How It Works

What is Creatures? 

Creatures is an easy-to-use online marketplace and community that helps you manage, buy, sell, and adopt animals quickly, securely, and on your own terms. 

Don’t have a place to keep those animals? We’ll help with that, too. 

Our mission: To be a natural online home for animal people like us. A place for every known and loved animal around the world. 

All creatures great and small. 

What makes Creatures different?

Health Guarantee

All animal listings on Creatures are backed by a three day health guarantee provided by the seller. This unique guarantee:

• Gives buyers the confidence to safely make large purchases online
• Helps sellers showcase their integrity and confidence in their own animals
• Encourages honesty and transparency in pre-sale communications
• Protects both buyers and sellers through a structured system that benefits everyone

Secure Payment System

We provide an easy & secure payment system for our buyers and sellers using CreatureShield:

• Buyers pay securely through Creatures
• Funds are held until the animal is safely received and three day health guarantee period elapses
• Only then are funds released to the seller

This protects both parties and keeps the process secure and smooth.

Detailed & Transparent Listings

Sellers are encouraged to represent each animal thoroughly with:

• Comprehensive health and pedigree information
• Clear photo galleries and videos

Open Community Comment Threads

Each listing includes a public comment section where buyers and sellers:

• Ask and answer questions
• Share relevant information
• Give honest descriptions and have active discussions about the animals.

Verified Ratings & Reviews

After a transaction, both buyers and sellers can leave a review. We also encourage reviews and ratings from other real-life transactions from:

• Individual users
• Businesses
• Animal organizations

This creates a system based on trust and transparency for everyone involved.

Referral & Influencer Rewards

Creatures rewards users who help grow the community:

• Share referral links and/ or promote listings
• Earn 1% of the final sale price to the user who first introduces the buyer to our Creatures community. 

Animal Management Tools:

Whether you’re a breeder, organization or an individual keeper, you get access to the tools we have to:

• Track breeding history and status
• Manage registration and pedigrees
• Monitor health and wellness

How our fees work

Creating a Creatures account is completely FREE for both buyers and sellers. There are no charges to join, manage your animals or post listings. We only charge for every successful transaction– so we only earn when you do. Our pricing is always transparent, with no hidden or surprise fees. 

• Sellers pay a 5% service fee to Creatures on top of the final sale price. 

Alternatively, sellers can choose an annual subscription which includes unlimited sales (fixed price and auctions) with no fees. This annual subscription plan can be paid monthly at $49.95/month or once upfront for $499.00 (a $100 discount.) There are no other seller fees on Creatures.

• Buyers pay a 5% service fee to Creatures on top of the final sale price. 

No processing charges on ANY payment method. It’s 2025, and we understand that most people use credit cards and don’t want to be charged extra for that. 

How do payments work?

We’ve created CreatureShield, a secure payment system which allows you to send and receive money safely while buying and selling on Creatures.

Buyers can pay using a variety of modern methods including credit card and direct bank transfer with no additional fees.

Sellers receive payouts directly to the connected bank account of their choice.

How our animal sales work

Sellers on Creatures can choose between fixed-priced listings or auctions, depending on what suits their needs best.

Every listing includes:

• Detailed information about the animal
• Photos and videos to showcase personality and condition
• A public comment thread where the community can ask questions and share insights
• Three-day health guarantee from the seller

Sellers are encouraged to actively participate in the comments– answering questions and engaging with potential buyers, which builds trust, buyer confidence and increases the chance of a successful sale.

Buyers can also use the Contact Seller button to message privately, schedule a call, or even arrange an in-person visit.

How bidding works

To place a bid on Creatures, you must:

• Register for a free account
• Verify your phone number

Bid Verification

All bids are backed by a 5% credit card hold to ensure commitment of potential buyers. 

• A temporary hold is placed on your car when you place a bid.
• If you don’t win, the hold is automatically released when the auction ends/closes.

Bidding Details

• A bid box displays the minimum required bid amount.
• Sniping protection extends the auction clock by two minutes each time a bid is placed in the auction’s final moments, giving everyone a fair chance to place their maximum bids.
• The auction isn’t over until two full minutes have elapsed since the highest bid was placed.

Before bidding, we encourage all potential buyers to:

• Read the full animal listing 
• Review all comments and seller’s response
• Ask any remaining questions on the comment section or the Contact Seller button

It is important that bidders carry out their due diligence to understand all the animal’s details and insights offered by members of the community.

How selling works

Seller Verification Process

To ensure that every listing on Creatures represents real people, real animals and real services, all sellers must complete two layers of identity verification:

• Phone verification 
• And a third-party ID verification 

Before a seller can withdraw funds from Creatures to a seller’s bank account, they must also complete an additional security step:

•  Stripe Know Your Customer Verification This ensures protection of our community from fraud and scams and meets legal requirements for payment processors.

What is the post-sale process?

Once a fixed-price purchase is made or an auction ends successfully, here’s how the post-sale process works:

1. Buyer Checkout

The buyer is guided to a secure checkout page to pay via Credit card or ACH (bank transfer) payment.

2. Transportation Coordination

After payment is confirmed, the buyer and seller connect via the Creatures messaging system to finalize the transportation or pick up arrangements.

3. Shipping and Delivery Confirmation

• Seller marks the animal as ‘shipped’ or ‘picked-up’ from their Activity Page.
• Buyer marks the animal as ‘received’ once it arrives safely.

4. Three Day Health Guarantee

• Animal is observed by buyer and checked by veterinarian if buyer chooses. In most cases, there will be no concerns or need for further communication.
• If veterinarian reports an undisclosed condition covered under the health guarantee, buyer notifies the seller to identify a solution.

5. Payout to Seller

Three days (72 hours) after the animal is delivered and no health guarantee claims have been made, funds are transferred to the seller’s own connected account.

6. Verified Ratings and Reviews

Both parties are encouraged to leave reviews associated with every transaction. To promote honest feedback:

• Reviews are hidden until both parties submit, or until 14-day review passes.
• This builds honest and long-term trust and prevents biased feedback.

Frequently Asked Qeustions

Getting Started

What is Creatures?

Creatures is an online marketplace and community where people can buy, sell, and adopt animals safely and easily. It’s designed specifically for animal sales, unlike other platforms that prohibit them.

How is Creatures different from other marketplaces?

We focus only on animals, providing tools like verified identities, secure payments, health guarantees, and applications for buyer screening. Most big marketplaces don’t allow animal listings, but Creatures was built for this purpose.

What verification levels are required for sellers?

All sellers must verify their identity through Stripe by submitting a government-issued ID. In addition, they are required to confirm their phone number and link a valid bank account before listing any animals.

What verification levels are required for buyers?

While not required, buyers are strongly encouraged to verify their identity through Stripe. This added step helps reassure sellers that their animals are going to trusted and responsible new owners.

How do I add animals to my profile?

You can add animals or create an organization page directly from your profile. Organizations (like farms, rescues, or breeding programs) make it easier for buyers to find and follow you.

How do I claim and edit a directory listing?

If your business already appears in the Creatures directory, just click “Claim this breeder profile.” Once verified, you’ll be able to update your page details, add breeds/species, and manage it securely.

Buying on Creatures

How do animal sales work?

Sellers list animals with photos, videos, and detailed info. Buyers can purchase at a fixed price or join an auction, with every listing backed by a 3-day health guarantee.

How does bidding work?

To bid, you need a free account and verified phone number. A 5% hold is placed on your card to confirm your bid, and auctions include anti-sniping protection for fairness.

Why is there a 5% hold when I bid?

This temporary hold proves bids are genuine. If you win, it applies toward your purchase. If you don’t win, it’s released automatically after the auction ends.

What if someone bids at the last second (sniping protection)?

Every time a bid is placed in the last two minutes, the auction timer extends by another two minutes. This prevents last-second sniping and gives everyone a fair chance.

What are applications and why would a seller require them?

Some sellers want extra screening before a purchase. Applications let buyers answer questions or provide information, giving sellers confidence that their animals are going to the right home.

How do payments work?

Payments are processed securely through CreatureShield. Buyers can pay with cards or bank transfer without extra fees, and funds are held until the animal arrives safely.

What is the health guarantee?

All animals sold on Creatures include a 72-hour health guarantee. This covers contagious diseases, undisclosed injuries, or genetic conditions not mentioned in the listing.

What happens if my animal arrives sick?

If a vet confirms a covered issue within 72 hours, notify the seller immediately and provide documentation. The seller and buyer can then arrange a solution — refund, treatment coverage, or return.

Selling on Creatures

What steps do I need to complete to sell on Creatures?

Sellers must verify their phone number and government ID, then complete Stripe KYC verification to receive payouts. Once verified, you can list animals and start selling.

How much are the seller fees?

Sellers pay a 5% fee on each completed sale. Buyers also pay 5%, which helps support the platform.

Can I use a subscription instead of per-sale fees?

Yes — you can choose an unlimited sales plan for $49.95/month or $499/year (a $100 discount). This eliminates per-sale fees for auctions and fixed-price listings.

What happens after I sell an animal (post-sale process)?

Once a buyer checks out, you coordinate transport or pickup through Creatures messaging. You’ll mark the animal as shipped or picked up, and after the 72-hour health guarantee, payment is released to your account.

When do I get paid after a sale?

Funds are released 3 days after delivery if no health guarantee issues are reported. Payouts go directly to your connected bank account.

What are Auction Events and how do they work?

Auction Events let multiple breeders host a joint sale. Each seller promotes the event, boosting visibility, attracting larger buyer pools, and building community buzz.

Logistics & Support

Does Creatures help with delivery and logistics?

Yes — our team can connect you with trusted transport providers. We’re here to help coordinate safe delivery whenever possible.

What if I want to pay outside of Creatures?

Transactions outside of Creatures are not recommended because you lose the health guarantee and payment protection. If needed, we can process an off-platform transfer for a $25 facilitation fee.

How does the $25 off-platform transfer fee work?

If a transaction starts outside Creatures but you want to transfer ownership of an animal on the platform, contact support. We’ll handle the process securely for a flat $25 fee.

How do I contact support (chat, phone, email)?

You can chat with us anytime via the button on the bottom-right of the site. Or, call/text (434) 218-2178 or email support@creatures.com.

Community & Rewards

Do I get rewarded for inviting friends?

Yes — when someone joins through your referral link and makes a purchase, you’ll earn a reward.

How do referral rewards work?

Referrers earn 1% of the final sale price for introducing new buyers to the platform. Rewards are automatically tracked.

How do influencers earn commissions?

Influencers who promote Auction Events can earn up to 5% of the final sale price if their promotion brings a buyer to the sale.