Terms & Conditions

1.1 Condition Definitions

• Mint (M):Item is in perfect, flawless condition. No scratches, bends, creases, or imperfections of any kind. Equivalent to PSA 10 or BGS 10.
• Near Mint (NM):Item shows minimal wear. May have very slight edge wear or minor surface marks only visible under close inspection. Equivalent to PSA 9 or BGS 9.
• Excellent (EX):Light play wear visible. Minor edge wear, small scratches, or light scuffs. No major creases or tears. Equivalent to PSA 7–8.
• Good (G):Moderate wear clearly visible. May have creases, scratches, or border wear but is still structurally sound and fully readable.
• Fair (F):Heavy wear throughout. Significant creases, tears, staining, or writing. Still complete and identifiable.
• Poor (P):Severe damage. Item may be missing pieces, have major tears, heavy staining, or other serious defects.
• Graded:Item has been professionally graded by a recognized grading company (PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC, etc.). Grade and cert number must be provided.

1.2 Misrepresentation of Condition

Intentionally misrepresenting an item's condition is a serious violation. Sellers found to be misrepresenting condition may have their listings removed, accounts suspended, and may be required to issue full refunds including return shipping costs. Buyers may open a dispute within 48 hours of delivery if an item significantly differs from its listed condition.

1.3 Graded Items

For professionally graded items, sellers must include the grading company, numeric grade, and valid certificate number. Tampered slabs, cracked cases presented as intact, or misrepresented grades are prohibited and will result in immediate account suspension.

2.1 Prohibited Items

The following items are strictly prohibited on VaultSwap:

• Counterfeit, reproduction, or proxy cards/items presented as genuine
• Items with altered artwork, fraudulent autographs, or artificially enhanced grades
• Stolen property of any kind
• Items that violate copyright or trademark laws
• Anything illegal under applicable local, state, or federal law

2.2 Image Requirements

All listing photos must be of the actual item being sold — stock photos or photos sourced from the internet may not be used to represent the physical item. Images must clearly show the item's true condition, including any flaws. Front and back photos are strongly recommended. Images containing inappropriate, offensive, or unrelated content will be removed.

2.3 Accurate Descriptions

Titles and descriptions must accurately describe the item. Keyword stuffing, misleading titles, or omitting known defects is prohibited. Sellers must disclose all known condition issues including but not limited to: surface scratches, edge wear, creases, staining, fading, writing, or holes.

3.1 Buyer Responsibility

By placing an order or agreeing to a trade, buyers enter a binding agreement. Buyers are expected to complete transactions promptly. Failure to pay after committing to a purchase may result in account penalties.

3.2 Seller Responsibility

Sellers are responsible for accurate pricing, prompt shipping (within 1–3 business days of confirmed payment), and proper packaging to prevent damage during transit. Items must match their listing exactly. Sellers must provide a valid tracking number for all shipped orders and may only ship to addresses within the United States.

3.3 VaultCoins — Virtual Currency Policy

VaultCoins ("VC") are non-redeemable platform participation credits issued solely as a loyalty benefit to incentivize community safety and platform engagement. By purchasing or earning VaultCoins, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• No Cash Value. VaultCoins have no monetary value and cannot be redeemed, exchanged, or converted into cash, cryptocurrency, or any other currency or asset, under any circumstances.
• No Withdrawals. VaultCoins cannot be withdrawn from the platform in any form. There is no mechanism to transfer platform credits to any external financial account, payment processor, or person.
• No P2P Transfers. VaultCoins cannot be sent, gifted, or transferred directly between users. All coin movement is platform-controlled and tied exclusively to specific platform actions (purchases, rewards, boosts, bounties).
• Closed-Loop System. VaultCoins exist solely within the VaultSwap ecosystem. They may only be spent on approved platform features such as listing boosts, bounty escrow, and premium theme unlocks.
• Non-Refundable. VaultCoins are non-refundable once used. Unused purchased VaultCoins may be refunded within 14 days of purchase only if no coins from that purchase have been spent.
• Account Termination. Suspended or banned accounts forfeit all VaultCoin balances with no right to compensation.

3.4 Bounty System

The Wanted Ads Bounty System allows users to post token bounties to incentivize community members to locate specific collectibles. The following rules apply:

• Minimum Bounty. All bounties must meet a minimum threshold of 100 VaultCoins to reduce low-effort or spam postings.
• Escrow. Bounty tokens are placed in escrow upon posting and are not accessible to the poster during the active period of the Wanted Ad.
• Non-Refundable Posting Fee. A non-refundable platform fee is deducted upon bounty fulfillment (5% for Free users; 2% for Pro members). This fee funds platform operations.
• Fulfillment. Bounties are awarded when the Wanted Ad poster confirms that a submitted listing satisfies their request. Only the poster or an administrator may trigger fulfillment.
• Expiry. If a Wanted Ad expires or is closed without fulfillment, escrowed tokens are returned to the poster's balance minus any non-refundable processing costs.

3.5 Fees

VaultSwap reserves the right to charge transaction fees. Any applicable fees will be clearly disclosed prior to transaction completion. Current fee structure: standard transactions 4% (2% for Pro members). Local meetup transactions arranged off-platform are not subject to fees but also carry no platform protections.

3.6 Local Meetup Transactions

VaultSwap provides tools to facilitate local, in-person meetups between buyers and sellers. By selecting the "Local Meetup" fulfillment option, both parties acknowledge and agree to the following:

• No Platform Mediation. VaultSwap does not act as a witness, mediator, or guarantor for in-person transactions. We are not responsible for the safety, accuracy, or completion of meetups.
• Public Locations. All meetups should occur in well-lit, public locations. Users are strongly encouraged to meet at police stations, coffee shops, or other safe public spaces.
• Verify at Exchange. Both buyers and sellers must verify all cash and item exchanges at the time of the meetup. Once both parties confirm the meetup is complete, the transaction is final and not subject to the standard 48-hour dispute window.
• Cash Is Permitted. Cash payments are allowed for local meetup transactions. However, cash transactions processed outside of VaultSwap's checkout carry no platform payment protections or fee obligations.
• Personal Safety. Users assume all risk associated with in-person meetings. VaultSwap recommends bringing a friend, inspecting items carefully before payment, and reporting any unsafe behavior immediately.

3.7 Community-Driven Moderation

VaultSwap relies on community participation to maintain a safe and trustworthy marketplace. By using the platform, users agree to:

• Report Violations. Actively report suspected fraud, counterfeit listings, suspicious behavior, or policy violations using the platform's report system.
• Platform Integrity. Not engage in wash trading, price manipulation, fake reviews, or any activity designed to artificially inflate reputation, sales velocity, or market data.
• Enforcement. VaultSwap reserves the right to use automated tools, community flags, and manual review to restrict, shadow-ban, or terminate any account engaged in platform manipulation. Accounts terminated for malicious activity forfeit all VaultCoins, pending listings, and earned reputation with no right to compensation.
• Account Restrictions. New or unverified users may be subject to listing limits, transaction thresholds, or mandatory identity verification before accessing certain platform features. These restrictions are designed to protect the community and may be adjusted at VaultSwap's discretion.

3.6 Future Market Features

VaultSwap may in the future introduce features that allow users to express sentiment or make skill-based predictions about collectible market trends using VaultCoins. Any such features will be designed strictly as entertainment and community data-aggregation tools. They will not constitute wagering, gambling, or financial investment of any kind. Access to such features may be subject to jurisdiction-specific eligibility requirements and identity verification (KYC) in compliance with applicable state and federal laws. VaultSwap will provide advance notice before enabling these features and will restrict access in jurisdictions where such activities are not permitted.

4.1 Shipping Policy

• Processing Time. All orders are processed and shipped within 1–3 business days of confirmed payment.
• Carriers & Rates. Shipping is provided via USPS, UPS, FedEx, or DHL. Shipping rates are determined by the seller's selected shipping method and the item's destination, and are displayed at checkout.
• Geographic Restrictions. VaultSwap currently supports shipped orders within the United States only. We do not ship internationally at this time.
• Tracking. Sellers are required to provide a valid tracking number for all shipped items. Tracking information is provided to the buyer through the platform.

4.2 Return Eligibility

Buyers may request a return for both defective items (e.g. damaged in transit, not as described, counterfeit) and non-defective items (e.g. change of mind), provided the item is returned in its original condition. All return requests must be initiated through the platform within 3 days of confirmed delivery and must include photo evidence of the issue.

4.3 Return Shipping Cost

The cost of return shipping is the responsibility of the buyer, including returns for change of mind. If an item arrives damaged, counterfeit, or significantly not as described (Item Not as Described / INAD), the seller is responsible for return shipping costs.

4.4 No Exchanges

Due to the peer-to-peer nature of our marketplace, VaultSwap does not support direct product exchanges. If you wish to receive a different item, please initiate a return for your current item for a refund, then place a new order for the desired item.

4.5 Refund Process & Timeline

Upon approval of a return request and verification of the returned item, a refund will be issued to the buyer's original payment method. Please allow 5–7 business days for the refund to be processed by our system. Depending on your financial institution, it may take an additional 3–7 business days for the funds to reflect in your account. The total expected turnaround time for a refund is up to 14 days. No restocking fees are applied to any return.

4.6 Dispute Resolution

VaultSwap staff will review disputes within 5–7 business days. Both parties will have the opportunity to provide evidence. Decisions made by VaultSwap administrators are final. Chargebacks attempted outside of the platform's dispute system may result in account suspension.

4.7 'All Sales Final' Listings

Certain listings may be marked "All Sales Final." These items are not eligible for returns for change of mind, but INAD (Item Not as Described) and counterfeit protections always apply regardless of the seller's return policy setting.

8.1 Data Collection

VaultSwap collects personal information (including email address, display name, and transaction history) solely to operate the platform, process transactions, and deliver platform features. We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

8.2 Data Retention

Transaction records and account data are retained for a minimum of 3 years to comply with applicable recordkeeping requirements. Users may request deletion of non-essential personal data by contacting support, subject to any legal retention obligations.

8.3 Age Requirement

VaultSwap is intended for users aged 13 years or older. Users under 18 must have parental or guardian consent to use the platform, purchase VaultCoins, or engage in transactions. By registering, you confirm you meet this age requirement or have obtained the required consent.