FAQ
Got questions? We’ve got you covered — here’s everything you need to know about how CastBack works.
How do I purchase an item?
You can scroll listings all day without an account, but when you’re ready to buy, you’ll need to create a free CastBack account by clicking “Log In / Register” above.
After registering and logging in, you can visit the marketplace Shop, browse listings, and make a purchase via two buttons:
- Buy Now – Sends an offer at the asking price.
Make an Offer – Lets you toss out your own number.
Either way, the seller has to accept before you can pay. That way, nobody’s trying to buy gear that’s already gone.
Sellers have 3 days to respond — they can accept, counter-offer, or ignore it (which expires the offer).
If there’s a counter-offer, you can accept or counter-offer back.
When you accept a counter-offer, it goes back to the seller for one last confirmation.
If nobody replies within 3 days, the offer just times out — you can send a new one anytime.
After the seller accepts, click Pay Now within the offer to review the invoice and pay securely through our payment processor, Stripe.
Stripe holds the funds until the seller adds a tracking number to the order and ships your item. They’ve got 14 days to do that or the order’s canceled and payment is refunded back to you.
After tracking is submitted, a 14-day window starts for you to receive, inspect the item, and contact support@castback.com if there are any concerns.
If everything looks good, return to the order and click Complete Order so Stripe can release your payment to the seller.
If there’s a problem, you can open a dispute; however, if you forget to do either, Stripe automatically releases your payment to the seller after 14 days.
How do I know the condition of an item?
Every listing on CastBack includes a condition rating, so you’ll have a good idea of what you’re getting before you buy.
It’s a required field when sellers post gear, and while it’s not an exact science, items fall into one of these three buckets:
- Excellent – Looks new or close to it
- Good – Light use, everything works as it should.
- Poor – Well-used gear or something that might need TLC.
We always encourage sellers to be upfront and include clear photos so you can judge for yourself before making an offer.
What payment methods are accepted?
All payments on CastBack run through Stripe, a trusted online payment system that keeps everything secure.
You can pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or most debit cards.
Stripe handles all the processing, so your payment details stay private and never pass through CastBack directly.
When will I be charged for my purchase?
After your offer is accepted, you’ll see a payment button on your offer page. Clicking it takes you to Stripe, where you’ll enter your payment details and complete your payment — this is when you’re charged.
Stripe then holds your payment securely until you mark the order as complete or 14 days have passed since the seller added tracking. Once either happens, the payment is released to the seller.
If the seller doesn’t add tracking within 14 days after payment, the order is automatically canceled and your payment refunded.
If your item arrives not as expected, you can open a dispute anytime before marking it complete, which will pause the payout until everything’s resolved.
Are there any fees for buyers?
CastBack fees are paid exclusively by sellers. Buyers are still expected to pay all applicable taxes, along with any shipping costs listed by the seller.
How can I track my order?
Right now, CastBack doesn’t have built-in tracking, but every seller is required to add a tracking number from their shipping service once they send your item.
That tracking number will show up right on your order page once the seller enters it. You can then use it on the carrier’s website (like USPS, UPS, or FedEx) to see where your package is and when it’s expected to arrive.
What buyer protections are there?
CastBack uses Stripe to handle all payments securely — your money is never sent directly to the seller, and your payment info is never stored or shared with CastBack.
When you make a purchase, Stripe holds your payment until the order is complete. After the seller adds tracking, payment will automatically release after 14 days, unless you’ve opened a dispute.
If your item shows up and you’re happy with it, go ahead and mark the order as complete — this will send payment to the seller right away. Just make sure you’re fully satisfied first, since orders can’t be disputed after they’re marked complete.
If your item doesn’t arrive or isn’t as expected, open a dispute as soon as possible — that will pause the payout until things are sorted out.
And if the seller doesn’t add tracking within 14 days after payment, the order is automatically canceled and your payment refunded.
This process keeps every transaction safe, fair, and straightforward for both buyers and sellers.
How do returns and refunds work?
CastBack can’t process returns after an order is closed or marked complete — all completed sales are final.
If your item shows up not as expected, you can open a dispute before marking the order complete. If it’s determined that the item is incorrect or doesn’t match the listing, we’ll refund the order, and you’ll be able to return the item to the seller.
Use caution before marking your order as complete — once it’s closed, returns can’t be facilitated.
How do I sell an item?
To start selling on CastBack, you’ll first need to register as a vendor. During that quick setup, you’ll connect your account to Stripe, one of the biggest and most trusted payment processors out there.
Stripe handles all payments on CastBack, which means your earnings go straight to your bank account once your sale is complete. You’ll just need to provide some basic info like your name, address, and bank details so Stripe can verify your identity and send payouts safely.
Your banking info is never seen or stored by CastBack — everything goes through Stripe’s secure, encrypted system. It’s the same payment platform used by thousands of major online stores.
See the video for a vendor sign-up walkthrough.
Once you’re registered, head to the top of the homepage and click the Selling tab, then select “Add a New Listing.” From there, you can:
Upload a few clear photos of your item.
Pick the right condition (Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor).
Add details and specs that help buyers know what they’re getting.
Set your price and shipping cost — buyers can always make an offer.
All purchases on CastBack are done through the offer system, even when a buyer chooses to “buy now” at your asking price.
You’ll need to accept the offer before payment can be made. Sellers have three days to accept or counter an offer — after that, the offer will automatically expire.
Once an offer is accepted and the buyer completes payment through Stripe, you’ll see their shipping information. After you ship the item, make sure to add your tracking number on the order page — this keeps everything moving smoothly.
Important: Be sure to add tracking information once you’ve shipped. If tracking isn’t added within 14 days of accepting the offer, the order will be automatically canceled and the buyer refunded.
You’ll get paid after the buyer marks the order complete, or automatically 14 days after tracking is added (unless a dispute is opened).
That’s it — your gear finds a new home, and you get paid safely and securely through Stripe.
What fees do I pay for selling on CastBack?
Selling on CastBack is simple — we only charge a 5% CastBack fee on each sale.
Payments are handled through Stripe, which also charges a small processing fee (usually around 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction). These fees are automatically deducted when your payout is sent, so there’s nothing extra you need to do.
That’s it — no listing fees, no monthly charges, and no surprises. Just a small cut that helps keep the platform running smoothly, with 5% of our revenue donated to Project Healing Waters.
How do offers work?
Every purchase on CastBack runs through the offer system, even when a buyer clicks “Buy Now” at your asking price.
When a buyer makes an offer or selects “buy now”, you’ll get a notification with the details. You can accept it, counter with a new price, or let it expire. Sellers have three days to respond before an offer automatically expires.
If you counter an offer, the buyer can accept, decline, or counter back — but the seller always has the final say. Even if the buyer accepts your counter, it still comes back to you to approve before they can submit payment.
Once you accept, the buyer heads to Stripe to complete payment. After that, you’ll see their shipping info and can drop the item in the mail.
Important: Be sure to add tracking information once you’ve shipped. If tracking isn’t added within 14 days of accepting the offer, the order will be automatically canceled and the buyer refunded.
Adding tracking keeps the order moving and lets the buyer follow along until it’s delivered.
You’ll get paid after the buyer marks the order complete, or automatically 14 days after tracking is added (unless a dispute is opened).
How are my transactions kept secure?
All transactions on CastBack are handled through Stripe, one of the most trusted and secure online payment processors in the world. Stripe protects both buyers and sellers by safely processing payments and keeping all financial information encrypted and private.
Our system is also designed so that payment is secured before you’re ever asked to ship your item. So, if you’ve received a buyer’s shipping address, you can rest easy knowing payment is already locked in and being held by Stripe.
You’ll get paid once the buyer marks the order complete, or automatically 14 days after you’ve entered your tracking number — unless a dispute is opened.
Your info stays safe, your payment is protected, and your transactions are always handled securely from start to finish.
How quickly will payments reach my bank account?
Once your payout is released, Stripe sends the money straight to your bank account.
Most payments show up within 1–3 business days, depending on your bank. If it’s your first sale, Stripe might take a little longer just to verify your account, but after that, payouts usually move fast.
You’ll get paid after the buyer marks the order complete, or automatically 14 days after you add tracking (unless a dispute is opened).
So once everything’s squared away, you can expect your money in just a couple of days.
What protections do I have against fraudulent transactions?
Our marketplace is heavily moderated and uses only vendors who comply with current security and privacy standards.
If you suspect a buyer is attempting to spam, manipulate, or obfuscate completing transactions on CastBack, please contact our CastBack Support Team.
How do refunds work, and will I be charged for them?
Refunds on CastBack are only issued if a buyer opens a dispute and it’s determined that the item was not as described or never shipped.
All disputes are reviewed by the CastBack team to make sure both sides are treated fairly before any refund decision is made. If a refund is approved, the buyer will need to provide a return tracking number so the item can be shipped back to you.
Once the return is confirmed, the buyer is fully refunded, and the seller does not receive payment for that order. You won’t be charged anything extra, but the Stripe processing fee and CastBack’s seller fee from that sale may not be refunded, since both are tied to the transaction itself.
To avoid refund issues, describe your gear accurately, pack items carefully so they’re not damaged during shipping, add tracking right after shipment, and keep buyers updated if anything comes up.
Once an order is marked complete by the buyer, all sales are final, and refunds are no longer available.
Why isn’t my listing published on the shop?
If your listing isn’t showing up on the shop, first make sure you’ve actually published it. On your Edit Listing page, click the “Publish Listing” button in the top right corner — your item won’t appear in the shop until you do.
If you don’t see the “Publish Listing” button, it usually means something in your vendor account setup is incomplete.
Here’s what to check:
Log in to your CastBack account.
Go to Edit Address under Account Settings. Double-check both your billing and shipping addresses — then hit “Save” even if nothing changed.
Next, click Seller Payout Settings (bottom left of the page). If your account setup isn’t complete, you’ll see a prompt to finish your Stripe onboarding — go ahead and complete that.
Once that’s done, go back to your draft listing. You should now see the “Publish Listing” button and be able to make your listing live.
If you still don’t see the “Publish Listing” button after following these steps, reach out to us at Support@CastBack.com and we’ll help get it sorted out.
How do I create a CastBack account?
Getting started on CastBack is quick and easy. You can browse listings anytime without an account, but if you’re interested in an item and want to make an offer, you’ll need to create a free CastBack account.
Just head to CastBack.com and click Sign Up in the top-right corner of the page. Enter your name, email address, and mailing address (required so sellers know where to send your gear), then choose a username and password.
Your username cannot be your email address — it must be unique to your account.
If you’d like to sell your own gear, you’ll just need to register as a vendor to connect your Stripe account for secure payments.
It only takes a minute, and you’ll be ready to buy, sell, and connect with anglers all across the country.
How can I update my profile?
You can update your CastBack profile anytime by logging into your account and clicking your profile icon in the top-right corner of the home page.
From there, you’ll see options for:
Account Details – update your name, username, or email address.
My Payment Methods – manage or update your saved payment information.
Edit Address – update your mailing address so sellers know where to ship your gear.
If you’re a vendor, you can access your Stripe Express Dashboard by clicking Seller Payout Settings at the bottom left of the page. There, you can update your payout information, bank details, or personal verification info directly through Stripe.
Keeping your account and payout details current helps make sure every transaction and payment runs smoothly.
I can not log in. How do I reset my password?
If you’re having trouble logging in, go to the CastBack login page and click “Lost your password?”
Enter the email or username linked to your CastBack account, and you’ll receive an email with a password reset link. Follow the link to create a new password, then try logging in again.
If you don’t see the email after a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder — it sometimes ends up there.
Once your password is reset, you’ll be back in and ready to buy, sell, and browse gear again.
If you still can’t access your account after resetting your password, reach out to us at Support@CastBack.com and we’ll help get you back in.
Are there any hidden fee's when buying or selling on CastBack?
Nope — there are no hidden fees or surprise charges on CastBack.
Sellers pay a 5% CastBack fee when their item sells, plus Stripe’s standard processing fee (usually around 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction). Both are automatically deducted from the sale when you get paid, so there’s nothing extra or unexpected later on.
There are no listing fees, membership costs, or subscriptions — just simple, transparent pricing.
And as part of giving back, CastBack donates 5% of our revenue to Project Healing Waters, supporting veterans through fly fishing.
How are you able to keep fees so low?
As an online marketplace with no inventory, we are able to cut overhead most traditional outdoors stores & fly shops cannot. Further, we are not looking to get rich – the fly fishing community is near and dear to our hearts; we are here to help grow and support each other in this sport.
Can I use CastBack on a mobile device?
Yes. We are currently working towards a dedicated mobile app, but currently any browser on an iPhone or Android device can be used to access CastBack.
Can I buy or sell fishing gear NOT specific to fly fishing?
Not right now. While there’s definitely room to branch out into the wider fishing gear world, CastBack’s staying focused on fly fishing for the time being. We want to grow the community naturally and keep things manageable as we build it up.
I live outside of the USA. Am I able to buy or sell on CastBack?
Right now, CastBack only serves the continental United States. As we grow, we definitely plan to expand into the global fly fishing market — it’s just a matter of time and growth.