1. Introduction

Welcome to TCG Marketplace South Africa. These Terms & Conditions govern your use of our platform and services. By accessing and using our marketplace, you agree to comply with these terms. If you do not agree, please refrain from using our services.

2. Seller Responsibilities

Sellers are responsible for:

• Accurately describing items being sold
• Providing clear and authentic images
• Maintaining ethical pricing standards
• Shipping items in the condition described
• Responding to buyer inquiries within 3 days

3. Buyer Responsibilities

Buyers are responsible for:

• Carefully reviewing item descriptions and images
• Communicating through the platform
• Reporting issues within 3 days of delivery
• Treating items with respect during transactions

4. Payment & Buyer Protection Fee

TCG Marketplace South Africa charges a Buyer Protection Fee per transaction. This fee is applied to the buyer’s total amount and is not deducted from the seller’s earnings. The fee varies by payment method to reflect the processing cost of each provider:

• EFT / Bank Transfer: 3.9% + R2.00 per transaction
• Card (Stripe): 5% + R2.00 per transaction
• PayPal: 6% + R2.00 per transaction

All payments are processed securely through our integrated payment system. In addition, a R5.00 withdrawal fee is automatically deducted from the seller’s escrow balance each time a withdrawal is made. This amount is not retained by the marketplace and is used to partially cover the bank transfer costs between TCG Marketplace South Africa and the seller.

5. Dispute Resolution

In case of a dispute, both parties must first attempt to resolve the issue through our dedicated system by providing relevant evidence and details. If the outcome is not satisfactory for either the Seller or the Buyer, they have the right to contact our support team at support@tcg-marketplace.co.za

6. Prohibited Activities

• Selling counterfeit or stolen items
• Harassment or abusive behavior
• Fraudulent transactions
• Spam or inappropriate content
• Circumventing platform fees

7. Listings and Seller Content

Sellers are solely responsible for ensuring that all products, information, images, descriptions, prices, and other content they publish on the Platform are accurate, lawful, and not misleading.

By creating a listing, the seller confirms that:

• They have the legal right to sell the item being listed;
• The item is accurately described, including its condition, language, edition, authenticity, and any other relevant characteristics;
• The images and descriptions used in the listing accurately represent the item offered for sale;
• They do not knowingly list counterfeit, stolen, fraudulent, or otherwise prohibited goods;
• They do not use another person's or business's name, logo, trademark, photographs, descriptions, or other intellectual property without appropriate authorisation;
• Their listing does not falsely suggest that they are affiliated with, authorised by, or acting on behalf of another business, brand, organisation, or individual.

Sellers must not create listings or seller profiles that may reasonably mislead buyers into believing that they are purchasing from, or dealing with, another established business or brand.

TCG Marketplace SA may remove, restrict, or suspend any listing that we reasonably believe violates these requirements or may mislead users, infringe third-party rights, or expose the Platform or its users to fraud or other risks.

Where appropriate, TCG Marketplace SA may request additional information or documentation from the seller to verify the legitimacy, ownership, authenticity, or right to sell an item or to use specific business names, trademarks, images, or other content.

Sellers remain solely responsible for the legality and accuracy of their listings and for ensuring that their use of any third-party intellectual property is properly authorised.

8. Seller Identification, Stamps and Off-Platform Contact Information

Sellers may be required or encouraged to provide photographs of their items showing a handwritten date stamp or other proof of possession in order to demonstrate that the listed items are physically in their possession and to help maintain the authenticity and safety of the Marketplace.

However, any such photograph, stamp, note, watermark or other visual element must not contain information intended to identify or contact the Seller outside the Marketplace.

In particular, Sellers must not include in listing photographs, stamps, notes, packaging or other visual content:

• their personal name or business name when it is used to facilitate direct contact or transactions outside the Marketplace;
• shop names, logos or other commercial branding intended to redirect Buyers elsewhere;
• telephone or WhatsApp numbers;
• email addresses;
• Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or other social media usernames or handles;
• website addresses, URLs or QR codes;
• links or references to external marketplaces or sales platforms;
• any other contact information or identifying information that could reasonably allow a Buyer to bypass the Marketplace and contact the Seller directly for the purpose of completing a transaction outside the Marketplace.

A Seller may use a simple handwritten stamp containing, for example, the date of the photograph or listing, provided that the stamp does not contain prohibited contact or promotional information.

The purpose of this requirement is not to prevent Sellers from demonstrating possession or authenticity of their items. It is to ensure that the Marketplace remains the place where Buyers and Sellers connect and complete transactions, while protecting Buyers, Sellers and the Marketplace from fraud, scams and off-platform transactions.

The Marketplace reserves the right to require a Seller to replace or remove any photograph or content that contains prohibited information before the listing is approved or remains publicly available.

Repeated or intentional attempts to use listing photographs, stamps, descriptions or other Marketplace content to redirect Buyers away from the Marketplace may result in listing removal, restriction of selling privileges, suspension or termination of the Seller's account, in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

For Professional Sellers, displaying a business name, shop name or logo in listing photographs is therefore not permitted where it facilitates or encourages Buyers to contact the Seller directly or complete a transaction outside the Marketplace.

9. Impersonation and Misrepresentation

Users may not impersonate, falsely represent, or otherwise mislead others regarding their identity, business, affiliation, ownership, authorisation, or relationship with another person, company, store, brand, organisation, or trademark owner.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Using another business's registered or trading name without authorisation;
• Using another business's logo, branding, trademarks, or other identifying material without permission;
• Representing oneself as an employee, owner, representative, partner, or authorised seller of another business;
• Creating an account or seller profile designed to appear affiliated with another business;
• Using a business name, username, store name, or other identifier in a manner that may reasonably cause buyers to believe that the account is operated by or affiliated with another business.

Where TCG Marketplace SA receives a credible report of suspected impersonation or misrepresentation, we may temporarily suspend the relevant account, remove or restrict listings, and conduct an investigation.

Where appropriate, we may request supporting documentation from the parties involved, including proof of ownership, registration, authorisation, or other evidence establishing the right to use the relevant name, brand, or identity.

10. Usernames and Profile Identifiers

Users must not use usernames, display names, seller names, profile names or other identifiers that contain or promote hateful, discriminatory, racist, homophobic, transphobic, extremist, threatening, sexually explicit, exploitative, violent, criminal or otherwise seriously offensive content.

TCG Marketplace SA reserves the right to reject, remove or require the modification of any username or profile identifier that we reasonably consider inappropriate, offensive, misleading, provocative or inconsistent with the safety and community standards of the Platform.

Users may be required to change their username before continuing to use certain Platform features. Repeated refusal to comply, or repeated attempts to use prohibited usernames, may result in restriction, suspension or termination of the account.

11. Suspension and Removal

TCG Marketplace SA reserves the right to temporarily suspend, restrict, remove, or permanently terminate an account, listing, transaction, or other Platform activity where we reasonably suspect:

• Fraud or attempted fraud;
• Impersonation or identity misrepresentation;
• Unauthorised use of a business name, trademark, logo, or other intellectual property;
• Misleading or deceptive conduct;
• Submission of false, incomplete, or misleading information;
• Sale of counterfeit, stolen, prohibited, or unauthorised goods;
• Attempts to circumvent Platform security, verification, payment, or transaction procedures;
• Conduct that may put other users or the Platform at risk; or
• A breach of these Terms and Conditions or applicable law.

TCG Marketplace SA may take such action immediately where reasonably necessary to protect users, sellers, buyers, the Platform, or third parties.

Where appropriate, TCG Marketplace SA may request additional information or documentation before restoring access to an account.

12. Reporting and Investigations

Users and third parties may report suspected fraud, impersonation, counterfeit goods, intellectual property infringement, misleading listings, or other violations of these Terms and Conditions through the reporting mechanisms provided by TCG Marketplace SA.

TCG Marketplace SA will review reports and may take appropriate action based on the information and evidence available to us.

Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may include reviewing:

• Seller verification information;
• Listing information and images;
• Transaction records;
• Payment records;
• Shipping and tracking information;
• Communications conducted through the Platform;
• Previous reports or account activity; and
• Information or documentation provided by the reporting party or the seller.

TCG Marketplace SA does not guarantee a specific outcome or investigation timeframe, but aims to review legitimate reports as promptly as reasonably possible.

13. Cooperation with Authorities and Legal Requests

Where required or permitted by applicable law, TCG Marketplace SA may cooperate with law enforcement agencies, courts, regulators, or other competent authorities in relation to suspected fraud, impersonation, theft, counterfeit goods, intellectual property infringement, or other unlawful activity.

Where legally permitted and appropriate, TCG Marketplace SA may provide relevant account, transaction, communication, verification, or other information in response to a valid legal request or where disclosure is otherwise permitted by applicable law.

Information will not be disclosed to third parties solely at their request where such disclosure would be prohibited by applicable data protection or privacy laws.

14. Tax and Legal Compliance Notice

By selling items on TCG Marketplace South Africa and receiving payments through the platform, sellers acknowledge that they are solely responsible for complying with all applicable local laws and regulations, including tax obligations.

Any income generated through the sale of items on the marketplace may be subject to taxation under South African law. It is the seller’s responsibility to declare such income where required and to ensure full compliance with the regulations set by SARS or any other relevant governmental authority.

TCG Marketplace South Africa acts solely as an intermediary platform and cannot be held responsible for any tax, legal, or regulatory issues resulting from a seller’s failure to comply with applicable laws.

If you are unsure about your obligations, we strongly recommend seeking advice from a qualified tax professional.

15. Account Termination

TCGMarket SA reserves the right to terminate accounts that violate these terms or engage in fraudulent activities. Termination may be permanent and result in forfeiture of pending funds.

16. Liability Disclaimer

TCGMarket SA provides the marketplace platform "as is". While our Buyer Protection system and escrow process are designed to protect both buyers and sellers, we act as a facilitator. Our liability in connection with any transaction is limited to the remedies available under our Buyer Protection Policy and the dispute resolution process described in these Terms.

17. Changes to Terms

We may update these terms at any time. Continued use of the platform indicates acceptance of changes. Users will be notified of significant changes via email.

18. Contact

For questions regarding these terms, contact us at support@tcg-marketplace.co.za