Receiving your animal and confirming delivery

After you pay, the last stretch is getting the animal to you and confirming it arrived. This article covers the three ways delivery can happen, how to follow along, and the one action that completes the sale.

The three ways an animal reaches you

How the animal gets to you depends on what the listing offered and what you chose at checkout:

• You arrange pickup (self-transport): you collect the animal from the seller, or organize your own hauler. The seller marks the animal as handed over on their end, and you confirm once you have it. Best when you are nearby or have your own transport.
• The seller delivers: the seller brings the animal to you themselves. You will see the delivery progress on your purchase, and confirm when it arrives.
• Creatures transport: transport is arranged through Creatures' network of approved transporters. You can follow its status, and confirm on arrival. Useful for longer distances where you cannot collect the animal yourself.

The listing tells you which options are available, and your choice at checkout (including any delivery you added) sets which of these applies.

Following along

Your purchase is the place to watch the sale progress. It shows the current status (for example handed over, in transit, or delivered) and, where transport is involved, tracking details so you know where things stand. You do not have to chase the seller for updates; the status is on your purchase.

If a Creatures transport is cancelled, your purchase shows a "Transport cancelled and refunded" state: the transport fee is refunded to you, and the note explains that once you confirm pickup, the seller's proceeds release. In other words, cancelling the transport refunds only the transport fee; the money for the animal itself stays held until you actually have the animal and confirm.

Confirming the handoff (the step that matters most)

When the animal has arrived and is as expected, you confirm it from the Handoff panel on your purchase.

• Confirm handoff: the main action. It marks the animal as received and releases the held funds to the seller immediately. There is no extra waiting period; the release happens the moment you confirm.
• Show pickup code: if you are collecting the animal in person, tap this for a 6-digit code and a QR code to show the seller. When they enter it, the handoff is confirmed on the spot, the same as if you tapped Confirm. Only share it once the animal is actually in your care.
• Confirm with note: confirm and accept the animal while recording a small note (for example a minor cosmetic thing you noticed), without holding up the sale.
• Report an issue: use this instead of confirming if something is wrong. It keeps your funds held while Creatures reviews it. See Reporting a problem with your purchase.

Confirming is deliberately the buyer's action, because it is your protection: until you confirm, the seller has not been paid, which is what gives them every reason to deliver exactly what was promised. So confirm only after you actually have the animal and it matches the listing.

If the seller documents the handoff

Sometimes the seller marks the handoff as done from their side, for example right after they deliver the animal. When they do, your purchase shows "Handoff documented" and starts a 72-hour objection window: you have three days to report an issue if something is wrong, and if you do not, the held funds release to the seller automatically. It is a fair, protected period for you to speak up. Full detail is in Reporting a problem with your purchase.

Once the sale is complete, you can share how it went by leaving a review for the seller, which helps the next buyer know what to expect.

If something is wrong on arrival, do not confirm the handoff. Instead, report the problem so the funds stay held while it is resolved. See The health guarantee and if your animal arrives sick and Reporting a problem with your purchase.

For seller delivery and Creatures transport specifically, the status may update automatically as the transporter completes the trip, but the protection is the same: the seller's payment follows delivery being completed. See When does the seller get paid? Your role as the buyer.

Related information

• Reporting a problem with your purchase (disputes and the objection window)
• The health guarantee and if your animal arrives sick
• When does the seller get paid? Your role as the buyer

Updated on: 07/07/2026