Levels & points
The level ladder, what unlocks at each step, and SafeStart.
What are the levels?
Six tiers, computed live from your account activity — there's no manual "promote me" step:
| Tier | Threshold | Spotlight points |
|---|---|---|
| 🔰 Rookie | Brand-new (in SafeStart) | — |
| 🔨 Bidder | Graduated SafeStart, < 10 completed tx | — |
| 🥊 Contender | 10+ completed transactions | 10 points |
| 🤝 Closer | 50+ tx · 4.5★+ avg rating · 60+ days | 40 points |
| 🏋️ Heavyweight | 200+ tx · 4.7★+ avg · 1+ year | 80 points |
| 🏆 Champion | 500+ tx · 4.8★+ avg · 2+ years | 120 points |
Completed transactions count both sides — buyer or seller — and only sales that actually delivered (refunded or disputed ones don't count). Sellers with zero reviews still qualify for higher tiers when they hit the transaction + age thresholds; the rating bar only applies once you've started accumulating reviews.
How do Spotlight points work?
Spotlight points are a reward, not cash — they can't be withdrawn or transferred, and they only apply toward boosting a listing for paid placement (each point covers $1 of a boost). Each level grants its points the first time you cross that threshold — once per account, no expiration. Climbing fast doesn't leave anything behind: jumping from Sprout straight to Cultivator drops both the Sapling 10 and the Cultivator 40 (50 points total) in one shot.
Points apply automatically when you boost a listing — see Fees & credits for how they interact with your card.
How do I check my level + balance?
Your Dashboard shows the full ladder, where you are on it, your current Spotlight point balance, and the next tier's drop. The level chip in the header is your always-visible badge.
Other people can see my level?
The chip (icon + name only) shows on your listings and your seller profile, the same way many marketplaces show seller reputation. SafeStart-specific details (caps, countdown) are owner-only.
What's SafeStart?
Brand-new accounts have guardrails on bid sizes so fraudulent or impulse-purchase activity can't pile up quickly. While you're in SafeStart:
- Max bid per listing: $200
- Max total open exposure (sum of live bids + unpaid orders): $500
You graduate as soon as either 15 days have passed OR you complete 2 successful orders as a buyer (paid + delivered). Whichever comes first. Once graduated, the caps lift and you move to Sprout.
See also: Fees & credits, Selling 101.