Manage Trade Me

How to cancel your trade me account and subscriptions in new zealand

What trade me is and why you might cancel

Trade Me is New Zealand's largest online marketplace, where you can buy and sell goods, property, jobs, and services. The platform offers free casual listings for individual sellers and paid subscription options for businesses wanting a dedicated Trade Me Store.

If you've decided to step back from selling, close a redundant business store, or simply move on from the platform, you'll want a clear path forward. That's where Stopee comes in. At Stopee, we guide you through the exact steps to cancel, so you avoid being charged again and understand what happens to your listings and data.

Key reasons to cancel

• You've stopped selling or no longer need a Trade Me Store
• Monthly subscription fees (NZ$79 for a Store) no longer suit your budget
• Setup fees (NZ$399 one-off) were disappointing value
• You prefer another New Zealand selling platform
• You want to close your account entirely and delete your data

Trade me pricing so you know what you're cancelling

Before you cancel, understand the costs you've been paying and what you might owe. Trade Me's pricing structure includes both one-time setup fees and recurring monthly charges, plus success fees when items sell.

Optional extras like Gallery, Subtitle, and Feature Combo add further fees per listing. Stopee recommends reviewing your last three billing statements before you cancel so you have a complete picture of what you've paid.

Hidden costs to watch for

• Success fees continue to apply after you cancel if your listings remain active and sell
• Annual or longer-term subscription commitments may have early termination clauses
• Listing extras renew automatically unless turned off before cancellation

Your consumer rights under new zealand law

As a consumer in New Zealand, you're protected by the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) and the Fair Trading Act. These laws give you real leverage if Trade Me isn't delivering what it promised.

Consumer guarantees act (CGA)

Trade Me must provide its services with reasonable care and skill, and the service must be fit for purpose. If you're paying NZ$79 monthly for a Trade Me Store, you have the right to expect it to work properly and help you sell items effectively.

If Trade Me fails to meet these guarantees-for example, the platform repeatedly crashes, your listings vanish without explanation, or features promised to Store members are unavailable-you can ask for a remedy. A remedy might include a refund, a credit, or compensation.

Fair trading act

Trade Me cannot mislead you about pricing, features, or cancellation terms. If you discover that cancellation was harder than advertised or that you were charged after asking to cancel, the Fair Trading Act gives you grounds to complain to the Commerce Commission.

Escalation pathway

First, contact Trade Me's Help Centre and document every message. If they refuse to help, escalate to the Commerce Commission (comcom.govt.nz) or seek advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau. Stopee advises keeping all correspondence and screenshots as evidence.

How to cancel your trade me account or subscription

The cancellation process depends on what you're cancelling: a Trade Me Store subscription, individual listings, or your entire account. Follow these steps carefully to avoid accidental renewals.

Cancel a trade me store subscription

If you pay NZ$79 monthly for a Trade Me Store, follow these steps to stop future charges.

1. Sign in to your Trade Me account using your email and password
2. Click on your account menu (usually top right) and select "My Trade Me"
3. Navigate to "Stores" or "Subscriptions" depending on your account layout
   • Look for active subscriptions listed with their renewal dates
   • If you see multiple subscriptions, identify the one you want to cancel
4. Click on the Store subscription you want to cancel
5. Select "Cancel subscription" or "Turn off auto-renew"
   • Trade Me may ask you why you're leaving-this is optional feedback
   • Do not skip this step or you'll be charged again next month
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm cancellation
7. Take a screenshot or note the confirmation number
   • Keep this proof for at least 12 months
   • Stopee recommends emailing this to yourself as a backup

Pro tip: Check your cancellation confirmation email within 24 hours. If you don't receive it, contact Trade Me Help Centre immediately to confirm the cancellation went through.

Cancel a general marketplace account or listings

If you're a casual seller using the free marketplace listing option, you don't have a subscription to cancel. However, you should remove active listings before they renew or attract fees.

1. Sign in to your Trade Me account
2. Go to "My Trade Me" and select "Active listings"
3. For each listing you want to remove, click "End listing" or "Delete"
   • You won't be refunded if the listing has already been paid for
   • The listing will be removed immediately and won't renew
4. If you never intend to sell again, proceed to the full account closure section below

Request full account closure

If you want to close your Trade Me account entirely and stop receiving emails, you'll need to contact Trade Me directly. The platform does not offer a one-click account deletion option.

1. Open the Trade Me Help Centre (help.trademe.co.nz)
2. Search for "close account" or "delete account"
3. Select "Contact us" and choose your issue
   • Use the chat option for fastest response (usually within 1-2 hours during business hours)
   • Explain that you want your account closed and all personal data removed where possible
4. If chat is unavailable, use the contact form and allow 2-3 business days for a reply
5. Trade Me will ask you to confirm your identity and may request a reason
6. Request written confirmation once your account is closed
   • Include your account email and any reference number they provide
   • Keep this confirmation permanently

Warning: Trade Me may retain some data for legal and operational reasons (tax records, fraud prevention). Ask them specifically what data they'll delete and what they'll keep, then request this in writing.

Cancel via postal address (if online support fails)

If Trade Me's online channels are unresponsive, you can send a cancellation request by post. This creates a paper trail if you later need to escalate.

1. Prepare a letter or email with the following information:
   • Your full name and Trade Me account email address
   • Your account username or user ID (if you know it)
   • Clear statement: "I request cancellation of my Trade Me Store subscription effective immediately"
   • Date of request
   • Your phone number and preferred contact method
2. Send to Trade Me's New Zealand mailing address:
   • Trade Me Limited, PO Box 91380, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
3. Use registered post and keep your proof of posting
4. Follow up via email within 5 business days if you don't receive acknowledgment

Stopee recommends this method only as a backup if online support genuinely fails, as it's slower than chat or email.

What happens after you cancel

Cancelling doesn't instantly erase your presence on Trade Me. Understanding what stays and what goes helps you plan your exit properly.

Your listings after cancellation

If you cancel your Store subscription, your active listings remain visible on the Trade Me marketplace until the end of your current billing period, unless you manually remove them first. This means buyers can still place bids or purchase items, and you remain liable for completing those sales.

Pro tip: End all active listings before your cancellation date takes effect. This prevents unexpected sales complications and avoids any ambiguity about whether you're still trading.

After the billing period expires, your Store features (like bulk upload tools or advanced reporting) are disabled. If you want to re-list items, you'll need to use the free general marketplace option or subscribe again.

Your account and data

Trade Me retains your account information, message history, seller ratings, and payment records according to its data retention policy and New Zealand legal requirements. You can still log in and view your account unless you request full closure.

If you requested full account closure, Trade Me will disable your login access within 1-2 business days. You won't be able to retrieve messages or view your seller history after closure.

Billing and refunds after cancellation

Your subscription stops renewing immediately. No further charges are deducted after your cancellation is confirmed. However, success fees for items that sell continue to apply even after cancellation if your listings are still active.

Check your account summary and saved payment methods to confirm no renewals are scheduled. If you see a charge after cancellation, contact Trade Me within 30 days-Stopee has seen this happen when cancellations don't fully process.

Will you get a refund?

Cancelling stops future charges but rarely returns money already spent. Understanding Trade Me's refund rules prevents disappointment and tells you when to push back.

Charges trade me rarely refunds

• The NZ$399 Store setup fee is one-off and non-refundable under normal circumstances
• Monthly subscription fees (NZ$79) for months already completed are kept
• Success fees (7.9% or higher) already deducted when items sold are not returned
• Optional listing extras (Gallery, Subtitle) paid in advance are typically forfeited

Situations where you might get a refund

Trade Me must refund you if the service fundamentally fails-for example, the platform is down for an extended period, your Store features are unavailable for the billing period, or the marketplace is closed in your region without warning. In these cases, contact Trade Me within 14 days of the failure and explain the impact on your business.

If Trade Me was at fault (system error, accidental double-charge, or incorrect success fee calculation), request an investigation. Provide screenshots and transaction IDs. Most legitimate billing errors are corrected within 5-7 business days.

Disputing charges if trade me won't refund

If Trade Me refuses to refund a charge you believe is unfair or incorrect, and you've exhausted their support channels, contact your bank or card provider. You have the right to dispute the charge if you can show:

• Trade Me breached its service agreement
• You cancelled but were still charged
• The charge was unauthorized or duplicated
• The service was not delivered as promised

Your bank can reverse the charge within 120 days of the transaction. Keep all emails and screenshots as evidence. Stopee advises documenting every step in case you need to escalate to the Commerce Commission.

Common mistakes when cancelling trade me

Cancellation can feel frustrating when you're ready to move on, especially if you've already invested money. Here are the pitfalls that catch most people so you can avoid them.

Forgetting to end active listings

You cancel your subscription but leave listings live. Buyers bid or buy, and suddenly you're obligated to complete sales on a platform you've already left. Always end listings before the cancellation date takes effect.

Not confirming the cancellation

You click "cancel" but skip the confirmation screen or don't receive a confirmation email. You think you're done, but Trade Me bills you again the next month. Always screenshot or note the confirmation number immediately.

Assuming you'll get an automatic refund

Cancelling stops future charges but doesn't return past fees. Don't expect the NZ$399 setup fee back or refunds for completed months. Budget accordingly and only pursue a refund if there's a genuine service failure or breach.

Contacting support via the wrong channel

You email a generic Trade Me address and never hear back. Use the Help Centre chat or contact form on help.trademe.co.nz for fastest resolution. Email sometimes gets lost in high-volume inboxes.

Cancelling without checking for auto-renewal

Some optional extras (Gallery, Subtitles) auto-renew separately from your main Store subscription. You cancel the Store but these extras keep charging. Review all active subscriptions in your account before you cancel.

Checklist: have you covered everything?

Use this checklist to confirm you've completed every step before walking away from Trade Me. Stopee recommends ticking off each box to avoid returning to the platform later with regrets.

• You've reviewed your last three billing statements to understand all charges
• You've ended all active listings that you don't want to complete
• You've navigated to "My Trade Me" and selected your Store or subscription
• You've clicked "Cancel subscription" and confirmed the cancellation
• You've taken a screenshot or noted the confirmation number
• You've received a cancellation confirmation email within 24 hours
• You've checked your account 5-7 days later to confirm no new charge appears
• You've removed any remaining optional extras or auto-renewing add-ons
• If you want full closure, you've contacted Trade Me Help Centre to request account deletion
• You've kept all confirmation messages and receipts for 12 months as backup

Should you keep or cancel? what the numbers say

Sometimes the decision isn't obvious. Use this comparison to decide whether cancelling Trade Me is the right move for your situation right now.

If most of your answers fall in the "Keep" column, stay. If cancellation appears in most rows, moving forward saves you NZ$948 per year and mental overhead. Stopee empowers you to make this choice based on real numbers, not guilt.

How stopee can help you cancel safely

Cancelling a subscription shouldn't feel risky or confusing. Stopee has helped thousands of New Zealand consumers cancel Trade Me, from casual sellers closing one-off accounts to frustrated business owners ending monthly subscriptions.

When you use Stopee's guides and tools, you're not just getting step-by-step instructions-you're accessing insider knowledge about where Trade Me's cancellation process trips people up, what confirmation actually looks like, and how to escalate if support ignores you. Stopee walks you through the exact screenshots you'll see, the email address to use, and what to do if a charge appears after you've cancelled.

Most importantly, Stopee tracks consumer complaints and successes across platforms, so we know which companies honor cancellations immediately and which delay or "forget." Trade Me's chat support is generally responsive, but Stopee ensures you have a backup plan if it isn't.

Visit Stopee (stopee.com) to access cancellation guides for hundreds of New Zealand services. Our community has shared real cancellation experiences, refund timelines, and contact details that actually work. Whether you're cancelling Trade Me today or another subscription tomorrow, Stopee removes the guesswork and empowers you to keep control of your money and your time.

Your next steps right now

You now have everything you need to cancel Trade Me confidently. Here's what to do in the next hour:

1. Log into your Trade Me account and navigate to "My Trade Me" to identify what you're subscribed to
2. Screenshot your current subscriptions and any active listings
3. End all active listings you don't want to complete
4. Click "Cancel subscription" and confirm the cancellation
5. Take a screenshot of the confirmation and save it to a folder labeled "Cancellations"
6. Mark your calendar to check your account 7 days later for any unexpected charges
7. If you want full account closure, open Trade Me Help Centre and submit a request today

Cancellation is straightforward when you follow the path step-by-step. You're not abandoning anything valuable-you're freeing up NZ$79 monthly and the mental energy Trade Me has been consuming. That's a win worth celebrating.