# Is the RiftCompare Marketplace Safe? Buyer Protection, Escrow & Refunds Explained

_2026-07-20 · RiftCompare_

How the RiftCompare Marketplace actually protects your money when buying Riftbound cards from another player — escrow, auto-refunds, ship deadlines and what happens if a trade goes wrong.

Buying a card from a stranger online is always a little nerve-wracking — you're trusting someone you've never met to actually ship what they said they'd ship. The RiftCompare Marketplace is built specifically to remove that risk. Here's exactly how, with no marketing fluff.

## Your money doesn't go to the seller — not yet

When you pay for a marketplace order, the money is held by RiftCompare, not sent to the seller. It only gets released once one of two things happens:

1. **You confirm delivery** — you tap "Got it" once the card arrives, and the seller is paid out right then.
2. **14 days pass after the order ships** with no dispute — funds auto-release automatically, so a seller isn't left waiting forever on a buyer who forgot to click a button.

Either way, a seller only ever gets paid *after* the card is genuinely on its way to you and the delivery window has had a chance to play out.

## What if the seller just doesn't ship?

Every seller has **14 days from payment** to mark an order shipped and add tracking. Miss that window, and the order **automatically cancels and refunds you in full** — you don't have to notice, complain, or file anything. It just happens.

## What if the card isn't what was listed, or never turns up?

Tap **"Report a problem"** on the order (found in **[My orders](/marketplace/orders)**). This immediately pauses the scheduled fund release — the seller doesn't get paid while your report is open — and puts it in front of our team to sort out, whether that's a refund or getting the seller to make it right.

This is different from most peer-to-peer trading (Discord, Facebook groups, trade forums), where once you've sent payment there's no mechanism to get it back if the other person ghosts.

## Who are these sellers, anyway?

Anyone selling on the marketplace needs a **verified email account** and has to explicitly agree to the marketplace seller terms before their shop goes live. Every seller has a public shop page with **ratings and reviews from past buyers** — check it before buying from someone new, the same way you'd check feedback on any other platform.

## Can I talk to the seller before worrying?

Yes — every order has built-in messaging with the seller. If tracking looks stalled or you have a question about condition, message them first. Most "is this a scam?" moments turn out to be a normal shipping delay once you actually ask.

## The short version

| Question | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| Where does my payment go when I pay? | Held by RiftCompare, not the seller |
| When does the seller get paid? | After you confirm delivery, or 14 days after shipping, whichever comes first |
| Seller doesn't ship in time? | Automatic full refund, no action needed from you |
| Item's wrong / damaged / never arrives? | Report it — release pauses instantly, a real person handles it |
| Can I message the seller? | Yes, directly on the order |

Full details, including the exact policy language, are on the **[buyer protection page](/marketplace/buyer-protection)**.

## Ready to buy?

**[Browse the marketplace](/marketplace)** and buy with your payment protected the whole way through. New here? Start with **[how to buy on the marketplace](/guides/how-to-buy-on-riftcompare-marketplace)**.

Source: https://riftcompare.com/blog/riftcompare-marketplace-buyer-protection-explained