Buying & Selling
A bottle goes from seller to buyer with your money protected the whole way.
List or make an offer
Sellers snap a real photo of the bottle — our AI screens the photo, checks it against what the real bottle should look like, and auto-fills the details. Buyers can Buy Now or send an offer.
Seller accepts
Once an offer is accepted, the buyer is prompted to pay. An offer that gets no reply expires after 48 hours (we send reminders along the way). Either side can still cancel a paid order before it ships — the buyer is refunded in full.
Payment goes into a secure hold
Sniffy holds the money. The seller does not get paid yet — the funds are locked until the buyer confirms the bottle is right.
Seller ships
The seller packs the bottle and films a boxing video if one is required (the label won't generate until it's uploaded). A prepaid, insured USPS ground label is printed right from the trade and tracking is attached automatically.
Buyer receives & confirms
The buyer films an unboxing video if required, then checks the bottle — including that its batch code matches the listing, which we show you during the 48-hour inspection window. Anything not-as-described? File a dispute before releasing.
Funds release
Once confirmed — or automatically 48 hours after the buyer confirms delivery if no dispute is opened — the money is released to the seller minus Sniffy's fee (10%, or 5% for Gold). If the seller priced shipping into the listing, the cost of the prepaid label comes out of their payout too; if the buyer paid shipping at checkout, it doesn't. Done.
Where the money goes — a quick example.Maya sells Jake a bottle of Layton and the USPS label costs about $9. If Maya left "price includes shipping" off and listed at $50: Jake pays $50 + $10.95 shipping + about $2 card processing, Sniffy buys the label with Jake's $10.95, and when Jake confirms, Maya gets $45 ($50 minus the 10% fee). If Maya turned it on and listed at $58 so shipping is baked in: Jake pays $58 + about $2 processing and nothing for shipping, Sniffy still buys the $9 label, and Maya gets $58 − $5.80 fee − $9 label = $43.20. Same label, same protection — the toggle just decides whether the buyer or the seller pays for it. The buyer's money sits in escrow the whole time and only moves when they confirm.
Swapping
Trading bottle-for-bottle, with a deposit instead of a price.
Both traders put down a refundable deposit — $25 by default, or either side can set their own from $25 to $2,000 — plus a $2 swap fee and $10.95 for a prepaid, insured USPS label (those two are non-refundable once the trade proceeds; $37.95 per side at the default deposit). Then both ship at the same time. The deposit is simply insurance that both packages actually go out: once both sides confirm they received what was promised, both deposits are refunded in full. If one person never ships, the other can claim their deposit. Cancel before anyone ships and everything — deposit, fee and label — comes back. Uneven trade? Cash-on-top is held in escrow and paid to the other side (minus the sale fee) when the swap completes.
To keep swaps honest, the bottles you offer are picked from your own active listings — so every swapped item already has photos, an AI check, and usually a batch code, and is marked ✓ Verified. You can still add an unlisted bottle, but it's flagged Unverified and must be shown clearly in your boxing video. Once a swap completes, the traded listings are marked sold and leave the marketplace.
Your money is protected
The single idea the whole platform is built on.
Your money is held by Sniffy, not the seller.It only moves to the seller after you confirm the bottle arrived and is exactly as described — or automatically 48 hours after you confirm delivery if you haven't opened a dispute. If it isn't, the money is still sitting safely on hold while we sort it out.
Boxing & Unboxing Videos
Simple video proof of what left and what arrived.
Boxing video
The seller films one continuous take — showing the label, batch code, and fill level up close, then wrapping and sealing the box, no cuts. Proof of exactly what went in and its condition.
Unboxing video
The buyer films the package being opened for the first time — proof of exactly what came out.
Together they close the gap where most disputes happen: "what was actually in the box?" On swaps the boxing video is on by default (either side can switch it off for that trade). On sales, sellers can require videos on their own listings, and either party can request them for a specific trade. When a boxing video is required, the shipping label won't generate until it's uploaded.
If a required video is missing, you've thrown away your best evidence — a dispute is decided on what the videos show. If a video was requested, film it. It only protects you.
The Sniffy Bond
Optional. A way of offering to show your trust.
A seller can attach a Sniffy Bond to a listing — real, refundable money they put on the line to prove they stand behind it. It's a visible badge that says "I'm confident enough in this trade to back it with my own money."
- Trade honestly and complete it → the bond is refunded to the seller in full.
- A dispute panel rules against the seller → the bond is forfeited to the Protection Fund.
- Bonds are always optional, but bonded listings stand out and tend to earn buyer trust faster.
Disputes & Jurors
What happens when a trade goes sideways.
Open a dispute
If something's wrong, open a dispute from your trade chat. The money stays frozen in the secure hold — nobody gets paid while it's open.
Jenny helps first
Jenny, our assistant, joins the thread — acknowledging evidence, answering questions and keeping the case moving. She never moves money; people decide.
Escalation to a juror panel
If it can't be settled, it goes to a panel of trusted community jurors — experienced Sniffy traders — alongside our team.
Evidence & vote
Jurors review the photos, boxing/unboxing videos, and messages, then vote. The majority decision is binding, and the funds are released accordingly. If not enough jurors are available, the Sniffy team reviews it and rules for the buyer (refund) or the seller (payout). If the person who opened the dispute withdraws it, the trade resumes with a fresh 24-hour inspection window.
Why jurors?Real collectors know fragrances better than anyone. A panel keeps decisions fair, fast, and grounded in the community — not one anonymous desk. Boxing/unboxing videos are what make a fair verdict possible — film them.
Trust Score
A single number that shows how proven a trader is.
Every member has a Trust Score built from real signals — not who you know. It climbs as you trade well and verify who you are:
- Successful trades — completed, confirmed deals.
- Buyer & swapper ratings — how partners rated you.
- Stripe payment verified — connected for secure payouts.
- Email verified and a complete profile with photo.
- Account age — time as a member in good standing.
Scores roll up into tiers so buyers know at a glance who they're dealing with:
The Strike System
Three strikes and you're out. No exceptions.
Dishonesty has no place here. Faking a listing, sending the wrong item or an empty box, misrepresenting condition, ghosting a confirmed trade, or moving deals off-platform all earn a strike.
- Strike 1 — warning, trade suspended pending review, visible on your profile.
- Strike 2 — 30-day listing suspension, existing listings hidden.
- Strike 3 — permanent ban, account closed.
Shipping & Packing
How to get the bottle there safely — and prove you did.
Glass and pressurized atomizers break easily, and a shattered bottle in transit is the fastest way to lose a trade. Pack like it's going to be thrown around, because it will be.
- Wrap generously. Cushion the bottle in plenty of bubble wrap — several full wraps, with extra around the cap and sprayer. Tape it so it can't unravel.
- Fill the empty space. Use a snug box and pack out every gap with paper, foam, or more bubble wrap so nothing shifts or rattles.
- Protect the sprayer. Keep the cap on, and consider a small bag around the atomizer in case of leaks.
- Use a sturdy box, not a flimsy envelope — even for smaller decants.
- Ship on the prepaid label from the trade — it's USPS ground (fragrance can't fly), tracked, and insured for the full sale value. Tracking is attached automatically; just tap Mark as Shipped at drop-off.
If a boxing video is required, film the whole thing in one continuous take: show the label, batch code, and fill up close, then wrap it and seal the box — no cuts. It's your proof of exactly what you sent and the condition it was in.
Community Rules
The short list everyone agrees to.
- List only bottles you actually own and can ship.
- Use real photos of your own bottle — no stock, internet, or AI-generated images.
- Be honest about fill level, batch, and condition.
- Keep every conversation and payment inside Sniffy — it's the only way payment protection can cover you.
- Ship promptly once a trade is confirmed, and film any required video.
- Treat other traders with respect. Harassment or manipulation isn't tolerated.
Questions about any of this? Ask Jenny anytime, or email support@sniffymarketplace.com.