Sealabid
FAQ
Plain-English answers. If anything here ever contradicts the legal docs, the Terms and Fees pages win.
The two rules people get wrong:
Credits to publish: publishing a listing uses listing credits (typically 1 credit = 1 publish). If you don’t have enough credits, you can’t publish.
Relist limit: the same item can only be published a limited number of times — shown as “Listed X/5”. Once maxed, that item can’t be published again.
Last updated: 20 December 2025
Getting started
What is Sealabid?▾
Sealabid is a sealed-bid marketplace. Sellers list items, buyers submit one sealed offer (an “envelope”), and the seller chooses who they want to proceed with after the deadline.
Sealabid provides the platform — we don’t buy or sell the items ourselves, and the sale contract (if a deal happens) is between the buyer and the seller.
Do I need an account?▾
Yes. You’ll need an account to list an item, submit an envelope, and manage your listings and deal steps. We also require email verification for key actions.
Is Sealabid an auction house?▾
No. We’re a platform that helps buyers and sellers find each other and agree a deal. We’re not a traditional auctioneer and we’re not a party to the buyer/seller contract.
Buying (envelopes)
What is an “envelope”?▾
An envelope is your sealed offer on a listing. Other buyers can’t see it. Sellers can’t see envelopes until the listing ends.
Can I submit more than one envelope on the same listing?▾
No — one envelope per buyer per listing. You can update your envelope before the deadline, but you can’t place multiple separate envelopes on the same item.
Does the highest offer automatically win?▾
No. “Buying is subjective.” After the deadline, the seller can choose any envelope (or choose not to sell) based on price and any other factors that matter to them.
Is submitting an envelope legally binding?▾
Submitting an envelope is a serious expression of intent, but it doesn’t automatically create a binding contract on its own. A binding agreement arises only once a seller accepts an offer and both parties proceed under agreed terms (which may include successful payment).
Can I withdraw or change my envelope?▾
You can update your envelope before the deadline. After the deadline, envelopes are sealed and the seller can review them.
Selling (choosing a winner)
What happens when my listing ends?▾
When the deadline is reached, the sealed-bid window closes.
- If there are envelopes, you can review them and choose who you want to proceed with — or decide there is no sale.
- If there are no envelopes, the listing ends with no bids received.
We may use time limits (a “decision window”) so listings don’t sit in limbo forever.
What does “unsold” mean on Sealabid?▾
A listing may end without a sale for different reasons, including:
- It ends with zero envelopes.
- Envelopes exist, but you reject them all.
- Envelopes exist, but you don’t choose a winner within the decision window.
- A winner is chosen but the deal doesn’t complete.
In all of these cases: no completed sale means no commission due (because there’s no completed transaction through the platform).
Can I reject all envelopes?▾
Yes. You’re not forced to choose the highest offer (or any offer). “Buying is subjective.” However, repeated behaviour that looks like manipulation or bad-faith use may lead to restrictions.
Why does it say “Listed X/5” on my item?▾
To reduce spam and repeated re-listing loops, the same item can only be published a limited number of times.
You’ll see this as “Listed X/5” on the listing. Once it reaches the maximum, that item can’t be published again.
Listing credits, commission, and limits
When do I spend a listing credit?▾
When you publish a listing (when it goes live). Publishing typically costs 1 listing credit.
Do I get a credit back if my item doesn’t sell?▾
Typically no. Credits are used to publish listings. If a listing ends unsold (for any reason), that publish still happened. Any special promotions or exceptions would be shown clearly in your dashboard or the publish flow.
How do I earn listing credits?▾
Credits are designed to reward successful selling and reduce spam. We may award credits when a sale completes and the goods are successfully delivered/collected (where the platform supports completion steps).
Your current credit balance (and any expiry dates if applicable) will be shown in your dashboard.
Do credits expire?▾
Some credits may have an expiry date. If they do, we’ll show the expiry clearly in your dashboard. Credits are not cash, not withdrawable, and not transferable.
When is seller commission charged?▾
Commission applies when a seller accepts an offer and the sale completes through Sealabid.
Full rates and examples are on the Fees page.
Do buyers pay a buyer premium?▾
Currently, Sealabid does not charge a buyer premium. Buyers pay what they agree with the seller, plus any payment-provider charges that may apply.
How many live listings can I have?▾
Standard accounts can have up to 2 live listings at any one time. Enhanced verification may unlock higher limits.
Are there any admin/promotional exceptions?▾
In limited cases (e.g. platform promos or admin actions), Sealabid may waive certain requirements or apply exceptions for a specific listing. This is not the normal rule for everyday listings.
Can Sealabid refuse, delay, or reverse credits?▾
Yes, if we reasonably believe there has been abuse, manipulation, fraud, disputed transactions, or misuse of the platform. Where appropriate, we may delay awarding credits or reverse credits already granted (where legally permitted).
Rules, safety, and support
Can I do the deal off-platform to avoid commission or rules?▾
Don’t. If we reasonably suspect fee avoidance or rule dodging, we may restrict accounts, remove listings, and/or take other action under our Terms.
Where can I read the full legal terms?▾
Read our Terms & Conditions and Fees pages.
How do I contact you?▾
Email info@sealabid.com.