How does buyer protection work?

When you pay with Buy now, your money never goes directly to the seller. Here's exactly what happens:

Three safety pillars

1. Escrow holds your funds — TradeSafe (a regulated independent escrow provider) takes your payment into a holding account. The seller can see that you've paid but cannot withdraw.
2. Seller only ships once paid — Sellers wait for CrankMart's "New sale" email before they send anything.
3. You accept the item before funds release — Once the item arrives, tap "I've received it" (or "I've collected it") on your order page. TradeSafe then emails you: click "YES, THANK YOU" when you're happy and TradeSafe releases the funds to the seller, or "SUBMIT ISSUE" if something's wrong.

Inspection window

After delivery is confirmed (by you, or by the seller marking the order delivered), TradeSafe gives you an inspection window (TradeSafe's email shows when it ends). If you raise no issue before it ends, funds release automatically. This protects sellers from buyers who go silent after receiving the item.

To stop the release, click "SUBMIT ISSUE" in TradeSafe's email — see Something went wrong.

When you can raise an issue

• The item wasn't sent
• The item arrived damaged
• The item is significantly different from the listing
• The seller stops responding

What you can't raise an issue for

• Buyer's remorse ("I changed my mind") — once funds are released (you click YES, THANK YOU, or the inspection window ends), the sale is final
• Cosmetic differences you could have asked about before buying (always ask for extra photos if unsure)
• Damage from your own modifications after receipt

What it costs you

Nothing extra. Buyer protection is built into every TradeSafe transaction on CrankMart at no charge to the buyer.

What it costs the seller

TradeSafe charges a small percentage of the sale value to the seller. You don't see this — your displayed price is the final price you pay.