How Buying & Selling Works on Tuners Vault

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Bidding, Buying, Paying & Shipping

Welcome to Tuners Vault! Whether you're here to find your next automotive treasure or sell something that's been taking up valuable garage space, we've designed the process to be straightforward.

The golden rule: Once you win or purchase an item, there are a few important steps and deadlines to keep things moving smoothly. Follow the guide below and you'll be cruising through the transaction in no time.

Step 1 — Create Your Account & Log In

To buy or sell on Tuners Vault, you'll first need to create your account and keep your account information up to date.

Make sure your account includes:

• Your correct name and contact information.
• Your current shipping address.
• A valid credit card for the Tuners Vault transaction charge.
• Any other information requested by the Platform.

Buyers: Your shipping address is important because it is included on the settlement invoice after you win or purchase an item.

Sellers: Make sure your accepted payment methods and shipping terms are clearly stated in your listing or account profile.

Step 2 — Find Something You Want

Browse the Tuners Vault marketplace and look for an item that catches your eye.

Listings may be offered as either:

• Timed Auctions — place your bid and compete for the item.
• Buy It Now — purchase the item immediately at the listed fixed price.

Before bidding or purchasing, take a moment to read the entire listing.

Pay particular attention to:

• Item description and condition.
• Auction or Buy It Now price.
• Shipping destination(s).
• Approximate or stated shipping costs.
• Seller's accepted payment methods.
• Any special shipping, freight, packaging, insurance, or handling requirements.

For larger or specialty items, such as engines, transmissions, body panels, wheel and tyre sets, or items requiring crating or palletizing, shipping arrangements may need to be discussed directly between the Buyer and Seller.

A little reading now can save a lot of headaches later.

Step 3 — Place Your Bid or Click "Buy It Now"

Found the one?

If it's an auction: Place your bid according to the listing rules. If you are the winning bidder when the auction closes, you've got yourself a deal!

If it's a Buy It Now listing: Select Buy It Now to complete the purchase at the listed price.

A winning auction bid and a completed Buy It Now purchase are treated the same way for the settlement process.

Step 4 — Your 9.5% Transaction Deposit Is Charged

Once an auction closes with a winning bidder, or a Buy It Now purchase is completed, Tuners Vault will charge the Buyer's credit card 9.5% of the final purchase price.

This happens immediately following the successful transaction.

What exactly is the 9.5%?

Think of it as your transaction deposit that confirms your commitment to completing the purchase.

At the same time, the 9.5% represents the Seller's agreed marketplace operations commission to Tuners Vault.

It is not an extra 9.5% added on top of the item's purchase price.

The 9.5% is allocated from the total purchase price, with the remaining balance then payable directly to the Seller.

For example — item sells for $1,000:

Purchase price	$1,000
9.5% collected by Tuners Vault	$95
Remaining balance payable to Seller	$905
Plus any applicable shipping charges and taxes	—

Step 5 — Watch for Your Settlement Invoice

Once the 9.5% transaction charge has been successfully processed, Tuners Vault will automatically email a Settlement Invoice to both the Buyer and Seller.

Your settlement invoice is your transaction roadmap. It will include important information such as:

• Lot number.
• Item description.
• Final purchase price.
• 9.5% amount collected by Tuners Vault.
• Remaining balance owed to the Seller.
• Seller's accepted payment methods.
• Buyer's shipping name and address.
• Applicable shipping charges disclosed in the listing.
• The 72-hour Buyer payment deadline.
• The 72-hour Seller shipping deadline.

Keep this email handy — you're going to need it.

Step 6 — Buyer Pays the Seller the Remaining Balance

This is where the split-settlement process comes into play.

Tuners Vault collects only the 9.5% transaction amount. Tuners Vault does not collect or hold the remaining purchase balance on behalf of the Seller.

The Buyer must pay the remaining balance directly to the Seller using one of the payment methods accepted by the Seller.

Buyers have 72 hours. The remaining balance, plus applicable shipping charges and taxes, must be paid to the Seller within 72 hours of the close of the listing.

Don't leave it until the last minute! Once you receive your settlement invoice:

1. Review the balance owing.
2. Confirm the Seller's accepted payment method.
3. Contact the Seller if you need to confirm payment or shipping details.
4. Send payment directly to the Seller.
5. Keep your payment confirmation/receipt.

Step 7 — Seller Confirms Payment & Gets the Item Ready

Once the Seller confirms receipt of the Buyer's remaining balance, the Seller must prepare the item for shipment.

The Seller must ship the item within 72 hours of confirmed payment, unless a different timeline has been explicitly stated in the listing or mutually agreed upon.

Tuners Vault's general expectation is that Sellers should aim to ship within 48 hours where reasonably possible.

The Seller should follow the shipping terms provided in the original listing and settlement invoice, including:

• Agreed carrier.
• Shipping method.
• Tracking requirements.
• Insurance requirements, where applicable.
• Any agreed special handling requirements.

Step 8 — Sellers: Pack It Like You Mean It!

Nobody wants their new treasure arriving looking like it went ten rounds with a forklift.

Sellers should package items carefully, securely, and appropriately for the item being shipped.

For valuable automotive components, Tuners Vault recommends using plain, unmarked outer packaging whenever practical.

Avoid displaying the item's contents, identity, brand or product description, or value on the outside of the package unless disclosure is required by applicable customs or dangerous-goods regulations.

This is particularly important for higher-value components such as engines, electronic control units, forged wheels, turbochargers, and seats.

For oversized or specialty items

Some items may require crating, palletizing, special carriers, freight arrangements, special handling, or dangerous-goods procedures.

For these items, the Buyer and Seller must promptly agree on the carrier, service level, packaging method, and shipping cost.

Dangerous goods

Certain automotive components may be regulated as dangerous goods, including items such as airbag modules, airbag inflators, seat-belt pretensioners, lithium batteries, compressed-gas cylinders, or components containing regulated fluids.

Sellers are responsible for meeting all applicable transportation, packaging, marking, labeling, documentation, and carrier requirements before shipping.

Never ship a regulated item in a way that violates applicable transportation or dangerous-goods rules.

Step 9 — Seller Ships Within 72 Hours

Once payment has been received and confirmed, the Seller ships the item to the Buyer's address according to the agreed listing and settlement terms.

The Seller should provide tracking information where tracking is required or available.

Seller deadline: 72 hours after confirmed receipt of the Buyer's payment.

Where possible, Sellers are encouraged to ship sooner — ideally within 48 hours.

Once the carrier records the item as delivered, the Seller's shipping obligation is considered fulfilled under the Settlement Agreement.

Step 10 — Buyer Receives the Item

When your package arrives:

• Check the package promptly.
• Confirm that the correct item was delivered.
• Keep your tracking and delivery information.
• Retain your payment and transaction records.

Once the carrier records the package as delivered, claims relating to events occurring after delivery — such as theft from the delivery location or damage discovered after acceptance — are generally matters between the Buyer, carrier, and/or appropriate authorities.

Step 11 — Complete the Transaction by Leaving Feedback ⭐

The transaction isn't truly finished until both sides leave feedback.

Buyers: Tell Sellers how it went.

Sellers: Tell Buyers how it went.

Feedback helps the entire Tuners Vault community. It helps future Buyers and Sellers understand who they are dealing with and helps build a marketplace based on trust, accountability, and good transactions.

So when your transaction is complete, please take a moment to leave honest, fair, and useful feedback for the other party.

It only takes a minute — but it helps make Tuners Vault better for everyone. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Whole Process at a Glance

Remember the Three Big Rules

---

One Last Thing

Tuners Vault facilitates the marketplace and handles the initial 9.5% transaction charge. The remaining purchase balance, shipping charges, taxes, and other amounts owed are paid directly between the Buyer and Seller. Tuners Vault does not act as an escrow service or hold/distribute the remaining purchase funds.

Please always read the individual listing, Settlement Invoice, Terms of Service, Buyer Agreement, Seller Agreement, and other applicable Tuners Vault policies for the complete requirements that apply to your transaction.