Terms & Conditions

1. Nature of the Platform

ValuSell is a UK-based closed-loop infrastructure provider for the valuation and transaction of antiques, collectibles, jewellery and art. ValuSell facilitates independent valuations, anonymised bidding, escrow-backed payments and controlled information flow between sellers and verified professional dealers.

ValuSell is not an auctioneer, does not itself buy or sell items, does not provide professional valuation advice, and is not a party to the sale formed between a seller and a dealer.

2. User Roles and Eligibility

• Sellers: must be at least 18 years old, resident in the UK unless otherwise approved, and must be the legal owner of any submitted item or have written authority from the owner to sell it.
• Dealers: must complete ValuSell verification, provide evidence of professional standing, satisfy identity/KYB checks and comply with the Dealer Code of Conduct.
• All users must provide accurate account, contact, payment and verification information and keep it up to date.

3. Valuation and Offer Process

• Sellers must provide high-resolution images and accurate descriptions to the best of their knowledge, including known condition, age, repairs, alterations, provenance or uncertainty.
• Verified dealers may provide independent valuations. These are opinions of fair market value and do not guarantee authenticity, condition, sale price or future market performance.
• Following valuation, dealers may submit acquisition offers during the platform offer window. Offers submitted through the platform are binding for the stated period.
• Seller and dealer identities remain separated during valuation and bidding to encourage objectivity and prevent off-platform side-deals.

4. Transaction, Escrow and Inspection

• Once a seller accepts an offer, the dealer must fund the full purchase amount through ValuSell's designated payment and escrow process.
• The seller must dispatch the item using the platform logistics guidance and provide accurate tracking information.
• Upon confirmed receipt, the dealer has the applicable inspection window, normally 48 hours to verify the item against the original submission.
• If no valid dispute is raised during the inspection window, funds may be released to the seller minus applicable platform fees.

5. Fees, Memberships and Payments

• Public valuations are intended to be free for sellers unless otherwise stated.
• Dealer subscriptions, offer quotas, ValuCoin earning rates, platform commissions, administrative fees and VAT treatment are displayed on the platform or membership page.
• All transactions are conducted in GBP. Subscription and platform fees are subject to UK VAT where applicable.
• Free tier dealers may provide valuations only and may not submit purchase offers unless their membership permits it.

6. Stripe, AML and Payment Processing

• Payment processing services are provided by Stripe and are subject to the applicable Stripe Connected Account Agreement and Stripe Services Agreement.
• Users authorise ValuSell to share account, business, identity and transaction information with Stripe for payment processing, KYC, KYB, fraud prevention, sanctions screening and regulatory compliance.
• ValuSell may suspend access, hold payouts, delay release of funds or terminate accounts where verification fails, suspicious activity is detected, sanctions risk is identified or legal reporting is required.
• Users must comply with all applicable anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, sanctions and tax obligations.

7. Prohibited Items and Legal Compliance

Users must not submit, value, offer, buy or sell prohibited items through ValuSell. This includes stolen property, tainted cultural objects, undeclared treasure, restricted wildlife materials, prohibited weapons, human remains, hazardous materials, counterfeit goods and any item that cannot lawfully be traded in the UK.

Specific rules are set out in the Prohibited Items Policy. ValuSell may remove items, restrict accounts, request documentation or report activity to the relevant authorities where required.

8. Non-Circumvention and Platform Integrity

• For 12 months after the most recent interaction between a seller and dealer about a specific item, the parties must communicate and transact exclusively through ValuSell in relation to that item.
• Users must not solicit, encourage, arrange or complete off-platform transactions, share contact details during anonymised valuation or bidding, or use platform information to conclude a private sale elsewhere.
• Any approach suggesting an off-platform transaction must be reported to ValuSell support.
• Breach of this clause may result in suspension, permanent termination, revocation of dealer verification, recovery of a circumvention fee, and notification to trade bodies where professional misconduct is suspected.

9. Warranty of Title and Provenance

• Sellers warrant that they are the sole legal and beneficial owner of the item or have express written authority from the owner to sell it.
• Sellers warrant that the item is free from liens, charges, encumbrances, third-party claims, family disputes and unresolved probate issues.
• Sellers warrant that the item has not been stolen, illegally exported, illegally imported, recovered from an unrecorded archaeological site, or tainted under the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003.
• Known repairs, restorations, alterations, authenticity concerns, ownership issues and provenance gaps must be disclosed before valuation.
• Sellers indemnify ValuSell and the dealer for losses, claims and legal costs arising from breach of these warranties.

10. Dealer Verification and Conduct

• Dealer access is a privilege and may require evidence of trade association membership, trading history, academic or auction-house background, Companies House registration, UTR details, AML registration where applicable, identity verification and insurance.
• Dealers must value objectively, avoid conflicts of interest, provide evidence-based reasoning when requested, meet response times and act in good faith.
• Dealer verification may be suspended or revoked for lowballing, circumvention, failure to fund escrow, repeated sustained SNAD disputes, misconduct or loss of professional standing.

11. Time-Bound Protocol

• Valuation Window: verified dealers generally have 48 hours to provide valuations once an item is submitted or claimed.
• Offer Window: following valuation, a competitive offer window may run for the period shown on the platform, commonly 48 hours.
• Funding Window: once an offer is accepted, the dealer must fund escrow within the period shown on the platform, commonly 24 hours.
• Dispatch Window: once funds are secured, the seller must dispatch within the platform deadline, commonly three business days.
• Inspection Window: the dealer must inspect and raise any valid dispute within the applicable 24 hour window after receipt.

12. Dispute Resolution and SNAD Standard

• Disputes may only be raised within the inspection window and must concern an item being Significantly Not As Described.
• Valid grounds include material misrepresentation, undisclosed significant damage, undisclosed structural repair, incorrect maker/period/material or authenticity failure.
• Buyer's remorse, market movement, value disagreement or change of resale strategy are not valid dispute grounds.
• Where a dispute is logged, escrow funds may be frozen while the parties attempt resolution through the platform. If unresolved, ValuSell may review evidence and determine whether funds are released, adjusted or returned.

13. Platform Availability and Clock-Pause Protocol

If a verified technical outage prevents use of core platform functions for more than 30 minutes, active platform clocks may be paused. The outage duration plus a reasonable recovery grace period may be added to affected valuation, offer, funding, dispatch or inspection windows.

14. HMRC Digital Platform Reporting

ValuSell may be legally required to report seller transaction information to HMRC under UK digital platform reporting rules. Reporting may apply where a seller reaches the relevant annual sales value or transaction threshold. This reporting does not alter each user's own responsibility to understand and comply with tax obligations.

15. Liability and Disclaimers

• ValuSell provides digital infrastructure and escrow administration only. We do not physically inspect items, verify authenticity, guarantee dealer valuations or guarantee successful sale.
• ValuSell is not liable for valuation accuracy, market fluctuations, courier loss or damage, failure to identify fakes or restoration, or disputes about fair market value except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.
• The platform is provided on an "as is" basis to the maximum extent permitted by English law.

16. General Provisions and Contact

• These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction.
• If any clause is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms continue in force.
• These terms, together with the linked policies, form the agreement between ValuSell and users.

Contact: ValuSell LTD, 124-128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX. Email: info@valusell.com