How a Sale Works
A sale is five steps from "Buy now" to money in the seller's pocket. At every step both sides get an email, an in-app notification, and an update in the order's conversation — and the order page always shows whose move it is. Here's the whole thing.
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Tap a stage to jump to it. Both buyer and seller see this tracker on every order.
- 1BuyerStatus becomes: Placed
Buy and pay
Hit "Buy now" on a listing and pay by card or PayPal at checkout. If you agreed a price through an offer, the seller's acceptance gives you a checkout link — pay there instead. The moment payment goes through, the specimen is reserved for you and your order opens with the tracker below.
Where: The listing page → checkout. Afterwards: Profile → Deals.
When am I charged, and who pays shipping?
At checkout, the moment you pay — not when the seller confirms. Shipping is set by the seller and shown in your total before you pay. (High-value specimens of $10,000+ use a reservation instead — see below.)
- 2SellerStatus becomes: Confirmed
Confirm the order
You're notified the instant an order comes in. Open it from your Deals and press Confirm order within 3 business days. Confirming tells the buyer the specimen is in hand and on its way.
Where: Profile → Deals → the order → "Confirm order".
What if the seller can't fulfill the order?
Press Cancel order instead of Confirm. The buyer is refunded in full and the specimen goes back on the market. A seller can cancel any time before shipping.
- 3SellerStatus becomes: Shipped
Pack, ship, and add tracking
Pack the specimen securely, then press Ship order and enter the carrier and tracking number. The buyer is emailed instantly and can follow the package. Ship within your stated processing time — 3 days by default.
Where: Profile → Deals → the order → "Ship order".
How should I pack a specimen?
Like it's going to a museum — double-box fragile pieces with foam and fill all voids. Our Shipping & Handling guide covers materials, insurance, and carrier tips.
- 4BuyerStatus becomes: Delivered
Confirm you received it
When the package arrives, open the order and press Received order. That closes the loop for the seller — and drops the specimen, with its full provenance, straight into your EarthWonders collection.
Where: Profile → Deals → the order → "Received order".
What if it arrives damaged, or isn't as described?
You have a return window — 30 days by default — to request a return. Don't press Received order; contact the seller from the order's chat and reach out to support. See Returns & Refunds for the full process.
- 5SellerStatus becomes: Complete
Get paid
Nothing to do here. Once delivery is confirmed and the return window has passed, the sale is included in your next monthly payout. EarthWonders keeps a 5% commission — the rest is yours.
Where: Payouts run monthly. No action needed.
When exactly does the seller get paid, and what's the fee?
In the next monthly payout after delivery is confirmed and the return window closes. The only charge is a 5% commission on the sale price plus payment-processing fees — no listing or subscription fees.
Buyer and seller manage every order from Profile → Deals.
Variations on the flow
Started with an offer?
Same flow. When the seller accepts your offer the specimen is reserved and you get a checkout link — paying there is step 1, and everything continues exactly as above.
High-value specimens ($10,000+)
Instead of paying at checkout you place a reservation. The seller confirms it, payment is arranged directly with EarthWonders (for example by bank transfer), and once it clears the seller ships — the rest of the flow is identical.
Questions mid-order?
Every order has its own conversation in Messages. Message the other party there at any point, or contact support from any page — you're never stuck guessing what happens next.