Messaging
Messaging lets you talk to other collectors directly, and gives every marketplace transaction its own dedicated thread. Messages are encrypted, delivered in real time, and queued offline so nothing is lost when your connection drops. You need to be signed in to message; any plan, including free Hobbyist, can.
Starting a conversation
You can message any collector from their profile or a listing.
- Open the collector's profile from the feed, a search result, or one of their listings.
- Select Message.
- Type your message and send it. The conversation appears in your Messages list straight away.
Replies arrive in real time, and you'll get a notification when someone messages you.
Encrypted direct messages
Direct messages between collectors are encrypted. They're for general chat — asking about a collection, comparing finds, or sorting out a deal before it reaches the marketplace.
Conversations stay in your Messages list until you delete them, and you can pick up any thread again at any time.
Transaction threads
Every marketplace transaction gets its own thread, kept separate from your general direct messages. It's tied to the specific sale or trade, so the buyer and seller have one place to coordinate payment, shipping and delivery.
Discussing a purchase in its transaction thread keeps everything in one place if you ever need to report a problem or open a dispute.
Real-time delivery, read receipts and the offline queue
Messages are delivered in real time — there's no need to refresh. When you're offline, anything you send is held in an offline queue and sent automatically once you reconnect.
Read receipts show when the other person has seen your message, so you know whether a reply is on its way.
Blocking
If someone is bothering you, block them. Blocking stops them messaging you and removes the conversation from your active threads. You can manage your blocked list in Settings.
| Direct messages | Transaction threads |
|---|---|
| Encrypted chat with any collector | One thread per marketplace sale or trade |
| Start from a profile or listing | Created automatically with the transaction |
| Delete or block to end it | Tied to the deal and its dispute history |
Threads sync across web, Android and iOS, so you can carry on a chat wherever you pick up your device.
Related
- Social — the feed, profiles, follows and the Connections hub.
- Inbox — where new-message alerts and everything else that needs you are gathered.
- Notifications — how you hear about new messages.
- Buying and selling — where transaction threads come from.