabled: true
  • Ready to receive payments

Incomplete:

  • ⚠️ Orange warning: "Onboarding Incomplete"
  • Missing information or pending verification
  • Cannot receive payouts until complete
  • Click "Refresh Onboarding" to continue

Pending Verification:

  • ⏳ Pending: "Verification Pending"
  • Stripe reviewing submitted documents
  • Usually completes within 1-2 business days
  • Email notification when approved

Completing Incomplete Onboarding​

If Onboarding Incomplete:

  1. Go to Settings → Marketplace
  2. Find Stripe Connect section
  3. Status shows: ⚠️ "Incomplete - Please complete your Stripe onboarding"
  4. Click Refresh Onboarding button
  5. Redirected back to Stripe to complete missing steps
  6. Complete remaining fields
  7. Submit and return to RTC Collector

Missing Information: Stripe will highlight exactly what's missing:

  • Incomplete bank details
  • Missing identity documents
  • Additional verification required
  • Terms not accepted

Stripe Dashboard Access​

View Your Stripe Account: Once connected, access Stripe dashboard:

  1. Go to Settings → Marketplace
  2. Click View Stripe Dashboard button (if available)
  3. Opens Stripe Express dashboard
  4. View payouts, transactions, account status

Stripe Dashboard Features:

  • View payout history
  • See pending payments
  • Update bank account details
  • Download tax documents
  • View transaction fees

Disconnecting Stripe​

Warning: Permanent Action!

If You Disconnect:

  • ⚠️ Your Stripe Connect account will be PERMANENTLY DELETED
  • You will no longer receive payouts
  • All active listings will be deactivated
  • You'll need to create a NEW account to reconnect
  • This action CANNOT be undone

Disconnect Process:

  1. Go to Settings → Marketplace
  2. Scroll to Stripe Connect section
  3. Click Disconnect Stripe button (red/danger)
  4. Confirmation dialog appears with severe warnings
  5. Confirm: "Yes, Disconnect"
  6. Stripe account deleted
  7. Marketplace access removed until reconnected

When to Disconnect:

  • Changing to different bank account (better: update in Stripe dashboard)
  • No longer selling items
  • Closing RTC Collector account

Step 2: Creating a Listing​

With Stripe Connect configured, you can now create your first listing.

Listing Prerequisites​

Before Creating:

  • ✅ Subscription: COLLECTOR or ENTHUSIAST tier
  • ✅ Email verified
  • ✅ Stripe Connected and onboarding complete
  • ✅ Item to sell (from collection or standalone)

Listing Limits:

  • COLLECTOR: 10 active listings max (from collection only)
  • ENTHUSIAST: Unlimited active listings

Check Current Listings:

  • Navigate to Marketplace → My Listings
  • See count: "5 of 10 active listings" (COLLECTOR)
  • If limit reached, must delete or sell existing listings first

Starting Listing Creation​

Three Ways:

  1. From Collection: Items page → Item detail → List for Sale button
  2. From Marketplace: Marketplace → Create Listing button
  3. Command Palette: Cmd/Ctrl + K → Type "create listing"

Step 2a: Choose Listing Mode​

Decision 1: Quantity

  • Single Item - List one item (most common)
  • Bulk Listing - List multiple items at once (ENTHUSIAST only)

This Guide: Single Item For bulk listing, see Bulk Listing Guide.

Click: Single Item card

Step 2b: Choose Listing Source​

Decision 2: Source

  • From Collection - List item already in your collection
  • Standalone Listing - List item not in collection (quick sale)

From Collection:

  • ✅ Links to collection item
  • ✅ Details pre-filled from item
  • ✅ One listing per item (unique constraint)
  • ✅ Tracking and history maintained
  • ❌ Counts toward collection item limit (HOBBYIST: 50, COLLECTOR: 150)

Standalone:

  • ✅ Independent of collection
  • ✅ Good for flipping items (buy to sell)
  • ✅ Don't need to track in collection
  • ❌ Must enter all details manually
  • ❌ Not linked to collection

Choose Source: Click appropriate card (From Collection or Standalone).

From Collection Listing​

If From Collection Selected:

Step 1: Select Item

  • List of your collection items appears
  • Filter by category: Computer, Console, Handheld, etc.
  • Search by name
  • Items already listed are marked: "Listed" (cannot list again)
  • Click item to select

Step 2: Listing Details Pre-filled from collection item:

  • Title - Item name (editable)
  • Category - Category (Computer, Console, etc.)
  • Condition - Item condition
  • Description - Auto-generated or custom
  • Images - From collection item (can add/remove)

Listing-Specific Fields:

  • Listing Type - Sale, Trade, or Both
  • Price - Sale price (if Sale or Both)
  • Currency - USD, GBP, EUR, etc. (default: your preferred currency)
  • Accepts Trade - Checkbox (if Trade or Both)
  • Trade Value - Approximate trade value
  • Shipping Method - Collection Only, UK Shipping, International, or All
  • Shipping Cost - If shipping offered
  • Location - City/region for collection
  • Packaging - CIB (Complete in Box), Loose, Sealed, etc.
  • Region - PAL, NTSC, NTSC-J (for consoles/games)
  • Return Policy - No Returns, 14 Days, 30 Days, 60 Days
  • Additional Notes - Extra information for buyers

Standalone Listing​

If Standalone Selected:

Step 1: Basic Details

  • Title - Item name (e.g., "Commodore 64 Computer")
  • Category - Computer, Console, Handheld, Game, Accessory, Other
  • Master Item (optional) - Search and select for autofill
  • Manufacturer - Select or type to create
  • Model Number - Specific model
  • Condition - Mint, Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, Not Working, For Parts
  • Year - Year of manufacture/release

Step 2: Listing Details Same as From Collection (listing type, price, shipping, etc.).

Step 3: Images

  • Upload up to 10 images
  • Drag to reorder
  • First image = primary thumbnail
  • Clear, well-lit photos recommended

Listing Details Breakdown​

Listing Type:

  • Sale - Only accepting cash offers
  • Trade - Only accepting trade offers
  • Both - Open to cash or trade offers

Price (if Sale or Both):

  • Enter amount in your preferred currency
  • Example: £50.00 or $65.00
  • Price visible to all buyers
  • Can set "or best offer" via offer settings

Shipping Method:

  • Collection Only - Buyer collects in person (no shipping)
  • UK Shipping - Ship within UK only
  • International - Ship internationally
  • All - Collection or shipping

Shipping Cost:

  • Fixed price: £5.00
  • Or "Buyer pays actual shipping" (calculated at checkout if Shippo integrated)
  • Free shipping: Enter £0.00

Offer Settings (Advanced):

  • Accept Offers - Checkbox (default: on)
  • Minimum Offer Amount - Lowest acceptable offer (optional)
  • Auto-Accept Threshold - Auto-accept offers above this amount (optional)
  • Auto-Decline Threshold - Auto-decline offers below this amount (optional)

Return Policy:

  • No Returns - All sales final
  • 14 Days - Return within 14 days
  • 30 Days - Return within 30 days
  • 60 Days - Return within 60 days

Description Best Practices​

Effective Descriptions:

  • Detailed: Include all relevant details (condition, defects, accessories included)
  • Honest: Disclose any issues or flaws
  • Specific: Serial numbers, version numbers, region codes
  • Formatted: Use line breaks for readability
  • Keywords: Use terms buyers might search for

Example Description:

Commodore 64 computer in good working condition.

Includes:
- Commodore 64 computer (breadbin style)
- Power supply (original)
- RF cable
- User manual

Condition:
- Case shows minor yellowing (typical for age)
- All keys working perfectly
- No dead chips, fully functional
- Tested with several games

Serial: UK123456
Region: PAL
Year: 1983

Smoke-free home. Original owner.

Image Guidelines​

Quality Photos Sell:

  • Well-lit: Natural light or bright indoor lighting
  • Clear focus: No blur, sharp details
  • Multiple angles: Front, back, sides, top, bottom
  • Show condition: Close-ups of any defects
  • Include accessories: What's included in sale
  • Scale: Show size relative to common objects

Number of Images:

  • Minimum: 1 image (required)
  • Recommended: 3-5 images
  • Maximum: 10 images (COLLECTOR/ENTHUSIAST)

Image Specs:

  • Max size: 10MB per image (auto-compressed to ~1MB)
  • Formats: JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, TIFF
  • Converted: Automatically to WebP for efficiency

Pricing Strategy​

Setting the Right Price:

Research First:

  1. Browse RTC Collector marketplace for similar items
  2. Check eBay sold listings
  3. Consult price guides (PriceCharting, VGPC)
  4. Consider condition and completeness

Pricing Factors:

  • Condition: Mint > Excellent > Good > Fair > Poor
  • Completeness: CIB (Complete) > Loose
  • Rarity: Rare items command premium
  • Demand: Popular items sell faster
  • Region: PAL, NTSC, NTSC-J availability
  • Marketplace Fees: Factor in 7.5% (HOBBYIST), 5% (COLLECTOR), or 2.5% (ENTHUSIAST) fee

Example Pricing:

  • Item value: £100
  • You want: £100 after fees
  • HOBBYIST (7.5% fee): List at £108.11 (£100 / 0.925)
  • COLLECTOR (5% fee): List at £105.26 (£100 / 0.95)
  • ENTHUSIAST (2.5% fee): List at £102.56 (£100 / 0.975)

Or Just List at Market Value:

  • List at £100
  • Accept that you'll receive £92.50 (HOBBYIST), £95 (COLLECTOR), or £97.50 (ENTHUSIAST) after fees

Pricing Strategy:

  • Competitive: Match or undercut market
  • Firm: Set price, don't accept offers
  • Flexible: Set high, accept lower offers
  • Quick Sale: Price 10-20% below market

Publishing Listing​

Review Before Publishing:

  1. Check title spelling and capitalization
  2. Verify price and currency
  3. Review description for accuracy
  4. Ensure images are clear and ordered correctly
  5. Confirm shipping options
  6. Set appropriate return policy

Click "Publish Listing":

  • Listing saves to database
  • Success message: "Listing created successfully!"
  • Status: Active (visible to buyers)
  • Redirected to listing detail page or My Listings

Listing is Live:

  • Visible in marketplace search results
  • Buyers can view, make offers, or buy now
  • You'll receive notifications for offers/questions
  • Can edit or delete listing anytime

Step 3: Managing Offers​

Once your listing is live, buyers can make offers (if offers enabled).

Receiving Offers​

Notification: When buyer makes offer:

  • In-app notification: Bell icon shows red dot
  • Email notification: "New Offer Received" (if enabled)
  • Push notification: Browser/mobile push (if enabled)

Offer Details:

  • Buyer username (or User #ID if no username)
  • Offer amount (in your listing currency)
  • Offer type: Cash, Trade, or Cash + Trade
  • Message: Buyer's optional message
  • Expires: Offers expire after 7 days if not responded to

Viewing Offers​

Three Ways:

  1. Click notification bell → Click offer notification
  2. Navigate to Marketplace → My Listings → Click listing → Offers tab
  3. Navigate to Marketplace → Offers (all offers across listings)

Offer Card Shows:

  • Buyer's name/username
  • Offer amount and type
  • Time since offer made
  • Buyer's message (if provided)
  • Your listing details (item, asking price)
  • Actions: Accept, Decline, Counter

Offer Types​

Cash Offer:

  • Buyer offers money for item
  • Example: "£45 cash"
  • Simpler transaction (no item exchange)

Trade Offer:

  • Buyer offers to trade one of their items
  • Example: "Trade my Game Boy for your Commodore 64"
  • Shows link to buyer's item
  • Can click to view item details
  • More complex (dual shipping)

Cash + Trade:

  • Combination offer
  • Example: "£20 + my Game Boy"
  • Buyer trades item plus cash adjustment
  • Shows both cash amount and trade item

Accepting an Offer​

To Accept:

  1. Review offer details carefully
  2. Check buyer's profile/rating (if available)
  3. Click Accept Offer button
  4. Confirmation dialog: "Are you sure you want to accept this offer?"
  5. Confirm: "Yes, Accept"

What Happens:

  1. Offer status changes to Accepted
  2. Transaction created with status: PENDING
  3. Other pending offers automatically Declined
  4. Listing status changes to Pending (hidden from marketplace)
  5. Buyer notified: "Your offer has been accepted!"
  6. Buyer proceeds to payment (cash offers) or trade agreement (trade offers)

For Cash Offers:

  • Buyer redirected to payment page
  • Buyer completes Stripe payment
  • Transaction status: PAID
  • You're notified: "Payment received"
  • Proceed to shipping step

For Trade Offers:

  • Both parties provide shipping addresses
  • Both mark items as shipped
  • Both confirm delivery
  • Trades complete simultaneously

Declining an Offer​

To Decline:

  1. Review offer
  2. Click Decline Offer button
  3. Optional: Provide reason (visible to buyer)
  4. Confirm: "Yes, Decline"

What Happens:

  1. Offer status changes to Declined
  2. Buyer notified: "Your offer has been declined"
  3. Listing remains Active (visible to other buyers)
  4. Buyer can make another offer (if desired)

Reasons to Decline:

  • Offer too low
  • Buyer's trade item not desired
  • Buyer has poor rating/reputation
  • Changed mind about selling
  • Better offer from another buyer

Counter-Offering​

To Counter:

  1. Review offer
  2. Click Counter Offer button
  3. Enter counter-offer amount
  4. Optional: Add message explaining counter
  5. Click Send Counter Offer

What Happens:

  1. Original offer status: Countered
  2. New counter-offer created
  3. Ball in buyer's court
  4. Buyer can: Accept, Decline, or Counter again
  5. You're notified of buyer's response

Counter Strategy:

  • Split the difference: Buyer offers £40, you want £50, counter £45
  • Meet in middle: Negotiate toward mutually acceptable price
  • Set floor: Counter at your absolute minimum
  • Add value: "£48 and I'll include extra cables"

Counter Limits:

  • No hard limit on number of counters
  • Practical limit: 2-3 rounds typical
  • Offers expire after 7 days regardless of counters

Offer Expiration​

Automatic Expiration:

  • Offers expire 7 days after creation
  • Expired offers status: Expired
  • Buyer cannot accept expired offer
  • Must make fresh offer if still interested

Why Expiration:

  • Keeps marketplace dynamic
  • Prevents stale offers from lingering
  • Encourages timely responses

Multiple Offers​

If Multiple Buyers Make Offers:

  • All offers visible in Offers tab
  • Can accept any offer (first-come-first-served)
  • Accepting one offer declines all others automatically
  • Can counter multiple offers simultaneously
  • Manage each offer independently

Strategy:

  • Wait for best offer
  • Counter all offers to drive up price
  • Accept first reasonable offer
  • Set "or best offer" mentality

Step 4: Transaction Process​

Once offer accepted and buyer paid (cash offers), the transaction process begins.

Transaction Stages​

Transaction Lifecycle:

  1. PENDING - Offer accepted, awaiting payment
  2. PAID - Buyer paid, awaiting shipment
  3. SHIPPED - You marked as shipped, awaiting delivery
  4. DELIVERED - Buyer confirmed delivery
  5. COMPLETED - Transaction complete, payout initiated
  6. RATED - Buyer left rating (optional)

Payment Received​

Cash Offers: After buyer accepts your offer acceptance:

  1. Buyer redirected to payment page
  2. Buyer enters card details (Stripe secure checkout)
  3. Buyer completes payment
  4. You receive notification:
    • Email: "Payment Received"
    • In-app notification: "Buyer has paid for [item]"
  5. Transaction status: PAID
  6. Funds held by platform (not yet transferred to you)

Payment Amount:

  • Full offer amount charged to buyer
  • Includes item price + shipping cost (if applicable)
  • Marketplace fee (5% or 2.5%) NOT deducted yet
  • Buyer pays full amount shown

Trade Offers​

For Trade Transactions:

  • No payment at this stage
  • Both parties provide shipping addresses
  • Both ship items
  • Both confirm delivery
  • See Trading Journey guide for full details

Viewing Transaction Details​

Navigate to Transaction:

  1. Marketplace → My Sales (or Transactions)
  2. Click transaction to view details

Transaction Page Shows:

  • Buyer information: Name, username, contact
  • Item details: What was sold
  • Offer amount: Agreed price
  • Shipping method: How item will ship
  • Buyer's shipping address (once payment received)
  • Transaction status: Current stage
  • Actions: Mark as Shipped, Contact Buyer, etc.

Preparing Item for Shipping​

After Payment Received:

Package Item:

  1. Clean item if needed
  2. Wrap securely (bubble wrap, foam, padding)
  3. Place in appropriately-sized box
  4. Include any accessories, manuals, boxes
  5. Add packing slip with transaction details (optional)
  6. Seal box securely

Packaging Tips:

  • Use new box if possible (clean presentation)
  • Adequate padding (item shouldn't move when shaken)
  • Protect corners and delicate parts
  • Seal all openings with quality packing tape
  • Label clearly: "FRAGILE - RETRO ELECTRONICS" if appropriate

Shipping Label:

  • Print shipping label (if provided by platform/Shippo)
  • Or write address clearly on box
  • Include return address
  • Affix tracking label if available

Marking as Shipped​

Once Item Shipped:

  1. Go to transaction detail page
  2. Enter Tracking Number (if available)
  3. Select Shipping Carrier (Royal Mail, UPS, FedEx, etc.)
  4. Optional: Estimated Delivery Date
  5. Click Mark as Shipped button

What Happens:

  1. Transaction status: SHIPPED
  2. Buyer notified: "Your item has been shipped"
  3. Tracking number visible to buyer (if provided)
  4. Buyer can track shipment
  5. You cannot un-mark as shipped (contact support if error)

Tracking Number Benefits:

  • Buyer can track progress
  • Proof of shipment
  • Protection if delivery dispute
  • Professional appearance

No Tracking Number?

  • Can still mark as shipped
  • Estimated delivery date recommended
  • Less protection if delivery issues
  • Collection-only: Mark as shipped when buyer collects

Delivery Confirmation​

Three Ways Delivery Confirmed:

1. Buyer Confirms:

  • Buyer receives item
  • Buyer goes to transaction page
  • Buyer clicks Confirm Delivery button
  • Status: DELIVERED immediately

2. Auto-Confirmation (Tracking):

  • Tracking number provided
  • Carrier confirms delivery
  • System auto-confirms delivery
  • Status: DELIVERED automatically

3. Auto-Confirmation (Timeout):

  • No confirmation after 14 days of shipping
  • System automatically confirms delivery
  • Status: DELIVERED
  • Protects sellers from non-responsive buyers

Delivery Issues​

Item Not Arrived: If buyer reports item not arrived:

  1. Check tracking information
  2. Contact shipping carrier
  3. Provide proof of shipment
  4. Communication with buyer via messaging
  5. Platform may hold payout until resolved

Item Damaged: If buyer reports damage:

  1. Request photos of damage
  2. Review packaging adequacy
  3. Determine if shipping carrier or your fault
  4. Offer partial refund or full refund + return
  5. File claim with shipping carrier if insured

Item Not As Described: If buyer claims item different than listed:

  1. Review listing description and photos
  2. Request buyer's evidence
  3. Determine validity of claim
  4. Offer return for refund if legitimate
  5. Dispute resolution if disagreement (see Dispute Journey)

Step 5: Receiving Payout​

After delivery confirmed, you receive your payout.

Payout Trigger​

When Payout Initiated:

  • Transaction status: DELIVERED
  • Buyer confirmed delivery, OR
  • Tracking showed delivery, OR
  • 14 days passed since marked shipped

Payout Timing:

  • Payout initiated within 24-48 hours of delivery confirmation
  • Stripe processes transfer
  • Funds appear in your bank account per Stripe's schedule

Platform Fee Deduction​

Marketplace Fee Applied:

COLLECTOR Tier:

  • 5% fee deducted from sale price
  • Example: £100 sale → £5 fee → £95 to you

ENTHUSIAST Tier:

  • 2.5% fee deducted from sale price
  • Example: £100 sale → £2.50 fee → £97.50 to you

Fee Calculation:

Platform Fee = Sale Amount × Fee Percentage
Seller Receives = Sale Amount - Platform Fee

Shipping Costs:

  • No fees on shipping costs
  • Shipping amount passes through to you
  • Example: £100 item + £10 shipping = £110 charged to buyer
  • Fee only on £100: £5 (COLLECTOR) or £2.50 (ENTHUSIAST)
  • You receive: £95 + £10 = £105 (COLLECTOR) or £97.50 + £10 = £107.50 (ENTHUSIAST)

Fee Transparency:

  • Transaction detail page shows platform fee
  • Shows exact amount you'll receive
  • "You Receive: £95.00" clearly displayed

Stripe Transfer​

Transfer Process:

  1. Platform initiates transfer to your Stripe Connect account
  2. Stripe processes transfer (instant to Stripe balance)
  3. Funds appear in your Stripe account balance
  4. Stripe schedules payout to your bank account

Stripe Payout Schedule:

  • Default: Daily automatic payouts
  • Or: Weekly payouts (can configure in Stripe dashboard)
  • Or: Manual payouts (you request when desired)

Bank Deposit Timing:

  • UK bank accounts: 2-3 business days after Stripe payout
  • US bank accounts: 2-3 business days after Stripe payout
  • International: Varies by country (2-7 business days)

Example Timeline:

  • Day 0: Buyer confirms delivery
  • Day 1: Platform initiates transfer
  • Day 1: Funds in Stripe balance
  • Day 1-2: Stripe payouts to bank (daily schedule)
  • Day 3-5: Funds in your bank account

Total Time: Typically 3-5 business days from delivery confirmation to bank account.

Viewing Payout Details​

Transaction Page:

  • Shows "Platform Fee: £5.00 (5%)"
  • Shows "You Receive: £95.00"
  • Shows "Transferred At: [timestamp]"
  • Shows "Stripe Transfer ID: tr_xxx"

Stripe Dashboard:

  • Access via Settings → Marketplace → View Stripe Dashboard
  • See all payouts
  • View payout schedule
  • Download statements

Transaction History:

  • Marketplace → Transactions
  • Filter by "Completed"
  • See all successful sales
  • Export to CSV for accounting

Stripe Processing Fees​

Note on Stripe Fees:

  • Stripe charges processing fees (1.4% + £0.20 in UK)
  • Platform pays Stripe fees (not deducted from you)
  • You only pay marketplace fee (5% or 2.5%)
  • Stripe fees NOT visible to you (absorbed by platform)

Payout Issues​

Payout Failed: If payout fails (rare):

  • Invalid bank account details
  • Stripe account suspended
  • Bank account closed

Fix:

  1. Check Stripe dashboard for error message
  2. Update bank account details if needed
  3. Contact Stripe support
  4. Platform may hold funds until resolved
  5. Payout retries automatically once fixed

Payout Delayed: If payout taking longer than expected:

  1. Check transaction status (must be DELIVERED)
  2. Verify Stripe account active and onboarding complete
  3. Check Stripe dashboard for pending payouts
  4. Contact support if delayed beyond 7 days

Step 6: Rating System​

After transaction completes, buyer can leave a rating.

Receiving Ratings​

Buyer Rating:

  • Buyer can rate you 1-5 stars
  • Buyer can leave written review (optional)
  • Rating appears on your profile
  • Contributes to your seller rating average

Rating Timeline:

  • Buyer has 30 days after delivery to leave rating
  • Reminder sent to buyer after 7 days (if not rated)
  • Rating optional (not required)

Notification: When buyer rates you:

  • In-app notification: "You received a rating from [buyer]"
  • Email notification: "New Rating Received" (if enabled)
  • Rating visible on your profile immediately

Viewing Your Ratings​

Your Profile:

  • Click profile icon → View Profile
  • Seller Rating: Average of all ratings (e.g., 4.8 / 5.0)
  • Total Ratings: Number of ratings received
  • Rating Breakdown: 5-star (80%), 4-star (15%), 3-star (3%), etc.
  • Recent Reviews: Latest written reviews

Transaction Page:

  • Each completed transaction shows buyer's rating
  • View individual rating and review

Importance of Ratings​

High Ratings:

  • ✅ Build trust with future buyers
  • ✅ Increase likelihood of sales
  • ✅ Allow you to charge higher prices
  • ✅ Attract more offers
  • ✅ Improve marketplace visibility

Low Ratings:

  • ❌ Deter future buyers
  • ❌ Damage reputation
  • ❌ May require lower prices
  • ❌ Fewer offers received
  • ❌ Potential marketplace restrictions if very low

Rating Targets:

  • 4.5+ - Excellent seller
  • 4.0-4.4 - Good seller
  • 3.5-3.9 - Average seller
  • Below 3.5 - Poor seller (investigate issues)

Responding to Ratings​

Cannot Edit or Delete:

  • Ratings are permanent
  • Cannot remove negative ratings
  • Platform does not remove ratings except for abuse/TOS violations

Can Respond:

  • You can reply to written reviews
  • Reply visible to future buyers
  • Professional response can mitigate negative rating

Example Response to Negative Rating:

"I apologize for the shipping delay. This was due to carrier issues beyond my control. I've since improved my packaging to prevent future issues. Thank you for your feedback."

Improving Your Rating​

Best Practices:

  • Accurate descriptions (no surprises)
  • Quality photos (show actual condition)
  • Fair pricing
  • Secure packaging
  • Prompt shipping
  • Clear communication
  • Professional behavior
  • Stand behind your items
  • Offer returns if appropriate
  • Go above and beyond

Tips for Successful Selling​

Pricing Strategies​

Competitive Pricing:

  • Research market rates before listing
  • Price slightly below market for quick sales
  • Price at market for patient selling
  • Price above market only if rare/mint condition

Factor in Fees:

  • COLLECTOR: Add ~5% to desired amount
  • ENTHUSIAST: Add ~2.5% to desired amount
  • Or accept fee as cost of doing business

Offer Flexibility:

  • Enable "Accept Offers" for negotiation
  • Set minimum offer amount to avoid lowballs
  • Consider counter-offers to meet in middle
  • Auto-decline far below your floor

Listing Quality​

Great Listings:

  • ✅ Clear, high-quality photos (multiple angles)
  • ✅ Detailed, honest descriptions
  • ✅ Accurate condition assessment
  • ✅ All accessories/inclusions listed
  • ✅ Serial numbers / identifiers
  • ✅ Reasonable return policy
  • ✅ Competitive pricing

Poor Listings:

  • ❌ Blurry or dark photos
  • ❌ Vague descriptions
  • ❌ Overstating condition
  • ❌ Missing important details
  • ❌ No returns / harsh terms
  • ❌ Overpriced

Shipping Excellence​

Fast Shipping:

  • Ship within 24-48 hours of payment
  • Buyers appreciate speed
  • Improves ratings

Secure Packaging:

  • Invest in quality packing materials
  • Protect corners and fragile parts
  • Include insurance for high-value items (£100+)
  • Use tracking for proof of delivery

Clear Communication:

  • Notify buyer when shipped
  • Provide tracking number
  • Set accurate delivery expectations
  • Respond to questions promptly

Building Reputation​

Long-Term Strategy:

  • Start with lower-value items to build ratings
  • Deliver exceptional service consistently
  • Communicate professionally
  • Stand behind your items
  • Resolve issues proactively
  • Build repeat customers

Marketplace Presence:

  • Create multiple listings (if ENTHUSIAST)
  • Refresh listings periodically (edit to bump)
  • Respond to offers within 24 hours
  • Update listings with new photos/info

Common Selling Issues​

Listing Not Appearing​

Causes:

  • Listing status "Draft" or "Inactive"
  • Subscription lapsed
  • Email not verified
  • Stripe not connected

Fix:

  • Check listing status (should be "Active")
  • Verify subscription current
  • Confirm email verified
  • Complete Stripe onboarding

Offer Notifications Not Received​

Causes:

  • Notifications disabled
  • Email notifications off
  • Browser push disabled

Fix:

  • Settings → Notifications → Enable offer notifications
  • Check spam folder for emails
  • Enable browser push notifications

Buyer Not Paying​

If Buyer Accepted Offer But Didn't Pay:

  • Buyer has 24 hours to pay
  • After 24 hours, offer expires
  • Transaction auto-cancelled
  • Listing returns to "Active" status
  • Can accept another offer or relist

Payout Not Received​

If Payout Delayed Beyond 7 Days:

  1. Check transaction status (must be DELIVERED)
  2. Verify Stripe dashboard shows payout
  3. Check bank account details correct
  4. Contact support with transaction ID

Buyer Wants Refund​

If Buyer Requests Refund:

  1. Determine reason (not as described, damaged, changed mind)
  2. Review return policy on listing
  3. If legitimate: Offer return for refund
  4. If not legitimate: Politely decline
  5. If dispute: See Dispute Journey

Processing Refund:

  • Contact support to initiate refund
  • Buyer returns item (you receive it)
  • Refund issued
  • Platform fee refunded to you
  • Stripe processing fee NOT refunded (non-recoverable)

After Your First Sale​

Next Steps​

Immediately After:

  • ✅ Celebrate! You made your first sale
  • ✅ Ship item promptly and professionally
  • ✅ Communicate with buyer
  • ✅ Wait for delivery confirmation
  • ✅ Receive payout

For Future Sales:

  • Create more listings
  • Improve listing quality based on feedback
  • Experiment with pricing
  • Build your seller rating
  • Consider upgrading to ENTHUSIAST (if active seller)

Scaling Your Selling​

If Selling Regularly:

Upgrade to ENTHUSIAST:

  • Unlimited listings
  • 2.5% fee (save 50% on fees)
  • Bulk listing features
  • Priority support
  • Break-even: £600+ monthly sales

Optimize Listings:

  • Refresh old listings
  • Better photos and descriptions
  • Competitive pricing research
  • Cross-promote via social media

Inventory Management:

  • Track what sells best
  • Focus on high-demand categories
  • Source items strategically
  • Build supplier relationships (if flipping)

Tax Considerations​

Selling Personal Items:

  • Generally not taxable (selling at loss)
  • Personal belongings sold for less than purchased
  • No tax reporting needed (most cases)

Selling for Profit:

  • If buying to resell (trading/flipping)
  • If making profit on sales
  • May need to report income
  • Consult tax professional in your jurisdiction

Records:

  • Download transaction history
  • Export to CSV from Marketplace → Transactions
  • Keep for tax purposes
  • Track purchases and sales