How to pay safely on GrottoMade

Last updated: July 4, 2026

GrottoMade is a discovery platform — we don't process payments or mediate disputes. Every sale is a direct arrangement between you and the maker, so the payment method you choose matters.

Why we recommend PayPal Goods & Services

PayPal offers two ways to send money: Goods & Services (for buying something from someone you don't know well) and Friends & Family (for sending money to people you trust, with no purchase protection). For anything you buy on GrottoMade, we recommend Goods & Services— it's built for exactly this situation.

With Goods & Services, PayPal holds you responsible for a fee (usually covered by the seller), but in exchange you're covered by PayPal's Purchase Protection: if an item never arrives, or arrives significantly different from its listing, you can open a dispute directly with PayPal to get your money back.

For buyers: sending a Goods & Services payment

Message the seller through GrottoMade to confirm price, shipping, and any details
Ask for their PayPal email or payment link
In PayPal, choose "Pay for an item or service" (not Friends & Family)
Include a note referencing the GrottoMade listing so there's a clear record of what you bought
Keep the listing page and your conversation with the seller — you may need them if a dispute comes up

For sellers: receiving a Goods & Services payment

PayPal deducts a standard processing fee from Goods & Services payments — factor that into your pricing
Ship promptly and keep tracking information; it's your best protection if a buyer disputes a payment after you've shipped
Keep your GrottoMade messages with the buyer as a record of what was agreed

If something goes wrong

GrottoMade isn't able to process refunds, reverse payments, or mediate a dispute between a buyer and seller — that has to go through your payment provider. If you paid with PayPal Goods & Services, start a dispute in your PayPal account under Resolution Center. If you paid a different way, contact that provider directly.

If a seller's conduct violates our Community Guidelines— for example, an item that clearly isn't handmade, or a pattern of non-delivery — you can also report it to hello@grottomade.com so we can look into the account, separate from your payment dispute.

Other payment methods

You and the seller can agree on any payment method that works for you both. We recommend Goods & Services specifically because it's widely available and includes buyer protection by default — but the choice is yours. See our Disclaimersfor the full picture of what GrottoMade does and doesn't guarantee.