Overview
Because MaxanetPay processes credit card payments through Fullsteam and the major card brands (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), Maxanet clients using MaxanetPay cannot sell certain products or operate certain business types on the Maxanet platform. These restrictions are set by card brand rules and Fullsteam underwriting requirements, not by Maxanet preference — they apply to every merchant account boarded through Fullsteam.
Important: if any of the items or business types listed below apply to your auctions, you cannot process payments for them through MaxanetPay, and listing them publicly on your Maxanet site can cause Fullsteam to deny your application or terminate your merchant account. If you are not sure whether your specific items qualify, contact Fullsteam Payment Services before applying or listing.
A few commonly-asked restrictions worth calling out up front: firearms, ammunition, hunting and military knives, and any cannabis items containing THC are all prohibited. Airsoft guns and BB guns, however, are allowed through MaxanetPay. CBD products that contain or provide access to CBDs are prohibited under the cannabis restriction.
Weapons, ammunition, and tactical items
Firearms of any kind (handguns, rifles, shotguns, antique firearms)
Ammunition (bullets, shells, cartridges, reloading components)
Silencers, suppressors, and firearm components
Hunting knives, military knives, swords, and similar bladed weapons
Allowed exceptions: Airsoft guns and BB guns are not on the prohibited list and can be sold through MaxanetPay.
Cannabis, CBD, tobacco, and drug-related items
Any cannabis items containing THC
Marijuana dispensaries and related products or services
Products containing CBD or providing access to CBD
Card-Not-Present tobacco, e-cigarettes, vape supplies, and accessories
Drug paraphernalia
Substances designed to mimic illegal drugs
Pseudo-pharmaceuticals
Internet and mail order pharmacies
Gambling, sweepstakes, and auction-related restrictions
Gambling activities and establishments (MCC 7995)
Lotteries, internet gaming, daily fantasy sports
Contests, sweepstakes, and special incentives or prizes offered as an inducement to purchase
Bidding Fee Auctions including Penny Auctions
Sports forecasting and odds-making services
Financial services, lending, and money transfer
Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, and any other virtual currency)
Currency exchanges and currency dealers
Credit counseling and credit repair services
Credit protection and identity theft protection services
Debt elimination, debt reduction, and debt consulting services
Digital wallet and prepaid companies
High-interest, non-bank consumer lending with APR greater than 30% (including payday loans and title loans)
Loan payments conducted on a Visa-branded credit card
Money transfer, wire transfers, money orders, transmitters, and check cashing services
Merchants required to be registered as a Money Service Business
Pawn shops
Commodity trading and security trading
Investment and "get rich quick" merchants, including brokers and dealers
Quasi-cash and stored value products
Prepaid phone cards and prepaid phone services
Transacting virtual currency or credits that can be monetized, re-sold, or converted to physical or digital goods
Adult content, escort, and occult
Adult entertainment, adult retail stores, adult content websites
Electronic Commerce adult content (videotext) merchants, potentially including MCCs 5967, 7273, 7841
Bestiality
Escort services
Mail order brides
Occult services and "psychics"
Child pornography (illegal regardless of card processing)
Direct marketing, subscriptions, and telemarketing
Direct marketing continuity or subscription services (MCC 5968, 5969)
Direct marketing travel-related arrangement services (MCC 5962)
Direct marketing inbound telemarketing including videotext services (MCC 5967)
Outbound telemarketers and telecom merchants within MCCs 4814, 4816, 5966
"Negative option" marketing, renewal, or continuity subscription practices
Low-dollar trial marketing activities, "pay only for shipping" offers, or "free trial" periods that convert into recurring charges
Infomercial merchants
Up-selling merchants
Discount coupon merchants and discount buying memberships/clubs
Discount medical, dental, and discount insurance plans
Intellectual property, deceptive practices, and counterfeit goods
Any product or service that is deceptive, unfair, predatory, or prohibited by one or more card brands
Any merchant selling goods or services that represent a violation of any law, statute, or regulation
Counterfeit goods and products that infringe on copyright, trademark, or trade secrets of any third party (including Cyberlockers)
Accepting a card as payment for a dishonored check or an item deemed uncollectible by another merchant
Scrip-dispensing terminals
Real estate, multi-level marketing, and other restricted business types
Distressed property sales and related marketing
Real estate flipping
Timeshares, timeshare resales, and timeshare marketing
Multi-level marketing businesses
Rebate-based businesses
Cruise lines
Collection agencies
Sale of mobile minutes
Selling or sales of social media activity
Tribal entities (American Indian Tribes)
Any merchant operating outside the United States
Payment facilitators
Any merchant submitting sales that resulted from another commercial entity providing goods or services to the cardholder
Common questions about MaxanetPay prohibited items
Can I sell Airsoft guns or BB guns on MaxanetPay?
Yes. Airsoft guns and BB guns are not on the prohibited items list and can be sold and processed through MaxanetPay. Only actual firearms and ammunition are restricted.
Can I sell CBD products through MaxanetPay?
No. Products that contain CBD or provide access to CBDs are prohibited under the MaxanetPay cannabis restriction, even if the products do not contain THC.
Can I run penny auctions or bidding-fee auctions on Maxanet?
No. Bidding Fee Auctions, including Penny Auctions, are explicitly prohibited on MaxanetPay. This restriction comes from the card brands and applies to every Fullsteam merchant account.
Can I sell hunting knives or swords on MaxanetPay?
No. Hunting knives, military knives, and swords are prohibited. Kitchen knives and ordinary collectibles that are not sold as weapons are generally acceptable; contact Fullsteam for clarification on edge cases.
Can I accept cryptocurrency payments through Maxanet?
No. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and any other virtual currency are prohibited on MaxanetPay. MaxanetPay only processes standard credit and debit card transactions in U.S. dollars.
Can I sell tobacco or vape products on MaxanetPay?
No. Card-Not-Present tobacco, e-cigarettes, vape supplies, and accessories are prohibited. These restrictions are enforced at the card-brand level for online sales.
I am not sure whether my item qualifies as prohibited — what should I do?
Contact Fullsteam Payment Services before listing the item publicly or submitting a MaxanetPay application. Email payments.support@fullsteam.com or call 334-329-6775 (option 4, then option 2) and describe the item in detail. Getting a determination up front is much easier than having your merchant account terminated for a listing that turns out to be restricted.
What happens if I list prohibited items after being approved for MaxanetPay?
Fullsteam monitors public Maxanet sites for prohibited items and verbiage. Listing prohibited items after approval can result in your MaxanetPay merchant account being placed on hold, terminated, or having funds held pending review. Always check the prohibited items list before running auctions featuring any items that might be restricted.
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