Trust is the product—but “trust” needs to be specific. This guide tells you exactly what each badge means, what we verify, and what you should still verify yourself.
TL;DR
- Badges help reduce uncertainty, but they are not a guarantee.
- Marketplace Review Complete means workflow review, not regulator approval.
- For regulated categories (like whitetail breeder), we verify that required documents were uploaded and reviewed—but buyer/seller remain responsible for compliance.
- Protected transaction / Verified listing window means an optional dispute window after delivery; Agchange does not hold funds or condition payouts on delivery.
What we verify vs what we do not
What we do verify (marketplace workflow)
- Document presence + admin review (where required for a category/workflow)
- Seller onboarding readiness for payouts (seller can receive funds via Stripe Connect)
- In-platform event trail: bids, offers, checkout, order timeline steps, and dispute evidence
What we do not verify (and you still must)
- Any regulator approval, permit transfer approval, or agency decision
- The animal’s physical condition, genetics, or representations beyond what the seller provides
- Transport arrangements (buyer and seller coordinate directly)
Badge & label glossary (plain English)
“Marketplace Review Complete” (Compliance)
- Means: Our admin completed the marketplace workflow review for that listing/category.
- Does NOT mean: TPWD/regulator approval or legal clearance for transfer.
- Where you’ll see it: Listing pages for animal categories.
“Pending Review” (Compliance)
- Means: The listing (or required document) is waiting in an admin queue.
- What to expect:
- Sellers: you may be asked to upload/confirm additional information.
- Buyers: don’t assume “pending” equals “bad”—it often just means “in line.”
“TPWD permit: Verified” (Whitetail breeder listings)
- Means: The seller uploaded a TPWD breeder permit document and our admin reviewed it as part of the marketplace workflow.
- Does NOT mean: Transfer approval has been granted or that any specific transfer is authorized.
- Best practice:
- Buyers: confirm the permit info in the listing, and keep all payment and communication on-platform.
- Sellers: keep permit expiration current and resubmit if anything changes.
“Texas-only”
- Means: Category restrictions apply (TX residents only) for animal transactions.
“Protected X Days”
- Means: The order has an optional dispute window after delivery. Agchange does not hold funds or condition payouts on delivery.
- Why it matters: It creates a clear window for disputes with evidence.
Seller trust badges (profile/listing)
These are seller-level badges that can appear on seller profiles and sometimes in listing “seller trust” areas:
- Stripe Verified: seller onboarding is sufficient for payouts in Stripe Connect (seller can get paid).
- Identity verified: identity checks have been completed (where applicable).
- Breeder permit verified: TPWD breeder permit document reviewed by marketplace admin (workflow verification).
“Buy with confidence” checklist
Copy/paste this before sending an offer or bidding:
- Read the full listing description and confirm location (TX) where relevant.
- Check for Compliance / Marketplace Review badges and what they mean.
- Keep communication in Messages:
/dashboard/messages - Pay only through checkout—never off-platform.
- For high-ticket items, pick the payment rail that fits (see the payments guide below).
Related guides
- “Large purchases: Card vs Bank Transfer vs Wire”
- “Welcome to Field Notes”