Blog

  • Seller fees and tiers

    PlayerBay takes a seller fee from each sale. The rate depends on what you sell, the game and your seller tier, which is set each month from last month’s completed sales. The current rates are in the table below. The fee comes out of the item price, so the buyer never sees it.

    Current seller fees

    The rate is fixed when the buyer places the order. A tier change or a fee change later doesn’t alter orders already placed.

    How the fee is taken

    When an order completes, the sale is added to your earnings with the fee already taken out. The buyer’s processing fee is separate: the buyer pays it, and it never reduces your earnings.

    Withdrawing has its own fee, set by the payout method. See Withdrawing your earnings.

    How seller tiers work

    • Monthly evaluation: your tier is set at the start of each month from last month’s completed sales volume. It stays fixed for the whole month.
    • Upgrades: reach a higher tier’s threshold in a month and you move up at the start of the next month.
    • Demotion protection: you move down only after missing your tier’s threshold two months in a row.

    Your Seller Tier page shows your current tier, this month’s volume and how far you are from the next tier.

    View your seller tier

    Founders Program

    Founders never drop below Tier 2 rates, whatever their monthly volume. The program has a fixed number of places, and our team grants founder status. If you’re a founder, your Seller Tier page shows a Founder badge.

    Fee waivers

    When seller fees are waived, for every seller or for your shop, the fee on new orders is 0%. A waiver applies to orders placed while it’s on.

    Some games have their own rate, set for that game’s market. Those rates are listed on the fees page.

    No. The seller fee is a share of the item price. The processing fee is a separate charge the buyer pays at checkout.

  • Payout holds

    A payout hold pauses withdrawals from your account while our team reviews something on it. Nothing is taken from your balance: your earnings keep building and stay yours. While the hold is on you can’t request a withdrawal, and pending requests wait. Contact support to find out why and what’s needed to lift it.

    How you know

    In your wallet’s Balance Overview tab, the Seller Earnings card shows Payouts on hold — contact support in place of the Withdraw Earnings button.

    Open your wallet

    What a hold does

    • You can’t submit new withdrawal requests.
    • Requests you submitted before the hold stay pending. Our team can’t pay them until the hold is lifted.
    • Your balance isn’t changed. Sales, fees and protection periods work as usual.
    • Your listings, orders and messages aren’t affected by a payout hold.

    How to get it lifted

    1. Select Payouts on hold — contact support in your wallet, or go to the contact page.
    2. Choose Selling and payouts and ask about the payout hold.
    3. Send what our team asks for.

    When our team lifts the hold, the Withdraw Earnings button comes back and pending requests can be processed. We reply within 2 days, often sooner.

    Contact support

    Other reasons money can be held

    A payout hold covers your whole account. Holds on single sales are different: earnings wait for the buyer protection period, and a dispute or chargeback holds that sale until it’s settled. See When your earnings become available.

  • Sand Dollars: your PlayerBay balance

    Sand Dollars are your PlayerBay balance. You earn them as cashback when you pay for an order, and refunds to your wallet arrive as Sand Dollars. Checkout applies your balance automatically, and if it covers the whole order, there’s no processing fee.

    How you get Sand Dollars

    • Cashback: each order you pay for earns cashback on the amount you paid with your card, wallet or crypto. It’s added to your balance when your payment goes through. Checkout shows the amount under Sand Dollars Earned.
    • Bonus codes: some discount codes add extra cashback. Checkout shows the bonus when the code is applied.
    • Refunds: when an order is refunded to your PlayerBay wallet, the refund arrives as Sand Dollars straight away.

    The part of an order you pay with Sand Dollars doesn’t earn cashback.

    Using them at checkout

    You don’t need to do anything. Checkout applies as much of your balance as the order allows and shows it as SD applied in the order summary. You pay the rest with your chosen method.

    • Balance covers the whole order: checkout says This Order is Free! and no processing fee is added. Select Complete Free Order.
    • Balance covers part of the order: the processing fee applies as usual, and a small part is always left for your payment method, because payments have a minimum charge.

    Refunds and cashback

    If an order is refunded or cancelled, the cashback it earned is taken back from your balance. A partial refund takes back the same share of the cashback. The Sand Dollars you spent on that order are returned to your wallet.

    What you can’t do with them

    • Withdraw them as cash. They’re spent on PlayerBay orders.
    • Send them to another user.

    Sand Dollars don’t expire. You can see your balance and every change to it on your wallet page.

    Open your wallet

    No. Seller earnings are kept in US dollars and withdrawn separately. Sand Dollars are only for buying. See Withdrawing your earnings.

    The cashback that order earned was taken back. It’s shown in your wallet history.

  • How refunds work

    A refund goes either to your PlayerBay wallet, where it arrives instantly as Sand Dollars, or back to your original payment method if you paid by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App Pay or Amazon Pay. A refund to your wallet covers the item price; the processing fee isn’t refunded. A refund to your original payment method includes the processing fee.

    When you get a refund

    • The seller didn’t deliver in time: you cancel the order yourself. See Cancelling an order the seller didn’t deliver.
    • The seller cancels the order: the refund goes to your wallet.
    • The seller offers you a refund: after you contact them about a problem or raise a dispute, you accept their offer.
    • A dispute ends in your favor: you accept the seller’s refund offer, or our team refunds you. See How disputes work.

    Where the money goes

    You paid with Refund options
    Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App Pay or Amazon Pay Your PlayerBay wallet, or your original payment method
    Crypto Your PlayerBay wallet only
    Sand Dollars only Your PlayerBay wallet only

    When you cancel an overdue order or accept a seller’s refund offer, you choose under Refund destination: PlayerBay wallet or Original payment method. When the seller cancels, the refund goes to your wallet. If you’d rather have it on your card, contact us before you spend it and we’ll send it there instead, fee included. When our team refunds a dispute, they send it to your wallet or, for an order paid through one of the methods above, to your original payment method.

    If you paid partly with Sand Dollars, that part always goes back to your wallet. Only the amount charged to your payment method can go back to it.

    How long it takes

    • PlayerBay wallet: instant. You can spend it on your next order straight away.
    • Original payment method: the site shows 5–10 business days for it to appear. After that, check with your bank.

    What’s refunded

    A refund to your PlayerBay wallet covers the price you paid for the item; the processing fee isn’t refunded. In some cases, when PlayerBay is at fault, our team refunds the fee too. A refund to your original payment method includes the processing fee.

    A partial refund from a dispute returns part of the price. The order stays completed.

    Refunds also undo the order’s cashback: the Sand Dollars it earned are taken back from your balance.

    After an order is cancelled or refunded, its chat stays open for 3 days, then closes.

    If you open a chargeback with your bank, we can’t refund that order on PlayerBay until the bank decides. Use a dispute on PlayerBay instead. See Chargebacks.

    If the seller cancelled your order and you haven’t spent the refund yet, contact us with your order number and we can send it to your card instead. Refunds you chose to receive in your wallet stay there as Sand Dollars.

    Check your order page: it shows the amount and where it was sent. If more than 10 business days have passed, ask your bank about it, then contact us with your order number if it still can’t find it.

  • Payment methods

    You can pay with a credit or debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and the other methods checkout lists for your country and order. Every order is charged in US dollars, and a processing fee is added on the part you pay by card or another method, never on the part covered by Sand Dollars. Orders fully covered by Sand Dollars have no processing fee.

    Methods you can use

    Checkout shows only the methods that work for your country, your order amount and what you’re buying. Cards work everywhere.

    Some methods aren’t offered for gift cards, because the payment provider’s own rules don’t allow it. If a method from the table isn’t on your checkout page, it isn’t available for that order. PayPal isn’t available.

    How to pay

    1. Open your order’s checkout page.
    2. Fill in the delivery details if the order asks for them.
    3. Under Choose Payment Method, pick a method.
    4. For a card, enter your card and billing details, then select Pay. For Apple Pay or Google Pay, use the wallet’s own button.
    5. Finish any check your bank asks for, such as a code or a prompt in your banking app.

    If you have Sand Dollars, checkout applies them first. You pay the rest with your chosen method.

    Fees

    A processing fee is added to every order you pay for, whatever method you use. Some categories have their own processing fee. Checkout shows it in the order summary before you pay.

    On very small orders, a small adjustment is added so the payment meets the processor’s minimum charge. If your Sand Dollars cover the whole order, there’s no processing fee.

    Everything is charged in US dollars

    You can browse prices in another currency, but checkout and your statement show US dollars. If your card is in another currency, your bank converts the amount and can add its own fee. See Paying in your own currency.

    Where refunds go

    Orders paid through card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App Pay or Amazon Pay can be refunded to the original payment method or to your PlayerBay wallet. Orders paid with crypto or Sand Dollars are refunded to your wallet. See How refunds work.

    The wallet button only shows when your device and browser support it and the wallet has a card saved. If it doesn’t show, pay by card or pick another method.

    It depends where the refund goes. A refund to your original payment method includes the processing fee; a refund to your PlayerBay wallet covers the item price only.

    You can combine Sand Dollars with one other method. You can’t split the rest between two cards.

  • Paying in your own currency

    Every PlayerBay order is charged in US dollars. You can choose another currency to see approximate prices while you browse, but checkout, receipts and refunds are in US dollars. If your card uses another currency, your bank converts the amount and can add a foreign transaction fee.

    Showing prices in your currency

    1. Select the language and currency button in the top bar or the footer. Site Settings opens.
    2. Under Currency, pick a currency.
    3. Select Save Changes.

    Listing prices are then converted at a recent exchange rate. They’re estimates. If your currency isn’t in the list, keep US dollars.

    What you’re actually charged

    Checkout always shows the total in US dollars, and that’s the amount sent to your payment method. Your bank or card issuer converts it into your currency at its own rate, so the amount on your statement can differ slightly from the converted price you saw while browsing.

    • Ask your bank whether it charges a foreign transaction fee on US dollar payments.
    • Some banks treat US dollar payments as international. If your card is declined, check that international payments are turned on. See Why was my card payment declined?

    Refunds

    Refunds are made in US dollars too. A refund to your card is converted back by your bank at its rate on that day, so it can differ slightly from what you paid in your currency. A refund to your PlayerBay wallet arrives as Sand Dollars.

    Seller earnings are in US dollars. The withdrawal method you choose decides what currency you receive. See Withdrawing your earnings.
  • Why was my card payment declined?

    Most declines come from your bank: it refused the payment, its verification step didn’t finish, or the card details didn’t match. Checkout tells you which one. Fix that, ask your bank to allow the payment, or pay with another card or method from the list at checkout.

    What the message means

    Message at checkout What to do
    Your bank declined this payment. Your bank refused it. Call your bank or check its app, then try again, or use another card.
    Your bank’s verification didn’t finish. Your bank asked you to confirm the payment (3D Secure) and it timed out or failed. Try again and complete the check in your banking app or the code it sends.
    Your card has insufficient funds. Add funds or use another card.
    The security code (CVC) is incorrect, or the card number or expiration date is invalid. Re-enter the card details exactly as printed.
    The postal code doesn’t match your card’s billing address. Enter the billing address your bank has on file.
    Your card has expired. Use a card that’s still valid.
    Too many attempts with this card. Wait a while before trying the same card again, or use another card or payment method.
    This payment couldn’t be completed. Use another card or payment method. We can’t share more detail about this decline.

    Check these before trying again

    • Online and international payments are turned on for your card. PlayerBay charges in US dollars, so some banks treat it as an international payment.
    • Your bank’s verification prompts reach you (banking app notifications or text messages).
    • Your billing name and address match what your bank has.
    • The card isn’t blocked for online purchases or gaming merchants. Some prepaid and virtual cards are.

    Still declined?

    1. Call your bank and ask it to allow the payment, then try again.
    2. Try another card.
    3. Pick another method at checkout, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. Checkout shows only the methods available to you.
    If several payment attempts fail in a row, checkout pauses new attempts for a few minutes. Wait, then try again.

    If your bank says it approved the payment but checkout still declines it, contact us with your order number.

    Your payment went through and our team is checking one detail before releasing the order. We email you when it’s done. If the review clears, the order goes ahead. If it doesn’t, you get a full refund.

    No. A declined payment isn’t charged. Checkout tells you when a payment fails, and the order stays unpaid until a payment goes through.

  • Paying with crypto

    When crypto is offered at checkout, you pick a coin and send the exact amount shown to the address shown before the timer runs out. Your order confirms once the payment arrives. Crypto orders are always refunded to your PlayerBay wallet as Sand Dollars, never back to a crypto address.

    Before you start

    • Crypto is available only when it appears under Choose Payment Method. It isn’t offered on every order.
    • Checkout shows the coins that work for your order’s amount: Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD Coin (USDC on ERC-20) and Litecoin. Each coin has a minimum, so very small orders can’t be paid in crypto.
    • The price and the processing fee are the same as for any other method. Payments are handled by NOWPayments.

    How to pay

    1. Under Choose Payment Method, pick crypto.
    2. Choose a coin.
    3. Select Continue to Crypto Payment.
    4. Copy the amount next to Send exactly and the address under To this address.
    5. Send the payment from your wallet or exchange before Time remaining reaches zero.
    6. Keep the page open or come back later. The order confirms once the network confirms your payment, and we email you.
    Send exactly the amount shown, in the coin you chose, on the network shown. If your exchange takes its fee out of the amount, less arrives and the order is put on hold.

    On smaller orders the rate isn’t fixed, and checkout says so. The final amount is calculated when the payment confirms and can differ slightly from the quote.

    If something goes wrong

    What happened What happens next
    The timer ran out before you paid The payment window closes and nothing is charged. Start again from checkout.
    You sent less than the amount shown The order is held and we email you your options: send the rest to the same address, or ask for a refund of what you paid. Follow the email; our team handles the refund.
    You sent a different coin Your funds are safe. Our support team contacts you to apply the payment to your order or refund it.

    If you sent a payment and the order hasn’t confirmed, contact us with your order number and the transaction ID.

    Refunds

    Crypto orders can’t be refunded to a crypto address. Any refund on a crypto order, from a cancellation or a dispute, goes to your PlayerBay wallet as Sand Dollars, which you can spend on your next order. See How refunds work.

    It depends on the coin and how busy its network is. Most payments confirm within minutes. You can leave the page; we email you when it confirms.

    Either crypto isn’t switched on right now, or your order is below the minimum for every coin. Choose another method.

  • How to create a Roblox game pass

    Some Robux offers are delivered through a game pass. You create a pass in one of your Roblox experiences, set it to the price the seller gives you and share its link in the order chat. The seller buys the pass. Roblox keeps 30% of the price and holds your Robux as pending for 5 days before they reach your balance.

    Before you buy

    When the delivery method is a game pass, checkout shows two notes:

    • “Game pass transfers take 5 days to process.”
    • “Roblox keeps a 30% fee on game pass sales, which isn’t covered by the seller.”

    So you receive 70% of the pass price, and only after Roblox’s pending period. Read the seller’s delivery instructions to see how they set the price.

    Create the pass

    1. Sign in to Roblox and open the Creator Hub (Create).
    2. Go to Creations and select one of your experiences. If you don’t have one, create a new experience first.
    3. Open Monetization, then Passes.
    4. Click Create pass. Enter a name, add an image if you like, then click Create pass again.
    5. Select the new pass, then open Sales.
    6. Turn on Item for Sale and enter the price the seller gave you in the order chat. Save.
    7. Go to Monetization, then Shop, and mark the pass Listed. Roblox only sells passes outside your experience when they’re listed.
    8. Copy the pass link and send it to the seller in the order chat.
    Set the exact price the seller asks for, and don’t change it or take the pass off sale until the seller confirms they’ve bought it.

    After the seller buys it

    1. The seller tells you in the order chat and marks the order as delivered.
    2. In Roblox, check your pending Robux. The purchase shows there until Roblox releases it.
    3. When the purchase shows as pending for the right amount, click Mark as Received on the order page.

    Roblox keeps 30% of every game pass sale. The seller doesn’t cover this fee.

    Check the link works and the pass is on sale at the agreed price, then tell the seller. If the delivery time passes, you can cancel the order. See Cancelling an order the seller didn’t deliver.

  • What “Linked email” means on account listings

    Every account on PlayerBay is sold with full email access. The Linked email banner at the top of an account listing tells you which email that is: the original email the account was registered with, a different email, or none, in which case you link your own after purchase. Click the banner on any listing to read what it means for that account.

    The three answers

    Sellers must answer the Linked email question for every account they list. You see their answer as a banner at the top of the listing:

    Banner What you get
    Original Email Access The email address the account was first registered with, and its login. This also shows the account hasn’t moved between unrelated emails.
    Full Email Access A different email from the one it was registered with, and its login.
    Link your own email No email is linked yet. After purchase you add your own, so only you can recover the account.

    Why email access matters

    Whoever controls the email can usually recover the account. With the email login you can:

    • change the account password and lock the previous owner out;
    • update recovery options and security questions;
    • turn on two-factor authentication with credentials you control.

    After you receive the account

    If an email comes with it

    1. Sign in to the email with the login the seller gave you.
    2. Change the email password.
    3. Turn on two-factor authentication for the email, then for the game account.
    4. If the game allows it, change the account’s email to one you own.

    If no email is linked

    1. Sign in with the account details from the seller.
    2. Link your own email address before you change anything else.
    3. Turn on two-factor authentication with your own device.
    4. Change the account password.
    For accounts with an email, don’t mark the order as received until you’ve signed in to that email. The confirmation asks you to tick “I have received access to the account email if one exists”.

    Ask in the order chat. If the seller doesn’t provide it, open a dispute from the order page and choose “Order is not as described”.

    Yes, where the game’s account filters include it.