Your Safety Guide: How We Keep Every Transaction Protected

Traditional classifieds have a safety problem. Parking lot meetups, cash exchanges with strangers, no recourse when things go wrong. A recent survey found that 67% of Canadians have safety concerns about buying or selling through traditional classifieds.

ShopBroker was built differently. Every transaction includes payment protection, verified delivery options, and privacy features designed to make local buying and selling safe for everyone.

Here's exactly how we protect you, whether you're buying or selling.

Payment Protection: How It Works

When money changes hands, protection matters most. Here's how ShopBroker keeps every payment secure.

The Authorization Hold System

When a buyer purchases an item, their payment method is authorized but not charged immediately. Think of it like a hotel holding your card at check-in. The funds are secured and reserved, but they don't leave the buyer's account until the transaction completes successfully.

Why this protects buyers:

• Your payment isn't final until you've received and accepted the item
• If something goes wrong, funds were never actually charged
• Easy refund process for cancelled or rejected deliveries

Why this protects sellers:

• Buyer's payment is verified and secured before you release your item
• No risk of bounced payments or fake confirmations
• Guaranteed payment once delivery completes successfully

Trusted Payment Processors

All payments process through Stripe, the same payment infrastructure used by Amazon, Shopify, and thousands of trusted businesses worldwide. We also offer PayPal as an alternative for sellers who prefer it.

How Funds Release

Once delivery completes and the buyer accepts the item, funds automatically release to the seller's connected account. Most payouts arrive within 2-3 business days. No chasing buyers for payment. No awkward money conversations.

Verified Delivery with Trexity

The riskiest part of traditional classifieds? Meeting strangers. ShopBroker eliminates this entirely with professional, verified delivery.

Professional Courier Network

Our delivery partner, Trexity, operates a network of verified couriers across Canadian cities. Every driver passes background verification before joining the platform.

Delivery coverage:

• Toronto and GTA
• Vancouver and Metro Vancouver
• Calgary
• Ottawa
• Edmonton
• Winnipeg
• Halifax

Real-Time Tracking

Both buyers and sellers can track deliveries in real time. Know exactly when the driver picks up your item and when it's arriving at its destination. No more wondering if someone's going to show up.

Item Inspection on Delivery

Here's where traditional classifieds really fail. What happens when the item isn't as described?

With ShopBroker delivery, buyers inspect items before accepting. If something doesn't match the listing, they can reject it on the spot. The item returns to the seller, the transaction cancels, and nobody loses money unfairly.

Self-Arranged Pickup: The Safe Alternative

Prefer to handle the exchange yourself? ShopBroker still has you covered.

Protected Payments for Meetups

Even with self-arranged pickup, payments still go through our secure system. The buyer pays through ShopBroker, you meet to exchange the item, and once both parties confirm the transaction, funds release.

The critical difference from traditional classifieds:

• Buyer's payment is verified before you show up
• You click "Payment Received" when satisfied
• Buyer confirms receipt
• No cash, no e-transfer, no risk

Best Practices for Safe Meetups

If you choose self-arranged pickup, here are tips to stay safe:

Location:

• Meet in public places (coffee shops, mall parking lots, police station lobbies)
• Avoid isolated areas or private residences
• Choose well-lit locations with foot traffic

Timing:

• Meet during daylight hours when possible
• Tell someone where you're going and when
• Set a specific timeframe

The Exchange:

• Let the buyer inspect the item fully
• Don't complete the transaction until both parties are satisfied
• Stay on platform communication until the deal is done

Privacy Features That Protect Your Information

On traditional classifieds, your phone number and full name are exposed to everyone. ShopBroker handles personal information differently.

Name Display Protection

Your name appears as "John D." format rather than your full name. Enough to be personal, not enough for strangers to find you elsewhere.

No Phone Number Required

All communication happens through the ShopBroker messaging system. Buyers and sellers never need to exchange phone numbers. Your contact information stays private.

Address Protection

Your address is only shared with the assigned delivery driver when a verified delivery is scheduled. It's not visible in your listing, not accessible to casual browsers, and not stored after the transaction completes.

What If Something Goes Wrong?

Even with protection systems, issues occasionally arise. Here's how we handle them.

Dispute Resolution Process

If a buyer and seller disagree about an item's condition or a transaction's outcome, our support team reviews the case. We examine:

• Original listing photos and description
• Messages between buyer and seller
• Delivery documentation
• Both parties' accounts of what happened

Most disputes resolve within 48 hours with a fair outcome for everyone involved.

Refund Policies

Buyers receive refunds when:

• Item doesn't match the listing description
• Item arrives damaged due to delivery
• Delivery fails to complete
• Seller cancels the transaction

Sellers keep their payment when:

• Item matches listing and buyer accepts
• Buyer fails to respond during delivery window
• Buyer attempts to claim false damages

Customer Support

Real humans answer support questions. Email support@shopbroker.ca or use the in-app help system. We respond to most inquiries within 24 hours.

Common Scams We Prevent

Traditional classifieds are plagued by scams. Here's what we've built protection against:

Fake Payment Confirmations

The scam: Someone sends a fake email or screenshot claiming they've paid.

How we prevent it: All payments process through ShopBroker. You'll see the authorization in your dashboard before releasing any item. Never trust screenshots or emails claiming payment was made outside the platform.

Overpayment Schemes

The scam: "I'll pay extra for shipping, please refund the difference."

How we prevent it: Buyers pay the exact listing price plus delivery fees. There's no mechanism for overpayment, so this scam can't happen on our platform.

Off-Platform Payment Requests

The scam: "Let's use e-transfer instead, it's faster."

How we prevent it: If someone asks to pay outside ShopBroker, it's a red flag. Report them immediately. Legitimate buyers use the secure checkout we provide.

Identity Theft Attempts

The scam: Requests for personal information beyond what's needed for the transaction.

How we prevent it: ShopBroker never asks for your password, OTP codes, or banking details outside the secure payment setup. Our support team will never request sensitive information via chat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe Selling and Buying Starts Here

Local marketplaces should be convenient, not concerning. ShopBroker's protection systems let you focus on finding great deals or turning unused items into cash, without worrying about your safety.

Have safety questions? Our Help Center covers common concerns, or reach out to support@shopbroker.ca.