Definition
What is ScrapTrade, in plain terms?
ScrapTrade is an online marketplace where people list scrap metal for sale and other people buy it, with the listing, the negotiation, the payment, and the verification all happening on one platform instead of across a phone call and a handshake.
In one sentence: ScrapTrade lets a seller post scrap metal they have, lets multiple buyers respond to it, and holds the payment safely until the buyer confirms the material arrived as described.
That single sentence covers the core of it, but the useful detail is in how a listing actually gets sold, because ScrapTrade does not force every deal through the same mechanism. A seller chooses one of three paths depending on what suits their material and their timeline.
The three ways a listing can sell
Fixed-Price Listing
The seller names a price per unit weight. The first buyer to accept it gets the deal. Fastest option when the seller already knows what the material is worth.
Live Auction
The seller sets a start time and, optionally, a reserve price. Buyers bid against each other until the auction closes. Suited to larger lots where competition can push the price up.
Wanted Board Response
A buyer has already posted what they are looking for. A seller with matching material responds directly with an offer, which reverses the usual order of a listing.
All three paths lead to the same place once a buyer and seller agree: an order is created, a 5% deposit moves into escrow through Stripe, and the two parties arrange pickup or delivery through the platform's messaging.
Not sure which path suits your material? Sellers looking for a specific buyer match can also check open requests directly rather than waiting for one to appear.
Browse buyer requestsWhat happens between agreeing a price and getting paid
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A deal is confirmed
Either a fixed-price purchase, a winning auction bid, or an accepted Wanted Board offer creates an order between the buyer and seller.
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A 5% deposit is collected and held
The buyer's deposit, 5% of the agreed value, is taken through Stripe and held by the platform. It does not go to the seller yet.
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The material moves
The seller arranges pickup or delivery, coordinated through the order's chat thread so there is a written record of what was agreed.
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The buyer has 24 hours to confirm receipt
Once the buyer has the material and it matches what was listed, they confirm the order is complete within a 24-hour window from receipt.
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Funds are released
Once confirmed, or once the 24-hour window passes without a dispute, the held deposit moves to the seller. If the buyer raises a dispute inside that window instead, the funds stay held while it is resolved.
Both sides of a deal have support available if something is unclear. Sellers can reach the seller support team for help managing an active listing, and buyers can ask ScrapTrade's buyer-finding support to help locate a seller for a specific material, grade, or volume that is not currently listed.
How this differs from the two obvious alternatives
| Question | Local scrap yard | General classifieds | ScrapTrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| How many buyers see your material | Usually one, in person | Anyone who happens to browse the ad | Every buyer active in that material category, wherever they are |
| How the price is set | Quoted on the spot by the yard | Whatever you write in the ad | Fixed price, live bidding, or a buyer's own request |
| Payment protection | Cash on the day, no recourse | None, entirely between strangers | 5% deposit held in escrow via Stripe, released after a 24-hour confirmation window |
| Who you are dealing with | Whoever is behind the counter | An anonymous ad, unverified | KYC-verified trader identity before you commit to a deal |
| Proof the material exists as described | You see it yourself in person | Photos only, no verification | Optional GPS-verified listing |
Every trader on ScrapTrade goes through KYC verification before transacting freely. It is one of the reasons buyers and sellers trust a listing enough to commit to it.
See trust and safetyWhat it is not
ScrapTrade is not a price index and does not publish an official market rate for any metal. A listing price reflects what a specific seller is asking or what buyers actually bid, not a rate set by the platform. It is also not a logistics company. We do not send trucks, weigh material, or take possession of anything. The marketplace layer, meaning listings, communication, verification, and payment holding, is what we operate. Physical handling stays between the buyer and the seller.
Frequently asked questions
Is ScrapTrade the same as an online classifieds site?
No. A classifieds listing is a static ad with no built-in payment protection. A ScrapTrade listing can sell three different ways, includes optional GPS video verification, and settles through escrow rather than a private cash arrangement between strangers.
Do I need to be a registered business to use ScrapTrade?
No. Individual sellers, tradespeople, and households can list scrap metal without a business registration. Registered businesses can additionally apply for a verified business badge, which signals a trading history to buyers browsing listings.
What actually happens to my money when I buy scrap on ScrapTrade?
A 5% deposit of the agreed value is collected through Stripe and held in escrow once a deal is agreed. You then have a 24-hour window after receiving the material to confirm it matches what was listed. It is only released to the seller after that confirmation, or after the window passes without a dispute. If something is wrong, you can raise a dispute against that order before any funds are released.
Does ScrapTrade set the price of scrap metal?
No. Prices are set by individual sellers, or discovered through bidding when a listing is run as a live auction. Live material pricing on the platform gives both sides a current reference point, but it does not act as a fixed pricing authority for any material.
Is everyone on ScrapTrade identity-checked?
Traders go through a KYC verification process before they can transact freely on the platform. This confirms a real, checkable identity sits behind an account, which is a basic layer of trust a phone-only or classifieds-based deal does not have.
Ready to see a real listing?
Browse what is currently listed in the marketplace, or create a free account and list your first batch of material today.
Related reading: About ScrapTrade · How it works · Trust and safety · Live material prices