Fundort Buyer Protection

What is Buyer Protection?

Buyer Protection is the Fundort platform's service guarantee for shipped purchases. On shipped purchases, Buyer Protection is active automatically; the protection is included in the Fundort commission and is not charged separately; as a buyer it costs you nothing. If the item never arrives, is damaged, or doesn't match the listing, the purchase price is refunded to you from the amount held in escrow.

For protected purchases the payment runs through Fundort: your money is held in escrow by our licensed payment partner and only released to the seller once you receive the goods. Fundort itself does not take possession of the money and is not a financial intermediary. For you as a buyer the protection is free — it is included in the Fundort commission and is not charged separately. Never pay directly, in cash, or outside the platform.

How it works

1. 1
   Protected automatically when shipped

   On shipped purchases, Buyer Protection is active automatically – no checkbox and no extra step. It costs you nothing: you pay exactly the item price plus shipping, and you see the total before you pay via the secure payment page.

2. 2
   Receive your item as usual

   Payment is made securely through Fundort via TWINT, Visa, Mastercard, PostFinance, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Cash and bank transfer are excluded for protected purchases.

3. 3
   Something wrong? File a claim

   If something is wrong, go to “My account → My purchases” and click “Report a problem” on the order concerned — within 14 days of handover. You can attach photos or a PDF right there; it speeds up the assessment considerably.

4. 4
   Fundort decides

   Our team reviews the case and decides within a few working days. We ask any follow-up questions inside the case itself and you receive a notification about them. If your claim is upheld, you get the full purchase price back from the amount held in trust. There is no buyer protection fee that could be withheld — as a buyer you pay nothing for the protection.

5. 5
   Follow the case and reply

   Under “My account → My claims” you can see the status at any time, add further evidence and answer questions. While the case is open you can also withdraw it there — for instance if you have come to an agreement with the other side.

What is protected?

• The item was never handed over or delivered.
• The item was broken or defective at handover.
• The item differs significantly from the listing (condition, function, brand).
• The item is a counterfeit rather than an authentic original.

What is NOT protected?

• Purchases below CHF 25 or above CHF 5,000 (range limits).
• Claims received more than 14 days after handover.
• Subjective taste or dislike without a real defect.
• Damage occurring after handover.
• Pickup purchases with in-person handover — there is no buyer protection there.
• Cash and manual bank transfer — payment must go through the secure payment page.
• Return of individual units in a multi-unit purchase — a return is only possible for the entire purchase.
• Privately arranged shipping outside the protected price range — the shipment then does not run via Fundort and is not covered.

Which payment methods are protected?

Buyer protection only applies for the standard Swiss-shop payment methods:

• TWINT (with the app's payment confirmation as proof)
• Visa or Mastercard via the secure payment page
• PostFinance Card or PostFinance E-Finance via the secure payment page
• Apple Pay or Google Pay via the secure payment page

How much does it cost?

For you as a buyer: nothing. Buyer protection is included in the Fundort commission and is not charged separately — there is no surcharge for the protection, the rate is the same for pickup and shipping (4.9% of the item price, at least CHF 2.50, at most CHF 200). Postage is passed on one to one and is commission-free.

If we decide in your favour, you get the full purchase price back from the amount held in escrow — there is no buyer-protection fee that could be withheld.

All fees in detail

Why only from CHF 25?

Safe shipping always runs through buyer protection – the amount is held in escrow until you have received the item. This protection only makes sense from a small minimum amount: for very cheap items the minimum commission would be out of proportion to the item's value. That's why items under CHF 25 are offered for pickup only – at an in-person handover you check the item directly and don't need shipping protection.