Seller Guide

Everything you need to know to start selling on The Game Traders. From creating your first listing to shipping your items.

Start Selling

Getting Started

Selling on The Game Traders is straightforward. Here's how to get set up:

Create an account

Sign upfor a free account if you haven't already. You'll need a username, email, and password.

Complete your profile

Add a profile photo and bio in your Settings. Buyers trust sellers with complete profiles.

Connect your payment account

Set up Stripe to receive payments. You'll be guided through this when creating your first listing.

Create your first listing

Head to the Sell page to list your first item.

Creating a Listing

A great listing helps buyers find and trust your item. Here's what you'll fill out:

Manufacturer, Platform & Item

After picking a category, select the manufacturer (e.g., Nintendo), then the platform (e.g., Switch), then the specific item. This auto-fills your title and suggests a price range. If your item isn't in the catalog, you can type a custom name for any of these fields.

Title

A clear, descriptive title (5-100 characters). Include the game name, platform, and condition highlights. Example: "Pokemon Scarlet - Nintendo Switch - New Sealed"

Description

Detail the item's condition, what's included (manuals, cases, accessories), and any flaws. Be honest — accurate descriptions lead to better reviews.

Condition

Rate your item honestly:

New — Sealed, never opened
Like New — Opened but unused, no wear
Good — Light wear, fully functional
Fair — Moderate wear, works well
Poor — Heavy wear, may have issues

Use the catalog. When you select a manufacturer, platform, and item from our catalog, your title auto-fills and buyers see a suggested price range based on market data.

Photos That Sell

Good photos are the single biggest factor in selling your items. You can upload up to 10 photos per listing.

Do

Use natural lighting or a well-lit area
Show front, back, and sides of the item
Include close-ups of any wear or damage
Photograph all included accessories
Use a clean, uncluttered background

Don't

Use blurry or dark photos
Use stock images instead of real photos
Hide damage or defects
Include excessive filters or edits
Photograph in messy environments

First photo matters most. Your first image becomes the thumbnail shown in search results and browse pages. Make it your best, most representative shot.

Pricing Your Items

Set a competitive price to attract buyers while maximizing your return.

Price Suggestions

When you select an item from our catalog, you'll see a suggested price range based on market data. Use this as a starting point and adjust based on your item's condition.

Accepting Offers

You can enable offers on your listing so buyers can propose a price. Set a minimum offer amount to avoid lowball offers. Offers are a great way to sell faster.

Understanding Fees

The Game Traders charges a 10% seller fee on the item price only when your item sells. Shipping, insurance, and tax are not included in the fee calculation — you receive 90% of your item price. See the Fees section for full details.

Items priced within the suggested range tend to sell faster. If your item is in better condition than average, price toward the higher end.

Package & Shipping

When creating a listing, you describe your package so buyers see accurate, real-time shipping rates at checkout. Rates are calculated by EasyPost based on your address, the buyer's address, and the package details you provide. No more guessing shipping prices — carriers quote the actual cost.

Describing Your Package

Enter the weight

Weigh your item (with packaging) and enter the weight in ounces. If you're unsure, round up slightly — underestimating can cause issues at the post office.

Choose a package type

Select a predefined package (e.g., USPS Flat Rate Box, padded envelope) or enter custom dimensions (length, width, height in inches) for non-standard packages.

Quick-Pick Presets

To speed things up, we offer quick-pick presets that pre-fill weight and package type for common items:

Preset	Package Type	Default Weight
Trading Cards	Letter	2 oz
Video Game	Small Flat Rate Box	8 oz
Console	Medium Flat Rate Box	128 oz
Large Item	Large Flat Rate Box	256 oz

Presets are just a starting point — you can always adjust the weight and dimensions after selecting one.

What Buyers See at Checkout

At checkout, buyers see live shipping rates from multiple carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) calculated from your address to theirs. They choose the option that works best for their budget and timeline. Buyers can also add optional shipping insurance (1% of item value) for extra protection.

After the Sale

Label is auto-generated

Once payment is confirmed, a shipping label is automatically created through EasyPost. No need to visit a carrier website or calculate postage yourself.

Download and print your label

Go to your Dashboard > Sales tab, open the order, and download the shipping label PDF.

Pack and drop off

Affix the label to your package and drop it off at the appropriate carrier location (USPS, UPS, or FedEx depending on what the buyer selected).

Tracking is automatic

The tracking number is pre-filled from EasyPost — no manual entry needed. Both you and the buyer can track the shipment in real time.

Accurate package details matter.The closer your weight and dimensions are to the real package, the more accurate the buyer's shipping quote will be. Inaccurate details can lead to carrier surcharges.

Download and ship your label promptly after payment. Buyers can see when payment was confirmed and expect fast shipping.

Managing Offers

When you enable offers on a listing, buyers can propose a price. Here's how the negotiation works:

Accept

Happy with the price? Accept the offer and a pending order is created. The buyer will be prompted to complete payment.

Counter

Want a higher price? Send a counter-offer with your desired amount. The buyer can then accept, decline, or counter back. This can go back and forth until you agree on a price.

Decline

Not interested? Decline the offer. The buyer will be notified. You can set a minimum offer amount on your listing to prevent offers below a certain price.

Respond quickly to offers.Buyers are more likely to complete a purchase when they get a fast response. You'll receive notifications when new offers come in.

Want Ads

Buyers can post Want Adsfor items they're looking for. If you have what they want, you can make them an offer directly. This is a great way to find buyers for specific items.

Fulfilling Orders

Once a buyer pays, you'll see the order in your Dashboard > Salestab. Here's the order lifecycle:

Payment Confirmed & Label Generated

A shipping label is automatically generated through EasyPost. You'll find the downloadable label PDF in your order details.

Download Label, Pack & Ship

Download and print the label, affix it to your package, and drop it off at the carrier. Once shipped, click "Mark as Shipped" to notify the buyer. Tracking is already pre-filled from EasyPost — no need to enter it manually.

Buyer Tracks & Delivery Confirmed

Both you and the buyer can track the shipment in real time. Orders are automatically completed 3 days after the carrier confirms delivery. Funds are then transferred to your Stripe account.

Review

The buyer can leave a rating and review. Great reviews build your reputation and help you sell more.

Tracking is automatic. Because labels are generated through EasyPost, your tracking number is pre-filled. Both you and the buyer can follow the shipment without any extra steps.

Still click "Mark as Shipped" after dropping off your package. This notifies the buyer and starts the delivery timeline.

Fees & Payments

The Game Traders keeps fees simple and transparent.

Fee Structure

Listing Fee

Creating a listing is always free

Free

Seller Fee

10% of the item price only (not shipping, insurance, or tax)

10%

Processing Fee (Buyer)

Covers payment processing (2.9% + $0.30), charged to the buyer at checkout

2.9% + $0.30

Example Sale

Item price$50.00

Shipping (varies by carrier & destination)$8.50

Processing fee (2.9% + $0.30)$2.00

Buyer pays total$60.50

Seller fee (10% of $50.00 item price)-$5.00

You receive$45.00

Payments are processed through Stripe. Funds are transferred to your connected Stripe account once the buyer confirms delivery.

Tips for Success

Write honest descriptions

Accurately describe condition, included accessories, and any defects. Honest listings lead to happy buyers and positive reviews.

Respond quickly

Reply to messages and offers promptly. Buyers often purchase from the first seller who responds.

Ship fast, ship safe

Package items securely to prevent damage in transit. Download your auto-generated label and ship within 1-2 days of payment. Tracking is handled automatically.

Price competitively

Use the catalog price suggestions as a guide. Enabling offers can help you sell items that might sit at a fixed price.

Build your reputation

Your seller rating is visible on your profile and listing pages. Consistently positive transactions build trust and attract more buyers.

Check Want Ads

Browse the Want Ads page regularly. Buyers actively looking for items are ready to buy.

Ready to start selling?

List your first item in minutes. It's free to create a listing.

Create a Listing