Question 1

How does Rookie protect buyers?

Accepted Answer

When you buy a card on Rookie, your payment goes into escrow instead of directly to the seller. The seller only receives the payout after you confirm delivery — or after tracking shows delivery and the inspection window closes. If the card isn't as described, you can open a dispute and the funds stay locked until Rookie support reviews the evidence. That means you never have to chase a stranger for a refund.

Question 2

How does Rookie protect sellers?

Accepted Answer

Sellers ship only after Rookie has captured the buyer's payment and placed it in escrow. Once the buyer confirms receipt — or the delivery window passes with tracking evidence — the payout releases automatically to your Rookie balance. You're protected against non-paying buyers, bounced checks, and most chargeback scenarios because the money is already secured before the card leaves your hands.

Question 3

What is Rookie escrow and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Escrow is a neutral holding account for the deal's funds. The buyer pays Rookie; Rookie holds the money; the seller ships the card directly to the buyer; the buyer confirms receipt; Rookie releases the funds to the seller minus the platform fee. If anything goes wrong, the funds stay in escrow while Rookie support mediates based on tracking, photos, and the listing description.

Question 4

What happens if a card isn't as described?

Accepted Answer

Open a dispute from the transaction row within the inspection window. Upload clear photos showing the discrepancy. Rookie support reviews the listing photos, the seller's evidence, and the tracking record, then issues a refund or partial refund if the claim is valid. Funds remain in escrow during review, so the seller isn't paid and the buyer isn't left empty-handed.

Question 5

What happens if a seller doesn't ship?

Accepted Answer

Every transaction has a ship-by deadline. If the seller misses it without uploading a shipping label or tracking, the buyer can open a dispute. Rookie will review the timeline and, if the seller cannot provide evidence of shipment, refund the buyer in full. Sellers who repeatedly miss ship deadlines lose listing privileges.

Question 6

How does Rookie verify prices?

Accepted Answer

Each listing displays a fair-market range built from live eBay sold and active comps, PriceCharting, COMC, Fanatics Collect auction results, and Rookie's own sale history. The AI also produces a single point estimate and a confidence badge. Buyers see the same data sellers see, so offers and counter-offers start from an objective baseline instead of guesswork.

Question 7

What is PSA cert verification?

Accepted Answer

When a graded card is added by its PSA cert number, Rookie pulls the grade, card data, and population report directly from PSA's database. The card receives a green PSA-verified badge and re-verification runs nightly to catch reused or invalid certs. A slab cannot be listed for sale or trade unless the cert verifies, which blocks fake slabs at the source.

Question 8

How do disputes work?

Accepted Answer

Either side can open a dispute from the transaction page. Both parties upload evidence — photos of the card, packaging, tracking screenshots, and messages. Rookie support reviews the escrow audit log and fulfillment evidence checklist, then rules to release funds to the seller, refund the buyer, or split the amount. Most disputes are resolved within two business days of receiving complete evidence.

Question 9

What fees are non-refundable?

Accepted Answer

The Rookie platform fee is retained to cover payment custody, dispute review, and transaction infrastructure. It is non-refundable on completed, cancelled, or refunded deals because the escrow and support work has already been performed. Buyers receive the full purchase price back on a valid refund; sellers receive the sale price minus the platform fee on a successful sale.

Question 10

How do trades work safely?

Accepted Answer

Trades use the same escrow logic as sales. Both parties ship their cards with tracking. Each side confirms receipt and condition. Once both confirmations are in, the trade closes. If one side fails to ship or the card arrives misdescribed, the trade can be cancelled or converted to a cash settlement with Rookie support mediation.

Protection	Buyer gets	Seller gets
Payment custody	Funds held by Rookie in escrow — seller can't touch them until you confirm delivery.	Payment is captured and locked in escrow before you ship, so buyers can't back out or bounce.
Shipping risk	Insured, tracked shipping required on every deal. Lost-in-transit is covered by the escrow hold.	Uploaded tracking is your evidence of shipment — auto-release once delivery + inspection window closes.
Card authenticity	PSA cert verification runs nightly. Vault-Verified cards are physically inspected by Rookie.	Vault-Verified badge + verified pricing means buyers make offers on real data, not lowball guesses.
Not-as-described	Open a dispute inside the inspection window. Funds stay locked until Rookie support rules.	Listing photos + escrow audit log defend your side. Support won't refund without evidence.
Non-performance	If the seller misses the ship-by deadline without tracking, you get a full refund.	If the buyer refuses delivery or ghosts the inspection window, tracking auto-releases your payout.
Chargebacks & fraud	Rookie fronts refunds on valid claims — you don't chase strangers or file with your bank.	Escrow + delivery evidence blocks most 'item not received' chargebacks before they land on you.
Fees on refund	Full purchase price refunded on a valid claim — you don't eat Rookie's platform fee.	Platform fee is only retained on completed sales. Cancellations and valid refunds return your fee.
Dispute mediation	Real Rookie support reviews evidence — usually resolved within 2 business days.	Same 2-day SLA. Neutral review of tracking, photos, and the listing description.

No one gets ripped off.

What each side is protected against.

No one gets ripped off.

What each side is protected against.

01How does Rookie protect buyers?

02How does Rookie protect sellers?

03What is Rookie escrow and how does it work?

04What happens if a card isn't as described?

05What happens if a seller doesn't ship?

06How does Rookie verify prices?

07What is PSA cert verification?

08How do disputes work?

09What fees are non-refundable?

10How do trades work safely?