What Steam Trade Protection is
Steam protects players from scams by holding some traded items for up to 7 days. During that window the trade can be reversed and the items go back to the person who sent them. Once the window closes, the trade is final.
Why your money waits
While the hold runs, the items you sent could still come back to you. So the sale is only final once the hold ends, and that is when your money is ready.
What you see on SkinsFlow
- Your sale shows On hold, with the date it ends
- The money is added to your balance when the hold ends
- If you chose a cash-out, it starts on its own
If the items come back
If the trade is reversed during the hold, the items go back to your inventory and the sale does not complete. Nothing is added to your balance.