Community Guidelines
Rules and trading tips to keep things fair for everyone and help us avoid scammers.
Rules
No hate speech or harassment
Racist, homophobic, sexist, or otherwise abusive language — in messages, listings, or ratings — will result in an immediate and permanent ban. There are no warnings for this.
List your records accurately
Make sure the title, artist, label, format, and any notes reflect what you're actually trading. Misrepresenting your listing is grounds for a negative rating and potential removal.
Follow through on agreed trades
Once you accept a trade, you're expected to complete it. Repeatedly accepting and ghosting will get your account reviewed and potentially banned.
Ratings must reflect real trades
Do not manipulate ratings — leaving fake positives for friends or fake negatives for rivals. Ratings are only unlocked after a confirmed completed trade for exactly this reason.
No commercial activity
This platform is for trading, not selling. Do not use it to solicit cash payments, Paypal, or any other monetary transaction.
One account per person or organization
Create one account only. Multiple accounts are not permitted — whether to evade a ban, inflate your own ratings, or any other reason. Duplicate accounts will be removed and the associated accounts banned.
Trading safety tips
New traders should ship first
If you're trading with someone who has zero or very few completed trades, it's reasonable to ask them to ship their stuff first. Once you receive them and confirm they match what was listed, you ship yours. An experienced trader asking a newcomer to ship first is normal — not an insult.
Check reputation before accepting
Visit the other trader's profile before agreeing. Look at their score, the number of completed trades, and any comments left by previous partners.
Agree on shipping details upfront
Use the inbox to sort out packaging, tracking, and postage before either party ships. The standard approach is each party covers their own shipping costs, but agree on this upfront — clear expectations prevent most disputes.
Use tracked shipping when possible
Especially for multi-item, high-value, or international trades. If an item goes missing without tracking, it's very difficult to resolve the dispute fairly.
Package your items properly
Pack with care before shipping. Vinyl needs a stiff cardboard mailer with no flex — use a purpose-made record mailer if possible. CDs and cassettes also need cardboard reinforcement, not just bubble wrap or padding. Nobody wants to open a package and find something broken.
Communicate if there's a delay
If something comes up after accepting a trade and you can't ship on time, message your partner and let them know. Going silent is what causes disputes — a short message explaining a delay almost never does.
Reporting and enforcement
If you have a problem with another user — scam attempt, abusive messages, misrepresented items — use the Report button on the trade page or their tradelist, or email us at info@tradeordie.org with as much detail as possible. We review every report and will take action where warranted, up to and including permanent bans.
Disclaimer
Trade or Die is a platform that connects traders — we are not a party to any trade, and we cannot guarantee the outcome of any transaction. We are not responsible for lost, damaged, or misrepresented items. All trades are made at your own risk. By using this platform you agree to these guidelines.