How to Buy ARC Raiders Items Safely — Complete 2026 Guide

The ARC Raiders trading scene has scammers, but they follow predictable patterns. Use this checklist before every purchase:

❌ Red Flag 1: Seller asks for your account password or Steam/PSN/Xbox login credentials. Legitimate trades use in-game face-to-face trading only. Never share account info.

❌ Red Flag 2: Price is significantly below market average (e.g., a Tempest listed for $5 when market is $18-35). If it sounds too good to be true, it is a scam.

❌ Red Flag 3: Seller demands payment via cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfer. Reputable marketplaces use Stripe, PayPal Goods & Services, or credit cards with buyer protection.

❌ Red Flag 4: No seller history or reviews. Verified marketplaces display seller ratings and completed order counts. Avoid sellers with under 10 completed trades.

❌ Red Flag 5: Seller pressures you to complete the trade quickly with urgency tactics ("limited time," "other buyer interested"). Legitimate sellers let you take your time.

❌ Red Flag 6: Marketplace has no clear refund or dispute resolution policy. If you cannot find a refund policy page, do not buy.

❌ Red Flag 7: Seller wants to use item-dropping (leaving items on the ground) instead of the safe-zone trade interface. Item drops can be stolen by other players or the seller can bait-and-switch.

❌ Red Flag 8: No SSL certificate on the marketplace website (check for the padlock icon in your browser URL bar). Payment pages must use HTTPS.

❌ Red Flag 9: Seller claims to be "official" ARC Raiders staff or Embark Studios partners. No third-party item sellers are officially affiliated with Embark Studios.

❌ Red Flag 10: Marketplace website has spelling errors, broken English, or mismatched branding. Professional operations invest in their storefront.

Pass all 10 checks? The transaction is likely safe.

ARC Raiders supports two trade methods. The difference is critical:

Safe Trade (via in-game party system): The seller invites you to a party, you meet at a safe zone in Speranza, and they initiate a trade request. You see exactly what is being traded and can verify each item before accepting. This is the only method you should accept. The trade interface prevents bait-and-switch because both parties must confirm the exact items and credits being exchanged.

Item Dropping (unsafe): The seller asks you to queue into a raid together, then drops items on the ground for you to pick up. This is dangerous because: (1) other players nearby can steal the items, (2) the seller can kill you and take everything back, (3) there is no transaction record if something goes wrong. Never accept item-dropping trades.

Delivery process: After purchasing through a marketplace: 1. The marketplace assigns a verified trader 2. The trader contacts you in-game via party invite 3. You meet at a safe zone in Speranza 4. The trader initiates the in-game trade interface 5. You verify the items and confirm 6. Delivery complete in 5-15 minutes

If a seller proposes any method that does not follow this process, report them to the marketplace and cancel the order.

Here is how GameGoldLab compares to other ARC Raiders item marketplaces in 2026:

| Feature | GameGoldLab | U4GM | MMOExp | PlayerAuctions | |---|---|---|---|---| | Verified sellers | Yes (all sellers vetted) | Partial | Partial | No (peer-to-peer) | | Buyer protection | Full guarantee | Partial | Partial | Escrow system | | Avg delivery time | 5-15 min | 10-30 min | 15-45 min | Varies | | Payment methods | Stripe, PayPal, Credit Card | PayPal, Crypto | PayPal, Crypto | PayPal, Credit Card | | Platform support | PC/PS5/Xbox | PC/PS5/Xbox | PC/PS5 | PC/PS5/Xbox | | Seller reviews | Verified only | Mixed | Mixed | User-generated | | Refund policy | 24-hour guarantee | 12-hour | 24-hour | Case-by-case | | SSL encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |

GameGoldLab differentiators: All sellers are manually vetted with minimum trade history requirements. Every transaction includes buyer protection up to the full order value. Delivery is consistently under 15 minutes across all platforms.

Tip: Regardless of which marketplace you choose, always read the refund policy before purchasing and verify SSL encryption on the checkout page.

Buying items in bulk across multiple categories unlocks significant savings:

Weapon bundles (3+ weapons): Save 15-20% vs buying individually. Example: Tempest ($25) + Renegade ($9) + Venator ($5) bundled = approximately $31 instead of $39.

Full loadout bundles (weapon + armor + attachments + consumables): Save 20-30%. Ideal for replacing a complete loadout after losing one in a bad raid.

Material bundles (crafting material stacks): Save 10-15%. Best for players actively working on workshop upgrades.

Multi-platform bundles (same items for PC + console): Save 10% on second platform. Useful for players who game on both PC and PS5/Xbox.

Loyalty discounts: Returning buyers on most marketplaces receive 5-15% off after 3+ purchases. Some platforms offer subscription plans for regular buyers with fixed discount rates.

Seasonal sales: Holiday events, game anniversary dates, and major content updates (like the Riven Tides launch) typically trigger 15-25% off sales across most marketplaces. Time your bulk purchases around these events.