RareDrop AI

Premium service

Authenticity Protection

White-glove Authenticity Protection for high-value cards. We collect the buyer's funds up front, hold them while the card moves, and release payment only once the order is fulfilled and verified by both sides.

Last updated 11 August 2026

At a glance

Escrow review

1 business day

Buyer funding window

72 hours

Ship after clearance

2 business days

Buyer inspection

48 hours

Payout after acceptance

1 business day

Dispute decision

5 business days

Escrow is available between verified RareDrop members and is recommended on every sale above $500. Sellers request it from Dashboard → Sales.

Process flow

  1. 1 · Authenticity Protection requested

    Seller · Reviewed within 1 business day

    Seller requests Authenticity Protection on the order. RareDrop reviews the sale, the listing and both parties.

    • Seller opens the sale in Dashboard → Sales and requests Authenticity Protection.
    • We verify seller ID status, membership standing and listing history.
    • We re-check the card against PriceCharting and eBay last-sold comps for pricing sanity.
    • Either party may withdraw at this stage at no cost.

  2. 2 · Approved & terms issued

    RareDrop · Funding link valid for 72 hours

    We approve the Authenticity Protection and email the buyer a secure funding link with the agreed amount and terms.

    • Buyer receives the Authenticity Protection agreement: item, grade/cert, total, fee split and inspection window.
    • Both parties confirm the shipping method and whether Concierge authentication is added.
    • The listing is locked from further edits so the terms cannot change mid-deal.
    • If the buyer does not fund within 72 hours the Authenticity Protection lapses and the sale reverts to direct payment.

  3. 3 · Buyer funds held

    Buyer · Seller must ship within 2 business days of clearance

    Buyer's funds are held by Authenticity Protection. Seller is cleared to ship — funds are never released early.

    • Funds are held in a segregated escrow account, never mixed with RareDrop operating funds.
    • Seller is notified 'cleared to ship' — never ship before this notice.
    • Shipment must be tracked, signature-required and insured to the full sale value.
    • Seller uploads the tracking number and photos of the card and packed parcel.

  4. 4 · In transit & inspection

    RareDrop · 48-hour buyer inspection from confirmed delivery

    Card ships to the buyer, or to our vault for authentication if Concierge was added. Buyer has a 48-hour inspection window on delivery.

    • Concierge option: the card routes through the RareDrop vault, where we verify cert number, slab integrity, centering and condition before onward shipping.
    • Buyer inspects on arrival and either accepts or opens a dispute inside the 48-hour window.
    • No response inside 48 hours is treated as acceptance and funds auto-release.
    • Any dispute freezes the funds immediately — nothing releases while a case is open.

  5. 5 · Funds released

    RareDrop · Payout initiated within 1 business day of acceptance

    Inspection passes and Authenticity Protection releases funds to the seller's preferred payment method.

    • Funds are paid out via the seller's saved method (Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, PayPal or Apple Pay).
    • The Authenticity Protection fee is deducted at release; the receipt is emailed to both parties.
    • The order is marked complete and the transaction is recorded on both trust profiles.

What Authenticity Protection covers

Funds held, never fronted

The seller ships only after the buyer's money is confirmed and held. Neither party is ever exposed to the other's good faith.

Authenticated before release

With Concierge added, our desk verifies cert number, slab integrity, centering and condition against the listing before the card ever reaches the buyer.

48-hour inspection window

Buyers get two full days from delivery to check the card and raise a case. Funds stay frozen until the window closes.

Insured, signature-required transit

Every Authenticity Protection shipment must be tracked, signature-required and insured to full sale value. Lost parcels are claimed and refunded, not argued over.

Verified counterparties

Escrow is available only between vetted RareDrop members who have completed ID and biometric verification.

Full audit trail

Every state change, message and photo is timestamped and retained, so a dispute is decided on the record, not on memory.

Fees

Sale valueEscrow fee
Under $600$9 flat (minimum)
$600 – $10,0001.5% of sale value
Over $10,000$150 flat (capped)
  • The fee is split 50/50 between buyer and seller by default; either party may elect to cover it in full at the approval step.
  • Concierge authentication (inspection and re-ship from the RareDrop vault) is a separate flat fee of $25–$45 by value band.
  • Cancelled or lapsed escrows are free — the fee is only charged when funds are released or a dispute is settled.
  • Return shipping in a successful 'not as described' claim is covered by the seller.

Disputes

  1. 1Case opened — Buyer submits photos, video of the unboxing and a written reason inside the 48-hour window. Funds freeze automatically.
  2. 2Evidence exchange — Seller has 2 business days to respond with their own listing photos, packing photos and tracking. Both sides see the same file.
  3. 3RareDrop review — Our authentication desk reviews cert data, comps and the evidence. We may require the card to be returned to the vault for a physical check.
  4. 4Outcome — Item not as described → buyer returns the card tracked and insured, and is refunded in full including the Authenticity Protection fee once it arrives. Item as described → funds release to the seller and the buyer pays return-side costs. Partial settlements are offered where both parties agree in writing.
  5. 5Final — Decisions are final for the Authenticity Protection service. Either party keeps every legal right they would otherwise have; Authenticity Protection does not replace the courts.

Best practices

Buyers

  • Fund only through the emailed Authenticity Protection link — RareDrop never asks for Authenticity Protection funds by DM, text or a personal payment handle.
  • Film a continuous unboxing video from sealed parcel to card in hand. It is the single strongest piece of evidence in a dispute.
  • Check the cert number on the grader's own lookup before accepting.
  • Raise any concern inside the 48-hour window — after that the release is automatic and final.
  • Never accept a request to move the deal off RareDrop to 'save the fee'.

Sellers

  • Wait for the 'cleared to ship' notice. Shipping before funding voids your Authenticity Protection cover.
  • Photograph the card, the sleeve/slab and the packed parcel before it is taped shut.
  • Ship tracked, signature-required and insured to full value in a rigid, sealed, water-resistant mailer.
  • Upload tracking the same day you ship so the inspection clock starts on time.
  • Describe flaws in the listing before the sale — undisclosed condition is the top cause of lost disputes.

Frequently asked

Who can use Authenticity Protection?

Any verified RareDrop member selling on the marketplace, and their buyer, on sales above $200. Sales at or below $200 settle by direct payment request. Authenticity Protection is strongly recommended on every sale over $500.

How long does Authenticity Protection take end to end?

Typically 5–8 business days: approval within 1 day, funding within 72 hours, shipping within 2 business days of clearance, then a 48-hour inspection window before release.

Where is the money held?

In a segregated escrow account, separate from RareDrop operating funds, until a release or refund condition is met.

What if the buyer never funds?

The Authenticity Protection lapses after 72 hours at no cost. The seller can re-request Authenticity Protection or send a direct payment request instead.

Can I cancel?

Yes — free at any point before funding. After funding, cancellation requires both parties to agree in writing, and any shipping already incurred is settled between them.

Does Authenticity Protection guarantee authenticity?

Escrow guarantees the payment. Authenticity verification is the Concierge add-on, where our desk physically inspects the card against the listing before it reaches the buyer.