Returns & Refunds
Last updated: 6 August 2026
SportCo isn’t a “change your mind” marketplace — items are secondhand, sold as described, and every sale is between two individuals. But if something genuinely goes wrong, here’s exactly how it’s handled.
The 48-hour check-in window
Once tracking shows your item as delivered, you’ll have 48 hours to check it over. You’ll see two options:
- Everything is OK — confirms the order and releases payment to the seller straight away
- I have an issue — pauses the order and opens a dispute, keeping payment held while it’s looked into
If you don’t respond within 48 hours, the order is automatically marked complete and payment is released to the seller — so it’s worth checking your item promptly.
What counts as a valid issue
Buyer protection covers:
- The item never arrived
- The item arrived damaged
- The item is significantly different from the listing — condition, grade, or description don’t match what was received
It doesn’t cover buyer’s remorse or simply changing your mind. Every listing’s condition grade and description is there so you know what you’re buying before you buy it — that’s what the AI listing tool and grading system exist to get right up front.
How a dispute is resolved
If you raise “I have an issue,” you’ll be asked what went wrong and to upload photo evidence. The seller is notified and has 48 hours to respond with their own side. SportCo then reviews the evidence from both of you — against the listing’s description, photos, and condition grade — and makes a decision, generally within 3 business days.
There’s no requirement to send the item back as part of this process — SportCo’s decision is based on the evidence submitted, not a physical return.
If your dispute is upheld
You’ll be refunded the item price and postage cost. The buyer protection fee itself is retained by SportCo once an order has shipped, regardless of the outcome — this is what funds the review and resolution process, and it’s non-refundable on any order that reached the shipping stage.
If your dispute isn’t upheld
Payment is released to the seller as normal, and no refund is issued.
Changing your mind before it ships
If you cancel an order before the seller has shipped the item, you’ll get a full refund, including the buyer protection fee. Once it’s shipped, the sale is treated as final and the dispute process above applies instead.
If the seller never ships
This is the one case where the buyer protection fee is refunded too. Sellers have 5 business days to post an item once payment is confirmed. If it hasn’t shipped by then, the order is automatically cancelled and you’re refunded everything you paid — item price, postage, and the protection fee — with nothing further needed from you.
How refunds are paid
Refunds go back to the original payment method used at checkout. Timing depends on your bank or card provider, but Stripe (who processes all SportCo payments) typically completes refunds within 5–10 business days of being issued.
Questions
If you’re partway through a dispute and need help, or something here doesn’t cover your situation, contact us at info@sportco.online.