Questions? Start here.

Vendor DOA is funded by the vendor. Registered vendors selling fish, coral, invertebrates or live plants can choose no vendor guarantee or a standard live-arrival policy with a 2-, 6- or 24-hour reporting window after delivery or local handoff. Read the selected policy on the listing and at checkout; its terms stay with the paid order. An older order may have no standard policy recorded: check the original listing and messages for any separate promise. FishBSE coverage is a separate purchase.

FishBSE DOA coverage is a separate optional policy purchased at checkout for an eligible approved shipping listing. Dashboard and Orders identify a purchased policy with Provider: FishBSE, its policy number, fee, benefit limit and claim window. Not purchased means no purchased FishBSE policy is recorded for that order. Status unavailable means the records could not be verified; contact support instead of assuming there is no coverage.

Auctions and pickup purchases are not eligible for FishBSE DOA coverage. Ordinary order disputes remain a separate process.

FishBSE offers optional coverage for eligible shipped fish, coral and marine livestock. The seller must complete the listing review and enable the offer. The buyer must choose coverage and accept the displayed terms at checkout. A listing application, approved report or seller promise alone does not purchase coverage.

Check your order for the policy you actually purchased: its fee, maximum benefit, filing window and evidence requirements. If coverage is unavailable or new coverage sales are paused, ordinary marketplace terms still apply. Existing purchased policies keep their recorded terms.

1. Create a fixed-price, single-unit livestock listing with Shipping and an eligible online payment setup.
2. Open Dashboard, find the listing and select Apply for FishBSE DOA policy.
3. Submit the livestock type, observation date, an accurate health report and 2–6 distinct photographs of the actual livestock.
4. FishBSE reviews the health report and verifies the current listing’s livestock classification.
5. After approval, return to the application, accept the current terms and enable coverage. Eligible buyers can then choose it at checkout.

Your ordinary listing can remain published during review. Approval does not guarantee a sale or a future claim payment.

Coverage is for eligible shipped fish, coral and marine livestock sold as a single unit at a fixed item price within the displayed limit. The item-price eligibility limit and aggregate benefit each cannot exceed $100; the current settings may be lower. The benefit limit includes eligible shipping and is not an extra $100 on top of the item price.

Pickup, auctions, bulk purchases, equipment, supplies, variable-price and call-for-price listings are excluded. Review the current limits on the application and checkout pages.

On Create Listing, Video Listing or Edit Listing, choose a livestock category and then a standard vendor DOA policy or No vendor DOA guarantee. Read the full terms before publishing. Equipment and dry goods cannot receive a livestock DOA policy. The 2-, 6- and 24-hour options start at recorded delivery or agreed local handoff. Photos should show arrival condition and, for shipping, the packaging and label. File the report on time even if more evidence will follow. Edits apply to future checkouts; existing paid orders retain their purchased terms. FishBSE approval and paid coverage are separate.

Yes. For a recorded FishBSE order, open Orders, select the order discussion or dispute, explain the issue and add evidence. No vendor or FishBSE DOA policy is required to raise an issue. Lack of coverage does not establish fault or guarantee a refund. For a local sale without a FishBSE order record, contact support with the listing, payment and handoff evidence; do not create a false online order.

If the order has no purchased FishBSE DOA policy, the vendor can decline a vendor claim during negotiation by selecting a reason and explaining the evidence in the order chat or dispute. Reasons include no vendor guarantee, a late report, insufficient photos, a loss after arrival, an item mismatch or disputed delivery facts. A denial records the vendor’s position and does not close the case. The buyer can respond and either party can escalate immediately. A vendor cannot deny a purchased FishBSE benefit; FishBSE reviews those claims under the purchased terms.

At any time from the order chat or dispute, choose Ask Disputes Center to review and explain why. You do not need the other party’s permission or have to wait 24 hours. Ordinary cases also escalate automatically after 24 hours without a completed agreement. The review preserves the purchased order terms, payment and refund records, delivery information, evidence references and the order-linked conversation and photos. Administrators record the next stage, judgment, remedy or closure reason. Cancellation keeps the history and does not cancel an outstanding payment obligation. Either party can request further review of an unresolved problem.

Open chat from the order so its order number appears, then choose Add photo. JPEG, PNG and WebP are supported up to 6 MB and 16 megapixels, one photo per message, with 20 photos per account per day and 100 per order. Photos are converted to JPEG, resized when necessary, stripped of embedded metadata and stored privately. Order photos are visible to both participants and authorized Disputes Center reviewers. Unrelated private messages are not included in an order case. Sensitive receipts can use the order evidence page and its support-only option. Sending a photo alone does not file a purchased FishBSE DOA claim or extend a deadline.

An approved health report documents the livestock before shipment and gives covered buyers a clearer record of what they purchased. Eligible buyers get the choice of coverage under written, order-specific terms.

The buyer pays the optional fee at checkout. FishBSE retains that fee and funds approved covered claims within the purchased limit; the covered benefit does not reduce the vendor’s sale proceeds. This does not remove the vendor’s fulfillment duties or protect them from ordinary refunds, disputes or other adjustments.

Describe the actual livestock, appearance, activity, feeding or polyp extension where relevant, visible damage, recent treatment and known concerns. Give the observation and photograph date in UTC. Include an overall view and clear close-ups.

Upload 2–6 distinct JPEG, PNG or WebP photos: up to 5 MB each, 20 MB total and 12 megapixels per photo. Video is not supported for the report. Reports are available to the vendor, authorized reviewers and buyers whose purchased policy references them. Keep personal information out of the images and report.

A prepared label, uploaded receipt or seller-reported handoff does not activate the policy. Check the exact deadline on your order. File the claim within the window even if supporting uploads are still being prepared. A timely claim remains under review after the window expires; filing does not guarantee approval.

Open the affected order in Orders and use its covered DOA claim option before the displayed deadline. Describe the loss, arrival and unboxing, affected livestock, and claimed incident time. Provide clear photographs and relevant receipts for review; video is unsupported. The current flow covers one purchased livestock item.

File promptly rather than waiting for uploads to finish. The order receipt is retained. FishBSE reviews eligibility, evidence, prior refunds and the remaining benefit. Any approved payment is limited to the eligible, unreimbursed loss and the purchased aggregate cap.

Approved covered DOA benefits are funded by FishBSE. The policy fee is retained on a DOA refund. Prior reimbursements count when determining the remaining eligible loss; there is no duplicate reimbursement for the same loss. Partial-loss shipping, tax and replacement remedies require manual review.

Ordinary order refunds and the marketplace dispute process are separate. Use the appropriate issue option on the order; opening an ordinary dispute does not file a covered DOA claim or extend its deadline. Refund submission is not the same as money arriving at the buyer’s bank. Review the recorded outcome and payment status in Orders.

Material listing changes can invalidate the matching health report or classification. A replacement report pauses new coverage offers until it is approved and you enable coverage again with renewed consent. Read the administrator’s feedback on the application page.

Earlier purchases keep their policy snapshot and referenced health report. Disabling a future offer does not cancel coverage already purchased.

1. Complete payment. The buyer or auction winner pays through Stripe. The confirmed payment time starts the pickup deadlines.
2. The vendor schedules pickup within 72 hours. For both ordinary paid pickup and pickup auctions, the vendor opens the paid order and confirms the private location, instructions, calendar date, start time, end time and time zone. Auction details saved before payment are a draft; the vendor still confirms the paid order's schedule.
3. Collect within seven days of payment. The scheduled pickup window must end within that period. The buyer receives a notification and can review the private schedule in Orders. Message the vendor if the offered time does not work, and check the current arrangement before travelling.
4. Check in on arrival. The buyer taps I’m at the pickup location to notify the vendor and record the arrival time.
5. Confirm the handoff. After receiving the item, the buyer confirms receipt and shows the single-use QR code. The vendor opens Dashboard → QR Verify, scans it, reviews the item and confirms handing it over.
6. Keep the order record. The completed pickup page shows the item, order number, pickup location, and collection date and time.

Pickup auctions and Pay now, pick up later use online payment. Ordinary Local pickup listings can offer direct payment instead. Review the listing’s fulfillment and payment terms before committing.

After payment, sign in as the vendor and open the paid pickup order in Orders. Within 72 hours of confirmed payment, save the exact address or meeting point, pickup instructions, calendar date, start and end times, and the location's time zone. The entire pickup window must fall within seven days of payment. Saving the schedule notifies the buyer.

For pickup auctions, pre-payment private details can help prepare the arrangement, but the vendor must still confirm the schedule on the paid order. The meeting point must remain within the public pickup area advertised to bidders.

Changing the location, instructions or schedule invalidates an unused pickup code and requires a fresh check-in for the new arrangement. Changes do not restart the original deadlines. Tell the buyer about changes before they travel.

The vendor has 72 hours from confirmed payment to provide the private pickup location and a dated time window. This applies to Pay now, pick up later purchases and paid pickup auctions. The pickup window must end no later than seven days after that same payment; it is not seven additional days after scheduling.

Use the order's calendar, start and end times, and time zone. Both people should review that schedule before travelling. Reopening the order, retrying a payment notification or editing the schedule does not restart either deadline.

Older orders may have no recorded scheduling deadline or structured time window. The order identifies missing historical information rather than inventing a deadline; contact the other party or support to arrange those orders.

FishBSE notifies the buyer and vendor when a pickup deadline is missed. Open the pickup order to contact the other person or report an order issue and request a refund review. Include the agreed schedule, messages and any arrival or handoff evidence.

A missed deadline does not automatically refund the payment, complete pickup or decide who was at fault. The existing dispute process records a proposed refund or replacement, participant agreement or an administrator's decision, and the confirmed payment outcome. Opening a case does not automatically freeze seller payouts. Either party can request Disputes Center review; ordinary cases without a completed agreement escalate after 24 hours.

Pickup auction winners pay through Stripe. FishBSE attempts the authorized winner payment. If more action is needed, follow the payment instructions on the auction page within its displayed payment window. Pickup auctions do not add a shipping charge.

Check the auction and Orders for the payment result before trying again. If a payment is processing or the order is being finalized, follow the displayed guidance and contact support if it remains unresolved. Use the order’s recorded payment status when arranging collection; a payment screenshot alone is not the order record.

Ordinary Local pickup listings may offer payment arranged directly with the vendor. That separate listing option does not change an auction winner’s Stripe payment obligation.

The exact address and instructions are shared through the authenticated pickup order with its buyer and vendor after payment. Notifications link to that private page rather than displaying the address in the notification message. The public auction continues to show its advertised pickup area.

Keep the exact meeting address in the private pickup fields. Anything you include in a public description, photo, or comment may be visible to people browsing the listing.

Sign in as the buyer, open the paid pickup order from Orders, and tap I’m at the pickup location when you arrive. The vendor receives a FishBSE notification, and both participants can see the check-in time on the pickup page. The page checks for arrival updates automatically.

Check-in records the buyer’s arrival report; it does not use GPS or confirm receipt of the item. Repeated taps for the same pickup instructions do not send duplicate arrival notices. If the vendor changes the instructions, refresh the page, review the current location and check in again when you are there.

If an alert has not appeared, open the order or Notifications directly and message the other participant. Allow time for notification delivery and confirm the agreed meeting time before travelling.

The QR code becomes available at the handoff. Once you are with the vendor and have received the item, open the pickup order, select the receipt confirmation checkbox and choose Confirm receipt & get pickup QR code.

Show the QR code to the vendor. An 8-digit code is displayed as a backup. Both represent the same single-use confirmation and expire after 15 minutes.

Keep the page open. The code is shown once. Share it only with the vendor at the actual handoff, after inspecting and receiving the item. Payment and arrival check-in do not generate a receipt confirmation.

1. Sign in as the order’s vendor and open Dashboard → QR Verify.
2. Choose Scan buyer’s QR code, allow camera access, and point the camera at the code on the buyer’s pickup page.
3. FishBSE opens the matching order. Review its item, order number and pickup details.
4. Confirm that you are with the buyer and have handed over the item, then choose Confirm handoff & complete pickup.

Scanning opens the order for review. Your final confirmation completes collection. Only that order’s vendor can complete this step, and the buyer’s code must still be valid.

Check that your browser has permission to use the camera, improve the lighting, and keep the full QR code in view. The camera starts when you select the scan button. You can stop it using Stop camera.

QR Verify also offers Scan a QR image for a PNG, JPEG or WebP image smaller than 10 MB. Or expand Enter a pickup code manually and enter the buyer’s order number and 8-digit code. If you already have the matching pickup order open, enter the 8-digit code there.

A different-order warning means you should open the matching order and verify its item. A successful scan or manual entry still requires the vendor’s final handoff confirmation.

Each QR and its 8-digit backup can be used once and expire after 15 minutes. If you close the page or lose the code, reopen the pickup order and follow its instructions for a replacement. While a code is still active, the page can require you to wait five minutes from issuance before replacing it.

Five incorrect entries lock the current code. Stop guessing and ask the buyer to review their pickup page. An expired, replaced, already used or locked code cannot complete a new handoff. Updating pickup instructions also expires an unused code.

Only confirm receipt after receiving the item. If you already handed over the item but cannot finish confirmation, keep the order number and relevant messages and contact support.

The buyer confirms receiving the item to generate the code. The vendor verifies that code and confirms handing over the matching item. Those two actions connect both participants to the same handoff.

Arrival check-in records that the buyer says they are there. The final handoff confirmation records collection. An open order issue remains available after confirmation; seller bank payout timing follows the applicable Stripe payout process.

The order must have eligible payment status and a vendor-confirmed pickup location and calendar time window. If the schedule is missing, message the vendor and check the deadline shown on the order. Report an order issue if the vendor misses that deadline. If payment is incomplete, return to the auction or order and follow its payment instructions.

A newly paid order may briefly show that its verified payment time is still syncing. Scheduling becomes available when that time is confirmed. The 72-hour and seven-day deadlines use the original successful payment time; syncing does not restart them. Refresh the order, and contact support if the message persists.

A pending or completed refund, a payment review, an already collected order, or a role mismatch can prevent pickup actions. If instructions change while your page is open, refresh and review the new details before continuing.

Use the same account associated with the order. For an unresolved payment or pickup message, contact support with the order number and the message shown.

Open the matching pickup order from Orders. After both handoff confirmations, the receipt shows the collected item, order number, pickup location and instructions, and the collection date and time.

Times are stored in UTC. Where your browser supports local formatting, the page displays them in your device’s time zone. Check the time zone when comparing records. Arrival check-in is recorded separately from collection.

Review the calendar date, pickup window and time zone saved by the vendor before travelling. Payment starts the 72-hour scheduling and seven-day pickup deadlines; it does not itself confirm a meeting time. Follow the vendor’s instructions about parking, access and suitable transport supplies for the item.

If someone is late or the address is unclear, contact the other participant. Keep the messages showing your arrangements. Ask the vendor to update the private order schedule if the meeting details change, then refresh your pickup page. Any new window must still fit inside the original seven-day period. If that is no longer possible, use the order issue or support option.

Inspect the item at handoff and confirm receipt only after you have received it. For missing, incorrect or damaged items, open the order’s Report or review an order issue link or contact support. Include the order number, relevant messages and photos. A check-in or missed meetup does not automatically issue a refund.

Review any vendor guarantee recorded with your purchase. Pickup purchases and auctions are not eligible for FishBSE DOA coverage; read about vendor guarantees and FishBSE coverage.

Open Dashboard, which starts on your Active listings. Choose an eligible listing and select Boost to front. A successful boost moves it to the front of the marketplace ordering used for boosted listings. Boosting does not guarantee views or a sale, change the listing price or approve DOA coverage.

The normal free boost is account-wide. After using it, your account has a 24-hour cooldown before the next normal free boost can be used on any eligible listing. The dashboard shows the remaining time.

Administrator-assigned bonus boosts are separate and can be used during that cooldown when available. The button shows which kind is available. Archived and inactive listings cannot be boosted.

FishBSE checks the proposed transaction against its current sale-fee and processing-cost policy, including the item price, buyer-paid shipping, estimated processing costs and seller proceeds. Some combinations do not qualify for online checkout. Missing payment configuration, seller account readiness or fee acceptance can also require attention.

Contact support before changing your price solely to clear the message. A configuration or account issue may need review rather than a price change. Read the sale breakdown and accept the displayed terms when eligible. Where appropriate, ordinary Local pickup with a non-Stripe payment method is an alternative. Shipping and Pay now, pick up later require Stripe.

Ask FishBSE to review payment eligibility

1. Take clear photos and, when useful, video of the package, shipping label, packaging, item, livestock, or damage.
2. Save tracking information and delivery scans.
3. Contact the seller through FishBSE and explain exactly what happened.
4. If the seller has a stated DOA, return, or refund policy, follow its evidence and time requirements.
5. If the issue cannot be resolved, use FishBSE's reporting/contact tools and preserve all transaction evidence.

Shipping and Pay now, pick up later use supported Stripe checkout when the seller is eligible. Shipping checkout currently accepts US shipping addresses. Ordinary Local pickup uses the non-Stripe payment methods offered in the listing; arrange payment and handoff with the seller. Pickup auctions always use Stripe winner payment, followed by private pickup instructions and the check-in and QR handoff flow.

For a Stripe purchase, review the item, fulfillment method, shipping amount, address and total before continuing. Do not send card details or authentication codes to the seller in chat. Outside payments do not use FishBSE’s Stripe refund workflow.

No. Open Orders and check the payment status first. Closing a browser tab, returning from Stripe, or seeing an error does not by itself prove that payment succeeded or failed. A payment can still be synchronizing.

If you previously reached Stripe, check your receipt and order before retrying. Contact support with the order or listing number and approximate payment time if they disagree. Sellers should fulfill only after confirmed payment, not from a buyer’s screenshot alone.

Payment, funds arriving in a connected Stripe balance, and a payout reaching a bank are different events. FishBSE routes the seller’s proceeds through Stripe when payment is captured; delivery confirmation is not an escrow release.

Your Stripe account’s payout schedule and funds availability determine when a bank payout can occur. Verification, bank processing, weekends and holidays can affect arrival. FishBSE does not promise a 24-hour bank payout. Check your connected Stripe account for the actual payout date.

Sellers are responsible for accurate descriptions and truthful photos, complying with applicable rules, clear sale and shipping terms, appropriate packaging, timely fulfillment, tracking where applicable, and responding to transaction issues. For a paid auction shipping order, the current policy gives the seller 72 hours to mark the order shipped. Follow the deadline shown on the order. State any seller DOA or return policy clearly before the buyer pays.

The current standard listing policy is 5.99% of the item price and buyer-paid shipping combined up to $100, then 9.99% on only the portion above $100. There is no upfront publishing charge under this sale-fee policy. Optional paid features have their own terms.

For a $150 fee base, the calculation is 5.99% of $100 plus 9.99% of $50, rounded in cents. It is not 9.99% of the entire $150. Review the policy displayed on your listing or auction: an existing accepted policy may differ, and updated terms may require acceptance before checkout.

This is not profit: the item’s cost, packaging, taxes, refunds and other adjustments are not included. The example explains proceeds; it does not guarantee that this price passes the current online payment eligibility rules.

The estimate updates when you change the item price, shipping charge or your expected postage cost. For unit listings it describes one item purchase, not all available stock; for bulk listings it describes the whole lot.

The editable postage estimate is a planning tool. It does not change the buyer’s charge, buy a label, deduct postage automatically, or guarantee your final carrier price. Enter your expected label cost even when you offer free shipping.

Your proceeds and FishBSE’s payment costs are different calculations. A positive seller estimate does not by itself establish online payment eligibility. FishBSE currently checks payment-account readiness, accepted fee terms and its configured payment-cost rules at publishing and again at checkout.

A pricing-rule message is not proof that you owe an extra Stripe fee. Contact support to review the rule before changing your price. You may choose ordinary local pickup with an offered non-Stripe payment method instead. Moving the same amount between item price and shipping does not change the fee when both are included in the fee base.

No. Card processing relates to a buyer’s payment. A monthly active-account charge, when applicable, relates to a seller account for a month. A payout charge relates to money sent to a bank or debit card. One bank payout can include proceeds from several sales.

As of September 21, 2026, Stripe’s published US “you handle pricing” Connect plan lists $2 per monthly active account and 0.25% + $0.25 per payout. Different plans or negotiated pricing may differ. These are not three extra charges automatically deducted from every seller’s sale; the FishBSE agreement and order breakdown determine the seller-facing fee. See Stripe Connect pricing.

An eligible unsold auction automatically gets another full bidding period. This happens when a live auction reaches its end with no qualifying winner, such as no bids or a reserve that has not been met. FishBSE uses the original auction duration, beginning when the close is processed. For example, an auction originally set for three days gets another three days.

It remains the same auction. Its existing bids, bid history, current bid, starting bid, reserve, pickup or shipping arrangements, and seller terms stay in place. A renewal does not cancel accepted bids or reduce the next required bid. The anti-sniping extension count resets for the new bidding period. The vendor and previous participating bidders receive a FishBSE notification linking to the auction and its new end time.

A qualifying winner proceeds to payment. An auction waiting for winner payment, a failed winner payment, a paid or canceled auction, or a historical auction already closed without a sale is not automatically reopened. An unavailable listing or seller account is not reopened by timer renewal.

The countdown may briefly show Finalizing… while FishBSE processes the close. Follow the new end time recorded on the auction. The auction grid checks expired timers automatically while the page is visible and keeps any search text you are typing. If it asks you to refresh, open the auction or refresh the results for the latest status.

A winning payment can require additional action because of a declined card, expired payment method or bank authentication request. Check the auction and My Auctions for the required next step and payment deadline. A temporary payment error alone is not a conduct warning. If payment appears to have succeeded but the order has not updated, contact support before trying again.

The current auction payment window is 24 hours. If additional payment action is requested, follow the instructions on the auction or My Auctions page before the deadline. Failure to complete payment can result in a non-payment warning. A temporary payment error alone does not establish that a warning is due. If your receipt and order disagree, contact support before paying again.

For a paid auction order with shipping, the current seller ship-by deadline is 72 hours after the paid order is created. Failure to fulfill an eligible order by its deadline can result in a fulfillment warning. Setting an order to Working does not extend that deadline. Use the shipping workflow to record actual shipment and tracking; contact support if you cannot fulfill the order.

The same conduct event should not produce duplicate warnings. If a warning appears more than once for the same incident, contact support with the auction or order number. Separate incidents on an order may still receive separate review.

For an eligible unshipped paid order, use the available cancellation or refund option on the order. Explain the issue and preserve relevant messages, photos and tracking. The current self-service flow requests a full eligible refund; partial adjustments and other cases need support review. Check the recorded outcome. A submitted refund is not the same as money arriving at the buyer’s bank.

A full eligible purchase refund includes the refundable shipping amount collected in that payment. Post-shipment adjustments, partial resolutions and unusual cases need support review. A purchase refund is separate from a refund for a shipping label bought from a carrier.

A submitted refund can be pending before it succeeds or fails. Check the order’s refund status rather than treating a button click as confirmation. Refunds go back to the original payment method; bank posting is separate from FishBSE’s status.

Stripe says card credits commonly appear about 5–10 business days after a refund is initiated, depending on the bank. Some refunds appear as a reversal of the original charge. If the expected credit is missing, contact support with the order number and ask about a refund reference. See Stripe’s refund guidance.

Pending means the outcome is not final; do not submit duplicate refund requests. Succeeded means the payment-side refund completed, though bank posting can take longer. Failed needs review; use the available order action or contact support rather than assuming the buyer received money.

While a refund is pending or succeeded, FishBSE blocks normal fulfillment advancement. A full eligible purchase refund includes the refundable shipping collected in that payment. It is separate from a refund for a label bought from a carrier.

A supported refund must account for the buyer’s refund and the seller’s previously transferred proceeds. FishBSE’s current configured refund flow requests the related transfer reversal and return of the application fee; the order and provider results determine what actually completed.

A buyer refund does not mean every payment-processing expense is returned to FishBSE. Refunds, bank disputes and postage can have separate costs or adjustments. Do not promise a partial amount or deduct a fee informally: review the actual refund summary or contact support. See Stripe’s refund guidance.

Open the order in Orders and use its dispute controls when available. Explain the issue and preserve messages, listing terms, photos, tracking and delivery evidence. The current workflow offers a refund or replacement proposal.

1. Either party can propose terms during the negotiation window.
2. The buyer accepts the current proposal.
3. The seller gives final confirmation of those exact terms.

The window is 24 hours from opening the case. Changing a proposal clears earlier acceptance; it does not restart the clock. If agreement is not completed in time, the case requires administrator review. That deadline is not a promise of a bank refund within 24 hours.

The supported replacement workflow creates a linked fulfillment order without a new buyer charge. Follow the agreed replacement terms and the instructions on that order. Report a replacement problem through the dispute on the original order rather than starting an unrelated payment.

A confirmed proposal can still require fulfillment or refund processing. Pending resolution is not proof that a replacement shipped or that money reached the buyer. Contact support if it remains pending or the remedy cannot be completed.

No. A FishBSE case records communication and a possible marketplace resolution. A bank dispute challenges the card payment through the cardholder’s issuer; it follows a separate evidence and decision process. A FishBSE agreement does not automatically withdraw a bank dispute.

Tell FishBSE if a bank case is already open, keep notices and deadlines, and coordinate any proposed refund with support to avoid conflicting actions. The card issuer decides the bank dispute outcome. Read Stripe’s dispute overview.

After the order shows confirmed payment, buy a suitable label from your preferred carrier or label provider. Open the order in Orders, upload the label, and enter the carrier and tracking number. The current manual-label workflow requires a label within 24 hours of payment; use the exact deadline shown on the order.

A label upload is not proof of dispatch. Select the carrier-handoff confirmation only after you actually hand the parcel to the carrier. The order then becomes Shipped. Keep packing photos and the carrier’s acceptance receipt.

Auction ship-by deadlines are separate from label-upload deadlines. Meet both where shown. For livestock, plan for weather, carrier rules, packing and suitable transit times.

With included shipping, the seller includes the cost in the item price and sets the buyer’s shipping charge to zero. With separate shipping, checkout adds the displayed shipping charge to the item price. Either way the buyer makes one payment.

Under a fee policy that includes shipping, a $35 item with free shipping has the same fee base as a $10 item plus $25 shipping. The seller still buys postage. Buyer-paid shipping is not a promise that the actual label will cost that amount; the seller bears the difference.

Orders in the current manual shipping workflow have a label deadline of 24 hours after confirmed payment. Check the order for its exact due time. Sellers can request an extension with a reason; the buyer must approve it. Approved extensions may total no more than three additional days.

A pending or rejected request does not grant extra time. Uploading a label meets the label step, not the actual dispatch step. Auction ship-by deadlines, when present, are separate; follow the deadlines shown on the order or ask support if they conflict.

Buy a suitable shipping label through your preferred carrier or label provider. In FishBSE, open the paid order’s label/shipping controls, upload the label, and provide carrier and tracking details. Supported label files are PDF, JPG, PNG or WebP up to 8 MB.

The label is shared privately through the order with authorized participants. Do not publish addresses or labels in listing photos or public comments. FishBSE’s current manual-label page does not automatically buy postage or subtract the label’s actual cost from checkout proceeds.

No. Creating or uploading a label says the label is ready. Confirm carrier handoff only once the parcel has actually been given to the carrier. That action marks the order Shipped and closes the automatic pre-shipment refund option.

Keep the carrier acceptance receipt and follow tracking scans. A tracking number or a “label created” scan alone is not proof of carrier possession or delivery. If a number is wrong, correct it through the order workflow where permitted and notify the buyer.

FishBSE can show overdue status and send reminders. A missed label deadline does not itself prove a refund succeeded. Use the order’s eligible cancellation, extension or dispute controls, or contact support.

If you bought the label outside FishBSE, request a void or postage refund from that carrier or label provider under its rules. Refunding a FishBSE purchase does not automatically cancel an external label, and a carrier label refund does not refund the buyer’s purchase.

Confirm receipt only after you have the item. Buyer confirmation and seller reports are separate evidence; neither automatically closes an open issue or guarantees condition. Payment is not held for release by a delivery-confirmation button.

For supported paid pickup orders, check in on arrival. After receiving the item, the buyer confirms receipt to generate a single-use QR code and an 8-digit backup, valid for 15 minutes. The vendor uses Dashboard → QR Verify to scan the code, review the matching item and explicitly confirm the handoff. Report missing, damaged or incorrect items through the order rather than confirming receipt prematurely.

Hours follow West Coast time, including daylight-saving changes. You can submit the contact form anytime. For a purchase or sale issue, select the related order so support has the right details.

Follow the claim, dispute and fulfillment deadlines shown on your order. Support hours and holiday closures do not pause those deadlines.

Do not pay again simply because the order has not updated. Refresh the order or auction after a short wait and check your receipt. If the payment and order still disagree, contact support with the order or auction number and the payment reference shown on your receipt. Do not send card numbers or authentication codes.

If you believe you were charged twice for the same auction, do not make another payment. Check the order and receipts, then contact support with the auction or order number and the apparent duplicate charges. An authorized payment correction does not itself count as an auction conduct warning. Check the recorded refund status rather than assuming a correction has completed.

Do not submit another refund while the first is pending. The payment provider may still be confirming the outcome. Check the order for its recorded refund status and contact support if it remains unclear. Pending does not mean that the buyer has received the money or that the request failed.

Check the ship-by deadline on the order and contact the seller for an update. If that deadline has passed and the item remains unshipped, use the issue or refund options available on the order. Contact support if an appropriate option is unavailable. Keep your messages and payment records.

A delivery status does not settle a disagreement about receipt. Check the carrier’s tracking record and delivery location, preserve scans and messages, and report the problem from the order’s dispute or support controls. Buyer receipt confirmation and seller delivery reports are recorded separately.

Do not confirm receipt of an item you have not received. A receipt confirmation does not automatically close an existing issue. Once an order is shipped or delivered, use the dispute/support route rather than the pre-shipment cancellation form.

Document the packaging, label and item immediately, keep the seller’s listing and DOA terms, and contact the seller. Open the order’s dispute workflow in Orders when available; contact support if it is unavailable. The automatic pre-shipment cancellation form is not the route for a shipped or delivered order.

A FishBSE dispute can document a refund or replacement proposal. An allegation alone does not prove fault or guarantee a refund. Do not dispose of evidence or return livestock or goods without agreed instructions.

For Pay now, pick up later purchases and paid pickup auctions, review the private calendar window and contact the other party. The vendor has 72 hours after confirmed payment to provide the plan, and the pickup window must end within seven days of the same payment. Keep messages, schedule changes and arrival evidence; use the order issue link to request review or a refund if the arrangement fails. Follow the order's guidance if an older purchase has no recorded deadline.

A missed pickup deadline or reported no-show does not automatically refund the payment or assign a warning. Responsibility is determined through the supported cancellation classification or dispute review. Ordinary Local pickup listings with direct payment remain arrangements between the participants.

FishBSE can assist with its supported marketplace payment and order workflows. Payments made through an outside service follow that provider’s rules; FishBSE cannot directly reverse them. Preserve your messages and payment records, and use the provider’s dispute or support process when appropriate.

• Listings: Publish fish, coral, invertebrates, plants, and aquarium equipment with descriptive information, location, price, media, and fulfillment options.
• Search/filtering: Helps members narrow marketplace inventory by relevant listing information such as region, species/category, or gear.
• Favorites: Lets a signed-in member save listings they want to return to later.
• Messaging: Gives buyers and sellers a place to ask questions, coordinate pickup/shipping, and keep transaction-related communication together.
• Online status: Helps members understand whether another FishBSE user is currently active when the feature is available.
• Photos/video: Listings can include multiple images and a supported short video presentation so buyers can better evaluate what is being offered.
• Local fulfillment: Agree on a meeting time. Ordinary local pickup follows the listing's direct payment terms; paid pickup orders use check-in and QR handoff confirmation.
• Supported online checkout: Uses Stripe for card-payment processing and connects the payment to FishBSE's marketplace order workflow.
• Stripe Connect: Provides the connected seller-account infrastructure needed for supported marketplace payouts.
• Order records: Keep supported online transactions tied to an identifiable marketplace order rather than relying only on chat.
• Shipping/tracking: Lets supported fulfillment information be associated with the order so participants can follow shipment progress.
• Private shipping documents: Allows transaction-related shipping proof or label/receipt information to be shared more privately than posting it publicly.
• Auctions: Provide timed bidding, bidder eligibility/payment setup, server-validated bids, anti-sniping extensions, winner determination, and a Stripe-backed winner-payment flow.
• Notifications: Surface important marketplace, order, and auction activity so members know when attention may be needed.
• Block/report tools: Let members limit unwanted contact and alert FishBSE to suspicious, prohibited, or problematic activity.

• Edit: From your dashboard, open the listing and choose Edit.
• Archive: Hides the listing without losing data. You can unarchive later.
• Delete: Permanently removes the listing, its images, any uploaded video/poster, and the generated listing page.

Eligible VIP members can add or replace a supported listing video. Current eligibility is checked again when saving. Existing videos remain when a non-VIP owner saves other permitted changes. Use the uploader instructions for supported formats and limits.

Deleting a listing removes its public listing record when deletion is permitted. Media may be retained for order snapshots, other references and controlled cleanup; deletion does not promise immediate erasure of every physical file or previously downloaded copy.

Repeated unsuccessful verification attempts can temporarily lock MFA verification. Follow the message on the sign-in page and wait before trying again. Check that you are using the correct authenticator and a current code, or use an unused recovery code. If you cannot regain access, use the MFA Reset support option.

Finish the requested MFA verification before using protected account features. If a feature remains unavailable after successful verification, refresh the page or contact support. Do not share your password, authenticator codes or recovery codes.

Notifications are private account information. Sign in and complete any required MFA verification to view them. If access remains unavailable, follow the account guidance or contact support.