We know bank transfers have been a familiar way to pay for a long time, but unfortunately, scams involving bank transfers are on the rise across New Zealand. Data from 2025 showed that 90% of unresolved scams on Trade Me Marketplace involved bank transfers. Because these transactions happen outside of Trade Me, we have zero visibility over them, which means we can’t step in to help if something goes wrong.

To make Trade Me the safest place to trade, we’re moving to a Ping-led online payment system. This visibility allows us to double our Buyer Protection from $2,500 to $5,000, giving our community more peace of mind than ever before. This means if a trade goes wrong, or an item turns up not as described, we will refund you up to $5,000. If you prefer to trade offline, you can still choose to pay with cash on pick-up, though please remember these trades aren't covered by our Buyer Protection.

Success Fees? Gone. Profit? Yours.

How much extra profit do you make?

A safer way to trade

Swift and secure payments. Pay with Ping by Trade Me.

Enhanced Buyer Protection

Door-to-door shipping with Book a Courier

What’s changed for buyers?

Frequently asked questions

Why have you removed bank transfer as a payment option?

How do I set up Ping?

What does the service fee cover?