Buying and selling online always comes with a moment of hesitation. Buyers worry about paying for something that never arrives, or arrives broken, fake, or nothing like the listing. Sellers worry about handing over an item and never seeing a cent. We built Secure My Deal, an escrow service, to close exactly that gap in trust.
Whether you’re buying or selling a car, trading collectables, or exchanging services, our escrow service protects both sides of the transaction from financial loss. We hold the buyer’s funds in a secure escrow account until the deal actually closes — so buyers get what they paid for, and sellers get paid, with no surprises on either side. If you’re new to the Thesouthmart marketplace, you can browse listings and use Secure My Deal on any qualifying transaction
How Thesouthmart’s Escrow Service Works
Secure My Deal follows a simple, five-step process designed to protect everyone involved:
1. Buyer and seller agree on a deal The buyer and seller agree on the item, price, and delivery details before anything moves.
2. Buyer pays into escrow Secure My Deal generates a secure payment link for the buyer. We hold the funds safely in escrow — the seller receives nothing yet, so there’s no incentive to rush or cut corners.
3. Seller delivers the item The seller ships the item or hands it over in person, exactly as agreed.
4. Buyer confirms delivery The buyer inspects the item and confirms it matches what the seller promised. If it doesn’t, they can raise a dispute instead of releasing funds.
5. Seller gets paid Once the buyer confirms, Secure My Deal releases the funds from escrow straight to the seller’s account. Deal done.
What Thesouthmart’s Escrow Service Protects You From
Secure My Deal is built to shut down the most common risks in online and private trading:
- Fraud — no one gets paid until both sides fulfil the deal
- Scams — escrow holds the funds, not a stranger
- Non-delivery — sellers only get paid after the buyer confirms receipt
- Fake sellers — there’s no upfront payment for a bad actor to disappear with
- Items not as described — buyers get a real inspection window before funds move
- Payment disputes — a clear, structured process replaces back-and-forth arguments
Need More Time? Add Inspection Cover to Your Escrow Service
By default, buyers get 1 day to inspect their order after delivery before funds release to the seller. For higher-value or more complex items, that might not be enough time to properly check everything.
That’s where Inspection Cover comes in. Add it at checkout to extend the inspection window by 3 additional days, giving buyers a total of 4 days to assess their order before Secure My Deal pays the seller.
TheSouthmart marketplace offers Inspection Cover on eligible items — add it at checkout on thesouthmart.co.za.
Key Things to Know About Thesouthmart’s Escrow Service
Before you use Secure My Deal, here’s what to keep in mind:
- A 3% fee applies to each transaction made through Secure My Deal.
- Secure My Deal only releases funds to the seller once the buyer confirms delivery and the inspection window closes.
- Buyers must raise disputes within the inspection window — once funds release, the transaction is complete.
- Inspection Cover is non-refundable once a transaction begins, and it only applies to items sold via the Thesouthmart marketplace.
- Dispute decisions are final. We handle every dispute in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.
Ready to Secure Your Deal?
Whatever you’re buying or selling — a car, a rare find, a collectable, or a service — our escrow service gives both sides a fair, protected way to transact. Generate a secure payment link, let escrow hold the funds, and trade with confidence on Thesouthmart marketplace.
Transact Now and secure your next deal.