How does ShopBroker make money?

ShopBroker charges a service fee on completed transactions. There are no listing fees, subscription fees, or charges for transactions that do not complete successfully.

Does ShopBroker hold customer funds?

No. All payments are processed through Stripe Connect or PayPal Commerce Platform. These payment providers authorize and hold funds during the transaction. ShopBroker never takes custody of buyer or seller funds.

Is ShopBroker funded by investors?

ShopBroker is self-funded. The company has not raised external capital.

Where does ShopBroker operate?

ShopBroker is available to buyers and sellers across Canada. Professional delivery through Trexity is currently available in 8 metropolitan areas: Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Hamilton, and Oshawa. Transactions with buyer-arranged pickup are available nationwide.

There are already marketplaces for local buying and selling. What makes ShopBroker different?

Existing platforms for local transactions are primarily classified ad boards — they connect buyers and sellers but do not facilitate the transaction itself. ShopBroker provides the infrastructure that sits between "I want to buy this" and "I received it safely": protected payments, professional delivery, and AI-powered pricing. The platform handles the transaction end-to-end rather than leaving buyers and sellers to arrange payment and logistics independently.

Why would someone use ShopBroker instead of meeting in person with cash?

Payment protection and convenience. Buyers pay only when they receive the item. Sellers receive guaranteed payment on delivery. Professional courier delivery means neither party needs to travel or meet a stranger. For many transactions, this removes the friction and safety concerns that discourage local sales.

What is Price Genius and how does it work?

Price Genius is ShopBroker's AI-powered pricing tool. When a seller creates a listing, Price Genius checks multiple data sources in sequence: internal transaction history for similar items, UPC product databases for retail pricing context, and Claude AI for current market comparison. The system provides a suggested price range. Sellers can accept, adjust, or ignore the suggestion.

What AI does ShopBroker use?

ShopBroker uses Claude AI (Anthropic) for pricing intelligence in Price Genius, and Gemini (Google) for image generation in marketing materials. AI is used to assist sellers with pricing decisions — it does not make purchasing decisions or handle payments.

How does ShopBroker protect buyers and sellers?

Every transaction uses an authorize-and-capture payment model. The buyer's payment method is authorized at checkout but not charged until the item is delivered or pickup is confirmed. If the transaction is cancelled, the authorization is voided with no charge. Both Stripe and PayPal provide additional dispute resolution processes.

Is ShopBroker regulated?

ShopBroker operates as a marketplace platform under Canadian law. Payment processing is handled by regulated payment providers (Stripe and PayPal). The company complies with PIPEDA (federal privacy law), CASL (anti-spam legislation), and the Ontario Consumer Protection Act.