Seller payouts

A seller does not become payout eligible by entering a tracking string. We verify fulfillment evidence appropriate to the category first.

The normal shipped-goods path

1. Buyer payment succeeds.
2. Seller ships within the published shipping deadline.
3. Tracking is validated with the carrier.
4. The first carrier acceptance scan confirms the carrier has the package.
5. The carrier reports delivery.
6. A 48-hour hold passes with no qualifying dispute open.
7. The transaction becomes payout eligible and is queued for release.

Higher-risk categories

Some categories add signature confirmation, insurance, serial-number photographs before shipment, or a longer hold. A hold is never extended past what the payment processor allows.

Held funds never drift

If funds are still held at day 20 we raise an internal warning, and at day 25 the order goes into a mandatory finance review queue so it is released or refunded before the processor limit is reached.

Freezes

• An open qualifying dispute freezes release until it is resolved.
• Trust & Safety can freeze a single order, a seller's payouts, or an account, independently of each other.
• Every freeze, release and reversal is written to an immutable audit event.

Current Auction does not describe itself as an escrow service. Funds are held and released according to our payment provider program configuration and the rules above.