Sealabid

Terms & Conditions

Please read these terms carefully before using Sealabid. By creating an account, listing an item or placing a sealed bid, you agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. For plain-English answers, read our FAQ.

Last updated: 20 December 2025

Sealabid is currently in early launch. These terms are written in plain English to make them easier to understand, but they do not replace independent legal advice.

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the date above and, where the changes are material, we will notify registered users by email or in your dashboard. If you continue to use Sealabid after changes take effect, you will be treated as having accepted the updated Terms.

Quick reality check

We provide the platform — we are not the seller or the buyer.
Item condition/quality/authenticity and delivery are between buyer and seller (subject to law).
Payments are processed by third-party payment providers (currently Stripe). We don’t store full card details.
Stripe security helps protect payment data — it does not guarantee item quality, authenticity, or delivery.

Definitions

Listing: an item posted for sale on Sealabid.
Draft: a listing only visible to the seller, not live to buyers.
Live listing: a published listing that is active/visible to buyers (not a draft). We may define, count or classify “live” differently for platform integrity.
Envelope / sealed bid: a buyer’s single sealed offer submitted before the deadline.
Deadline: the time shown on the listing when the sealed-bid window ends.
Decision window: a limited period after the deadline where the seller can choose a buyer (or mark no sale).
Listing fee deposit: the £10 amount typically taken when a seller publishes a listing (unless a valid relist credit is used instead). The deposit is not a normal cash refund; if a sale completes, it may be credited against commission due (down to £0), but any unused portion is not refundable.
Relist credit: a platform credit that can be used against the listing fee deposit when publishing a future listing. It has no cash value, is not withdrawable, and is not transferable. Relist credits are issued only in specific circumstances described in these Terms and may expire (typically after 30 days).
Item relist count: how many times the same item has been published on Sealabid. We may display this as “Listed X/5” (or similar) and enforce a maximum.
Enhanced verification: additional checks and/or requirements we may apply (e.g. phone/address verification, payment method on file, identity checks) to reduce fraud, prevent spam, comply with law, or unlock higher listing limits.
Trader: a seller acting in the course of business (even part-time).
Consumer: generally, an individual buying mainly outside their trade/business/profession.

1. Who we are and what we provide

Sealabid (referred to as "Sealabid", "we" or "us") is an online platform that allows users to:

list items they wish to sell; and
invite and receive sealed bids from potential buyers.

We provide the technology and tools for buyers and sellers to find each other. We do not buy or sell items ourselves and we are not a traditional auction house.

The contract for any sale is between the buyer and the seller, not with Sealabid. We are not a party to that contract.

Not escrow / not a guarantee

Sealabid is not an escrow service and does not offer a “buyer protection guarantee”. We use secure payment providers to process payments, but we do not inspect items, verify authenticity, or guarantee delivery/collection.

2. Eligibility and your account

You must be at least 18 years old to use Sealabid.
You must provide true, accurate and up-to-date information when creating your account, placing envelopes, and listing items.
You are responsible for keeping your login details safe and for all activity carried out through your account.
We may require email verification and may require Enhanced verification to reduce fraud, comply with legal obligations, enforce listing limits, or protect users.
You must not let others use your account and you must not create multiple accounts to mislead other users, evade restrictions, or manipulate outcomes.
If you believe your account has been compromised, you should change your password immediately and contact us.
We may suspend or close accounts where we reasonably believe there is fraud, abuse, non-payment, repeated breaches of these Terms, or other misuse of the platform.

Your responsibility for actions

You are responsible for your actions on the platform (listings, envelopes, messages, delivery/collection arrangements and payment commitments), including actions taken through your account by someone you allowed access to.

3. Sellers, listings and your obligations

If you create a listing on Sealabid, you confirm that:

you have the legal right to sell the item and to complete the sale if you accept an offer;
your listing (including title, description, photos, category, condition and any other information) is honest, accurate and not misleading;
you will clearly disclose any known faults, damage, missing parts or material issues a reasonable buyer would want to know;
the item is not illegal, stolen, counterfeit, dangerously unsafe, or otherwise prohibited under these Terms or applicable law;
you own, or have the right to use, any images and content you upload, and you grant Sealabid a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, store, reproduce, display, distribute, translate, format, and use that content in connection with operating and promoting the platform;
you will respond within a reasonable time once you have accepted a buyer so that the transaction can progress without unnecessary delay.

Business sellers (“traders”) and consumer rights

If you sell items in the course of a business (even part-time), you may be treated as a trader and the buyer may be a consumer. In that case, you must comply with applicable consumer protection law. Certain consumer rights cannot be excluded, limited or avoided by wording such as “sold as seen”.

If you are a private seller, different rules may apply — but you are still responsible for not misrepresenting items and for complying with the law.

You are responsible for setting out delivery/collection options clearly. Do not publish a full home address publicly on a listing. Share collection details privately only after a buyer is accepted.

We reserve the right to edit, hide or remove listings that we consider misleading, inappropriate or in breach of these Terms, or where we are required to do so by law or by a regulator.

4. Item condition, authenticity and “sold as seen” (private sales)

Unless a seller is a trader and consumer law requires otherwise, items sold through Sealabid are typically sold on a “sold as seen / as described” basis.

Buyers are responsible for checking the listing, asking questions, requesting more photos, and doing any checks that matter to them before submitting an envelope.
Sellers are responsible for accurate descriptions and disclosures. If a listing is materially misleading, the buyer may have legal remedies against the seller.
Sealabid does not verify authenticity, provenance, working condition, safety, legality, or fitness for purpose.

No automatic returns policy

Sealabid does not provide an automatic returns policy. Any returns, refunds, exchanges, cancellations, or goodwill gestures are between buyer and seller, subject to the seller’s legal obligations (especially if the seller is a trader).

5. Buyers, sealed bids and "buying is subjective"

Sealabid operates on a sealed-bid model. In summary:

Buyers submit a single sealed offer (an "envelope") on a listing before the deadline shown.
Buyers cannot see other buyers' envelopes, and sellers cannot see envelopes until the sealed-bid window ends.
Buyers may update their envelope before the deadline but may not place multiple separate envelopes on the same listing.
When the sealed-bid window ends, the seller can review all envelopes and choose a buyer based on price and any other factors that matter to them (for example, timing, buyer profile or message).
The highest offer does not automatically win. Buying is subjective, and the seller is free to choose any envelope or decide there is no sale.
Submitting an envelope is a serious expression of intent to buy, but it does not by itself create a binding contract. A binding agreement arises only once a seller accepts an offer and both parties proceed under agreed terms (which may include successful payment).

Decision window

After the deadline, the seller may have a limited period to choose a buyer. If the seller does not choose a buyer within that period, the listing may be treated as no sale and may expire.

We may enforce timing rules (including expiring/closing a listing and notifying users) to keep the platform fair and usable.

Buyers are responsible for doing their own checks and asking questions before submitting an envelope. If something matters to you (e.g. authenticity, measurements, provenance, working condition), ask before the deadline.

No manipulation

You must not attempt to manipulate outcomes (for example: fake accounts to place/withdraw envelopes, harassment to deter other buyers, or coordinated activity to distort demand or pricing). We may remove content, suspend accounts, restrict features, and/or report conduct where appropriate.

6. Listing fee deposit, relist credits, commission and listing limits

Our current fees/commission approach and examples are set out on our Fees page. The key points are below.

Listing fee deposit (when you publish)

Publishing a listing normally requires a £10 listing fee deposit (taken when the listing goes live), unless you use a valid relist credit instead.

The deposit is designed to reduce spam and time-wasting and help keep the marketplace usable.

When it’s taken: the deposit is taken when you publish a draft listing (when it becomes live/visible to buyers), unless a valid relist credit is applied instead.
Per publish: each publish normally requires a deposit (or a relist credit) and increases the item’s relist count.
Not a normal cash refund: the deposit is not returned as a normal cash refund.
If a sale completes: if your sale completes through Sealabid, the deposit you paid is typically credited against commission due (it comes off what you owe).
No “difference” refund: if commission due is less than £10, the deposit can reduce commission down to £0, but any unused portion is not refundable.
If there is no completed sale: if the listing ends with no envelopes, you reject envelopes, you mark “no sale”, the chosen buyer fails to pay, or the deal otherwise does not complete, the deposit is not returned.
If you publish using a relist credit: there is no cash deposit to credit against commission later.
Policy breaches: if we remove or cancel a listing due to a breach of these Terms, suspected fraud, manipulation, or unsafe activity, the deposit is not returned and relist credits are not issued (where legally permitted).

Relist credit rule (strict)

A £10 relist credit is issued only if a listing reaches its deadline and closes with zero envelopes.

Any envelopes at all — even if the item ends unsold — means no relist credit.

Expiry: relist credits must be used within 30 days of issue. After that, they expire.
Not cash: relist credits have no cash value, are not withdrawable, are not interest-bearing, and are not transferable.
Abuse: we may refuse, delay, reverse or revoke a relist credit where we reasonably believe there has been abuse, manipulation, fraud, policy breaches or unsafe activity (where legally permitted).

Item relist limit (max 5 publishes per item)

To reduce repeated spam listings, the same item can only be published a limited number of times. We may display this as “Listed X/5” (or similar) and enforce a maximum.

The maximum is currently 5 publishes per item.
Attempting to bypass this limit (for example, re-uploading the same item as “new” in a misleading way) may result in restrictions or account action.

Commission (only when a sale completes)

We may charge seller commission only when a sale completes through Sealabid (as described in these Terms and the platform flow). Commission is based on the final accepted sale price. Current commission bands are shown on the Fees page.

If a listing ends with zero envelopes, envelopes are rejected, the seller chooses “no sale”, or a deal does not complete, then no commission is due (because no completed sale occurs).
Live listing allowance: standard accounts can have up to 2 live listings at any one time. To exceed this, we may require Enhanced verification.
If you exceed limits or fail verification requirements, we may pause publishing, hide listings, or restrict features until resolved.
We may change deposit/relist credit rules, fees/commission bands and listing limits in future. Changes apply to new listings created after the change takes effect (unless we are legally required to apply changes differently).
Where applicable, taxes (such as VAT) and any rounding or calculation method will be shown in the flow or dashboard.

Quick summary:

£10 deposit to publish (or use a relist credit). Relist credit issued only for zero envelopes. Max 5 publishes per item. 2 live listings standard. Enhanced verification for more. Commission only when a sale completes.

7. Payments, Stripe security, authorisations, disputes and “payment protection”

Payments on Sealabid may be handled by third-party payment providers (currently Stripe). By using Sealabid, you may also be agreeing to those providers’ terms, policies and verification requirements.

What Stripe “payment protection” means here

Stripe helps protect payment data and process card payments securely.
Sealabid does not store full card numbers or CVCs.
It does not guarantee that an item is genuine, safe, or as described, and it does not guarantee delivery/collection.
Card/bank dispute rules may apply. Outcomes are decided by payment providers and card networks based on their rules and evidence.

Depending on the payment method, proceeding with a deal may create a temporary authorisation (a pending hold). Your bank controls how long it takes to appear/disappear.
We aim to capture payment only when a seller accepts a buyer and the deal proceeds (unless clearly stated otherwise at checkout).
Payments may require additional verification or authentication (for example, 3D Secure) depending on risk and bank requirements.
If a payment fails, is reversed, or is disputed (including chargebacks), we may pause, reverse, or unwind related transaction states while it is investigated.
You agree not to misuse disputes/chargebacks as a way to avoid paying for legitimate transactions or commission.

Chargebacks and evidence sharing

If a dispute/chargeback occurs, payment providers and card networks may require evidence. You agree that we may retain and share relevant records (for example: listing details, messages, timestamps, delivery/collection confirmations, and transaction logs) with payment providers and, where appropriate, with the parties involved, to manage disputes, prevent fraud, and comply with legal obligations.

We may request additional information from you (e.g. proof of dispatch, proof of collection, photos, or identity verification). Failure to cooperate may affect dispute outcomes and may lead to account restrictions.

8. Deal flow, when a deal becomes binding, and what happens if someone doesn’t follow through

Because Sealabid is a marketplace, the exact legal position can vary depending on whether the seller is a trader, what was agreed, and how payment/delivery is handled. The practical platform flow is:

Envelope submitted: your offer/intent — not a binding sale and it does not guarantee you win.
Seller chooses a buyer: seller may pick any envelope (or choose no sale).
Deal in progress: we may prompt for payment and delivery/collection arrangements and apply time limits.
Payment captured / confirmed: if payment is successfully completed through the platform, the deal moves toward completion.
Handover: buyer and seller complete delivery/collection and confirm outcome where supported.

When is it “binding”?

In plain English: an envelope on its own is not a binding sale. A deal generally becomes binding when the seller accepts a buyer and both parties proceed under the agreed terms (which may include successful payment). If consumer law applies (e.g. trader-to-consumer), additional statutory rights and rules may apply.

This section is a platform description — it does not remove any legal rights that cannot be excluded.

If a buyer doesn’t pay or disappears: the seller may mark the deal as failed and may be able to choose another envelope (where available) or relist. We may apply restrictions to buyers who repeatedly fail to complete after being chosen.
If a seller chooses a buyer then refuses to proceed without good reason: we may apply restrictions and treat repeated behaviour as misuse.
No guarantees: Sealabid does not guarantee that any chosen buyer will pay or that any seller will complete. We can restrict accounts, help with reporting, and maintain records — but we can’t force performance.

9. Safety and scams (read this — it saves pain)

Marketplaces attract scammers. You are responsible for protecting yourself. We build safety controls, but no system is perfect.

Golden rules

Never move payment off-platform to “save money” or because someone pressures you.
Never share one-time codes, bank login details, card PINs, or remote-access tools. Sealabid will never ask for those.
Keep communications on Sealabid where possible. If you go off-platform, you increase risk and reduce evidence.
Don’t click “payment” links sent in messages. Use your dashboard and official checkout flow.

Collection safety: meet in a well-lit public place where possible, bring someone, and don’t share your home address publicly.
Delivery safety: use tracked services for valuable items and keep proof of posting and tracking.
Suspicious behaviour: pressure to act fast, strange payment requests, refusal to use platform tools, or inconsistent stories are red flags.
We may act fast: we may limit messaging, hide listings, suspend accounts, or block transactions where we suspect fraud or safety risk.

10. Off-platform deals and commission avoidance

You must not use Sealabid to find a buyer or seller and then deliberately complete the transaction away from the platform to avoid commission or to bypass platform rules.

We may monitor for and investigate commission avoidance (including patterns of messaging or repeated “accepted then cancelled” activity).
Where we reasonably suspect commission avoidance, we may charge commission that would otherwise have been due (where legally permitted), restrict features, suspend or close accounts, and/or take other appropriate action.
You must not request or send payment details in order to complete a deal off-platform. If you do, that is at your own risk and may breach these Terms.

Straight talk

If you dodge commission, you’re pushing risk onto both parties and breaking the rules. We will treat repeated commission avoidance as abuse.

11. Delivery, collection and handover

Delivery, collection and handover arrangements are agreed between the buyer and the seller.
Sellers may offer delivery and set delivery charges. Delivery charges are the seller’s responsibility to calculate and communicate clearly.
Collection details should be shared privately after a buyer is accepted (not posted publicly).
Sealabid is not responsible for items lost, delayed or damaged in transit, or for disputes about delivery/collection.
Buyers and sellers should keep records: messages, postage receipts, tracking, and (for collection) confirmation of handover.

12. Behaviour, messages and content rules

We want Sealabid to be safe, respectful and fair. You must not use the platform to:

send abusive, threatening, harassing, hateful or otherwise inappropriate content;
attempt to defraud other users or Sealabid;
upload content that is illegal, misleading, or infringes someone else’s rights;
harvest data, spam users, or interfere with the proper operation of the platform;
circumvent safety features, verification requirements, or restrictions we apply.

We may remove content, limit features, restrict messaging, suspend or terminate accounts, and cooperate with law enforcement where appropriate.

Abuse reporting

If you report abuse, you agree that we may review and retain the relevant messages and share necessary information with payment providers, regulators, or law enforcement where required or appropriate.

13. Prohibited items and restricted categories

You must not list items that are illegal, stolen, counterfeit, dangerous, or restricted by law or courier/postal rules.

Examples (not exhaustive)

weapons, ammunition, explosives, fireworks;
controlled drugs, drug paraphernalia marketed for illegal use;
stolen goods, counterfeit items, items infringing IP rights;
unsafe goods (including recalled items) where sale would be unlawful or dangerous;
items that require licences/permits you do not have the right to sell.

We may remove prohibited items immediately, cancel related transactions, and restrict accounts.

14. Intellectual property and your content

The Sealabid platform (including branding, design, code, and content we create) belongs to us or our licensors.
You keep ownership of the content you upload, but you grant us a licence to host, store, reproduce, display, distribute and use it in connection with operating, improving and promoting the platform.
You must not upload content you do not have permission to use.

If you believe content infringes your rights, contact us and include enough detail for us to investigate.

15. Platform availability and changes

We aim to keep Sealabid available and running smoothly, but we do not guarantee availability at all times.
We may suspend or limit access for maintenance, security reasons, legal compliance, or to make improvements.
We may change, add or remove features from time to time, including deposit/relist credit rules, fee models, limits, verification requirements, and eligibility rules.
We may correct errors (including pricing/fees, listing data, or status transitions) and may reverse actions where reasonably necessary.

16. Our responsibility and limits on liability

Sealabid provides a platform for buyers and sellers to find each other and agree deals. We do not control, verify or guarantee:

the existence, quality, condition, safety, legality, or authenticity of items listed;
the truth or accuracy of listings, profiles, or messages;
that a buyer or seller will complete a transaction;
delivery outcomes, courier performance, or collection/handover behaviour.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any indirect or consequential loss, loss of profits, loss of opportunity or loss of data.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total liability to you for any claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms or your use of Sealabid will be limited to the higher of (a) the total fees you have paid to Sealabid in the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim; or (b) £100.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot be excluded or limited by law (including for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or fraud), and nothing in these Terms affects statutory rights you may have that cannot be waived.

Force majeure

We are not responsible for failures or delays caused by events outside our reasonable control (for example: outages, cyber attacks, payment provider failures, industrial action, or severe weather).

17. Your responsibility to us

If you misuse Sealabid, breach these Terms, break the law, or violate the rights of another person while using the platform and that causes us loss, you agree to reimburse us for reasonable costs, losses, damages and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from that breach, but only to the extent permitted by law.

18. Privacy and cookies

We explain what personal data we collect, how we use it and the choices you have in our Privacy Policy. Our use of cookies and similar technologies is explained in our Cookies Policy.

19. Changes, suspension and termination

We may update these Terms from time to time and will update the “Last updated” date above.
We may suspend or restrict access where necessary for maintenance, security, legal compliance, or to investigate suspected misuse.
We may close your account where you seriously or repeatedly breach these Terms, misuse the platform, or where we are required to do so by law.
If we close your account, you remain responsible for any outstanding commission, chargebacks, disputes, and obligations connected with your activity.

20. General

Severability: if any part of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the rest remains in effect.
No waiver: if we do not enforce a right immediately, we can still enforce it later.
Assignment: we may transfer our rights/obligations under these Terms as part of a reorganisation, sale, or other change to the business. You may not transfer your rights without our consent.
Third-party rights: these Terms are between you and Sealabid. Except where required, no third party can enforce them.
Entire agreement: these Terms (and referenced policies) form the entire agreement about your use of Sealabid.

21. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

The courts of England and Wales will have non-exclusive jurisdiction.

22. Contacting us

If you have questions about these Terms or using Sealabid, contact us by email at info@sealabid.com.

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