Terms of use

Effective from: 16 October 2026. Version 2.6 (settlement account model, direct settlement, reserve and no-reserve auctions, verification by eID or bank transfer, registration from the whole EU and Great Britain).

1. General provisions

1.1. These terms of use (hereinafter: the Terms) govern the use of the online auction platform MASANETO, available at https://masaneto.com (hereinafter: the Platform). The Platform is operated by SIA "Hunter", registration number 40203656593, registered office „Meirēnu Stūrīši”, Vecpiebalgas pag., Cēsu nov., LV-4122, Latvija, e-mail info@masaneto.com (hereinafter: the Operator or we).

1.2. By registering on the Platform, bidding, publishing an auction or otherwise using the Platform, you (hereinafter: the User) confirm that you have read the Terms, the Auction rules, the Privacy policy and the Price list, and that you agree to them. If you do not agree, you may not use the Platform.

1.3. The Terms are available in seven languages. In the event of any discrepancy between the language versions, the Latvian version prevails.

1.4. The Platform is intended for users in the member states of the European Union and in Great Britain. The Platform may be used by natural persons with legal capacity aged 18 or over and by legal persons acting through an authorised representative.

2. Role of the Operator

2.1. The Operator provides a technical environment in which sellers publish auctions and buyers bid, organises the course of the auction, prepares the transaction documents and, in settlement account auctions, manages the settlement account. In direct settlement auctions the Operator collects only its commission and does not handle the money for the goods.

2.2. The Operator is neither the seller nor the buyer of any goods offered on the Platform. The contract of sale for the goods is concluded directly between the seller and the buyer at the close of the auction. The goods, their quality, description, conformity, delivery and the value added tax (VAT) on the goods are the responsibility of the seller.

2.3. The Operator is not a payment institution. Payments are processed and funds are held by the licensed payment service provider Stripe (Stripe Payments Europe, Ltd.), with which the Operator cooperates as a platform. When making a payment, the User also agrees to the Stripe terms of service, which are presented on the payment page.

3. Account and identity verification

3.1. The User registers an account with an e-mail address. Before placing a first bid, publishing an auction or corresponding with a seller, the User verifies their identity. In Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia this is done by electronic identification (Smart-ID, eParaksts, Mobile-ID or another means supported by the Operator) free of charge, or at the User's choice by bank transfer; in the other European Union countries and in Great Britain by bank transfer. For a bank transfer the User transfers the verification check fee of 2.00 EUR from their own bank account to the Operator's bank account: a private person from their personal account, a company from the company's account. The Operator compares the payer's name as stated by the bank with the details in the User's profile and approves the account within 24 hours of receiving the payment. If the payer does not match the profile, the account is not approved, and the Operator may ask for the payment to be repeated from the correct account or for additional proof. A verification check fee that has been paid is not refunded, including when the User verifies their identity by electronic identification after the payment. For details, see the section "Authorisation and security".

3.2. The account is personal. The User is responsible for all actions performed using their account and for the security of their access credentials. A company account may authorise employees to act on behalf of the company; the company is responsible for their actions.

3.3. The User provides true and up-to-date data, including the company name, registration number, VAT number and VAT status, and notifies any changes to them. Before publishing a first auction, the seller completes the registration of payout details with Stripe (a bank account in the seller's name).

3.4. The Operator may suspend or close an account if the User breaches the Terms, provides false data, repeatedly fails to complete transactions, poses a risk to other Users or where required by law. The User is informed of the suspension and its reason; undisputed amounts are paid out.

4. Auctions and bidding

4.1. The conduct of auctions, the auction types (reserve auction and no-reserve auction), the binding effect of bids, the reserve price, the counteroffer and the close of the auction are governed by the Auction rules, which form an integral part of these Terms.

4.2. All auction prices stated on the Platform (starting price, reserve price, bids) are exclusive of VAT. VAT on the goods, where applicable, is added at the time of payment depending on the seller's VAT status and the buyer's country and status; it is shown in the bidding window before the bid is confirmed.

4.3. Each bid is a legally binding offer to purchase the entire auction lot at the bid price. A bid cannot be withdrawn.

4.4. The seller chooses the auction type for each auction. In a reserve auction the sale is confirmed if the highest bid meets the reserve price, or by the seller's decision if it does not. In a no-reserve auction the highest bid at the close, whatever its amount, is a binding sale that the seller cannot refuse. Details: Auction rules, sections 4 and 4.A.

5. Settlement account (settlement account auction)

5.0. This section applies to auctions for which the seller has chosen the settlement account. Section 5.A applies to direct settlement auctions. The settlement mode of an auction is shown on the auction page.

5.1. Once the sale is confirmed, the buyer pays a single total amount into the Platform's settlement account: the price of the goods exclusive of VAT, VAT on the goods (where applicable), the Operator's commission and VAT on the commission (where applicable). The funds are held for the purposes of the transaction until the handover of the goods has been confirmed or an objection has been decided.

5.2. The funds in the settlement account are held by Stripe. The Operator instructs Stripe to pay the funds out to the seller or to refund them to the buyer in accordance with these Terms. No interest is paid on funds held in the settlement account.

5.3. The payment deadline is 1 business day from confirmation of the sale. Up to 1 000 EUR the buyer may choose a bank transfer or a payment card; above 1 000 EUR only a bank transfer. The bank transfer is an ordinary SEPA transfer to a German IBAN issued by Stripe, with SIA "Hunter" as the operator of MASANETO as the payee; choosing it extends the payment deadline by 5 days. The payment is received when Stripe confirms it.

5.4. As soon as the payment has been received, the contact details of the other party are disclosed to both parties and the seller is authorised to hand over the goods. In a settlement account auction the seller must not hand over the goods and the buyer must not pay the seller directly, bypassing the settlement account. If the parties nevertheless settle directly, the Operator bears no responsibility whatsoever for such a transaction, but the commission and the settlement account fee are applied.

5.5. If the buyer fails to pay by the deadline, the seller may cancel the transaction on the auction page. An unpaid transaction is cancelled automatically 14 days after confirmation of the sale. A cancelled auction returns to the status "closed" and the seller may publish it again. A buyer who repeatedly fails to pay may be blocked.

5.A Direct settlement

5.A.1. In a direct settlement auction, once the sale is confirmed, the buyer pays the Operator only the commission against an invoice. Once the commission is paid, each party receives the other party's contact details.

5.A.2. The parties agree directly on payment of the price, handover, delivery and documents. The Operator is not a payment intermediary, does not receive or pay out the money for the goods, and sections 6, 7 and 8 do not apply to such a transaction.

5.A.3. The listing fee applies to a direct settlement auction in the same way as to a settlement account auction (clause 10.3).

5.A.4. If the buyer does not pay the commission by the due date stated in the invoice, the Operator may cancel the transaction, and section 11 applies to the buyer.

6. Handover and confirmation (settlement account auction)

6.1. The seller hands over the goods to the buyer only after the Platform has confirmed the payment, and marks the handover on the auction page, attaching evidence (photo, delivery note, tracking number) where available. The method, place and time of handover are agreed between the parties; in the absence of an agreement, the buyer collects the goods within 10 calendar days from confirmation of the payment. Title and risk pass to the buyer at the moment of handover of the goods.

6.2. After the handover, the buyer has 7 days to confirm receipt on the auction page or to submit an objection. If the buyer gives no notice within this period, receipt is deemed confirmed and the funds are released to the seller.

6.3. If the seller has not marked the handover within 14 days after confirmation of the payment, the buyer may submit a notice "goods not handed over", which the Operator handles as an objection.

7. Objections and decisions (settlement account auction)

7.1. An objection is submitted on the auction page, stating the reason and attaching evidence. An objection suspends the release of the funds.

7.2. The Operator examines the objection, requests explanations and evidence from both parties and takes a decision: to refund the full amount to the buyer, to release the funds to the seller, or to refund part to the buyer and release the remainder to the seller. Both parties cooperate in the examination and respond to the Operator's requests within 3 business days.

7.3. The decision determines the allocation of the funds in the settlement account. It does not limit the parties' right to bring claims against each other before a court or another dispute resolution body outside the settlement account.

7.4. The entire settlement of the transaction, including the examination of objections, is completed no later than 90 days after receipt of the payment. If no decision is possible by the end of this period because the parties have not provided the requested information, the Operator decides on the basis of the available evidence and may refund the funds to the buyer.

8. Refunds and payouts (settlement account auction)

8.1. A refund to the buyer is made to the same payment method by which the payment was received. A full refund covers the entire amount paid, including the Operator's commission. A partial refund covers the part specified in the decision. The buyer returns or keeps the goods in accordance with the decision.

8.2. If the funds have already been released to the seller and a refund is subsequently decided, the Operator may reverse the amount payable to the seller in the Stripe account or require the seller to repay it. The seller repays it within 7 days.

8.3. The payout to the seller is released after confirmation of receipt or after the expiry of the period under clause 6.2, less the settlement account fee. Stripe transfers the funds to the seller's bank account usually within 1-2 business days after release, but not earlier than 7 days after the buyer's payment. Payouts are made only to a bank account registered in the seller's name.

8.4. The Operator is entitled to set off against any amount payable to the seller its own claims against the seller (commissions, fees, contractual penalties, amounts to be repaid).

9. Documents and VAT

9.1. The invoice for the goods is issued to the buyer by the seller. The seller authorises the Operator to issue this invoice in the seller's name and on the seller's behalf, using the details and VAT status provided by the seller and the seller's invoice numbering series. The seller checks the invoice within 7 days and objects if it is incorrect; if the seller does not object, the invoice is deemed approved by the seller. The seller is responsible for the accuracy of the invoice data and for declaring and paying VAT.

9.2. The Operator issues in its own name an invoice to the buyer for the commission; in a settlement account auction, an invoice to the seller for the settlement account fee and a payment receipt to the buyer for the amount paid into the settlement account; an invoice to the seller for the listing fee, where one has been paid; and in a direct settlement auction, an invoice to the seller for the auction highlight, where the seller has chosen it. In a direct settlement auction the invoice for the goods is issued by the seller. The documents are available in the User's account.

9.3. When publishing an auction, the seller states their true VAT status (not VAT registered; VAT registered; margin scheme for second-hand goods). The Platform accepts VAT-registered status only after verification of the VAT number in the VIES system. If the seller has agreed to supplies under the reverse charge to VAT-registered persons in other EU Member States, the seller is responsible for obtaining proof of dispatch of the goods.

9.4. As a platform operator, the Operator may be obliged to report sellers' transactions to the tax administration under EU Directive 2021/514 (DAC7) and the laws implementing it. The seller provides the data required for this purpose.

10. Fees

10.1. The buyer pays the Operator's commission of 2.5 % of the final price exclusive of VAT, minimum 12 EUR, plus VAT where applicable. The commission is shown in the bidding window before each bid and is paid together with the price of the goods.

10.2. In a settlement account auction, the seller pays a settlement account fee of 2 % of the sale price exclusive of VAT, minimum 2 EUR, maximum 150 EUR, plus VAT in accordance with the seller's VAT status. The fee is deducted from the payout. It is fixed for each auction at the rate in force at the time of publication and is shown to the seller before publication. If the full amount is refunded to the buyer, the fee is not charged.

10.3. Publishing a no-reserve auction is free of charge. For publishing a reserve auction the seller pays, in both settlement modes, a listing fee of 2.00 EUR including VAT where applicable: with Latvian VAT this is 1.65 EUR plus 0.35 EUR VAT (21 %), while for a VAT-registered business in another EU Member State with a VIES-verified VAT number (reverse charge) and for a seller outside the EU the fee is 2.00 EUR without VAT. The fee is paid by card before publishing; its refund is governed by clause 1.5 of the Auction rules. The auction highlight is an optional paid service according to the Price List. Users outside Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia pay a one-off verification check fee of 2.00 EUR, which includes VAT where applicable (clause 3.1). The current rates are published in the Price List. The Operator may change the rates with at least 14 days' notice; changes do not apply to auctions already published.

11. Obligations of the User and prohibitions

11.1. The seller describes the goods truthfully and completely, discloses all known defects, warrants that the goods are their property or that they are authorised to sell them, that the goods are not encumbered by third-party claims and may lawfully be sold, and hands over the goods together with the necessary documents.

11.2. During an active auction, the seller may not offer the same goods elsewhere. In the event of a breach, the Operator may annul the auction, block the account and impose a contractual penalty of 100 EUR, as well as claim compensation for damages.

11.3. It is prohibited: to bid without the intention to buy; to bid on one's own goods or through related persons; to conclude a transaction outside the Platform in order to avoid fees; to publish goods that fit none of the Platform's auction categories; to publish goods whose circulation is prohibited or restricted; to use the data of other persons; to interfere with the operation of the Platform. The Operator may remove an auction that fits none of the auction categories.

11.4. If the winner of an auction unjustifiably withdraws from the transaction or fails to pay, the Operator may block the account and claim compensation for damages. If the seller fails to hand over the sold goods, the Operator refunds the buyer, may block the account and may claim compensation for damages. A seller's refusal to sell the goods for the highest bid in a no-reserve auction is a breach of these Terms, to which clause 12.2 of the Auction rules applies.

11.5. The Operator checks the prices of an auction within 24 hours after it is published and, until the first bid, may withdraw or delete a reserve auction whose reserve price is above the market value of the goods, and a no-reserve auction whose starting price is above the lower bound of the market value of the goods. Any listing fee paid is then refunded (Auction rules, clause 1.6).

12. Liability

12.1. The Operator is liable for the operation of the Platform, in settlement account auctions for the management of the settlement account in accordance with the Terms, and for the documents it prepares. The Operator is not liable for the condition, description, suitability or delivery of the goods, for how the buyer uses the goods, or for the parties' mutual obligations outside the settlement account. In a direct settlement auction the Operator is not liable for payment of the price, for the handover of the goods or for the parties' mutual settlement.

12.2. The Operator provides the Platform as is and does not guarantee uninterrupted availability. The Operator's liability towards the User for a single transaction is limited to the amount of the commission and the settlement account fee paid for that transaction, unless the law provides otherwise. The limitation of liability does not apply to wilful misconduct or to rights conferred on consumers by law.

12.3. The User compensates the Operator for damages arising from the User's breach of the Terms, including third-party claims.

13. Consumer rights

13.1. If the buyer is a consumer and the seller is a trader, the purchase of the goods is subject to consumer protection rules, including the right of withdrawal from a distance contract, where applicable. The buyer exercises these rights against the seller; the Operator provides the parties with the necessary information and may decide on the allocation of the funds in the settlement account in accordance with section 7. In a direct settlement auction the Operator does not decide on the allocation of money, and the consumer exercises their rights directly against the seller.

13.2. If the buyer is a trader or the seller is a private individual, the goods are sold as is, in accordance with the description, and the buyer inspects the goods at the moment of handover.

14. Personal data

14.1. The processing of personal data is governed by the Privacy policy. Contact details are disclosed to the other party to the transaction only after receipt of the payment and only for the performance of the transaction; they may not be used for other purposes.

15. Amendment of the Terms

15.1. The Operator may amend the Terms by giving notice on the Platform or by e-mail at least 14 days before the amendments take effect. An auction is governed by the version of the Terms in force at the time the auction was published. By continuing to use the Platform after the amendments take effect, the User agrees to them.

16. Governing law and disputes

16.1. The Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Latvia. Disputes between the User and the Operator are resolved by negotiation; failing that, in the courts of the Republic of Latvia at the Operator's registered office, unless consumer protection rules provide for a different jurisdiction. A consumer may also apply to the Consumer Rights Protection Centre or to the EU online dispute resolution platform.

16.2. For questions regarding the Terms and transactions, contact: info@masaneto.com.

17. Transitional provision

17.1. For Users who received their verification reference before this version, the fee remains the previous one.

17.2. Auctions published before 16 October 2026 are reserve auctions, and no listing fee applies to them.