Terms of Service

Last updated: July 2026

1. The marketplace

KaratMarket is a venue connecting buyers and sellers of precious metals, coins, jewelry, watches, and gemstones. For peer-to-peer listings, the sale contract is between buyer and seller; KaratMarket is not a party to that contract. For items marked “Desk verified” (desk-handled inventory), KaratMarket is the seller of record.

2. Payments — limited payment collection agent

Each seller appoints KaratMarket as its limited payment collection agent for the purpose of accepting payment from buyers. Payment made by a buyer to KaratMarket constitutes payment made directly to the seller, and extinguishes the buyer's payment obligation to the seller, regardless of whether KaratMarket settles those funds to the seller, subject to marketplace review, fraud checks, and dispute holds. Payments use approved in-platform bank, wire, crypto, or processor rails only. Buyers must not pay sellers directly. Payouts to sellers are released only after payment is confirmed and the order clears the delivery/dispute process. KaratMarket is not an escrow company, bank, money transmitter, commodity exchange, broker-dealer, investment adviser, or storage depository unless expressly stated in writing. Protected release is a marketplace operating policy, not an escrow service.

3. AML, sanctions, and payment review

KaratMarket may require identity, business, beneficial-owner, tax, payment-account, source-of-funds, source-of-metal, and transaction-purpose information before allowing selling, buying, payout, consignment, high-value activity, crypto payment, or dealer status. We may delay, cancel, refuse, freeze, or report transactions when required by law or risk controls. Third-party payments, mismatched-name payments, sanctioned parties, prohibited jurisdictions, mixer/tumbler exposure, off-platform payment requests, and unverifiable source-of-goods claims may be rejected.

4. Protected release & disputes

Buyer payment must be secured before shipment. Sellers should not ship until the order is marked paid. Buyers can open a dispute for material not-as-described issues before confirming receipt and within the claim window shown on the order. Opening a dispute freezes payout until KaratMarket reviews and resolves the order. Refunds may require return shipment, inspection, and verification.

5. Not-as-described items & counterfeits

Items materially not as described are returned at the seller's expense and fully refunded. Selling counterfeit goods results in a full refund to the buyer, permanent account termination, and reporting to law enforcement where applicable. Chargebacks and refunds resulting from a seller's misrepresentation are passed through to that seller.

6. Seller obligations

Sellers may be required to complete identity or business verification before selling, ship within 3 business days of cleared payment using trackable shipping with insurance appropriate to the order value, describe items accurately, and photograph the actual item being sold. High-value orders may require signature confirmation and USPS Registered Mail or equivalent coverage. Seller-direct insurance remains the seller's responsibility unless stated otherwise.

7. Prohibited items

Stolen goods, counterfeit or replica items, items you don't have the right to sell, and anything illegal to sell in the buyer's or seller's jurisdiction. We cooperate with law enforcement, including applicable secondhand-dealer reporting.

8. Fees & taxes

Seller fees are published on the How It Works page and charged on the item price only. Payment processing is passed through at cost. Taxes are not included unless shown at checkout; buyers and sellers remain responsible for taxes, reporting, and compliance obligations that apply to them. Tax documents are issued where legally required.

9. Disputes between you and KaratMarket

Any dispute with KaratMarket will be resolved by binding individual arbitration in San Bernardino County, California, under AAA consumer rules, and you waive participation in class actions. California law governs.