The process
How hiring a scrap agent works
Hiring an agent follows the same pattern whether you are selling or buying. The differences are what you hand over and what you keep.
| Stage | You | The agent | The platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Decide what to hand over | Confirms what they can do | n/a |
| Hiring agreement | Set the commission (default 5%) and confirm the agreement | Accepts the role | Records the agreement |
| Preparation | Confirm ownership or authority; share access and details | Gathers details, photos and quantities | n/a |
| Listing or request | Check what is published | Creates the listing or request | Displays it |
| Offers and negotiation | Decide the terms you want | Handles questions and offers for you | Provides messaging |
| Payment | Receive or make payment as the deal requires | Does not need to handle the deal money | Processes payment as for any deal |
| Completion | Receives the agreed commission when payment settles | Reports and closes out | Settles payment and shows each party's breakdown |
What you can hand over
Three common scopes
Listings only
The agent describes, photographs and publishes your material. You handle buyers and the deal.
Deal only
You create the listing. The agent handles questions, negotiation and collection coordination.
Listing and deal
The agent does both, working within the limits you set.
Know what you want to hand over? Tell us and we will follow up.
Request a scrap agentBefore the agent starts
Check these before you confirm
- What will the agent do?Which tasks, which materials and which listings.
- What does it cover?Check whether the agreement covers one listing, one transaction or a longer period of work.
- What will it cost?The commission percentage, set before you confirm and locked after.
- What happens if the deal does not complete?Check how cancellations, refunds and disputes are treated.
- How will you stay informed?Agree with the agent how and how often they update you.
The hiring agreement checklist covers these in more detail.
What the platform still does
Protections that apply to every deal
A deal an agent handles still runs on ScrapTrade. The platform's usual trading protections are described on the trust and safety page. If you want to know how they apply to a listing or deal an agent handles for you, ask the ScrapTrade team before you confirm the hiring agreement.
What an agent cannot do
Things to be careful about
Be careful if an agent
- Lists material you do not own or may not sell
- Misstates the grade, quantity, condition or location of material
- Promises a price or a buyer
- Moves a deal or a payment off the platform
- Acts for the other side of the same deal without telling you
In Australia
Working with an agent in Australia
Agreements and commissions in Australia may involve an ABN, GST and state-based rules. Ask a registered tax agent how GST applies to the commission for your business. Rules on how scrap can be paid for and recorded differ by state and territory, so check the current position with your state regulator.
Frequently asked questions
How does hiring a scrap agent work?
You decide what to hand over, choose an agent, set the commission percentage (default 5%) and confirm the hiring agreement, after which the rate is locked. The agent then creates listings or runs the deal for you, and the deal runs on ScrapTrade.
What can I hand over to an agent?
Common scopes are listings only, the deal only, or both. Check that the scope of your hiring agreement matches what you want.
How does the agent handle offers?
That depends on what you agree with the agent. Settle it before you confirm the hiring agreement, and ask the ScrapTrade team if you are unsure how it works on the platform.
Who gets paid when a deal completes?
When payment settles, the agent receives the agreed commission. A seller's agent is paid from the seller's proceeds, and a buyer's agent is paid on top of the purchase price.
Should an agent move a deal off the platform?
No. Keep deals and payment on ScrapTrade, so that the commission and settlement are recorded and shown in the breakdown.
More about hiring a scrap agent
Want someone to handle your scrap listings or deals?
Tell us what you need and we will get back to you about next steps.
Related reading: Hire an agent to sell your scrap · Hire an agent to buy scrap · Agent fees and commission