Admin Review Process

How Admin Reviews Work:

Step 1: Dispute Filed
   └─ Admin receives notification
   ↓
Step 2: Evidence Collection (24-48hrs)
   └─ Buyer and seller upload evidence
   └─ Chat conversation ongoing
   ↓
Step 3: Admin Reviews All Evidence
   ├─ Photos and videos
   ├─ Chat transcripts
   ├─ Item descriptions
   ├─ Blockchain records
   └─ Platform history
   ↓
Step 4: Decision Made (2-5 days)
   ├─ Refund to buyer (buyer wins)
   ├─ Release to seller (seller wins)
   └─ Partial refund (compromise)
   ↓
Step 5: Funds Released Immediately
   └─ Smart contract executes decision

What Admins Consider:

Evidence Type	Weight	Why It Matters
Video Evidence	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Hardest to fake, shows reality
Clear Photos	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Visual proof of condition
Tracking Info	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Proves delivery/non-delivery
Chat History	⭐⭐⭐	Shows communication attempts
Item Description	⭐⭐⭐	Original listing claims
User History	⭐⭐	Past successful transactions

Decision Criteria:

Buyer Wins If:

• Item clearly doesn't match description

• Video/photo evidence shows damage

• Item never delivered (no tracking)

• Seller admits fault in chat

• Item is counterfeit/fake

Seller Wins If:

• Tracking shows successful delivery

• Item matches description exactly

• Buyer's claims are unfounded

• Pre-shipping photos match condition

• Buyer is attempting fraud

Timeline:

Stage	Duration	What's Happening
Filing	Instant	Dispute opens, chat activates
Evidence Upload	24-48hrs	Parties submit proof
Admin Review	24-72hrs	Team examines everything
Decision	2-5 days total	Final ruling issued
Payout	Instant	Smart contract releases funds

Admin Panel View (Admin Access Only)

Access Path: Admin Panel → Disputes Tab

What Admins See:

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Dispute #1234                   │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Auction: Physical Item #567     │
│  Buyer: 0x742d...bEb             │
│  Seller: 0x89AB...12C            │
│  Amount: 1.5 ETH (in escrow)     │
│  Filed: Jan 23, 2026             │
│  Status: Under Review            │
│                                     │
│  Chat Messages: 12               │
│     └─ Last message: 2 hours ago   │
│                                     │
│  Admin Actions:                  │
│     ├─ Refund Buyer             │
│     ├─ Release to Seller        │ │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

Dispute Resolution Outcomes

Possible Results:

Full Refund to Buyer

Buyer receives 100% of bid amount back
Seller receives nothing
Case marked as "Buyer Win"
Affects seller's reputation score

Triggers:

• Item never delivered

• Completely wrong item

• Severe damage/defect

• Seller fraud

Full Release to Seller

Seller receives 100% of payment
Buyer receives nothing
Case marked as "Seller Win"
Affects buyer's reputation if false claim

Triggers:

• Item delivered as described

• Buyer filing false dispute

• All evidence supports seller

• Buyer attempting fraud

After Resolution:

For Buyers:

• Refund sent instantly to wallet

• Dispute history recorded

• Can leave feedback (future feature)

• Cannot re-dispute same auction

For Sellers:

• Payment sent instantly to wallet (if won)

• Dispute history affects reputation

• Successful defenses boost credibility

• Multiple losses may trigger review

📊 Dispute Statistics (Tracked in Admin Analytics)

Platform Health Metrics:

Metric	What It Shows
Dispute Rate	% of auctions that end in dispute
Resolution Time	Average days to resolve
Buyer Win Rate	% of cases favoring buyers
Seller Win Rate	% of cases favoring sellers
Compromise Rate	% of partial refunds

Target Benchmarks:

• Dispute Rate: <5% (healthy marketplace)

• Dispute Rate: 5-10% (needs attention)

• Dispute Rate: >10% (platform issues)

Dispute Prevention Tips

For Buyers:

Read descriptions carefully before bidding Ask questions in chat before auction ends Check seller history for past disputes Save all communications from start Document everything upon receipt Be reasonable with expectations

For Sellers:

Write detailed descriptions with measurements Upload high-quality photos from all angles Include condition videos for high-value items Use tracked shipping always Package items securely to prevent damage Communicate proactively with buyers Set realistic delivery windows Keep all packaging materials until confirmed