- Does reserving a spot cost anything?
- No. Reserving is free and takes an email address — no card, no charge, no obligation. Reserving is what creates the verified demand that makes sellers compete.
- When do I actually pay?
- Only after the group fills, sellers compete, and the winning offer is shown to you. You'll see the final price, the seller, shipping timeline, and terms — and nothing is charged until you approve checkout.
- What if the group never fills, or the winning offer isn't good enough?
- Nothing happens. You were never charged, you can decline any offer, and you can leave a group at any time before you approve checkout.
- Are the prices on the site real?
- They're honest estimated ranges modeled from published distributor tier pricing, and every one is labeled "est." The real price comes from sellers competing for your group, and you see the winning offer before checkout. Every completed group publishes its real, itemized deal.
- What does "every deal is transparent" mean?
- Every completed group purchase publishes its full math: the retail price, the winning seller's price, our fee, the buyer total, savings, and who fulfilled the order. No hidden markups, ever.
- How does The Reverse Mall make money?
- One way only: an 8% platform fee, itemized on every completed deal. In the sample deal it's $5.31 on a $71.74 Yoto Player — and you always see it before you pay.
- What does "final price will be $X or lower" mean?
- The est. price on every listing is a ceiling, not a guess. If the locked price ever comes in higher than the number shown, your reservation cancels automatically and you pay nothing. If sellers come in lower, you pay the lower price.
- When does payment actually happen?
- Never at reservation. Payment happens only after (1) the group fills, (2) the final offer is locked at or below the listed ceiling, and (3) you personally approve checkout. Until all three happen, your card is never involved.
- What happens if a group doesn't fill?
- Nothing is charged and the reservation dissolves. You'll get one email confirming it, and you can vote for or join another group anytime.
- What about returns or defective items?
- Every listing shows its return policy before you approve checkout, and manufacturer warranties always apply. Return window specifics per product: [FOUNDER: confirm]. If a group's terms change materially before checkout, you can simply decline the offer.
- Who ships my order, and who do I contact if it arrives damaged?
- The winning seller fulfills and ships the order — their name is on your deal receipt. For damaged or missing items, contact us at hello@thereversemall.com and we coordinate with the seller on your behalf. [FOUNDER: confirm support process/SLA]
- When do the first groups open?
- August 2026 — the first slate is the Yoto Player (Aug 12), Bissell Little Green (Aug 19), and Lodge Dutch oven (Aug 24). Reserving now makes you a founding member — you'll get an email at every stage.
- Is my email shared with anyone?
- Never. We email you about your groups and nothing else. See the Privacy page for the full (short) story.