A skin purchase failed: what happens to the money
If an item cannot be delivered, the money goes back to your balance. Here is what each status means.
Not every purchase reaches the customer. When it does not, the money comes back to your balance automatically.
Before the trade is sent
If the item cannot be bought, for example because the price went above your max price or it sold out, the purchase fails and the reserved amount is released at once.
After the trade is sent
- Declined by customer: the customer declined the trade offer.
- Not accepted in time: the offer expired.
- Bad trade link: the trade link is wrong or was replaced. Ask the customer for their current link.
- Customer cannot trade: the customer's Steam account has a trade restriction.
- Returned: the trade was reversed after delivery.
In these cases the amount is refunded to your balance. You see the refund as its own line under Balance.
Checking
A purchase can show Checking for a few minutes while we confirm the result with our payment network. It settles on its own. You can also open the purchase and click refresh.
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