The Short Answer
You're not fully charged until you receive your item — whether you paid by card or through PayPal. Here's what that means.
Authorization vs. Charge
When you complete checkout, two things can happen to your payment:
Authorization: Your bank reserves the funds. They're "on hold" but still in your account.
Charge (Capture): The money actually leaves your account and goes toward the purchase.
ShopBroker uses authorization first, then charges only after you've received your item. This works the same way for both card payments (via Stripe) and PayPal.
Timeline: What Happens When
At Checkout
Your payment is authorized. Depending on how you paid:
Card payments: You might see a "pending" charge on your bank statement, reduced available balance, or a hold for the order amount.
PayPal: You'll see an authorized payment in your PayPal account. The funds are reserved but not captured yet.
The money is reserved but not taken yet.
During Delivery/Pickup
The authorization remains in place while:
The seller prepares your item
The driver picks it up
It's on its way to you
Still no actual charge.
When You Receive Your Item
For Delivery: When the driver confirms successful delivery, the authorization converts to an actual charge.
For Self-Arranged: When you tap "Pay Seller" after inspecting the item, the charge goes through.
Authorization Windows
Payment authorizations don't last forever. The window depends on the payment provider:
Card payments (Stripe): 7-day authorization window
PayPal: 29-day authorization window
If a transaction isn't completed within this window, the hold expires automatically and the funds are released.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
If the transaction doesn't complete:
Authorization is released
Funds return to your available balance (card) or PayPal account
Usually takes 5-10 business days for card payments; PayPal releases are typically faster
You're never charged for items you don't receive.
Why Does It Show as Pending?
Card payments: Your bank statement might show the authorization as "Pending," "Processing," "Pre-authorization," or "Hold."
PayPal: Your PayPal activity will show an "Authorization" or "Pending" payment.
This is normal. It'll either become a full charge (when you get your item) or disappear (if the order is cancelled).
Bank Statement Timing
Different banks handle authorizations differently:
Some show it instantly
Some take a day or two
The final charge may appear as a separate line
If your order completes successfully, expect to see the final charge within 1-3 business days.
Questions About a Charge?
If you see something unexpected on your statement, reach out to our support team. We can help clarify what's happening with your order.