Fees, payouts, and timing
What it costs, when it lands, and who pays what.
CrankMart platform fee
Zero. CrankMart does not charge any commission on escrow payments. The seller receives 100% of the sale price (less TradeSafe's fees).
TradeSafe escrow fee
TradeSafe charges a fee for handling the escrow. This is deducted from the seller's payout — not added to the buyer's price.
The exact amount depends on the transaction value. As a rough guide for a typical marketplace sale, expect TradeSafe's fee in the low single-digit percent range. See TradeSafe's pricing page for the current schedule.
Boost fees
If you choose to boost a listing, you pay upfront via Paystack (separate from the marketplace flow). See Boost pricing.
Payout timing
For a typical successful sale:
| Step | Time elapsed | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer pays | 0 | Funds captured into TradeSafe escrow |
| Seller ships | usually 1-3 days | Item dispatched |
| Buyer receives + confirms on CrankMart | 1-7 days more | TradeSafe emails the buyer; inspection window opens |
| Buyer accepts (or the window ends) | within the inspection window | TradeSafe releases to the seller |
| Bank payout clears | 1-3 business days | Funds land in seller's bank |
End-to-end: typically 5-14 days from purchase to seller's bank.
What about international cards?
TradeSafe accepts SA-issued cards reliably. International cards (UK, USA, EU) usually work but may be flagged by the issuing bank as cross-border. Buyers from outside SA should check with their bank before purchase if the amount is large.