100% Buyer Protection
Every purchase on SiliconExchange is protected: your money is never released to the seller until you confirm your item arrived exactly as described.
How buyer protection works
Your payment is held securely until every step of the transaction is complete.
You pay — we hold the funds
When you check out, your payment is captured by Stripe and held by SiliconExchange. The seller receives nothing yet. Your money is safe regardless of what happens next.
Seller ships with tracking
The seller must ship within 3 business days, unless their listing states a different handling time — you'll see it before you pay, and on your order afterwards. Carrier tracking is wired into your order — it updates automatically from the first scan, and delivery is confirmed by the carrier's own scan, not just the seller's word.
You confirm — seller gets paid
Once your item arrives and you're satisfied, release the payment in your dashboard. The funds then go to the seller, typically within 1–2 business days.
Problem? Open a dispute
If anything is wrong, open a dispute from your order page — within 3 days of delivery for damage or not-as-described, or before the 14-day auto-release if the item never arrives. The payment stays held while we review both sides.
Every deadline, one table
Buyer protection runs on clocks. Here is each one, before you ever need it.
| Moment | The window | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Seller's ship-by date | 3 business days after payment — unless the listing stated a different handling time | Shown on your order. If it passes with nothing shipped, you can cancel for a full refund or open a dispute. |
| Cancel before shipment | Any time until the carrier has the parcel | Full refund, no questions — you never have to wait out a seller. |
| Report damage or not-as-described | Within 3 days of carrier-confirmed delivery | Open the dispute from your order page — that keeps your payment held while we review. |
| Report an item that never arrived | Any time before the 14-day auto-release closes | Same dispute button, same held payment. |
| Seller's chance to respond | 48 hours from when the dispute opens (reminder at 24 hours) | A dispute is never decided on one side's word while the other can still answer. |
| Our review | We aim to review within 48 hours | Valid claims are made right from the held funds — full refund, partial refund, or a return. |
| Your refund | Issued within 1–3 business days of resolution | Banks then take their own time to post it — typically on your statement within 5–10 business days. |
| Nobody does anything | 14 days after delivery (3 days after the scheduled date for local pickup) | Payment releases to the seller automatically — confirm early if all is well, dispute in time if it isn't. |
| Signature on delivery | Automatic on orders of $750.00 or more | High-value packages aren't left on porches. Sellers can require it on lower amounts too. |
What's covered
Our protection covers the most common problems buyers face when purchasing used hardware.
Covered by buyer protection
- Item never arrived (tracking shows no delivery)
- Item is significantly not as described (wrong model, wrong specs)
- Item arrived broken or with undisclosed damage
- Counterfeit or replica when the listing claimed authentic
- Missing major accessories listed in the description
- Seller becomes unresponsive after payment
Not covered
- Buyer's remorse — unless the listing states a return policy
- Damage caused by the buyer after delivery
- Minor cosmetic differences clearly visible in listing photos
- Items that match the description but didn't meet personal expectations
- Transactions completed outside SiliconExchange (e.g. cash, Venmo)
How disputes work
If something goes wrong, opening a dispute is simple and we resolve it fast.
Open a dispute
Go to your order in the dashboard and click “Open Dispute.” You have 3 days from the confirmed delivery date, or up to 14 days if the package never arrived.
Provide evidence
Upload photos, describe the issue, and include any relevant tracking or communication history. The seller has 48 hours to respond — we remind them partway through, and our team sees whether they did.
We aim to review within 48 hours
Our team reviews all evidence from both parties. We may request additional information if needed.
Resolution
If the dispute is valid, we put it right from the held funds — usually a full refund, or where it fits the case a partial refund or a return to the seller. If the dispute is found in the seller's favor, the funds are released to them.
Keeping your claim strong
If something arrives wrong, a few habits make your case easy to verify — and fast to resolve.
Photograph before you touch anything
Shoot the box, the packaging, and the item exactly as they arrived — damage included. Arrival photos are the strongest evidence a buyer can have.
Keep all the packaging until it's resolved
The box and padding are part of the evidence, and a shipping-damage claim with the carrier can require them. Don't throw anything away while a dispute is open.
Report before you install or modify
If it arrived damaged or wrong, say so before building with it. Once a part has been installed, flashed, or disassembled, verifying what arrived versus what happened after gets much harder — for everyone, including you.
Ship to yourself, buy for yourself
Protection is built around the carrier confirming delivery to the address on your order. Freight forwarders and re-shipping break that chain of custody — deliveries we can't trace, we can't stand behind.
Selling instead? See how sellers are protected — the same held payment covers both sides.
Accepted payment methods
All payments are processed securely by Stripe, a PCI-compliant payment processor trusted by millions of businesses. Your card details are never stored on our servers.
Apple Pay and Google Pay availability depends on your device and browser. We do not accept PayPal, Venmo, cryptocurrency, checks, or cash payments.
Local pickup protection
Some listings are exchanged in person instead of shipped. Local pickup orders get the same held-payment protection — no cash, no Venmo, no trust-me handoffs.
1. Pay online, not in person
You pay at checkout like any order, and we hold the payment. The seller doesn't get paid by meeting you — only by handing over the item.
2. Arrange the meetup
Message the seller to agree on a public place and time. The seller sets the pickup date on the order, and you'll see it on your order page.
3. Inspect, then share your pickup code
Your order page shows a 6-digit pickup code. At the exchange, inspect the item first. Satisfied? Give the seller the code (or tap Confirm Pickup) — that releases the payment on the spot. Never share the code before you have the item: whoever has it can collect your payment.
4. Problem? You're still covered
If the item isn't as described, don't hand over the code — walk away and open a dispute from your order page. If nobody confirms and no dispute is opened, payment releases automatically 3 days after the scheduled pickup date, so check your email reminders.
Safety first: meet in a public, well-lit place — many police stations offer designated exchange spots. Bring a friend for high-value items, and keep all communication on SiliconExchange.
Common questions
How long is my payment held?
Your payment is held until you confirm delivery, or for up to 14 days if you don't confirm. After 14 days with no dispute opened, the funds are automatically released to the seller. We recommend confirming as soon as your item arrives.
What if the seller refuses to ship?
You can cancel for a full refund any time before the seller hands the parcel to the carrier — you don't have to wait. If their ship-by date passes with nothing shipped, you can also open a dispute. Either way the seller never receives the funds if they can't prove they shipped. The ship-by date is 3 business days after payment unless the listing stated a different handling time.
How quickly do I get my refund?
Once a dispute is resolved in your favor, we issue the refund to your original payment method within 1–3 business days. Banks then take their own time to post it — refunds typically appear on your statement within 5–10 business days, depending on your card issuer.
Can I leave a review after a dispute?
Yes. All buyers can leave a seller review after an order is closed, regardless of whether a dispute was opened. Honest reviews help the community make informed decisions.
How does buyer protection work for local pickup?
You pay online and we hold the payment — never pay cash at a meetup. At the exchange, inspect the item first; sharing your 6-digit pickup code with the seller (or tapping Confirm Pickup) is what releases the payment, so only do it once you're satisfied. If the item isn't right, keep the code, walk away, and open a dispute. If the pickup never happens, open a dispute before the automatic release, which occurs 3 days after the scheduled pickup date.
Where does the refund money actually come from?
Your own payment. While an order is in progress, your money sits in our Stripe platform account — not in our operating bank account, and not with the seller. A refund simply returns funds that were never paid out in the first place, which is why buyer protection doesn't depend on us chasing a seller for the money. We also fund a dedicated reserve from our platform fees for claims outside that window. SiliconExchange is not an insurer, and our overall liability is set out in section 15 of the Terms.
Shop with confidence
Every listing is backed by buyer protection. Buy PC components from verified sellers with your payment held until you confirm delivery.
Browse ListingsThis page explains the Buyer Protection Program in plain English; the program itself is defined in our Terms of Service (§7), which govern. Last updated 2026-08-19.