Terms of Service

Welcome to The Game Traders ("we," "us," or "the Platform"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, services, and marketplace located at thegametraders.com.

The Game Traders is a peer-to-peer marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of video games, consoles, PC hardware, trading cards, table games, and related accessories. We provide the platform and tools — individual sellers are responsible for the items they list and sell.

By creating an account or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Platform.

To use The Game Traders, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction)
• Be able to form a legally binding contract
• Not be prohibited from using the Platform under applicable law
• Provide accurate and complete registration information

If you are using the Platform on behalf of a business or entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

When you create an account, you agree to:

• Provide truthful, accurate, and complete information
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Promptly update any information that changes
• Accept responsibility for all activity that occurs under your account
• Not transfer or share your account with any third party

You may only maintain one account. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or that we reasonably believe to be fraudulent.

For Sellers

• All listings must accurately describe the item being sold, including its condition
• Listing photos must be of the actual item (not stock images, unless supplemental)
• Prices must be listed in US dollars and reflect the true asking price
• Items must be legal to sell and you must have the right to sell them
• You are responsible for shipping items promptly and providing tracking information
• You must respond to buyer inquiries in a timely manner

For Buyers

• When you purchase an item or accept an offer, you are entering into a binding agreement with the seller
• You must provide accurate shipping information
• You agree to confirm receipt of items in a timely manner
• Any disputes should first be attempted to resolve directly with the seller through messaging

Offers & Negotiations

The offer system allows buyers and sellers to negotiate prices. Offers can be accepted, declined, or countered. Accepting an offer creates a binding agreement to complete the transaction at the agreed price.

Want Ads

Want ads allow users to post items they are looking for. Sellers may respond with offers. Want ad responses follow the same offer and payment rules as regular listings.

All payments on The Game Traders are processed through Stripe, our third-party payment processor. By using the Platform, you agree to Stripe's Terms of Service.

The 10% platform fee is calculated on the order total (item price + shipping + applicable tax). For complete pricing details, see our Fees & Pricing page.

Sellers receive payouts through Stripe according to their payout schedule once the buyer confirms delivery. We reserve the right to hold, delay, or reverse payouts in cases of suspected fraud, disputes, or violations of these Terms.

Orders may be cancelled under the following conditions:

When an order is cancelled before shipping, the listing is automatically re-activated so the seller can offer it to other buyers. If payment was made, a full refund is issued automatically through Stripe and typically appears in the buyer's account within 5–10 business days.

Once an item has been shipped, cancellations are not permitted. If an issue arises with a shipped order (e.g., item not as described, damaged in transit), the buyer should contact the seller through messaging or open a dispute. See our Help Center for more details.

Every purchase on The Game Traders includes buyer protection. If an item arrives not as described, is damaged during shipping, or never arrives, you may be eligible for a full refund.

You agree not to:

• List or sell counterfeit, stolen, or illegally obtained items
• Misrepresent items, their condition, or authenticity
• Manipulate pricing, ratings, or reviews (including fake reviews)
• Circumvent or attempt to circumvent the payment system (e.g., arranging off-platform payments to avoid fees)
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users
• Create multiple accounts, fake accounts, or impersonate others
• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) to access the Platform without permission
• Interfere with the operation or security of the Platform
• Use the Platform for money laundering or any illegal activity
• Post spam, advertisements, or unrelated content in listings or messages

You retain ownership of content you post on the Platform (listings, photos, reviews, messages). By posting content, you grant The Game Traders a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your content in connection with operating and promoting the Platform.

You represent that your content does not infringe on any third party's intellectual property rights and that you have the right to grant this license.

We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these Terms or that we deem inappropriate, without notice.

We respect the intellectual property rights of others and expect our users to do the same. If you believe that content on the Platform infringes your copyright, you may submit a takedown notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Filing a DMCA Notice

To file a DMCA takedown request, send a written notice to our designated agent that includes:

• Identification of the copyrighted work you claim is infringed
• Identification of the material on the Platform that you claim is infringing, with enough detail for us to locate it (e.g., URL)
• Your contact information (name, address, phone number, email)
• A statement that you have a good faith belief the use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law
• A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on behalf of the owner
• Your physical or electronic signature

Counter-Notification

If you believe your content was removed by mistake or misidentification, you may submit a counter-notification with your contact information, identification of the removed material, a statement under penalty of perjury that you believe the removal was a mistake, and your consent to jurisdiction.

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time if you violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or if we reasonably believe your account poses a risk to other users or the Platform.

What happens when your account is terminated

• Active listings are immediately deactivated and removed from search results
• Pending orders (not yet shipped) are cancelled. If payment was made, buyers receive an automatic refund.
• Shipped orders in transit will be allowed to complete. Buyers may still confirm delivery.
• Pending payouts may be held for up to 90 days to cover potential refunds, disputes, or chargebacks
• Account data is retained as required by law and for legitimate business purposes (e.g., transaction records, dispute history), but your profile is no longer publicly visible

You may also close your own account at any time by contacting us. The same conditions above apply to voluntary account closure. Any outstanding orders must be completed or cancelled before account closure.

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless The Game Traders, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to:

• Your use of or access to the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property rights
• Items you list, sell, or ship through the Platform
• Any content you post on the Platform
• Any dispute between you and another user

This indemnification obligation will survive termination of your account and these Terms.

The Game Traders is a marketplace platform that facilitates transactions between buyers and sellers. We are not a party to the transactions themselves.

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied
• We do not guarantee the quality, safety, legality, or accuracy of any listings or items sold
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Our total liability to you for any claims arising from use of the Platform shall not exceed the fees you paid to us in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim
• We are not responsible for any loss or damage arising from transactions between users

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitations of liability, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

Please read this section carefully. It affects your legal rights, including your right to file a lawsuit in court.

Informal Resolution

Before filing any formal proceeding, you agree to first contact us through our Contact Page and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days.

Binding Arbitration

If we cannot resolve a dispute informally, you and The Game Traders agree to resolve any claims relating to these Terms or the Platform through final and binding arbitration, rather than in court, except that either party may bring claims in small claims court if they qualify.

Arbitration will be conducted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The arbitration will be conducted in English, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Class Action Waiver

Governing Law

These Terms and any disputes arising from them are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Sellers are solely responsible for determining and fulfilling their own tax obligations, including income tax, sales tax, and any other applicable taxes related to their sales on the Platform.

Sales Tax

The Game Traders does not collect or remit sales tax on behalf of sellers. Sellers are responsible for determining whether sales tax applies to their transactions based on the laws of the states where they have sales tax nexus. If you sell tangible goods, many states require you to collect and remit sales tax. Consult a qualified tax professional regarding your specific obligations.

Form 1099-K

As required by federal law, Stripe will issue a Form 1099-K to sellers whose gross sales exceed $5,000 in a calendar year. This form reflects total transaction volume processed through the Platform and is sent directly by Stripe. You may be required to provide a valid taxpayer identification number (SSN or EIN) to Stripe as part of seller onboarding.

The Game Traders does not provide tax advice. We recommend consulting a qualified tax professional regarding your specific reporting and collection obligations.

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by posting a notice on the Platform or sending an email to the address associated with your account.

Your continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you should stop using the Platform and close your account.

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when these Terms were last revised.

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: