Frequently Asked Questions

List what you have, say what you'd take in return, and browse other traders' listings. When you find a match, send a trade offer or message the seller directly to work out the details. Once you both agree, complete the exchange and rate each other afterward.

Every active listing automatically checks other traders' "wants" against what it offers — if someone's looking for exactly your set, you'll see them under 🔥 Possible matches on your listing, including a Mutual match badge when it goes both ways. Not interested in a suggested match? Dismiss it — that only affects what you see, and you can undo it anytime.

When you propose a trade, you can also attach one or more of your own active listings to the offer — so instead of just describing "these three things for your one" in a message, the other trader can click through and see real photos and condition for everything you're putting in.

Some listings are Cash Only or Trade or Cash. For those, buyers can click "Buy now" to pay securely through Stripe Checkout using a card — no need to send or share personal payment info with a stranger.

Those apps are built for paying people you already trust — friends and family — not strangers on the internet. They generally offer no buyer protection or dispute process if a trade goes wrong. Stripe Checkout keeps a record of the transaction tied to your listing, which gives both sides a paper trail that a peer-to-peer payment app doesn't.

Keep any payment for a listing inside Stripe Checkout — never off-platform.

Yes — click Message seller on any listing to start a conversation, or check your Messages inbox for replies. Use it to ask about condition, negotiate a trade, or work out shipping before you commit.

It means that trader has confirmed their email address. It's a baseline signal, not a full identity check — we're working on a stronger ID-verification badge for traders who want extra credibility.

After a trade is completed, both people can rate each other 1–5 stars with an optional comment. Ratings show up next to a trader's name everywhere their listings appear, so reputation travels with you across the whole site.

New & Sealed — factory sealed, never opened. New, Open Box — box opened, contents never built/used. Used & Complete — built before, but every piece and instruction is accounted for. Used, Incomplete — missing pieces, minifigs, or instructions. Parts Only — loose pieces, not a complete set.

For cash purchases, Stripe Checkout collects the buyer's shipping address securely during payment — the seller sees it on their dashboard next to that order once payment goes through, so no one has to share an address by text or DM.

For a trade, once a seller accepts your offer, open your conversation in Messages and use the Share shipping address button there — it keeps the address on the record for that listing instead of you having to copy/paste it into a text message.

If a trade needs a small cash top-up to cover shipping, ask the seller to list it as "Trade or Cash" with that amount, and pay it through Buy Now rather than sending cash separately through Venmo/Zelle/Cash App.

Once an offer is accepted, a Trade status card appears on the listing for both of you. Each side has a "Mark shipped" button (with an optional tracking number) and a "Confirm you received it" button once the other side ships — so you can both see exactly where things stand instead of guessing.

For a two-way trade, a common approach is agreeing on a ship-by date in Messages first, then both shipping within a day or two of each other. Always use tracked, insured shipping, and don't mark something "received" until it's actually arrived and matches what was agreed. Bricks For Trade doesn't verify shipments or hold anything in escrow — these statuses are self-reported by members, so treat them as a coordination tool, not a guarantee.

Message the other trader first and try to work it out — most issues are misunderstandings. If a cash purchase specifically has a payment problem, reach out to us at hello@bricksfortrade.com. Trades arranged and paid for outside of Stripe Checkout aren't something we can help recover — another reason to keep everything on-platform.

Yes, listing and trading is free. Cash purchases go through standard Stripe card-processing fees. Optional paid features (like stronger ID verification) will always be clearly labeled before you pay for them.

No. Bricks For Trade is an independent, fan-run marketplace and isn't affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the LEGO Group. LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group.