Safety Center

Practical safety guidance for buying, selling, bidding, services, messages, direct payments, pickup, delivery, and suspicious listings.

1. Before a deal

• Read the full listing, photos, condition notes, location, price, and pickup or delivery details.
• Ask clear questions before agreeing to buy, sell, bid, or schedule service work.
• Keep important details in TradeYard messages when possible.
• Be careful with pressure to pay quickly, avoid inspection, or move to unusual communication/payment steps.

2. Buyer checklist

• Inspect the item before paying whenever possible.
• Compare the item with the photos, description, model number, condition, and included accessories.
• For tools, equipment, electronics, and auto parts, test or verify compatibility when practical.
• Confirm pickup, delivery, return, deposit, and payment terms before finalizing.

3. Seller checklist

• Use real photos, accurate titles, clear condition notes, and honest descriptions.
• Confirm the buyer, pickup time, payment method, delivery terms, and what is included.
• Do not release an item until the agreed payment terms are complete and clear.
• For expensive items, keep proof of agreement, pickup, and communication.

4. Payment safety

• TradeYard does not process item payments, does not hold escrow, and does not provide payment protection in the current MVP.
• Use payment methods you understand and can verify.
• Be careful with deposits, overpayment stories, third-party shipping labels, refund requests, and payment screenshots that cannot be verified.
• Never share passwords, login codes, banking codes, two-factor codes, or account recovery codes.

5. Pickup, delivery, and services

• Choose a sensible meeting location and tell someone where you are going when appropriate.
• For pickup at a private location, avoid unnecessary access to personal or restricted areas.
• For services, agree on scope, schedule, price, materials, access, cleanup, and payment timing before work starts.
• For large items, plan loading, equipment, vehicle access, and who is responsible for damage during moving.

6. Common red flags

• Price is far below normal and the user pressures you to act immediately.
• The user refuses inspection, basic questions, pickup details, or reasonable verification.
• The user asks for unusual payment steps, gift cards, account codes, or overpayment refunds.
• Photos look copied, inconsistent, or do not match the item description.
• Links in messages look unrelated to TradeYard or ask for login information.

7. Report a problem

If a listing, message, or user looks suspicious, stop the transaction and contact support with the listing link, screenshots, user name, and a clear description.

Email: support@tradeyard.ca