Terms of Service

About LP Trader and these Terms

LP Trader is an online marketplace operated by LP Trader (Pty) Ltd (registration number [Company registration number]) (“LP Trader”, “we”, “us”) that lets collectors in South Africa buy, sell, auction and swap vinyl records. These Terms of Service apply to the LP Trader app and website (together, the “Platform”).

By creating an account or using the Platform you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you don’t agree, please don’t use LP Trader.

Your account

• You must be 18 or older, or use LP Trader with the consent of a parent or guardian.
• Give accurate information and keep it up to date — including your mobile number, which we verify with a one-time PIN (OTP).
• Keep your password secure. You’re responsible for activity on your account.
• One person or business per account. Accounts may not be sold or transferred.

Our role as a marketplace

Each sale is concluded between the buyer and the seller. LP Trader provides the Platform, collects payment on the seller’s behalf as a limited payment-collection agent, holds the funds until delivery is confirmed and then pays the seller. We don’t own, inspect or store the records listed.

Where a seller sells in the ordinary course of business, the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) applies to their sales. Private collectors selling their own records may not be subject to the CPA.

Payments and escrow

• All payments are made to LP Trader — never directly to a seller. Pay by card or Instant EFT through PayFast, or by manual EFT to LP Trader’s bank account using your order number as the reference.
• Manual EFT orders are reserved for 48 hours. If payment hasn’t reflected by then, the order is cancelled and the records are released.
• We hold the funds in escrow until PostNet confirms delivery or collection, then release the seller’s payout.
• Prices are in South African rand (ZAR) and include VAT where the seller is a registered VAT vendor.

Shipping with PostNet

• All orders ship with PostNet — PostNet to PostNet (counter-to-counter) or PostNet Door-to-Door.
• Sellers must drop the parcel at their PostNet branch within 2 business days of payment and enter the waybill number in the app.
• Shipping fees are paid by the buyer and passed through to PostNet in full.
• Records must be packed in a rigid mailer or LP box. Sellers bear the risk of damage caused by inadequate packaging.

Selling and fees

• LP Trader charges a 15% handling fee on the item subtotal of each sale (shipping excluded). The fee is deducted from your payout.
• Grade honestly using the Goldmine standard (see the Help Centre) and disclose all defects, including sleeve damage and pressing details.
• Only list records you own and can ship. Counterfeit, bootleg or unauthorised pressings, stolen goods and anything unlawful are prohibited.
• Keep valid South African banking details on your shop to receive payouts.

Payouts

• We pay sellers by EFT within 3 business days after PostNet confirms delivery, less the 15% handling fee.
• We email you when a payout is made, with the bank reference.
• We may hold a payout while a dispute, chargeback or security review is open — for example if your banking details changed recently.
• You’re responsible for declaring income from your sales to SARS.

LP Trader Pro

Selling is free. LP Trader Pro (R899 per month) adds Books and Analytics. Pro is billed monthly in advance and renews automatically until you cancel. You can cancel at any time in the app and keep access until the end of the paid month. Where the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA) gives you a cooling-off right, you may cancel within 7 days of subscribing for a full refund.

Swaps and auctions

• Swaps are agreements between two users. Each party ships their records with PostNet and rates the other afterwards. Any cash top-up is paid through LP Trader.
• Auction bids are binding. The highest bid at closing that meets any reserve wins and must be paid within 48 hours.
• Shill bidding — bidding on your own items, directly or through others — is prohibited.

Problems, returns and refunds

• If a record arrives damaged, is materially worse than its grading, or doesn’t arrive, report it from the order within 3 days of delivery. We pause the payout while we investigate.
• If we find in your favour, we refund you from the funds held and may ask you to return the record via PostNet at the seller’s cost.
• Your rights under the CPA (where it applies) are not affected by these Terms.

Ratings and reviews

After each order or swap, both parties can rate each other. Reviews must be honest and relate to the transaction. We may remove reviews that are abusive, fake, contain personal information or were left in exchange for an incentive.

Acceptable use

• Don’t take transactions off the Platform to avoid fees or escrow.
• Don’t harass other users, send spam or share someone else’s personal information.
• Don’t scrape, reverse engineer or interfere with the Platform or its security.
• Don’t create multiple accounts to manipulate ratings, auctions or promotions.

Suspension and account deletion

We may suspend or close accounts that breach these Terms, put other users at risk, or that we’re required to close by law. You can delete your account at any time in Settings → Account → Delete account. Records we must keep by law are retained as described in our Privacy Policy.

Liability

To the extent permitted by law (including the CPA), LP Trader isn’t liable for indirect or consequential loss, or for the acts or omissions of buyers and sellers. Our total liability for any claim is limited to the fees we earned on the transaction concerned. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot lawfully be limited.

Governing law and company information

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Information required by section 43 of ECTA:

• Company: LP Trader (Pty) Ltd
• Registration number: [Company registration number]
• Directors: [Directors’ names]
• Registered address: [Registered address]
• Email: legal@lptrader.app
• Website: lptrader.app

Changes to these Terms

We’ll notify you in the app and by email at least 14 days before material changes take effect. If you keep using LP Trader after that, the updated Terms apply.