Safety First, Always

ShopBroker exists so buying and selling locally never has to feel risky. Here's how you're protected from the moment you list or browse.

Payment Protection

Your money stays safe:

Secure payments: Your payment provider holds funds until the transaction wraps up
ShopBroker Promise on courier-delivered orders: If your item doesn't match the listing, file a claim within 72 hours and get a refund under our policy
Seller protection: You get paid once your item is delivered and the buyer confirms
No cash needed: All transactions are digital and traceable

> Funds stay in escrow with your payment provider until you confirm the item is in your hands. No handshake deals, no chasing down payments.

In-person pickups

In-person pickups happen directly between the buyer and seller. The payment-hold still releases only after you confirm the meetup is complete, but the ShopBroker Promise claims process is for courier-delivered orders only. If you choose in-person pickup, treat it the way you'd treat any in-person exchange.

Verified Users

Everyone on the platform goes through verification:

Identity verification: Real names, verified through PayPal or Stripe
Payment verification: Connected accounts are validated
Ongoing monitoring: We watch for suspicious activity

Look for the green verified badge next to any seller's name. It confirms their identity has been checked through PayPal or Stripe.

Professional Delivery

When you choose delivery:

Vetted couriers: Background-checked professionals
Real-time tracking: Know where your item is
Tracked transport: Delivery status and support if something goes wrong
Contactless option: Skip the in-person handoff if you'd rather

Secure Technology

Behind the scenes:

Encrypted payments: We use the same encryption banks rely on
Secure connections: HTTPS everywhere
Privacy by design: We keep your data to ourselves, never sold
Trusted partners: PayPal, Stripe, Trexity

What You're Protected Against

For Buyers:

Paying for items you never receive
Getting something different than advertised
Losing money to scammers

For Sellers:

Chargebacks and fraud
Meeting potentially unsafe buyers
Payment disputes

Community Standards

Here's how the marketplace stays safe:

Removing bad actors quickly
Investigating reported issues
Providing responsive support
Learning from every transaction

Your Role in Safety

You're part of the safety equation too:

Meet in public for in-person pickups
Trust your instincts if something feels off
Report issues so we can help
Keep communication on platform for better support

> Off-platform conversations can't be reviewed by our support team if something goes wrong. If a deal moves to text or email, we lose the record (and our ability to help you).

When Things Go Wrong

If you run into any issues:

Contact support immediately

Don't release payment if something's wrong

Take photos so you have a record

We'll investigate and follow up

Things go sideways sometimes. When they do, we'll help make them right. For details on how refunds and disputes work, see our Refund & Dispute Policy.