Questions & answers

Am I talking to a real person?

Not at first. I'm an AI assistant, and I do my best, but I can get things wrong sometimes — so please don't treat what I say as gospel. If anything I tell you doesn't match what you see on the site, the site is right. Ask to talk to a person any time and a real human on our team will pick it up.

Can I talk to a human?

Yes. Just say "talk to a person" here in the chat and it goes to a real member of our team. We're a small team of real humans, so it may take a little while, but someone will see it.

The chat told me something wrong. What now?

Sorry about that — the chat assistant is AI and it does make mistakes sometimes. Ask for a person here in the chat and we'll sort it out. If we messed up, we'll own it and fix it quickly. We're just little humans doing our best.

What's the best way to report a bug?

Tell us right here in the chat. Say what page you were on, what you tapped, and what happened (a screenshot helps). The site is new and still a work in progress, so thank you for your patience — a real person reads every report and we fix things as fast as we can.

What is The Loaded Tea Swap Shop?

A marketplace where loaded tea fans buy, sell and trade sealed Loaded Teas, Waters and Coffees (the packets) with each other, plus brand merch, things members make and our own merch shop. There's also the Plaza, a town square with an arcade where members hang out. We hold the money until packages are delivered, we make the shipping labels so everything has real tracking, and on a trade both packages go out at the same time. No payment apps, no screenshots, nobody has to go first.

Are you The Loaded Teashop?

No. The Loaded Tea Swap Shop is an independent marketplace. We are not owned or operated by, or affiliated with, The Loaded Teashop or any other loaded tea brand. None of the brands are responsible for anything that happens here, so questions about orders, trades or accounts on this site come to us, not to them.

Are you partnered with, sponsored by, or approved by any brand?

No. We're a separate, independent business and not affiliated with any loaded tea brand. Brand and flavor names are trademarks of their owners; we only use them to describe the packets people list.

Do you sell new packets?

No. Everything on the marketplace is listed, sold and shipped by individual members. For brand-new product, buy from the brand directly.

What do you sell?

Three things: (1) a member marketplace for buying, selling and trading sealed loaded tea packets people already own, plus the brands' own merch like buckets and plushies, (2) things members make by hand, and (3) printed merch — shirts, tumblers and more, printed to order, including designs by members.

Is it free to join?

Yes. Joining is free and listing is free. You only pay when something sells, or when you trade (a small fee plus your own shipping label).

Who runs the Swap Shop?

An independent team of loaded tea fans, not affiliated with any brand. More, with the site's live numbers, at teaswapper.com/about.

How do I contact you?

Open the chat bubble and tap Get help on the Customer service strip: Chat with us (if we're away, leave a message and we'll email you back), Write to us (we answer every one, usually within a day) or email help@teaswapper.com. All three are on teaswapper.com/contact too. Questions about the tea itself go to the brand.

Which brands can I list?

Only approved brands. Right now: The Loaded Teashop™, Kajun Loaded Tea, Upline Loaded Teas, Loaded by CCC and Teafarious. Some brands also make loaded waters and loaded coffees — those can be listed too.

Can other brands be listed?

Only approved brands can be listed, and a listing has to be exactly what's in the photo — the title is built from the flavors you pick, so it can't say anything else. Sell a brand we don't carry, or know a flavor we're missing? Go to teaswapper.com/new-brand and tell us about it: the brand name, a link to where it's sold (Amazon or their site), and a photo of the packet if you have one. We check that it's a real brand people can buy, then add it and let you know. Most requests get an answer within a day.

My flavor isn't on the list.

If it's from one of the approved brands, tell us here in the chat (brand + flavor name, exactly as printed) and we'll add it. If it's from a brand that isn't approved, it can't be listed yet.

How do I know what a flavor tastes like?

See the flavor guide at /flavors. Pick a brand and you'll see every flavor you can buy, sell or trade here, with a short note on what each one tastes like. The notes are short summaries of how each brand describes its flavors.

Two brands have a flavor with the same name. How do I tell them apart?

Every listing shows the brand next to the flavor (for example "Bahama Mama · Upline"). When you list, you pick the brand first and then the flavor, so they never get mixed up.

Can I trade one brand for another?

Yes. You can sell or trade any approved brand, and swap across brands — for example Loaded Teashop for Kajun, or Upline for Teafarious.

Are caffeine-free flavors allowed?

Yes. Caffeine-free versions are listed separately and marked "Caffeine free" so you know what you're getting.

Can I get told when someone lists a flavor I want?

Yes. Search the flavor on the Swap page, or find it in the flavor guide at /flavors, and tap Notify me. The second someone lists it, you get a notification, plus an email (one a day per flavor, at most). Not signed in yet? Notify me takes you to sign up, and it's switched on as soon as you're in. Up to 30 flavors.

Where do I see or change my flavor alerts?

You, then Settings, then Flavor alerts. Type a flavor to add it, tap Remove to stop one, turn Email me too off if you only want the notifications, and turn on New flavors to hear when a flavor is added to the Swap Shop.

How do I sign up?

Tap "Join free", enter your email, a password (8+ characters) and the username you want. That's it. We ask for your shipping address later, the first time you buy, list or trade.

Is there a sign-up bonus?

Your first order ships free, up to $5. It comes off the shipping line at checkout automatically, nothing to enter. If the box is heavier and shipping is more than $5, you pay the difference. It works on Loaded Teas, trades and handmade orders (not the merch shop), once per account.

Why didn't I get free shipping?

It's for your very first order here. If you've bought or traded before, it's been used. If this is your first order and it didn't come off, tell us here and we'll sort it out.

How do I sign in?

Use your email and password, or tap "Email me a sign-in code" (or "Forgot your password?") and type the code from the email; an iPhone offers it straight from Mail. The link in the email works too, but a link from Mail opens Safari, so on the Swap Shop on your Home Screen use the code.

My sign-in code or link doesn't work.

Codes and links stop working after about an hour, or once they've been used. Tap Send a new code and use the newest email.

I didn't get the email.

Check spam and promotions, wait a minute, then tap Send a new code. Make sure the email address is typed correctly.

Can I change my username?

Yes, in your account settings. Usernames are 3–20 letters, numbers or underscores. Nobody else can take your old name.

Why do you need my address?

So we can make shipping labels — for things people send you, and so your own labels show where you're shipping from. We ask once, the first time you buy, list or trade, and check it with USPS when you save it. The marketplace ships within the US only.

Does my information stay private?

We only share what's needed to ship: the shipping label shows the sender and receiver addresses, like any package. Your email isn't shown to other members. See /policies for the full privacy details.

Can the Swap Shop buzz my phone?

Yes. Anything that rings the bell at the top of the site can buzz your phone: a sale, an offer, a message, your order shipping and more. Switch it on or off under You, then Settings, then Notifications, and tap Send a test to check it. Signing out stops that phone.

How do I delete my account?

Go to teaswapper.com/delete-account (or You, then Settings, then Delete your account), on the website or in the app. It shows anything that has to finish first, like an order on the way or an auction you're winning, and what goes with the account: your listings, credit, tokens and squad spot. Type DELETE and it's gone right away. Your name, email, address and saved card come off. Order records stay for seven years because tax law says so, with no name or street on them. Can't sign in? Write to us and a person will delete it for you.

How do I get notifications on an iPhone?

They come through the Swap Shop on your Home Screen (iOS 16.4 or newer): in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen, open it from there, sign in, and tap Turn on notifications. To turn them off: the iPhone's Settings, then Notifications, then Swap Shop.

What can I list?

Sealed, real packets from an approved brand that are on our flavor list. Every packet must be in its original sealed wrapper — never opened, never repackaged, never split into your own bags. The brands' own merch on our list (buckets, plushies, boxes) can go up too, on its own or with Loaded Teas.

What gets pulled?

Anything that isn't a real, sealed packet from an approved brand — knockoffs, homemade mixes, opened or repackaged packets — and anything close to expiring. Also listings whose photos aren't the seller's own (a website's, or another member's, which carry that member's stamp), listings that say more than the photos show, and packets listed as a brand they aren't. You get the reason by notification and email. Repeat offenders get a strike, a week's pause on listing, or lose the ability to list.

Are there expiration rules?

Packets need more than 60 days left before their expiration date to be listed. Listings are pulled automatically once they get within 30 days of expiring.

How do I make a listing?

Tap the + (List) and pick Loaded Teas, Waters or Coffees. Add 1–6 photos of the actual packets, pick the brand and flavor and how many (you can mix flavors), set the expiration date, tick that everything is sealed, then choose sell, swap, or both. For a sale, set your price. For a trade, pick what you'd take back or tick "I'm open to anything". Then tap Post it.

Is there a minimum price?

Yes — at least $2.25 per packet. For example, 10 packets must be priced at $22.50 or more. Buyers pay shipping on top, so don't build shipping into your price.

Is there a minimum number of packets?

No. One packet or three hundred.

I have a lot of one flavor. Can I split it into several listings?

Yes. Fill out one lot (say 10 packets), then at the bottom set "Got more than one lot like this?" to how many lots you have (up to 20). One tap posts them all as separate listings — for example 10 listings of 10 packets each. Your photos have to show all of them together (100 packets for 10 lots of 10): we count the packets in the photos, and listings that don't add up are paused until we've looked.

Can I name my listing?

Yes. There's a "Name it" box when you list, and you can change it any time with Edit it (the dots on the listing, under You, then Selling). Leave it blank and the flavors are the name. Buyers always see the flavors under your name, and a name can't claim a brand that isn't in the listing.

How many listings can I have?

Up to 100 listings up at once, and up to 60 new listings an hour.

How long does a listing stay up?

30 days. After that it expires and you can post it again. It also comes down automatically if it gets within 30 days of its expiration date.

How do I edit or delete my listing?

Open the You tab, then Selling, and tap the dots on the listing (or open your listing and tap Edit it). Edit it changes the photos, what's in it, the details and the price, and the listing stays up the whole time with the same link. New photos or a new count get checked again, same as a new listing. Got several just like it up? One edit can change them all. The same dots have Take it off the shelf (it waits In the back until you put it back) and Take it down for good.

A listing can't change while it's in an order. While a trade offer waits on you, what's in it stays put until you answer, and an auction can only change its photos, name and note until somebody bids.

What does Price drop mean on a listing?

The seller took 10% or more off the price in the last 2 days, and the old price shows crossed out. Got a flavor alert on a flavor in it? You get a buzz when its price drops.

Can I take a listing down for a while without deleting it?

Yes. Take it off the shelf and it waits In the back, where only you see it. Use the dots on the listing (You, then Selling), or tap the +, then Stock your shelves. Putting it back is checked like a new listing, so the Loaded Teas still need more than 60 days on their date.

What photos should I use?

Clear photos of the actual packets you're sending, all of them together, with the expiration date readable if you can. Photos are resized automatically before they upload. Only photos (JPG, PNG, WEBP) are accepted. Every photo gets the Swap Shop stamp with your @handle on it, so nobody can pass your photos off as theirs, and a photo taken from someone else's listing shows their stamp.

What's a lot code?

The batch code printed on the pack. It's optional, but buyers like seeing it.

Can I sell brand merch, like buckets and plushies?

Yes, once the piece is on our brand merch list (things the brands make themselves: buckets, plushies, boxes). Tap the + (List), then "Brand merch or a bundle". Sell or trade it on its own, or put Loaded Teas in with it.

My piece isn't on the list.

Tap "Not on the list? Ask us to add it" while you're listing. We check it and let you know, usually within a day.

Does brand merch have to be new?

New (never used, still in its packaging) or Like new (out of the packaging, no wear), and you say which for each piece. Used things can't go up.

What's a bundle?

A listing with more than one kind of thing in it: two or more flavors, two or more brand merch pieces, or brand merch with Loaded Teas. Shirts and other printed shop merch never get Loaded Teas. If a kind of bundle isn't allowed right now, the listing page tells you.

How is brand merch priced and shipped?

At least $2.25 for every Loaded Tea in it, and at least $1 for merch on its own. You never weigh anything: the buyer pays shipping by weight, and you get a prepaid label when it sells.

How does buying work?

Open a listing, tap Buy it, and pay by card, with your credit, or both. We hold your money until the package is delivered. The seller gets a shipping label from us and has 3 business days to ship.

How much is shipping?

A flat rate by how many packets are in the order: under 25 packets $4.95, 25–99 packets $6.95, 100–249 packets $9.95, 250+ packets $13.95. Anything with brand merch in it ships by weight instead. The exact amount is shown before you pay. Your first order ships free, up to $5. Shipping to Canada is what USPS charges to get it there, shown before you pay.

Do you ship to Canada?

Yes. Canadians can join with a Canadian address and buy anything listed for sale here, handmade too. Shipping to Canada is what USPS charges, shown on the listing, and you pick at checkout: Standard (USPS First-Class International, 1 to 3 weeks) or Faster (USPS Priority Mail International, 6 to 10 business days). Prices are in US dollars. On orders over CAD $20, Canada can add its sales tax when it's delivered, plus a CAD $9.95 Canada Post fee. Selling, trading and bidding from Canada are coming soon. Merch from the shop ships to US addresses for now.

How do I ship an order going to Canada?

Same as any order: print the label, tape it on, and drop it at USPS within 3 business days. The customs form is part of the label, so print the whole thing and tape it all on. The buyer already paid the postage to Canada.

Can I buy more from the same seller and only pay shipping once?

Yes. Once you've bought something, anything else of theirs you buy before they print the label rides in the same box. Checkout says "Your box with @them is open" and shipping shows Free. If the box needs a bigger size, you pay just the difference. The seller gets one label for all of it, and each thing is still its own order with its own review and the Scam-Free Guarantee. It works on buys inside the US, not trades.

Some stickers say "With a stamp." What's that?

Small stickers and decals (up to 3 oz) can go in a plain envelope with the seller's own stamp instead of a tracked label: $1.25 a stamp (1 stamp up to 1 oz, 2 up to 3 oz). You pick With a stamp or Tracked at checkout. A stamp has no tracking, so tap "It's here" on the order when it comes. If it hasn't shown up 7 days after it was mailed, tap "It hasn't come" and you get your money back. That's once per member; after that, stickers ship to you tracked.

How do I pay?

By card (secure checkout through Stripe), with credit in your balance, or both: leave your balance ticked at checkout and it pays what it can, and your card pays the rest (at least 50 cents). A refund goes back the same way: the card part to your card, the credit to your balance.

What if the seller doesn't ship?

The seller has 3 business days to get it to USPS. If there's no scan by then, we ask the seller and give it 2 more business days (USPS often scans a drop-off a day or two late). If it still hasn't moved, the order is cancelled and you're refunded automatically.

What happens after delivery?

You get 72 hours to check it over. If everything's right, tap "All good" (or do nothing — it releases on its own after 72 hours). If something's wrong, tap "Something's wrong" on the order before the 72 hours are up and tell us what happened. That holds the money while we look into it.

Something is wrong with my order.

Open the order in your account and tap "Something's wrong" within 72 hours of delivery. Pick what went wrong (never arrived, not as described, damaged, not sealed, expired, wrong item), add details and a photo of what you got (a photo is required unless it never arrived). A real person reviews it and the money stays held until it's sorted. It's covered by the Scam-Free Guarantee. If the order still says it's on its way but the package is in your hands, tap "It's here" on the order first; your 72 hours start then and "Something's wrong" shows up.

My order says it's on its way, but I already have it.

USPS sometimes skips the last scan. Open the order and tap "It's here." Your 72-hour check starts right then, with "All good" and "Something's wrong" on the order. On a trade, "It's here" counts the package coming to you as delivered.

How do returns work?

If what arrived isn't what the listing showed, we send you a prepaid return label. Print it, tape it on, drop it at the post office, and your refund goes out the moment USPS scans it. The seller gets their item back. Changed your mind isn't a return reason unless the seller allows returns on that item.

Where's my order? How do I check my order status?

Open the You tab, then Orders, and tap the order to see where it's at: paid, label made, shipped, delivered, the 72-hour check, and done. The "Track it" button opens USPS tracking. Every email we send about an order also has a link straight to it. We also email you when it ships and when it's delivered.

How do I check on a trade?

Open the You tab, then Trades, and tap the trade. You'll see both packages — yours going out and theirs coming to you — each with its own tracking.

My package hasn't arrived.

Check the tracking on the order in your account. If it shipped a week ago or more and still hasn't shown up, open the order and tap "Tell us it never came." The money stays on hold while a real person finds out where it is. If the carrier says it's being returned or can't be delivered, it comes to our team automatically. You can also message us here any time.

How long do refunds take?

Refunds to a card usually show up in 5–10 business days. Refunds of credit go back to your balance right away.

What are the selling fees?

The fee depends on how many packets are in the sale:

• Under 25 packets: 8%
• 25–99 packets: 10%
• 100–249 packets: 12%
• 250+ packets: 15%

Minimum fee is $0.50. You get your price minus the fee. Shipping is paid by the buyer.

How do I ship something I sold?

We email you a prepaid shipping label, and it's also on the order in your account. Print it, tape it on, and drop the package at USPS (counter or blue box). Ship within 3 business days. If USPS hasn't scanned it by then, you'll get a note asking if you dropped it off — tap it and you get 2 more business days for the scan to show up. After that the order cancels.

I got a second label for the same buyer. Which one do I use?

The newest one. When a buyer gets more from you before you print, it all ships together in one box: you get one new label for everything (the email lists what goes in it) and the first label is canceled. Pack it all in one box and use the new label.

Is there a packing slip I can print?

Yes. Next to Print the label on your order there's a Packing slip link. Pick 4x6 label or Letter. 4x6 prints two black-and-white labels on the same thermal printer as your shipping label (on a phone it opens the share sheet, so you can pick Print or your printer's app). Letter prints one page in color. Either way it has the buyer's address, what's in the box and what they paid, plus how to leave you a review and the tokens they get for it. The same page walks you through packing it.

I don't have a printer.

Many USPS locations can print a label for you — show them the label from your email or account. You can also print at a library or copy shop.

When do I get paid for a sale?

After the buyer's 72-hour check (or sooner if they tap "All good"), your earnings go into your balance. From there you cash out whenever you want: tap Cash out on your account page.

Do I have my own shop page?

Yes, every member with something listed does. Tap your letter at the top right, then Your shop: your Loaded Teas, brand merch, handmade, designs and reviews in one place. Share it from You, then Selling, with Share your shop.

What do Live, In process and Sold mean on a shop?

Live is for sale now, In process is bought or traded but not finished, and Sold is done (trades say Traded). On your own shop, each In process card shows your next step.

How do payouts work?

Set up payouts once on your account page (secure setup through Stripe, takes a couple of minutes). Then any time you have $5 or more, tap Cash out and pick: Instant, to your debit card in minutes, for a 2% fee (at least $1); or Free, to your bank in 2 to 3 business days. Nothing goes out unless you ask for it.

Why can't I pick Instant?

Instant needs a debit card on your Stripe account. Open your Stripe payouts page from the cash-out screen and add a debit card. Until then the free option works the same, it just takes 2 to 3 business days.

Is there a fee to cash out?

Free to your bank, no fee. Instant to your debit card is 2% with a $1 minimum.

What if the buyer says something's wrong?

The money stays held while a real person looks at it. If the problem is on the seller's side, the buyer is refunded and the seller gets a strike. If everything checks out, the money is released to the seller.

What are strikes?

A strike is given when someone doesn't ship a sale or their half of a trade, or when a sale is refunded because of a problem with what was sent. Three strikes and the account is paused. You never get a strike if we failed to make your shipping label.

What is the Auction House?

Auctions on the Swap Shop, the way eBay does them. A seller puts something up with a starting bid and a clock (1, 3, 5 or 7 days), members bid, and when the clock runs out the top bid takes it home. You'll find them first on the Swap page and all together at teaswapper.com/auctions.

Why do some auctions go so high?

Because that's what people bid. We don't set prices on anything members sell, and neither do the brands. On an auction the seller picks the starting bid and the bidders decide where it ends, the same as eBay. We set a floor (nothing starts under $2.25 a packet), never the price. Retired flavors, limited drops and brand merch are collectibles now, like sneakers or trading cards, and they go for what collectors will pay. Nobody has to bid: tap Watch on any auction to see where it lands.

How do I bid?

Open the auction, tap Place bid, and put in the most you'd pay. We bid for you, a little at a time, just enough to keep you on top, and nobody sees your max. You need a card on file and an address to bid. If someone bids more, we buzz your phone so you can bid again.

How do I keep track of my bids?

Tap You, then Bids. Every auction you're in is there: Winning or Outbid, your max, and the time left, with the ones you're losing on top. Watching has the ones you're keeping an eye on without a bid, and Ended has the ones you won or someone else won for 30 days. On the Swap page, every auction you're in says Winning or Outbid right on it, and Your bids at the top of the Auction House takes you straight to the list.

What happens if I win?

The card on file pays the second the clock runs out (any credit you have goes first), plus shipping. Then it's a regular order: the seller has 3 business days to ship, your money is held until it's delivered, and the Scam-Free Guarantee covers it.

Can I take back a bid?

No. Every bid is final, so you confirm each one before it goes in. If you win, the card on file is charged when the clock runs out, and there are no refunds for a bid you didn't mean. You're still covered by the Scam-Free Guarantee if it never shows up or isn't what was listed.

What if my card doesn't go through when I win?

You get 24 hours to put on a card that works, right from the auction's page. Once it goes through, it's yours. After 24 hours it goes back to the seller.

Why did the clock go back up to 2 minutes?

Someone bid in the last 2 minutes. Every bid that close to the end puts the clock back to 2:00, so nobody loses to a last-second bid.

What's Buy It Now on an auction?

Some sellers add a price you can pay to skip the bidding. It stays up until the bidding gets within 10% of it, then it goes away.

How do I run an auction?

List like always, and on the last step pick Auction. Set a starting bid (at least $2.25 a packet, same as every listing), add a Buy It Now if you want one, and pick how long it runs. The fee is the same as a sale, on what it sells for. Nothing to list, nothing if it doesn't sell.

Can I change or end my auction early?

Before anybody bids, yes: take it down like any listing. Once someone bids, it stays up until the clock runs out. If nobody bids, it goes in the back and you can run it again in one tap.

Can I trade for something that's up for auction?

No. Auctions are cash only.

How does trading work?

Here's how a trade goes:

• 1. Make an offer — free. Offer one of your listings (or put up something new) for theirs.
• 2. They have 48 hours to accept — free — or pass.
• 3. Once accepted, you each pay for your own shipping label plus a small trade fee, within 48 hours.
• 4. Labels are only made after BOTH of you have paid. If the other person doesn't pay, you're refunded.
• 5. We email each of you a label. Ship within 3 business days.
• 6. The trade is done when both packages are delivered.

How much does a trade cost?

Each person pays their own trade fee and their own shipping label, based on how many packets they're sending. Trade fee: under 25 packets $2.49, 25–99 $3.49, 100–249 $4.99, 250+ $6.99. Label: under 25 packets $4.95, 25–99 $6.95, 100–249 $9.95, 250+ $13.95 (anything with brand merch in it is priced by weight). Both are shown before you pay.

Why didn't I get my label yet? I already paid.

Labels are only made once both people have paid. If the other person doesn't pay in time, you get your money back.

Do I have to pick what I want back in a trade?

No. When you list, tick "I'm open to anything" and people can offer whatever they've got. Your listing shows "Open to anything" so they know.

Can I offer a trade on any listing?

Only on listings open to trades ("Sale or trade" or "Trade only"). Sale-only listings can only be bought.

Does sending an offer lock the other person's listing?

No. Only your own listing is held while your offer is out. Theirs stays up until they accept. If it sells or goes to someone else first, your offer can't go through and your listing is freed.

Can I cancel a trade?

Yes. Before you've both paid, either of you can cancel any time and anything paid comes back. After you've both paid, either of you can cancel until a box is in the mail: the other person gets back everything they paid, you get your label back, and the trade fee stays with us. You can cancel 2 paid trades a month. Once a box has a USPS scan, the trade's on.

What happens if someone doesn't pay or doesn't ship?

If they don't pay in time, the trade is cancelled and anything you paid is refunded. If they don't ship their half and you did, you're covered by the Scam-Free Guarantee: your fee is refunded and we pay you what your listing was worth. They get a strike (three and the account is paused). If we couldn't make someone's label, that's on us — no strike.

What is the Scam-Free Guarantee?

Get scammed on this site and we make it right — that's the promise the whole site is built on. Buy something and you get what the photos showed or your money back. Ship on time with our label and you get paid. Ship your half of a trade and theirs never comes, you're paid what yours was worth. Nobody sends first, nobody gets scammed. Details at teaswapper.com/guarantee.

Why do trades need a card on file?

It's what lets us keep the Scam-Free Guarantee on trades. The card you pay your trade fee with is saved automatically, and it's never touched unless you take the other person's Loaded Teas and never ship yours. Stripe holds the number, we never see it. It's why trading here works and Facebook threads don't.

Why does a trade-only listing need a price?

It's the value of your Loaded Teas. Trades don't have to be even — 8 rare packets for 12 common ones is fine, both people see both prices before they accept. If the other person takes yours and never ships, that's what we pay you.

Is there a limit on trades for new members?

Until you've finished three trades, each side of a trade is capped at $75. After that there's no cap.

What if a trade package gets lost or sent back?

If a package is in transit for more than 10 days, or the carrier returns it, it comes to our team automatically and we sort it out with both of you.

Can I add cash to a trade?

Not right now — trades are Loaded Teas for Loaded Teas. You can always list for sale instead, or offer more packets.

What kinds of credit are there?

Two kinds:

• Earned money — from your sales and creator designs. You can cash this out once it has cleared.
• Added and bonus credit — credit you bought, refunds given as credit, and invite rewards. It spends on anything here but can't be cashed out or refunded.

Spend-only credit is used first when you buy.

Can I buy credit?

Yes, on your account page: $25 gets you $26, $50 gets you $53, $100 gets you $110. Purchased credit is spend-only and non-refundable.

Can I use credit on merch?

Yes. Credit spends on anything here: Loaded Teas, trades, handmade, merch and shipping.

What if my credit doesn't cover the whole order?

Keep your balance ticked at checkout. It pays what it can and your card pays the rest (at least 50 cents). If you don't finish paying, the credit goes back.

Why isn't all my balance cashable?

Only earned money can be cashed out, and only once it has cleared. Sale money clears after the buyer's 72-hour check. Creator earnings clear 14 days after the sale.

How does Invite & earn work?

Sign in, go to the Invite tab (/invite) and you get your own link. Every friend who joins with it and makes a move gets you something (that's Bring your people, below). On top of that you get $5 in shop credit for every friend who finishes 3 orders (buys, sales, trades and merch orders all count), plus a commission on their merch orders.

What is Bring your people?

Every friend who joins with your link and makes their first move counts, once. As your count goes up you get: 1 friend, 250 tokens; 3 friends, the Bestie pin (nobody can buy it) and you can start your own squad; 5 friends, $5 in credit and a gold name tag on the Square; 10 friends, the ice crown (nobody can buy it either) and $10 in credit; 25 friends, any hoodie in the Shop, on us (we message you to pick it). Your bell rings at each one, and your Black Friday pack grows with the same count. It counts friends who joined since November 1.

What counts as a move?

Their first listing going up, their first bid on an auction, a trade the other person accepted, or their first paid order (Loaded Teas, handmade or merch). Signing up alone doesn't count, and each friend counts once.

My friend joined with my link. Why don't they count yet?

They haven't made a move yet (a listing still being checked counts once it's up), they joined before November 1, or they signed up without your link. If they skipped your link, they can name you the first time they open the site. A move counts within a couple of minutes and your bell rings. Staff accounts don't count for themselves.

When do I get the Bestie pin or the ice crown?

The moment your count reaches it, it goes in your wardrobe: wear it from the Costume Shop. If you reached one before it was finished, it lands in your wardrobe the day it's ready.

What's the Black Friday pack?

A secret discount you rip open on Black Friday, Friday, Nov 27. It grows with the friends you bring: Sky at 1 (5–10% off, up to $5), Aqua at 3 (10–15% off, up to $10), Grape at 5 (15–20% off, up to $15, shipping's on us, in an hour early), Gold at 10 (20–30% off, up to $25, shipping's on us, in an hour early). The exact percent is picked when you rip it. It comes off one checkout, anything on the Swap Shop, any time till the end of Cyber Monday, Nov 30. The discount is on us: the seller still gets their full price. A friend who joins with your link gets a Sky pack of their own once they make their first move.

What are doorbusters?

On Black Friday every seller can hang one doorbuster: one listing at least 20% under its price on Nov 20. They go up first thing Black Friday on the first shelf of the Swap page, and Grape and Gold packs see them an hour before everybody. A doorbuster stays up till it sells or Cyber Monday ends, then goes back to its old price.

How do the medals and the statue work?

Each week (Monday to Monday), the three members whose friends made the most moves wear gold, silver and bronze medals on their name tags on the Square. A tie goes to whoever got there first. The month's number one gets a gold statue of their figure by the fountain on the Square for the whole next month. Bring 5 and your name tag is gold for good.

Do the friends I bring help my squad?

Yes. Every friend who makes a move puts 3 points on your squad's Squad Cup that month, on top of Squad Night points. A friend who joins with your link and isn't in a squad yet gets asked to join yours.

What's Make a post?

A button on the Invite tab. It makes a picture of your figure on the Square with your name on it, and three posts written for you with your link on its own line. Post it opens your phone's share menu with the picture and the words (the words get copied too, so paste them if the app leaves them out). Or save the picture and copy the words yourself.

Does bringing people help Friendsgiving?

Yes. For every friend who makes a move, we put $1 into Swap Shop Friendsgiving, till gifts close Thursday, Nov 19.

Is the affiliate account the same as my Swap Shop account?

You join with your Swap Shop account in one tap on the Invite & earn page, using the same email. It's free. Merch commissions and payouts live in a separate affiliate dashboard you open from that page.

Where do I see my link, clicks and earnings?

On the Invite tab (/invite): how many people you've brought and what's next, your Black Friday pack, Make a post, your link and how many visits it got this week, everything you can get, this week's top three, your squad's Cup, and every person you brought (Made a move or No move yet, with three dots for the $5 at three orders). If one of them hasn't moved yet you can give them a nudge from there. Merch commissions waiting and paid show there too.

How and when do affiliates get paid?

Commissions are paid out to you directly by our affiliate program. Your affiliate dashboard shows what you've earned and when it pays.

When do I get the $5?

When your friend finishes their third order — a buy, a sale, a trade or a merch order, any size. It lands in your Swap Shop balance automatically and you get a notification. You also get a heads-up when they make their first one. $5 per friend.

What does my friend get for joining with my link?

Their first order ships free, up to $5. It comes off at checkout automatically. In November they also get a Black Friday pack of their own once they make their first move.

Why didn't my $5 show up?

Usually they haven't finished an order yet — an order counts when it's delivered and the 72-hour check is over (a merch order counts once it's paid). If they signed up without your link, they can name you the first time they open the site, and you'll see them on your Invite page. If it still looks wrong, tell us here with their username.

Is the $5 cash?

It's Swap Shop credit you can spend on anything here: Loaded Teas, trades, shipping and merch. Merch commissions are paid out in money by the affiliate program.

What merch orders count for commission?

Merch shop orders paid by card from people who came through your link.

What's my referral code?

Referral codes are retired. Your affiliate link does the tracking now, so just share the link.

My friend used my link but doesn't show in my dashboard.

Ask them to open the site and pick your name when it asks "Did somebody send you here?" — that puts them on your list. If they already got past that, tell us here with their username and we'll set it.

I used to earn from the old invite program. What happened to that?

The old program is closed and replaced by the affiliate program. Anything you already earned from it stays in your balance.

How do reviews work?

Once an order is done, buyer and seller can each leave a star rating, tap what stood out and add a short note. Reviews post right away and show on the member's listings and shop. A buyer can rate in the same tap as All good.

Do I get anything for leaving a review?

Yes. Every review you leave on an order puts 100 tokens in your arcade wallet, good or bad. It's once per order, and changing a review later doesn't pay again. Tokens play the games in Swappie's Arcade and buy outfits in the Costume Shop.

Can I add a picture of my haul to my review?

Yes. Whoever got the box (the buyer, or either side of a trade) can add a picture to their review: tap Add a picture of your haul when you rate the order, or on the order page after. The code on the packing slip takes you right there. The picture shows with your review. Leave Put it on our Facebook on and your haul can go up on The Loaded Tea Swap Shop's Facebook page with your invite link in the post: every friend who joins through it and finishes 3 orders puts $5 in your balance. Switch it off and the picture stays on the site only.

What's Haul of the Week?

Every Monday morning, the haul picture on our Facebook page that got the most likes, comments and shares the week before is Haul of the Week, and whoever took it gets a stack of tokens in their arcade wallet. Your bell rings when your haul passes 50, 100 and 250 likes, with the post one tap away so you can share it. Your invite link is in the post, so friends who join through it count for you too.

What is the Plaza?

The whole Swap Shop as a seaside town square (teaswapper.com/plaza). Walk up to a shop (The Swap Shop, Market Row, Swappie's Arcade, the Costume Shop and more) and you're on that page. Everyone on the site is there live: tap someone to wave, see their shop, visit their house or invite them to your squad.

How do I get around the Plaza?

Tap where you want to go. Swipe to look around, pinch out to see the whole square, and tap Which way? to find any shop. Regular site (top left) takes you back; You, then Settings, then Your front door picks where the site opens.

What is Swappie's Arcade?

A floor full of games like Packet Pop, Swappie Jump and The Claw, on the Plaza or at teaswapper.com/arcade. Walk up to a machine and tap it to play. Whoever else is on the floor is there with you, live.

What are tokens?

The arcade's play money: one wallet for every game, the Costume Shop and decorating your house. Tap the coin at the top of the arcade to see how many you have. Tokens aren't money: they can't be cashed out or spent on Loaded Teas, merch or anything else on the marketplace.

How do I get tokens?

Play the games (a few at a time, up to a daily limit), leave a review on a finished order (those don't count toward the limit), and win them on Squad Night when the prize is tokens.

What's the Costume Shop?

The Plaza's dress-up shop (teaswapper.com/costume). Spend tokens on outfits and accessories for your figure, and on a new look for your house on the Plaza and for your shop page. Try anything on first, then buy it from the bar under your figure.

Can I change my figure?

Yes. You're Swappie, Shoppie or our third character: tap Change who you are in the Costume Shop, or tap yourself on the Plaza. What you wear goes everywhere with you, from the Plaza and the arcade to houses and your shop page.

What's my house?

Your own room, three walls wide. Walk into Your House on the Plaza and tap Go inside (or go to teaswapper.com/room), then tap the floor to walk around. Tap Decorate to drag in what you own, flip it or put it away, and try anything from the Shop tab in place before you buy it with tokens.

Can people visit my house?

Yes. Anyone can walk in from your card on the Plaza (Visit their house), and your bell tells you who stopped by. Members who visit can sign your guest book (up to 140 characters, chat rules apply). Tap Guest book for your Notes and Who stopped by.

How do I win a free turkey?

Two ways, all November, at /turkey. The Turkey Shoot: take shots at the target, and when the week ends Sunday night the 5 closest shots win a turkey. The Turkey Drop: every night a plane drops a turkey somewhere on the site, and the first member to find it and tap it wins it. A turkey is $25 in your Swap Shop balance.

Is it free? Do I have to buy anything?

It's free to play. No purchase needed. Everybody starts with 3 shots and gets another one every day they come back.

How do I get more shots?

3 more for every friend who joins with your link (it's on /turkey) and takes a shot, 10 more when that friend's first order goes through, and 15 for a public video about the Swap Shop on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube that says #contest in it. Paste the video's link on /turkey and we check it. Plus 1 every day you come back.

How does the Turkey Shoot work?

Tap Aim and the target starts moving, back across the field and up close again, while the sight sways over it. Tap anywhere when the sight's on the X. It's a lot easier when the target's up close, so wait for it. We measure how far the shot landed from the X, to the hundredth of an inch. Your closest shot of the week is the one on the board, and the board starts over every Monday. Ties go to whoever shot first.

How does the Turkey Drop work?

Every night a plane flies over the site and a turkey lands on one of our pages. A pill at the top of every page tells you which one. Go there, find the turkey peeking out from behind something and tap it. The first member to tap it wins it. If nobody finds it in 5 minutes, it moves to another page. The time's on /turkey, and Remind me there buzzes your phone 10 minutes before.

I found the turkey but I'm not a member yet. What happens?

We hold it for you for 5 minutes. Tap Join free and claim it, finish signing up (enter the code from the email) and it's yours. Already have an account? Tap Sign in instead.

How many turkeys can I win?

One a person, so more people get one. Staff can play, but can't win.

How do I get my turkey?

It's $25 in your Swap Shop balance the moment you win. Spend it on anything here, or cash it out to your bank or debit card the same way you cash out a sale.

When does it end?

The last Turkey Shoot board closes Sunday, Nov 29 at midnight, and the last turkey drops that night.

What's a squad?

Your people on the Swap Shop: a squad chat (the chat bubble, under Squad), your tag on everybody's name tag, and a team for Squad Night. One squad at a time.

How do I start or join a squad?

Start one once your first sale goes through (a finished trade counts), or once three friends you brought have made a move: chat bubble, Squad, Start a squad. To join, open a friend's squad link and tap Join (or Ask to join). Bring your people shares your squad's link, which doubles as your invite link, so friends who join through it count for you too.

What is Squad Night?

A live contest for squads: everybody plays the same arcade game, or Tea Trivia, a live trivia show hosted by Swappie. Each squad's best scores add up, and the winners split the prize. A tie goes to the squad that got there first.

When is the next Squad Night, and what's the prize?

It's all on teaswapper.com/night (the big board in Swappie's Arcade takes you there): when, the game, the prize and how it splits. Sometimes the game is named ahead; otherwise it's revealed the second it starts. Turn on Remind me there for a buzz before it starts.

How do I play Squad Night?

Sign in and be in a squad (on your own you play solo, and only squads can win). On an arcade night, tap Play and go as often as you like; your best run counts. In Tea Trivia, a wrong answer puts you out, and no answer scores 0 but keeps you in.

What are the tabs in the chat bubble?

Squad (your squad's chat), Here (whoever's in the same place as you, like the Plaza or a house; nothing is saved), Everyone (the whole site), Squad Night (open while a night is on) and Questions (ask the community, up to 3 a day, and pick the best answer). Sign in to talk.

What's not allowed in the chat?

No phone numbers, emails, other apps or payment apps, no meetups, no links to other sites (short links too), and no sexual talk, slurs or swearing. Friendly trash talk and teaswapper.com links are fine. Three lines that break the rules within 10 minutes mute you for 15 minutes. Tap someone's line to report it or block them.

How much is shipping on merch?

Shipping is calculated at checkout. It's usually around $5 for one shirt and about $7–9 for 2–3 items. Sales tax, if any, is added at checkout.

How long does merch take?

Everything is printed to order. Most US orders arrive in about a week total.

Where do you ship merch?

US addresses only, including PO boxes and APO addresses.

Can I cancel my merch order?

Yes, if it hasn't gone to print yet. Message us as soon as possible.

Can I return merch?

We don't take returns for change of mind or wrong size, since each item is printed just for you. If it arrives damaged or wrong, send us a photo within 30 days and we'll replace it free.

My merch package is missing.

Let us know within 7 days of the delivery date and we'll look into it.

How many of one item can I order?

Up to 10 of each item per order.

Can I sell my own designs?

Yes, through the creator program on the creators page (/creators). You build the product, set your price, and we print, ship and handle the money. There's no approval step: your design goes live in a few minutes, and anything that breaks the design rules comes down.

What can I make?

Tees, hoodies, sweatshirts, tumblers, phone cases, stickers, blankets, candles, pet gear and more. You pick the product, colors and sizes, place your design, and set your price. Shirts get our small logo on the chest by default, and you can turn it off.

What are the design rules?

Your own work — your art, your own business's logo, or your Facebook group's name and logo are all fine. Not allowed: The Loaded Teashop's logo or packaging art, any big brand's logo or products, someone else's business logo, characters, and real people's faces. Nothing found online, nothing cruel, no health claims.

How much do creators make?

You keep everything you price above what the product costs to make plus our cut, and never less than $1 a sale. The lowest price the builder lets you pick already has that $1 in it. The creators page shows exactly what you keep as you set your price.

Why did the price on my design change?

It was priced so you'd keep less than $1 a sale (one creator was keeping 4 cents). Every creator now keeps at least $1, so we lifted the price to the lowest amount that gets you there and sent you a notification. You can raise it any time under Your products.

Will the background of my artwork print?

Yes. Everything in your file prints, including the background. A white box, a solid color or a scene behind your art prints as a rectangle on the product. If you only want the design itself, upload a PNG with a transparent background. Canva and remove.bg can remove a background for free.

How long does it take for my design to go live?

Right away. There's no approval step — your design is made and put in your store, usually within a few minutes, and you get an email when it's live. Because nothing is pre-approved, it's on you to follow the design rules: no licensed characters, brands or logos you don't have the rights to. If a design gets a complaint, it comes down and you get a strike (1st a warning, 2nd pauses your uploads and selling for 7 days, 3rd turns them off).

My design was taken down. Why?

The email tells you exactly why — usually a logo that isn't yours (including The Loaded Teashop's), a character, a real person's face, a health claim, or a file too small to print. To fix it, tap "Fix it & resend" in that email, or tap "Fix & resend" on the design under Your designs on the creators page. Everything you set up comes back — the product, colors, sizes, title and price — so just swap the artwork (or change anything else) and tap Send it in. The turned-down one comes off your list once the new one is sent. If you think it was a mistake, tell us here and a real person will look.

Can I sell things I make myself?

Yes. Go to teaswapper.com/handmade. Download the template, fill in one row per product (title, price, how many you have, weight, box size, colors or sizes), drop the sheet back in, then drop all your photos at once. Name photos after the product's sku (mug-1.jpg, mug-2.jpg) and they sort themselves. Products go live right away.

How does shipping work for handmade products?

Shipping goes through us. The buyer pays shipping at checkout based on the weight you entered, and the moment it sells you get a prepaid USPS label with tracking. Print it, tape it on, drop it off. Ship within the time you set (1–5 business days) or the buyer is refunded automatically.

Can I mail stickers with my own stamp?

Yes, for Decals & stickers up to 3 oz. Leave "It can go with a stamp" on when you list (it's in the Price & shipping step). When a buyer picks it, put the stamps on a plain envelope (1 stamp up to 1 oz, 2 up to 3 oz), mail it in your usual ship time and tap "I mailed it" on the order. The stamp money comes to you with the sale. You're paid after the buyer taps "It's here" and their 72-hour check, or 10 days after you mail it if they never say a word.

Can I put Loaded Teas in with something I made?

Yes, under "Loaded Teas in it?" when you list. They must be sealed, from an approved brand, with more than 60 days on their date, and they ship with every one you sell. Price it at least $2.25 a tea and weigh it packed, teas and all. If the teas get close to their date, it comes off your shelf: edit the date for fresh ones and put it back.

What are the fees for handmade products?

They work like Etsy: 6.5% of the item price plus shipping, plus 3% + $0.25 for card processing. There's no listing fee. The page shows what you keep on every product before it goes up. Your money is held until the buyer has it, then it's in your balance to cash out any time.

Can buyers personalize a handmade order?

If the maker takes personalized orders. When you list an item, add up to four questions under "Take personalized orders?" (for example "Tumbler color", "Name on it", "Flavors you'd like") and mark each one must-answer or optional. The buyer answers them at checkout, the answers print on your packing slip, and your shop gets a "Takes personalized orders" badge. Items that take requests show "Personalized" on their card.

Is there a packing slip for my orders?

Yes. Next to Print the label on your order there's a Packing slip link. It has the buyer's address, the item, any personalization answer, and what they paid, on Letter paper or on a 4x6 thermal label. Print it and drop it in the box.

Can I sell licensed or character products I made?

Only if you hold the license. No licensed characters, team, brand or show merch, and no other brands' logos, unless you have the rights. Products go live right away, so we act on reports: the first one that comes down is a warning, the second pauses your selling for 7 days, and the third turns selling off for good.

I own the rights to something being sold. How do I report it?

Open the product and tap "Report it" at the bottom. No account needed. A real person reviews every report and gets back to you by email.

The first photo of my product shows the wrong side. Can I change it?

Yes. On the creators page, under Your designs, tap "Pick your photos" on the live design. Tap the photo you want people to see first, and tap a color to make it the color people see first. Leave "Use this same view for every color" on to match every color at once. Tap Save and your store and the shop update right away.

How do I delete a design?

On the creators page, under Your designs, tap Delete on the one you don't want and confirm. It's gone for good. If it was live, it comes out of the shop and your store first — anything already sold still ships and you still get paid for it.

Do I have my own store?

Yes — every member with something listed gets their own shop page with their name on the sign. Tap your letter at the top right, then Your shop (or "See my store" at the top of the creators page). Share it from You, then Selling, with Share your shop, anywhere (Facebook groups, your bio, texts) so people can shop your designs.

How many designs can I send in?

Up to 5 being made at a time.

Can I change my product after it's live?

Yes. On the creators page you can change the name, description and price (not below cost plus our margin) and redo the product pictures.

When do creators get paid?

Your cut clears 14 days after each sale and goes into your balance. Cash out any time you have $5 or more: instant to your debit card (2%, $1 minimum) or free to your bank in 2 to 3 business days.

Can I pay someone outside the site?

Please don't. Paying through the site is what protects you — we hold the money until the package arrives and the label gives real tracking. Deals made outside the site (payment apps, cash, comments) aren't covered.

Someone is being rude or scamming.

Tell us here in the chat with their username and what happened. A real person will look into it.

Where are the full rules and policies?

Listing and design rules are at /rules. Shipping, returns, privacy and terms are at /policies. Fees are at /fees.