How It Works
A clear path from submission to payout.
The Glass Exchange is built for serious collectors on both sides of the transaction — curated listings, verified bidding, structured post-sale protection, and a deal-closing assist when you need it.
Every piece reviewed before it goes live
Approved members only — no anonymous bids
Free listing — 5% buyer premium only
72-hr verification window, held payout
The Process
Seven steps. Every time.
Every transaction follows the same structure — from the moment a piece is submitted to the moment a seller gets paid.
Submit
The seller completes the intake form with photos, condition notes, provenance details, and any reserve preference. Thorough submissions move through curation faster and perform better at auction.
Curate
We review every submission for authorship, condition accuracy, photography quality, market fit, and reserve realism. Accepted pieces are prepared into complete auction listings — images organized, descriptions refined, context added for buyers.
Artist authorship · Condition accuracy · Photography · Reserve expectations · Market fit
Final listing content is approved by the seller before it goes live. Nothing publishes without your confirmation.
Schedule
Approved listings are placed into the auction calendar with a scheduled close time. For multi-listing events, pieces are staggered so each gets its own closing moment and full bidder attention.
Auction
The listing goes live. Approved members bid through the platform. The public comment thread keeps questions visible to every bidder equally. Anti-sniping extends the auction when bids land inside the final two minutes.
Any bid in the last 2 minutes extends the auction by 2 more. Auctions close fairly.
Set a maximum — the system bids incrementally on your behalf up to your limit.
A temporary authorization of 5% of your bid may be placed. Released if outbid, applied toward your premium if you win.
No-reserve listings appear first in Browse with a featured badge — the strongest buyer confidence signal.
Payment
The winning bidder is contacted to complete final payment. The buyer premium — 5% of the hammer price, capped at $5,000 — is added to the hammer price. Shipping is confirmed and invoiced separately.
Deliver
The seller packages the piece per our shipping standards and ships fully insured with tracking. Buyer and seller may also agree to an in-person handoff.
Hard case + double-box + full insurance. See our Shipping Guide.
Photos or video of the packed piece protect you if anything goes wrong in transit.
Verify & Payout
After confirmed delivery, the buyer has 72 hours to verify the piece arrived as described. Seller payout releases automatically when the window closes without a dispute. If there is an issue, the buyer opens a dispute and we step in to resolve it.
Starts at confirmed delivery. Payout held until window closes cleanly.
File through the transaction page. We review both sides — decisions are final.
Deal Desk
Reserve not met? We can still close it.
If an auction closes below reserve, the Deal Desk steps in. We contact both the high bidder and seller privately to explore whether a number works for both sides. No pressure, no obligation, no additional fee.
Learn about Deal DeskYour Role
What to expect as a buyer or seller.
Buyers
- Create a free member account and wait for display-name approval
- Browse listings — no account needed to watch or read
- Read the full listing, photos, and condition notes before bidding
- Ask questions publicly in the comment thread
- Place bids — all bids are binding
- A 5% temporary authorization may be held on your card while bidding
- Complete payment promptly if you win
- Confirm delivery within 72 hours and report any issues immediately
Sellers
- Read Seller Tips and Shipping Guide before submitting
- Submit photos, condition notes, provenance, and reserve preference
- Work with our team to finalize the listing — you approve before it goes live
- Monitor the auction and answer comments publicly
- Ship promptly after close — fully insured with tracking uploaded
- Document your packaging with photos or video
- Payout releases after the 72-hour buyer verification window
- No listing fee — ever
Quick Answers
Common questions.
Transactions are supported by verified bidding, a temporary 5% card authorization, agreed shipping terms, and delayed seller payout until delivery is confirmed and the 72-hour verification window closes. If something goes wrong, the dispute process gives both sides a structured path to resolution.
Bids are placed by approved members through the live auction. If your bid is valid and higher than the current bid, you become the high bidder immediately. All bids are binding. You can also set an auto-bid maximum and let the system bid incrementally on your behalf.
A temporary authorization equal to 5% of your active bid may be placed to support serious bidding and reduce non-performing bidders. If you are outbid, it is released. If you win, it applies toward your buyer premium rather than acting as a separate charge.
If the reserve is not met, the Deal Desk can step in. We contact both the high bidder and the seller privately to explore a post-auction agreement. No obligation on either side, no additional fee if a deal is reached.
Complete the submission form with photos, condition notes, provenance details, and any reserve expectation. We review every submission — not all pieces are accepted. Read the Seller Tips page before submitting.