Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of GameBid, operated by GameBid Ltd ("GameBid", "we", "us"). By creating an account or using the platform, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use GameBid. These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and a UK resident to use GameBid. By registering, you confirm you meet these requirements. We reserve the right to verify identity and terminate accounts that do not comply.

2. User Accounts

• You are responsible for keeping your password secure and for all activity under your account.
• You must provide accurate, current information during registration.
• Usernames must not impersonate other users, brands, or public figures.
• One account per person. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent bans is prohibited.
• We may suspend or terminate accounts for violations of these Terms.

3. Selling on GameBid

By listing an item, you agree that:

• You own the item and have the legal right to sell it.
• All descriptions, photos, and condition ratings must be accurate and not misleading.
• You will ship items within 5 business days of a confirmed sale.
• You accept GameBid's 2% platform fee on each completed sale.
• Stripe's payment processing fee (1.4% + £0.20) is deducted from your payout.
• You are responsible for UK tax obligations on your sales income.
• Items must be physically posted using a tracked shipping service.

4. Buying on GameBid

• By placing a bid on an auction, you are entering a binding agreement to purchase if you win.
• Retracting bids without cause is prohibited and may result in account suspension.
• Buy Now purchases are final once payment is confirmed.
• You must confirm receipt of items within 7 days or the funds will be auto-released to the seller.

5. Fee Structure

GameBid charges a 2% platform fee on every completed transaction. This is deducted from the seller's payout. There are no listing fees or buyer premiums. Fees are calculated as:

• GameBid fee: 2% of final sale price
• Stripe processing fee: 1.4% + £0.20 (UK cards)
• Seller receives: sale price minus both fees
• Example: £20 sale → GameBid fee £0.40, Stripe fee £0.48, seller receives £19.12

Fees are non-refundable except where GameBid determines a transaction was fraudulent and initiates a full reversal.

6. Prohibited Items

The following may not be listed on GameBid:

• Counterfeit, bootleg, or replica games and hardware
• Items containing illegal content (BBFC banned titles, CSAM)
• Stolen goods or items without proof of ownership
• Digital download codes for games you do not personally own
• Non-gaming items not reasonably related to video games
• Firearms, weapons, drugs, or other prohibited goods
• Items subject to active recall or safety warning

Listings violating these rules will be removed. Repeated violations result in permanent bans. We report illegal listings to relevant authorities.

7. Intellectual Property

GameBid's code, design, brand, and original content are owned by GameBid Ltd and protected by UK copyright law. Game artwork, box art, and screenshots used on GameBid belong to their respective publishers. By uploading photos to GameBid, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display them on the platform.

8. Dispute Resolution

When a buyer and seller cannot resolve a dispute independently:

• Either party may open a dispute via the transaction page within 14 days of delivery.
• GameBid will review evidence submitted by both parties within 5 business days.
• GameBid's decision is final for platform-held funds.
• GameBid may refund the buyer and recover funds from the seller's future payouts.
• GameBid is not liable for items lost in transit without tracked postage evidence.
• Fraudulent disputes may result in account suspension and referral to Action Fraud.

9. Seller Protection

• Sellers are protected against fraudulent chargebacks when they can provide tracked delivery proof.
• Funds are held in escrow until the buyer confirms receipt or 7 days elapse.
• If a buyer files a false claim, GameBid will investigate and may reinstate funds.

10. Limitation of Liability

GameBid is a marketplace platform and is not party to transactions between buyers and sellers. To the maximum extent permitted by UK law, GameBid is not liable for: loss of profits, indirect or consequential damages, items lost or damaged in transit, or disputes between users. Our total liability to you shall not exceed the fees paid to GameBid in the 12 months prior to the claim.

11. Prohibited Conduct

• Shill bidding (artificially inflating auction prices with fake bids)
• Creating multiple accounts to circumvent suspensions
• Soliciting off-platform transactions to avoid fees
• Harassing, threatening, or abusing other users
• Attempting to access other users' accounts or the platform's infrastructure
• Uploading malware, spam, or illegal content
• Reverse-engineering or scraping the platform without permission

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms. Material changes will be notified by email at least 14 days before taking effect. Continued use of GameBid after changes constitutes acceptance.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.