Refunds & Disputes

PokeBTS connects collectors and dealers in a real marketplace with real money. We protect against fraud aggressively, but we do not babysit careless buying. You agree that:

• Bids are binding. No cancellation for buyer's remorse, second-guessing, or "I didn't mean to click."
• Orders are binding. Once you pay, the transaction is committed.
• Inspect listings before you commit. Photos, condition notes, grade, edition, language, and price are all on the listing page. If something is unclear, message the seller before you bid or buy.
• You are accountable for what you click. Missing a detail you could have seen is not grounds for a refund.

Refunds are reviewed individually. The only categories that qualify for a guaranteed refund are clear, proven fraud by the counterparty. Examples:

• Counterfeit / fake card shipped (verified against the listing photos and an independent grader or our review team).
• Wrong item shipped that materially differs from what was listed (e.g., listed a 1st-Edition Charizard, shipped a Base Set 2).
• Order never arrived with no delivery scan within 30 days of payment and the seller cannot produce proof of shipment.
• Undisclosed material damage that the seller knowingly hid (i.e., damage clearly visible in their own pre-ship photos but cropped out of the listing).

To open a dispute, go to your order page and click Open Dispute within 7 days of delivery(or 30 days of payment if there is no delivery scan). Provide photos, packaging photos, and a clear written explanation. Funds remain held in escrow until the dispute is resolved.

The following are explicitly not refundable:

• "I changed my mind." Buyer's remorse is never a refund category.
• "I didn't see that detail in the listing." All listing fields are your responsibility to read.
• "I lost the auction but want my bid back." Bids cannot be cancelled or rescinded.
• "The price dropped after I bought it." Market movement is not fraud.
• "I assumed it was graded / 1st edition / mint / english / etc." Assumptions are not warranties. If the listing didn't state it, don't assume it.
• "I waited too long." Disputes filed outside the 7-day / 30-day windows are not reviewed.
• "The card is damaged but the listing showed the damage." Documented condition = accepted condition.

When a dispute is opened, both parties have 72 hours to submit evidence (photos, tracking, pre-ship photos, communication logs). PokeBTS will review the evidence and decide within 5 business days. Possible outcomes:

• Refund in full — fraud is clearly proven; buyer is made whole.
• Partial refund — partial misrepresentation; buyer keeps the card with a price adjustment.
• Return for refund — buyer ships the card back at the responsible party's expense; refund issues on receipt.
• Release to seller — the buyer's claim is not supported by evidence; escrow funds release.

Our decisions are final on the platform side. Either party may still pursue their own legal remedies; PokeBTS is not a party to the underlying contract.

When fraud is proven or confirmed by PokeBTS — counterfeit, knowingly hidden damage, shill bidding, bait-and-switch, or misrepresentation of grade/edition/authenticity — the following are automatic and non-negotiable:

• Full refund is distributed to the buyer from escrow or, if already released, from the seller's connected Stripe balance.
• 1-year ban on the fraudulent account, effective immediately at the time of confirmation. No appeals during the ban period.
• Any active listings, bids, auctions, and trades by the banned account are cancelled.
• Any pending payouts are held pending review and may be reversed.
• Repeat offenders (any further confirmed fraud after a 1-year ban) receive a permanent platform ban and are reported to law enforcement where applicable.
• Associated accounts (same payment method, device, phone, or IP) may also be banned if evidence of coordinated fraud exists.

"Confirmation of fraud" means the PokeBTS dispute team has reviewed evidence from both parties and concluded, on the preponderance of evidence, that one party knowingly misrepresented the transaction. The decision is final on the platform side.

As a seller, you keep your funds (released from escrow) when:

• The buyer confirms delivery, OR
• 7 days pass after delivery confirmation with no dispute filed.

Sellers who list accurately, photograph honestly, ship promptly with tracking, and respond to disputes within 72 hours overwhelmingly retain their funds. Repeat sellers who lose disputes for misrepresentation will be suspended.

For peer-to-peer trades, both parties are protected by escrow on both sides. If one party fails to ship within 10 business days, the other party may request trade reversal. Same fraud-only refund standard applies to both participants. "I didn't realize my trade partner's card was worth less than mine" is not a dispute category — agreed values are binding.

Subscription fees (Founder's Pass, Ballin, Thievin, G.O.A.T., Raidin) are billed monthly or annually via Stripe. The Founder's Pass is final at point-of-sale and non-refundable— you are paying to support a solo-developer build at launch pricing locked in for life, and that contribution is what funds active development. You may cancel anytime; cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period and you retain access until then. We do not offer pro-rated refunds for partial subscription periods on any tier unless required by law.

FoodStamps are not refundable for cash. FS purchased as part of a bundle (e.g., 1,000 FS + Pro Bundle waitlist offer) are tied to that promotional offer and are not separately refundable.

Donations made via the "Fuel the Founder" flow are final and non-refundable. They are a voluntary contribution to support platform development — the 15% bonus FoodStamps you receive are the agreed consideration.

If you believe a transaction was fraudulent, open a dispute on PokeBTS first. We resolve most fraud cases faster than your bank's 30–90 day chargeback process. Filing a chargeback without first attempting platform dispute resolution will result in your account being restricted while the chargeback is investigated, and may result in permanent suspension if the chargeback is determined to be in bad faith (i.e., you received the card as listed and filed anyway).

Dispute questions and general support: pokebtslivesupport@gmail.com.

Please include your order ID, listing URL, and any supporting photos when you write in. Vague reports without evidence will be returned for more information.