Process
From a pile of scrap to money in your account
This page walks through exactly what happens after you create a listing, from the moment a buyer shows interest to the moment funds land with you. It also covers what the process looks like from the buyer's side of the same transaction.
Seller journey
Selling scrap metal, step by step
The exact steps depend slightly on whether you choose a fixed price, an auction, or a Wanted Board response, but the shape of the process is the same in every case.
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Verify your identity, once
Before listing freely, sellers complete a KYC identity check. It is a one-time step that tells buyers a real, checkable person or business is behind the listing, not an anonymous account.
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Create the listing
Add clear photos or, for higher-value lots, a GPS-verified listing that ties the material to the location it was recorded in. Include material type, estimated weight, and pickup location. Check live material pricing first if you are unsure what to ask, and lean on seller support if you want a second opinion on how to describe or price the lot. Listings with more detail tend to draw faster responses, simply because a buyer has less to ask about before committing.
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Choose how it sells
Set a fixed price for a straightforward sale, schedule a live auction if you expect competition for the lot, or leave it open to be matched against active Wanted Board requests from buyers already looking for that material.
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Field offers or bids
Depending on the method chosen, buyers either purchase outright, place competing bids, or message you directly with a proposal. You can accept, decline, or negotiate through the listing's built-in chat.
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Accept a deal
Once you accept an offer or an auction closes, an order is created and a 5% deposit of the agreed value is collected from the buyer through Stripe and held in escrow. You are not paid yet at this point, and that is intentional.
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Arrange the physical handover
Coordinate pickup time, access, and any loading requirements with the buyer through the order chat, so there is a written record attached to that specific transaction if a question comes up later.
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Get paid, within a 24-hour window
The buyer has 24 hours from receiving the material to confirm it matched the listing. Once confirmed, or once that window passes without a dispute, the held deposit releases to you. If a dispute is raised inside the window instead, the funds remain held while it is reviewed.
Not confident describing or pricing your material yet? Registering only takes a minute, and our seller support team can help with listing creation and management from your very first post.
Register to start listingBuyer journey
What the same deal looks like from the other side
A buyer is not just a passive recipient of whatever a seller lists. Sourcing on ScrapTrade works both ways.
Searching and filtering
- Filter by material type, grade, weight, and location
- Sort by newly listed, ending soonest (for auctions), or distance
- Check whether a listing carries GPS video verification
Posting a Wanted Board request
- State the material, quantity, and grade you need
- Sellers with matching stock respond directly to you
- Useful when supply in your area is thin for a specific material
- Buyer-finding support can help match you to sellers directly if nothing suitable is listed yet
Whichever direction the deal starts from, the same escrow and confirmation process applies once a price is agreed. The buyer's 5% deposit is held through Stripe until they confirm receipt within the 24-hour window, which protects the buyer from paying for material that never turns up, and protects the seller from a buyer who simply refuses to confirm after collection. Every seller a buyer deals with has already passed KYC verification, which is one less thing to check manually before committing to a purchase.
Sourcing a specific grade or volume and cannot find it listed? Post a request and let matching sellers come to you instead of searching manually.
Browse open requestsTiming
How long does each stage actually take
Fixed-price listings can sell within minutes if the price is competitive. Live auctions run for a duration the seller sets, commonly a few days. Escrow release is not an arbitrary waiting period. It is tied to the buyer's confirmation, so a fast pickup and a fast confirmation can mean funds move quickly. A deal that involves interstate or international shipping will naturally take longer between acceptance and confirmation simply because of transit time, which is a logistics reality outside the platform's control.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel a listing after I have created it?
Yes, as long as no buyer has yet accepted a fixed-price purchase, placed a winning bid on an auction that has closed, or had an offer accepted on a Wanted Board request. Once an order exists, cancelling requires agreement from both sides.
What if the buyer never confirms receipt?
If a reasonable amount of time passes without confirmation and without a dispute being raised, the platform's support process steps in to review the order rather than leaving funds held indefinitely.
Do I need a video for every listing?
No, video verification is optional, but it is one of the strongest signals a buyer can look for before committing to a larger purchase, since it ties the listing to a real, time-stamped location.
Can a business list recurring scrap volume rather than one-off lots?
Yes. Businesses generating regular scrap volume can post recurring listings rather than recreating a new listing every time, and build a visible transaction history that buyers can review.
How much is the deposit, and when do I get paid?
A buyer's deposit is 5% of the agreed value, collected through Stripe once a deal is confirmed. The seller is paid once the buyer confirms receipt, or once the 24-hour confirmation window passes without a dispute being raised.
Do I have to figure out pricing on my own?
No. Live material pricing is available as a reference point while you list, and seller support is available if you want help describing or pricing a lot before it goes live.
See the process in action
Create a free account and list your first batch of material, or browse the marketplace to see how buyers are sourcing today.
Related reading: What is ScrapTrade? · How to use ScrapTrade · Trust and safety · Contact us