Buyer & seller safety

United States only. GameLister is built for U.S. buyers and sellers. Checkout uses U.S. ship-to addresses or local pickup meetups in the U.S. We do not support international marketplace orders yet — see our expansion notes when we publish them.

We borrow protections used by major marketplaces (eBay, Mercari, specialty card/console markets): verify people, keep money on-platform, hold payouts until fulfillment is proven (tracking or dual meetup codes), and give both sides dispute tools plus a Legal Protection Evidence Kit. We do not like thieves or fraudsters — and we give honest parties tools that take work off their plate during a stressful moment.

What we enforce (platform-wide)

• U.S. only — ship-to U.S. addresses or local pickup meetups in the U.S.
• Sign-in + verification required to buy, offer, chat, or rate — no guest checkout or guest offers.
• Card payments only via Stripe on GameLister. Off-platform requests (Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, crypto, gift cards, “pay outside app”) are blocked in messages and not protected.
• Off-platform messaging boundary — Sellers may optionally show a WhatsApp Business contact button. That is a convenience only. GameLister cannot help with a dispute or take into account anything that happens outside our in-app chat system (including WhatsApp, SMS, email, or social DMs). Use shop chat and the order dispute thread for anything related to payments, shipping, or item condition.
• Velocity limits on offers, chat, checkouts, and public listings — new accounts have tighter caps.
• New-account spend caps until purchase history builds.
• High-value listing rules — expensive games, consoles, cards, and sim hardware need clear photos before going public.
• Seller payout holds — tracking + delivery confirm for shipped orders, or dual meetup codes for local pickup; first-sale cooldown; extra hold days on high-value orders.
• Local pickup safety — meet in public when possible; inspect the item before entering codes; codes appear only in GameLister (never trust codes from random texts/emails).
• 3-party disputes with GameLister Support on every case.
• Report button on shops and orders for scam / counterfeit / harassment signals.
• Legal Protection Evidence Kits — see below.

Orders $500+ (high-value protocol)

When an order totals $500 or more, both sides are notified and the order page shows a checklist:

• Sellers: continuous packing video (item → seal → shipping label). Use security / tamper stickers on box seams when applicable. Ship with tracking only after paid.
• Buyers: continuous unboxing video from sealed package through full inspection. Film stickers before cutting.
• Preserve video until the order is fully resolved. Edited clips are weaker evidence.

Legal Protection (Evidence Kit)

If fraud still occurs and card network funds cannot be clawed back, GameLister’s final layer is Legal Protection — tools that organize your case so you are not starting from a blank page during a stressful moment. This is not a free attorney service, and we do not recommend specific attorneys or law firms.

• Either party (buyer or seller) can download a full Evidence Kit only after escalation — once a dispute is open on the order (or a support ticket references it), and it stays available after the case is closed. Kits are print-ready one-page PDFs (not plain text), including:
  • Order facts, amounts, payment IDs, ship-to, item list
  • Chronological timeline with timestamps
  • Dispute messages and related shop chat (when available)
  • Listing image references
  • Editable letter draft PDFs: demand letter, cover letter for an attorney you choose, and a court / small-claims case summary
  • Filing checklist and packing/unboxing guidance
• GameLister does not pay attorney fees, partner fees, or court filing fees. You choose whether and how to escalate.
• We never steer you to a particular lawyer or “recommended” legal marketplace. If you want counsel, pick someone independently (bar association referral, legal aid, or your own search).

This is not legal advice. GameLister is not a law firm. Venue and claim viability depend on your facts and state law. Fraudulent or abusive filings can backfire — we build kits for honest parties defending against thieves and fraudsters.

Legal Defense Fund — in development

Games

• Clear photos of disc/cartridge labels and case condition.
• State completeness (CIB, loose, sealed) honestly.
• Ship with tracking; disclose media mail if used.

Consoles & systems

• High-value listings need photos; serial/model plate helps disputes.
• $500+ orders get the high-value video protocol above.
• Never complete sales off GameLister for “friends and family” payments.

Trading cards

• Front + back photos for higher-value singles; edge shots for slabs.
• Disclose defects and authenticity markers.
• Counterfeit reports go to Support — keep original listing photos.

For buyers

• Check shop trust badge (member since, sales, verified).
• Pay only with in-app card checkout (U.S. address).
• Confirm delivery only after you receive the item.
• Open a dispute promptly; download Evidence Kit if escalating.

For sellers

• Finish verification + Stripe Connect.
• Photograph and video high-value packs; add tracking when you ship.
• Report buyers who push you off-platform.
• First sales have a payout cooldown; high-value orders may hold longer.

Report fraud

Use Report on a shop or order page while signed in, or open Support. Include listing or order IDs and any chat or video evidence.

Related: Fees · Seller policy · Terms · FAQ