SafeTrade Code · v1

Trade Safety Code

How peer-to-peer trades work on Autographs 101 — what we do, what we don't, and how to protect yourself before something goes wrong.

A101 is not a party to your trade

We connect collectors and we record what was agreed — but the trade itself is between you and the other collector. We don't hold inventory, take payment, ship, insure, or guarantee authenticity. If something goes wrong, we mediate. We do not refund, replace, or compensate.

What A101 does

• Connects collectors and surfaces match-fit collectors
• Records the agreed terms, items, and a PDF agreement
• Stores chain-of-custody and shipment tracking
• Offers 101 Pre-Screen™ as an authentication opinion (not a guarantee)
• Mediates disputes between collectors when invited
• Maintains Trusted Collector reputation scores

What A101 does NOT do

• Take payment or hold escrow
• Ship items or insure shipments
• Guarantee an item is authentic, accurately described, or in stated condition
• Refund, replace, or compensate for a trade gone wrong
• Verify the real-world identity of any collector
• Act as a party to your trade in any legal sense

Your trade workflow

Photograph everything before shipping

Front, back, signature close-ups, packing materials. Upload to the trade's Photos section so the other party — and any future mediator — can see what was sent.

Use tracked, insured shipping

USPS Priority, UPS, FedEx — anything with a real tracking number. For items above $250, add insurance. Always require a signature for high-value pieces. Enter your tracking number in the trade's Shipment section so the other collector sees it land.

Communicate inside the trade thread

Keep messages on Autographs 101. Off-platform messages can't be referenced if you ever need mediation.

Confirm receipt only after inspection

Open and inspect the item before tapping I received my pieces. The trade completes once both of you confirm, so report any problem before you confirm.

If something goes wrong

Until both collectors confirm receipt, either of you can tap Report a problem on the trade detail page.

What happens next:

Your report is logged with category and description.
The other collector is notified and has 72 hours to respond.
A concierge thread opens for A101 mediation.
If the other party doesn't respond, the dispute is logged as closed_no_response against their reputation.
Outcomes affect Trusted Collector status; egregious cases trigger account suspension.

A101's role is mediator only. We do not refund, replace, or compensate.

Items not authenticated by A101

Items in a Vault that have not been Pre-Screened by A101 display a Buyer-verifies pill on every Trade Desk surface. When proposing or accepting a trade involving these items, you'll be asked to acknowledge this explicitly. A101 makes no representation about authenticity, condition, or provenance for non-Pre-Screened items.

The legal piece

By proposing, accepting, or finalizing a trade you agree to the Autographs 101 Terms of Service, and specifically Section 7 (Trading and Transactions), Section 11 (Limitation of Liability), and Section 12 (Indemnification). Each in-trade acknowledgment is recorded with timestamp and the exact text shown. This is our and your shared record.

Questions?

Concierge is here for any trade safety question — even before you file anything.

Open Concierge