Sealabid
FAQ
Plain-English answers. If anything here ever contradicts the legal docs, the Terms and Fees pages win.
The two rules people get wrong:
Relist credit: a £10 credit is issued only when a listing ends with zero envelopes. Any envelopes at all (even if unsold) = no credit. Credits expire after 30 days.
£10 fee deposit: if a sale completes, the £10 you paid is credited against commission due (it comes off what you owe). No completed sale = not returned.
Last updated: 16 December 2025
Getting started
What is Sealabid?▾
Sealabid is a sealed-bid marketplace. Sellers list items, buyers submit one sealed offer (an “envelope”), and the seller chooses who to deal with after the deadline.
Sealabid provides the platform — we don’t buy or sell the items ourselves, and the sale contract is between the buyer and the seller.
Do I need an account?▾
Yes. You’ll need an account to list an item, submit an envelope, or manage your listings and messages.
Is Sealabid an auction house?▾
No. We’re a platform that helps buyers and sellers find each other and agree a deal. We’re not a traditional auctioneer and we’re not a party to the buyer/seller contract.
Buying (envelopes)
What is an “envelope”?▾
An envelope is your sealed offer on a listing. Other buyers can’t see it. Sellers can’t see envelopes until the listing ends.
Can I submit more than one envelope on the same listing?▾
No — one envelope per buyer per listing. You can update your envelope before the deadline, but you can’t place multiple separate envelopes on the same item.
Does the highest offer automatically win?▾
No. “Buying is subjective.” After the deadline, the seller can choose any envelope (or choose not to sell) based on price and any other factors that matter to them.
Is submitting an envelope legally binding?▾
Submitting an envelope is a serious expression of intent, but it doesn’t automatically create a binding contract on its own. A binding agreement arises only once a seller accepts an offer and both parties agree to proceed.
Selling (choosing a winner)
What happens when my listing ends?▾
When the deadline is reached, the sealed-bid window closes. If there are envelopes, you can review them and choose who you want to proceed with — or decide there is no sale.
What does “unsold” mean on Sealabid?▾
A listing may end without a sale for different reasons, including:
- It ends with zero envelopes.
- Envelopes exist, but you reject them all.
- Envelopes exist, but you don’t choose a winner within the decision window.
These outcomes are all “unsold” outcomes — but the relist credit rule only applies to one specific case: the listing ending with zero envelopes.
Can I reject all envelopes?▾
Yes. You’re not forced to choose the highest offer (or any offer). However, if your listing ends with any envelopes, rejecting them does not qualify for a relist credit.
Fees, commission, and the £10 relist credit
When do I pay the £10 listing fee?▾
The £10 listing fee deposit is taken when you publish a listing (when it goes live), unless you use a valid £10 relist credit instead.
Is the £10 listing fee refundable?▾
Not as a normal cash refund.
If your sale completes, the £10 deposit you paid is credited against commission due (it comes off what you owe).
If there is no completed sale, the £10 is not returned.
A relist credit is not a refund — it’s a separate credit that’s issued only in one specific situation (zero envelopes).
How does the £10 deposit interact with commission?▾
If your sale completes, we calculate commission from the final agreed price and then subtract your £10 deposit from the commission amount due.
If you published using a relist credit, you didn’t pay a cash deposit — so there’s no £10 to subtract later.
Full commission bands are on the Fees page.
Exactly when is the £10 relist credit issued?▾
A £10 relist credit is issued only if your listing reaches its deadline and closes with zero envelopes.
Put bluntly: zero envelopes at the end = credit. Any envelopes at all = no credit.
What if envelopes exist but I don’t sell (reject all / don’t choose a winner)?▾
If one or more envelopes exist at the end of the listing, your item may still be unsold — but no relist credit is issued in those situations.
How long do I have to use a relist credit?▾
Relist credits must be used within 30 days of issue. After that, they expire.
What can I use the relist credit for?▾
It can be used against the £10 listing fee deposit on any new listing created by the same account.
Can I cash out the relist credit or transfer it to someone else?▾
No. It’s not cash, not withdrawable, and not transferable. It can’t be withdrawn and can’t be exchanged for any other benefit.
When is seller commission charged?▾
Commission applies when you accept an offer and the sale completes through Sealabid.
Full rates and examples are on the Fees page.
Do buyers pay a buyer premium?▾
Currently, Sealabid does not charge a buyer premium. Buyers pay what they agree with the seller, plus any payment-provider charges that may apply.
Are there any fee-free admin/promotional listings?▾
In limited cases (e.g. platform promos), Sealabid may waive the listing fee and/or commission for a specific listing. This is not the normal rule for everyday listings.
Can Sealabid refuse or reverse a relist credit?▾
Yes, if we reasonably believe there has been abuse, manipulation, or misuse of the platform (for example, attempts to artificially engineer “zero envelopes” outcomes).
Rules, safety, and support
Can I do the deal off-platform to avoid fees?▾
Don’t. If we reasonably suspect fee-avoidance, we may charge relevant fees, suspend or close accounts, or restrict access to the platform.
Where can I read the full legal terms?▾
Read our Terms & Conditions and Fees pages.
How do I contact you?▾
Email info@sealabid.com.