If you’ve ever stared at a pile of unused gear and thought, “I should just sell this”, you’re not alone. New Zealand’s own Trade Me makes it easy to turn clutter into cash — but only if you know how the fees, payments, and protections actually work.
Active listings on Trade Me: over 5 million ·
Seller success fee (minimum): 0% for no-reserve auctions ·
Highest selling category: Motors (cars, boats, parts) ·
Buyer protection fee: up to 5% ·
Years since launch: 26 (founded 1999)
Quick snapshot
- Trade Me charges 0% success fee for items sold at $1 or less (Trade Me Help Centre)
- Buyer Protection covers up to $5,000 (Trade Me Help Centre)
- Payment must be completed within 5 days of winning (Trade Me Help Centre)
- Exact number of active users (not publicly updated since 2022)
- Seller fee for classified ads may vary by listing type
- Bids are binding contracts (Trade Me policy)
- Trade Me introduced Afterpay in 2020; Casual seller success fee began at 7.9% in 2019
- Trade Me plans to expand Ping integrated payments and may adjust professional seller fees
Six key numbers every seller should know at a glance:
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Monthly users | 4 million+ (approx) |
| Categories | 50+ |
| Payment methods | Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, Afterpay |
| Mobile app rating | 4.7 stars (iOS) |
How much does Trade Me take from a sale?
The biggest question for any seller: what’s the final cut? Trade Me’s fee structure splits into three parts: the listing fee (often free), the success fee (paid only when the item sells), and the payment-processing fee. Here’s how each works. For more details, see the Marketplace fees and quick start selling guide.
Success fees for auctions
- Casual sellers pay 7.9% of the total sale value for most Marketplace categories, capped at $499 (Trade Me Help Centre).
- Items that sell for $1 or less incur $0 success fee (same source).
- No-reserve auctions (no reserve price) always have a 0% success fee – a nudge to keep listings simple and fast.
Buy Now and classified ad fees
- Buy Now listings are treated as a regular auction with a fixed price; the same 7.9% success fee applies if the item sells.
- Classified ads (e.g., for services, properties) carry a flat fee that varies by category – check the listing form for the exact price.
Payment processing fees
- Ping payments (Trade Me’s integrated payment system): 2.19% per transaction (1.89% for Top Sellers) (Trade Me – Pricing, Ping and shipping).
- Afterpay sales: 4.95% transaction fee on top of any success fee (Trade Me – Buying & selling on Trade Me with Afterpay).
- Bank transfer, cash, or other non-Ping methods: 0% payment fee (Trade Me – Marketplace fees).
For a casual seller moving a $100 item via Ping, the total deduction is $7.90 (success) + $2.19 (Ping) = $10.09 – that’s 10% gone. Choose Afterpay and it’s $12.85. The cheaper route? A no-reserve auction paid by bank transfer: $0 in fees if the final price is $1 or less.
How do I take money out of my Trade Me account?
Once your item sells and the buyer pays, the money sits in your Trade Me account – but getting it into your bank account takes a few steps.
Withdrawal process and timing
- Link a New Zealand bank account to your Trade Me profile.
- From your account dashboard, request a withdrawal to that account.
- Ping payments are available instantly in your Ping balance (less the 2.19% fee) (Trade Me – Using Ping).
- Transfers to your bank account take 5–7 business days (Trade Me standard policy).
While Ping credits the seller instantly, the money isn’t spendable until it lands in your bank account – a delay that catches many first-time sellers off guard. Plan for at least a week between “sold” and “cash in hand”.
What if the buyer doesn’t pay?
- Trade Me gives the buyer 5 days to complete payment (Trade Me Help Centre).
- If they don’t, you can relist the item and the success fee for that sale is automatically refunded.
- You can also leave negative feedback and block the buyer.
The implication: your cash flow depends on buyer compliance. For high-value items, consider using Ping’s instant credit to at least see the money in your dashboard, even if the bank transfer lags.
What if I get scammed on Trade Me?
No marketplace is immune to bad actors. Trade Me runs a Buyer Protection program that covers eligible purchases up to $5,000 NZD, but it’s only for buyers who pay through Ping or credit card on the site (Trade Me Help Centre).
Reporting a scam
- Go to the Trust & Safety page and submit a report – include listing links, messages, and payment records.
- Trade Me’s team investigates and may remove the listing and suspend the seller.
Seller-side protections
- You’re not required to ship until payment clears (5-day window protects you).
- If you use Ping, the buyer cannot file a chargeback through the card network – disputes go through Trade Me’s resolution centre.
“Consumer NZ has noted that Trade Me’s Buyer Protection gives users more confidence than Facebook Marketplace, where no formal protection exists.”Consumer NZ (marketplace comparison report)
“The success fee is only charged when Trade Me has helped make a sale – it’s our core value proposition.”Trade Me Help Centre – Becoming a professional seller
Upsides
- Free to start a basic listing
- Buyer Protection encourages bidding
- Wide audience – 4 million monthly users
- Integrated payment (Ping) with instant credit
Downsides
- Success fee + payment fee can reach 10–13%
- Withdrawal takes 5–7 business days
- No escrow for out-of-platform payments
- Classified ad fees are opaque
The implication: Trade Me’s protection system works best for Ping transactions, but sellers still bear the risk of non-platform payments.
Can I negotiate prices or back out of a bid?
Negotiating with sellers
- You can’t change a listing price after someone bids. Negotiation happens only before the first bid, by asking the seller a question about the item.
- Many sellers set a “Buy Now” price – that’s the final price; no haggling after that.
Bid retraction rules
- A bid is a binding contract (Trade Me terms).
- Retraction is only allowed if the seller changes the listing description (e.g., corrects a major error), or if you accidentally bid the wrong amount and immediately contact Trade Me.
- Without a valid reason, backing out can lead to account suspension.
The pattern: Trade Me enforces bid integrity strictly, so bidders should think before they click.
What is the best way to sell on Trade Me?
Setting a reserve vs no-reserve
A reserve price protects you from selling too low, but it increases the success fee (the standard 7.9% applies on the final sale). No-reserve auctions attract more bidders and carry a 0% success fee if the item sells for $1 or less – but you risk losing money on high-value items.
Using a Buy Now price
- Buy Now lets you set a fixed price – good for popular items where you know the market value.
- Success fee still applies (7.9%).
Writing good listings
- Photos: Use natural light, multiple angles, and a plain background. Listings with photos sell 50% faster (Trade Me internal data).
- Description: Include condition, dimensions, brand, model, and any defects – transparency builds trust.
- Keywords: Use what buyers search for – e.g., “Samsung Galaxy S22 case” not “phone cover”.
Related reading: quick start selling guide · Marketplace fees
factswings.com, salehoo.com, trademe.co.nz, trademe.co.nz, help.trademe.co.nz, help.trademe.co.nz
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register to sell on Trade Me?
Yes – you need a free Trade Me account. No subscription is required to list items.
Can I sell without a reserve price?
Absolutely. No-reserve auctions are popular and carry a 0% success fee if the final price is $1 or less.
What if my item doesn’t sell?
You can relist it at no additional fee within a certain period (check your account for relist options).
How do I cancel a listing?
You can withdraw a listing within one hour of posting with no charge. After that, a $3 fee or the applicable success fee (whichever is higher) may apply (WorldFirst).
Can I sell services on Trade Me?
Yes, through classified ads. Check the specific category for fees.
What is Trade Me Buyer Protection?
It covers eligible purchases up to $5,000 when paid via Ping or credit card through Trade Me.
Is my personal information safe on Trade Me?
Trade Me uses encryption and does not share your bank details with buyers. Always keep communication on the platform.
For Kiwis selling their used gear or side-hustle products, Trade Me remains the dominant local channel – but the fee stack means you’re handing over about one in every ten dollars you earn. The choice is clear: either bake that cost into your pricing, or switch to a no-reserve auction and a free payment method to keep more of your sale. For casual sellers, that’s the difference between a hobby and a profitable habit.