Seller Agreement
Last updated: April 2026
Effective as of marketplace launch
This document is a draft prepared for review by legal counsel. It is not legal advice. Consult an attorney before relying on these terms.
1. Parties
This Seller Agreement (“Agreement”) is between CommandWorks LLC, a Texas limited liability company doing business as TrainFinder (“TrainFinder,” “we,” “us,” “our”), and you, the individual or entity registering as a seller on our marketplace platform (“Seller,” “you,” “your”).
TrainFinder operates a marketplace at www.trainfinder.us where collectors and sellers of model trains across all scales can buy and sell items. We are not a party to any sale between buyers and sellers. We provide the platform, payment processing infrastructure, and dispute mediation services.
2. Seller Eligibility
To sell on TrainFinder, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be a legal resident of the United States
- Provide accurate identity and tax information as required by Stripe (our payment processor) for Know Your Customer (KYC) verification
- Have a valid bank account capable of receiving Stripe payouts in US dollars
- Agree to Stripe's Connected Account Agreement
- Agree to this Seller Agreement and our Terms of Service
We reserve the right to refuse or revoke seller access at any time if eligibility requirements are not met.
3. Listing Rules
3.1 Registry Requirement
All listings must reference a verified product in the TrainFinder product registry. You select the product from our registry when creating a listing — free-text product identification is not permitted. This ensures accurate product data, fair price comparisons, and a consistent buyer experience.
If the product you want to list is not in our registry, you may submit a “Request New Product” form. Our team will review and add the product if it meets our criteria. You cannot list the item until the product is approved.
3.2 Condition Grading
You must accurately grade the condition of every item using our standard condition scale (C-10 through C-1). Your condition grade is a representation to the buyer, and you are responsible for its accuracy. If a buyer disputes the condition and we determine the item was materially misrepresented, you may be required to accept a return and refund.
3.3 Photos
Every listing requires photographs that meet our standards:
- Required: Left broadside, right broadside, front, and rear views
- Recommended: Top, bottom, and close-ups of any flaws or notable details
- Photos must be at least 1200 x 1200 pixels, well-lit, in focus, and show the actual item being sold
- Stock photos, catalog images, or photos of a different unit of the same product are not permitted
3.4 Pricing
You set your own asking price. We may display an estimated fair market value based on recent sales data — this is advisory only and does not restrict your pricing. Listings priced significantly above market value may be flagged to buyers but will not be removed.
3.5 Listing Accuracy
You are solely responsible for the accuracy of your listings, including product identification, condition, description, and photos. Inaccurate listings that result in disputes may lead to account penalties, including suspension or termination.
4. Prohibited Items
The following items may not be listed on TrainFinder:
- Counterfeits and reproductions sold or implied to be originals
- Stolen property
- Recalled items that have an active safety recall from the manufacturer or a government agency
- Non-model-train items — TrainFinder is exclusively for model trains across all scales (O, HO, N, G, S, Z) and directly related accessories (track, power supplies, buildings, figures, etc.)
- Hazardous materials including batteries shipped outside carrier regulations
- Items that violate any applicable law
Listing a prohibited item is grounds for immediate removal of the listing and possible suspension or termination of your seller account.
5. Fees
5.1 Transaction Fee
TrainFinder charges a 5% transaction fee on every completed sale. This fee is calculated on the item sale price (excluding shipping and sales tax) and is deducted from your payout automatically. The transaction fee is disclosed to you before you confirm a listing.
5.2 Listing Fees and Subscriptions
Depending on your seller tier, you may pay per-listing fees or a monthly subscription. Current tier pricing is displayed on our seller registration page. All listing fees and subscriptions are non-refundable.
5.3 Payment Processing Fees
Stripe charges its own payment processing fees (currently approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). These fees are separate from TrainFinder's transaction fee and are deducted by Stripe from the total payment before your payout.
5.4 Fee Summary Example
If you sell an item for $100, your payout would be approximately: $100 - $5.00 (TrainFinder 5%) - $3.20 (Stripe ~2.9% + $0.30) = $91.80.
6. Founding Member Terms
Sellers who join TrainFinder during our Founding Member period receive:
- No listing fees — individual listing charges are waived
- No subscription fees — monthly seller tier subscriptions are waived
- 5% transaction fee still applies — the per-sale transaction fee is not waived for Founding Members
Founding Member benefits remain in effect for as long as you maintain an active seller account in good standing. We will provide at least 90 days written notice before any changes to Founding Member benefits.
7. Payment Processing and Payouts
All payments are processed through Stripe Connect. When a buyer purchases your item:
- The buyer's payment is collected by Stripe and held until the transaction is complete
- After the item is delivered and the dispute window closes, Stripe releases your payout minus applicable fees
- Payout timing and methods are governed by Stripe's terms — typically payouts arrive within 2 business days after release
- You are responsible for maintaining accurate and current banking information in your Stripe account
TrainFinder does not hold funds directly. All money flows through Stripe's regulated payment infrastructure. Stripe handles all KYC verification, tax reporting (1099-K where applicable), and money transmission compliance.
8. Sales Tax
TrainFinder operates as a marketplace facilitator where required by law. This means:
- We collect and remit applicable state and local sales tax on marketplace transactions using Stripe Tax
- Sales tax is calculated at checkout and charged to the buyer in addition to the item price and shipping
- You do not need to collect or remit sales tax for transactions completed through TrainFinder — we handle that
- You are responsible for any tax obligations arising from income earned through your sales (federal and state income tax, self-employment tax, etc.)
9. Shipping Requirements
- You must ship the item within 3 business days of receiving a sale notification
- You must provide a valid tracking number through the platform — shipments without tracking are not protected in disputes
- You must use a carrier that provides delivery confirmation (USPS, UPS, FedEx, or equivalent)
- You bear the risk of loss during shipping — if an item is lost or damaged in transit, you are responsible unless the buyer purchased separate shipping insurance
- Items should be packed securely and appropriately for model trains — double-boxing is strongly recommended for fragile or high-value items
- Failure to ship within the required timeframe may result in automatic order cancellation and a full refund to the buyer
10. Returns and Disputes
10.1 Buyer Inspection Period
Buyers have 3 days from delivery confirmation to inspect the item and report any issues. During this period, your payout is held.
10.2 Dispute Process
If a buyer files a dispute:
- Seller notification — You will be notified immediately and have 48 hours to respond with your side of the story, including any supporting evidence (photos, messages, tracking information)
- TrainFinder mediation — We will review the evidence from both sides and make a determination within 5 business days
- Resolution — Possible outcomes include: full refund to buyer (item returned at your expense), partial refund, or payout released to you
- Stripe dispute — If mediation does not resolve the issue, either party may escalate to a Stripe chargeback as a last resort. Chargeback fees assessed by Stripe are the responsibility of the party found at fault
10.3 Return Shipping
When a return is approved because the item was not as described, the seller is responsible for return shipping costs. The buyer must ship the item back within 5 business days of the return approval. The refund is processed after we confirm the item has been returned.
11. Account Suspension and Termination
TrainFinder may suspend or terminate your seller account at our discretion for:
- Listing prohibited items
- Repeated condition misrepresentation or inaccurate listings
- Failure to ship within the required timeframe
- Failure to respond to disputes
- Excessive dispute rate (indicating a pattern of problems)
- Attempting to circumvent platform fees by conducting transactions off-platform
- Harassment or abusive communication toward buyers or TrainFinder staff
- Any violation of this Agreement or our Terms of Service
For first-time minor violations, we will typically issue a warning before suspension. Serious violations (counterfeits, stolen goods, fraud) may result in immediate termination without warning. Suspended or terminated sellers will receive payouts for any completed, undisputed transactions.
12. Limitation of Liability
TrainFinder is a marketplace platform. We are not a party to the sale between you and the buyer. We do not take possession of items, do not inspect items, and do not guarantee any sale.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, CommandWorks LLC shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of the TrainFinder marketplace. Our total liability to you for any claim shall not exceed the total fees you paid to TrainFinder in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.
13. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CommandWorks LLC, its members, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising out of or in any way connected with:
- Your listings, sales, or conduct on the platform
- Your breach of this Agreement
- Your violation of any law or regulation
- Any claim by a third party related to an item you sold through TrainFinder
- Any tax liability arising from your sales activity (other than sales tax collected and remitted by TrainFinder as marketplace facilitator)
14. Intellectual Property
By listing an item on TrainFinder, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use your listing photos and descriptions for the purpose of operating the marketplace, including displaying listings, marketing the platform, and improving our services. This license ends when you remove the listing or close your account, except for any content that has been incorporated into completed transaction records or aggregate data.
You represent that you have the right to grant this license and that your listings do not infringe on any third party's intellectual property rights.
15. Communication
All communication between buyers and sellers must go through the TrainFinder platform messaging system. Do not share personal contact information (phone numbers, email addresses, social media) with buyers before a sale is completed. This protects both parties and ensures we have a record of all communications in case of disputes.
16. Governing Law
This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any legal action arising out of this Agreement shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in Tarrant County, Texas.
17. Modification of Terms
We may update this Agreement from time to time. For material changes, we will provide at least 30 days' notice via email to the address associated with your seller account. Continued use of the marketplace after the effective date of changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Agreement. If you do not agree with the changes, you may close your seller account before the changes take effect.
18. Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
19. Entire Agreement
This Seller Agreement, together with our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Buyer Protection Policy, constitutes the entire agreement between you and CommandWorks LLC regarding your use of the TrainFinder marketplace as a seller.
20. Contact
Questions about this Seller Agreement? Contact us at support@commandworks.us.