Seller Verification

Seller verification exists to give buyers genuine confidence that a seller is who they say they are and capable of fulfilling what they list, while keeping the process light enough that it doesn't become a barrier for someone who just wants to sell a handful of items honestly. This page explains how it works, why it works this way, and what it means for you whether you're a buyer checking a seller's status or a seller going through the process yourself.

Two layers of approval: account and category

Becoming a seller at all is the first step - basic store setup, a shop name, and agreement to seller terms. The second, separate layer is category approval: even an approved seller needs to request and receive access to each specific category they want to list in. This two-layer structure exists because different categories carry genuinely different risk profiles. Selling gift card codes and selling high-value gaming accounts are not the same kind of risk, and treating them identically with a single blanket approval would either be too strict for the low-risk case or too loose for the high-risk one.

When identity verification (KYC) is required

Some categories require a seller to submit a clear photo of a government-issued ID (passport, driver's license, or national identification card) before they're approved to list in that category. This is also commonly required before a seller can withdraw funds past a certain amount or frequency, as part of our anti-money-laundering obligations described in our AML & KYC Policy. Not every category requires this upfront - lower-risk categories may not require it until a withdrawal trigger is reached - but treat a request for ID verification as a normal part of doing business here rather than a sign something's wrong with your account specifically.

How submitted documents are handled

Identity documents are stored on a private file system that's never exposed on the public web, and only accessible to staff actively reviewing your specific application or withdrawal request. They are not visible to buyers, not shown on your public storefront, and not used for any purpose beyond the verification and compliance reason they were collected for. See our Privacy Policy for more detail on retention and handling.

What gets reviewed during category approval

Beyond identity where required, a category approval review typically looks at whether the category itself is currently open for new sellers, whether any category-specific requirements are met (a minimum track record for higher-risk categories, for instance, once you've sold elsewhere on the platform first), and basic checks that your account is in good standing - no major unresolved disputes, no policy violations on file. None of this is designed to be mysterious; if a request is declined, you should receive a reason, and most declined requests can be resubmitted once the underlying issue is addressed.

What verification status looks like to buyers

Your public storefront shows your verification status alongside your actual performance metrics - completion rate, dispute rate across different time windows, total reviews, and your seller and store level. Verification status on its own isn't a guarantee of quality; it's a baseline signal that you've gone through identity confirmation and category approval. Your ongoing track record matters just as much, if not more, to a buyer deciding whether to trust your specific listing over a competitor's.

Maintaining your verified status

Verification isn't a permanent, unconditional status once granted. A sustained high dispute rate, repeated policy violations, or a pattern of complaints serious enough to warrant review can result in a category access being suspended pending investigation, even for a previously verified seller. This protects buyers from a seller whose situation has genuinely changed for the worse, and it's also why staying responsive to disputes and maintaining accurate listings matters well beyond the initial approval - your status reflects your ongoing conduct, not just a one-time check.

Why we don't make this harder than it needs to be

Some marketplaces in this space make seller verification a slow, opaque process specifically to create a sense of exclusivity, or because they haven't invested in making the review efficient. We've tried to avoid that - clear category requirements stated upfront, a review process that doesn't sit untouched for weeks, and reasons given when something's declined rather than a silent rejection. The goal is a system that's actually selective about who can sell in higher-risk categories, not one that's deliberately slow for its own sake.

Getting started

If you haven't applied to become a seller yet, start from "Become a Seller" on any page. If you're already approved and want access to an additional category, request it from your Category Permissions page in your seller dashboard. For a full walkthrough of the selling process beyond just verification, see our How to Sell guide.

What happens if a verification request is declined

A decline isn't necessarily permanent or personal - it usually means a specific requirement wasn't met at the time of the request. Common reasons include an identity document that's blurry, expired, or doesn't clearly match the name on the account; a category that's temporarily closed to new sellers while under policy review; or insufficient track record for a category that requires prior sales history elsewhere on the Platform first. Whatever the reason, you should see it stated when the decision is made, and most issues can be resolved by resubmitting once the specific problem is fixed - a clearer photo of your ID, for instance, or simply waiting until you've built up enough completed orders elsewhere.

Verification for teams and businesses

If you're operating as more than a single individual - a small team fulfilling orders together - the account and its verification still need to map to a single responsible identity for accountability purposes. We don't currently support multi-user access to a single seller account; if your operation grows to the point where that becomes a real limitation, reach out and we can talk through what's actually feasible rather than you working around it with informally shared logins, which creates its own security and accountability problems.