Vortex Market Vendor Complete Guide

Complete guide for vendors on Vortex Market: bonds, fees, best practices for success.

Vendor Requirements

• Vendor Bond: $400 USD (paid in cryptocurrency)
• Commission: 4% per completed sale
• PGP Key: Mandatory
• 2FA: Required

Vendor Bond

One-time payment to become vendor:

• Amount: $400 equivalent in BTC, XMR, or other accepted crypto
• Purpose: Prevents scammers from easily creating vendor accounts
• Refundable: No (non-refundable)
• Valid: Lifetime (unless banned)

Applying for Vendor Status

1. Create buyer account first
2. Build reputation with purchases (optional but helpful)
3. Navigate to "Become Vendor"
4. Fill application form:
   • Business plan
   • Product categories
   • Shipping capabilities
5. Pay vendor bond
6. Wait for approval (24-72 hours)

Creating Product Listings

Listing Requirements

• Clear product title
• Detailed description (quantity, quality, origin)
• High-quality photos (remove EXIF data!)
• Accurate pricing
• Shipping options & times
• Refund/reship policy

Pricing Strategy

• Research competitor prices
• Factor in: Cost + Shipping + 4% commission + Profit
• Offer bulk discounts to encourage larger orders
• Competitive pricing attracts more buyers

Shipping Best Practices

• ✅ Use stealth packaging (vacuum seal, decoy packaging)
• ✅ No return address or fake return address
• ✅ Ship from different location than storage
• ✅ Wear gloves when handling packages (fingerprints)
• ✅ Use generic packaging materials
• ❌ Never use personal address for shipping
• ❌ Don't ship from same post office repeatedly

Communication

• PGP: Encrypt all messages with buyer's public key
• Response time: Reply within 24 hours
• Professional: Polite, clear communication
• Tracking: Provide when available (domestic only)

Handling Orders

1. Receive order notification
2. Decrypt shipping address (PGP)
3. Prepare package within 24-48 hours
4. Mark order "Shipped"
5. Monitor for messages/issues
6. Wait for buyer to finalize

Dispute Management

If buyer opens dispute:

• Respond promptly with evidence
• Provide tracking info if available
• Be professional, not defensive
• Offer reship if legitimate issue
• Market moderator makes final decision

Building Reputation

• Start with small listings (build trust)
• Provide excellent customer service
• Ship quickly and discreetly
• Offer small extras (builds loyalty)
• Respond to messages quickly
• Request reviews after successful delivery

Security for Vendors

• Use PGP for all sensitive communication
• Separate shipping/storage locations
• Tumble cryptocurrency before cashing out
• Don't keep customer addresses (delete after shipping)
• Use Tails OS for marketplace access
• Never discuss business on clearnet

Fees & Payouts

• Commission: 4% deducted from each sale
• Payout: After buyer finalizes order
• Withdraw: Anytime to your wallet
• Minimum: No minimum withdrawal

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Poor stealth shipping (leads to seizures)
• ❌ Slow shipping times (bad reviews)
• ❌ Overpromising and underdelivering
• ❌ Bad communication (ignoring messages)
• ❌ Inconsistent product quality
• ❌ Exit scamming (permanent ban, reputation destroyed)