When do funds release to the seller?
TradeSafe emails you to confirm receipt — funds release as soon as you click. Otherwise they auto-release after the inspection window.
The whole point of escrow is that the seller doesn't get paid until you've received your item. Here's the exact timeline — works the same whether the item ships to you or you collect it in person.
How it works
Your payment is held by TradeSafe, an independent escrow service. Not CrankMart. When the seller has fulfilled their side, TradeSafe sends you an email asking you to confirm — clicking that email's "YES, THANK YOU" button is what releases funds to the seller.
This is by design: an outside party confirming receipt is more trustworthy than CrankMart releasing funds based on a button click on our site.
The escrow timeline
| Stage | Buyer's view | Seller's view | Where the money is |
|---|---|---|---|
| You hit Buy → pay | "Awaiting payment" | (notified you've started checkout) | Card authorised but not captured |
| Payment confirms | "Paid — in escrow" | "Paid — ship/collect ready" | Captured into TradeSafe escrow |
| Seller ships (or marks ready for collection) | "Shipped" / "Ready for collection" | "Shipped" / "Ready" | Still in escrow |
| You click the TradeSafe email | "Released to seller" | "Released — payout en route" | TradeSafe processes payout |
| OR you don't click → TradeSafe auto-releases | (same) | (same) | (same) |
| Seller's payout clears | "Paid out" | "Paid out" | In seller's bank |
The TradeSafe email — what to look for
After the seller marks shipped (or ready for collection), TradeSafe emails you from support@tradesafe.co.za with the subject "{Seller name} Has indicated that delivery has been completed". It has two buttons:
- YES, THANK YOU (green) — releases funds to the seller. Click this when you have your item and you're happy.
- SUBMIT ISSUE (red) — opens a dispute. Use this if the item doesn't match the listing, hasn't arrived, or anything else is wrong.
If you can't find the email, check your spam folder or wait a few minutes — TradeSafe sometimes takes 10-15 minutes after the seller marks shipped.
Auto-release window
If you don't click the TradeSafe email, TradeSafe auto-releases funds after their inspection window (typically 24 hours from the seller marking delivery). The window is set per-transaction at TradeSafe's discretion — you'll see "Inspect By" on their email + dashboard.
To pause auto-release, click SUBMIT ISSUE in the email instead of YES — that opens a dispute.
How long does the bank payout take?
After release:
- TradeSafe → seller's bank: 1-3 business days (standard SA EFT)
- The seller receives a confirmation from TradeSafe when the payout lands
Can I get my money back before release?
If the item hasn't been sent / made ready — yes, raise a dispute via the TradeSafe email or contact the seller to cancel.
If the item has shipped but hasn't arrived — wait for it, then either click YES (if you got it) or SUBMIT ISSUE (if not).
If it's already been released to the seller — at that point the sale is final. Use the dispute hub only for issues raised before release.
Why don't you have a "Confirm" button on CrankMart?
The old version did, but it didn't actually release anything — only TradeSafe's email link can do that, because they (correctly) require a signed confirmation from you, not just a button click on our site. We removed the button to avoid confusion. The TradeSafe email is the action.