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Middleman Service Terms

The terms that apply when dealers pay for Soda's optional middleman service to help complete a trade safely.

Last updated , Version 1.0

These Middleman Service Terms apply when you book the optional middleman service ("Middleman Service") offered by Daytime Consulting on Soda. They add to our Terms of Service. If there is a conflict, these terms apply to the Middleman Service.

1. What the service is

Most trades on Soda are completed directly between dealers. For higher-value trades, or where two dealers have not worked together before, either party can book the Middleman Service. A vetted middleman, approved and assigned by our team, acts as a neutral intermediary to help both sides complete the trade with confidence.

Depending on the service level you choose, the Middleman Service may include:

  • coordinating the steps of the trade and timelines between buyer and seller;
  • receiving the watch from the seller at the middleman's secure premises in the agreed region;
  • a physical inspection and authentication check by a qualified watchmaker, with a photo report;
  • releasing the watch only after the seller has confirmed in the Platform that the buyer's payment has arrived; and
  • insured onward shipping to the buyer.

2. What the service is not

  • We do not become the buyer or seller. Title to the watch passes directly from seller to buyer. The contract of sale remains between the two dealers.
  • We do not hold dealer funds ourselves. The buyer pays the seller directly; neither we nor the middleman receive or hold the trade price.
  • We do not give valuations or investment advice. The price is agreed between the dealers.
  • An authentication check is a professional opinion based on inspection at the time. It is not a guarantee of future performance, water resistance or value.

3. Booking and fees

  • Either dealer, or both, can request the Middleman Service from the trade or chat screen. Both dealers must accept these terms and the trade details (item, price, shipping and who pays the fee) before it starts.
  • The fee is a flat fee per watch, based on the agreed price in the fee bands shown in the Platform before you confirm the booking, and is paid to us in US dollars (USD) through Stripe. The fee is for our service only. We charge no commissions on the trade price.
  • Shipping, insurance and any customs duties or taxes are charged at cost unless included in your service level.
  • Trades. When dealers use the Middleman Service for a trade (watches on both sides), one request covers the whole trade but each watch is its own booking with its own fee, based on that watch's value and paid by the dealer sending it. Any cash difference in the trade is paid directly between the dealers before anyone ships, as set out in our Terms of Service, and is never paid to or held by us.

4. How a middleman trade works

  1. Agree. Both dealers confirm the trade details in the Platform.
  2. Fund. The buyer pays the agreed price directly to the seller, using the seller's payment details shown in the Platform. We will never send payment instructions by chat or email alone. Always confirm them inside your account.
  3. Ship in. The seller ships the watch, fully insured, to the address shown in the Platform within 3 business days of the middleman accepting the booking.
  4. Inspect. The middleman inspects the watch within 2 business days of receipt and shares a report with both parties.
  5. Release. If the watch matches the agreed description and the seller has confirmed that the payment arrived, the middleman ships it to the buyer, fully insured.
  6. Confirm. The buyer has 48 hours after delivery to raise any issue; after that the trade is complete.

5. If the watch does not match the description

If the inspection finds that the watch is not genuine, has undisclosed non-original parts or materially differs from the agreed description, we will tell both parties and:

  • the buyer may cancel, in which case the seller refunds the buyer's payment and the watch is returned to the seller at the seller's cost; or
  • the dealers may agree a revised price in writing through the Platform.

If a watch is counterfeit, it may be retained where the law requires and we may report it to the relevant authorities and brand owner. The seller's account will be reviewed under our Community Guidelines.

6. Timeouts and cancellations

  • If the buyer does not fund within 3 business days of the booking being accepted, or the seller does not ship within the dispatch deadline, the other party may cancel.
  • The fee is refundable in full if the trade is cancelled before the watch is received by the middleman, less any costs already incurred. After receipt, the fee is non-refundable unless we or the middleman are at fault. See our Refund & Cancellation Policy.

7. Risk, insurance and liability

  • Each shipment is insured for its declared value while it is in the middleman's care or in transit on a shipment made for the booking. Middlemen keep watches in a safe, on secure premises.
  • While the watch is in the middleman's custody, the middleman will take reasonable care of it. Liability for loss of or damage to a watch in the middleman's custody is limited to the lower of its agreed trade price and the insured value.
  • We are not liable for delays caused by carriers, customs, or events outside our reasonable control.
  • Except as stated in this section, the limitation of liability in our Terms of Service applies.

8. Compliance

We may ask for additional information about the trade, the source of funds or the watch's provenance, and we may refuse or pause any middleman trade to comply with anti-money-laundering, sanctions or other laws.

9. Disputes

Issues arising during a middleman trade are handled under our Dispute Resolution Policy. Contact us through Help & support with your trade reference.

Questions about this policy? Contact us.