Frequently asked questions
Does BuildTrader charge anything?
Buyers never pay to use BuildTrader. Browsing, searching, alerts, saving, and messaging are all free, and always will be. Sellers pay a monthly membership to keep a storefront and post regularly: $19/mo for materials or services, $29/mo for both. Anyone can list up to 3 items at a time for free without a membership. Money for materials changes hands directly between buyer and seller at pickup. Selling on the Tool and Parts Exchanges costs 10% of the order total plus 50¢ when an item sells — that fee is everything, with no listing fees and no card-processing charge on top.
How do I pay for materials?
Work it out with the seller in messages. Cash or Venmo at pickup is typical. Inspect the material before you pay. On materials, BuildTrader is the meeting point, not the middleman.
How do the Tool and Parts Exchanges work?
Tools and equipment parts ship nationwide, so those orders go through BuildTrader checkout. Your payment is held until the carrier shows delivery — if the item never arrives, you get your money back. The seller must upload tracking within 72 hours of the sale or the charge reverses automatically. There are no returns, so read the photos and the condition report, and ask questions before you buy.
Where do pickups happen?
Listings show a neighborhood or city only, never an exact address. Sellers share the pickup address privately in messages once you've agreed on the deal.
What's a Founding Trader?
Early contractors and suppliers who set up storefronts on BuildTrader get the Founding Trader badge, which comes with a storefront page, follower notifications, and the badge on every listing. It marks the merchants who were here first.
Can I sell material from a job I worked on?
Only if it's yours to sell. Every listing requires you to affirm you own the material or have authority to sell it. Selling client-owned or site materials without permission gets you removed.
How do alerts work?
Save a search by category, keyword, price cap, and radius, and we email you the moment a matching listing posts. The good stuff goes fast; alerts get you there first.
What if a listing looks like a scam?
Use the 'Report listing' link on the listing page. Reports go straight to moderation. Meet in daylight, inspect before paying, and trust your gut.
Is there an app?
Yes. BuildTrader is on Google Play as "BuildTrader: Materials & Pros". The website also works well on a phone, so you can post from the truck in under a minute either way.