Most accounts sell on consignment. We list it at the agreed asking price, a buyer purchases it, and you receive the full payout after the handoff is verified. Direct buyout offers are not standard. When we do offer buyout, the price is meaningfully lower than the consignment list price, because you are trading top recovery for fast and certain cash. Which path applies to your account is decided during review, not at submission.
🤝 Consignment: the default path
How it works. We list the account at the asking price we agreed on during review. Buyers see it, purchase it, and we coordinate the handoff.
What you receive. The full asking price, paid after the sale completes and the handoff is verified.
Timing. Hours to weeks depending on demand, price, and game. There is no guaranteed sell-by date.
If it does not move. We may suggest a price adjustment, or pull the listing if the market is not there at your asking price.
💰 Direct buyout: only when offered
When it happens. Occasionally on high-demand accounts where we are confident we can resell, or when we have inventory budget for that game. Most submissions are not offered a buyout.
What you receive. A one-time payout from AccountShark within days of accepting the offer. You exit cleanly without waiting for a buyer.
The trade. Buyout pays less than the consignment list price. That gap is the cost of speed and certainty. We take on inventory risk and the time until resale.
Common range. Roughly half to two-thirds of the consignment list price, depending on demand, rarity, and how confident we are in resale timing.
🦈 Rule of thumb: if a fast guaranteed payout matters more to you than recovery value, ask whether buyout is on the table for your account. If you have time and want the full asking price, consignment is the path either way.
🎯 How we decide which path to offer
After your submission is reviewed, support will reply with one of:
Consignment offer with a suggested list price (most common).
Buyout offer at a defined number, sometimes alongside the consignment option so you can pick.
Decline or request for revisions if proof is missing, demand is weak, or the account history needs more disclosure.
For how the consignment list price is set, see How does AccountShark price my account?.
🔄 Switching paths after the offer
You can ask to switch before a buyer commits on a consignment listing. After a buyer is matched or payment is in motion, switching is more sensitive. See How do I edit or withdraw my listing?.