Trading on Ani-Malls is this easy
Although traditional classified websites are a proven and effective way for buyers and sellers to find each other, securing the animal you want can still depend on informal arrangements between both parties. This becomes particularly relevant when an animal is in high demand, difficult to find or offered on terms that make acting quickly attractive. In those situations, you want to know that the animal you have chosen will actually be reserved for you.
To support you in finding and securing your next animal, Ani-Malls has structured the purchasing process to provide greater clarity and certainty, while removing much of the complexity that would otherwise come with making arrangements yourself. On Ani-Malls, you can browse animals across different categories and use filters to find listings that match your interests. Each listing also presents the seller’s relevant terms and preferences for your review. It is up to you to decide whether those terms work for you. If they do, all that is left to do is pay the required deposit to confirm the reservation. Your commitment to the purchase is thereby matched by the seller’s obligation to reserve the animal exclusively for you.
From there, Ani-Malls steps back. You and the seller remain free to make the remaining arrangements within the terms of the reservation, including the remaining payment and the practical details of collection or shipping. Ani-Malls is not a party to the purchase agreement and does not enforce the obligations between buyer and seller. However, if the seller fails to perform and the purchase agreement is lawfully terminated on that basis, the seller is required under the Ani-Malls Terms & Conditions to repay your full deposit.
Below, we explain how buying on Ani-Malls works, what to consider before making a purchase and what happens after you reserve an animal.
How it works
Ani-Malls offers two different listing types: Regular Listings and Auction Listings. You can find a detailed explanation of both purchasing methods in Ways to Buy below. The purchasing process depends on the listing type, but every reservation follows the same general process:
- Review the listing and the terms that apply.
- Pay the required deposit.
- Your reservation is created and contact details become available automatically.
- Make the remaining payment and practical collection or shipping arrangements with the seller within the terms of the reservation.
- Complete the transaction.
Before making a purchase, make sure you understand the Reservation Window and Deposit Amount. Both are explained in more detail below.
Reservation Window
The Reservation Window is the period selected by the seller for which the animal will be reserved for you after the required deposit has been paid successfully. You can see this period before you commit and decide whether it gives you sufficient time to complete the purchase.
During the Reservation Window, the seller is required to reserve the animal exclusively for you while you and the seller complete the remaining payment and practical collection or shipping arrangements within the terms shown in the listing.
The minimum Reservation Window is 14 days. Sellers may select a longer period of up to 180 days.
Deposit Amount
Every reservation on Ani-Malls requires a deposit. Paying it confirms the reservation and requires the seller to reserve the animal exclusively for you.
The deposit is not an additional fee. It forms part of the total purchase price and is deducted from the remaining balance payable to the seller.
- Standard Sellers require a fixed deposit of 25%.
- Sellers with an eligible Ani-Malls subscription may choose a deposit between 10% and 50% for individual listings.
The required deposit percentage is displayed clearly on the listing and during checkout before any payment is made, so you know exactly what is required before you commit.
Paying the deposit confirms your reservation and the applicable Reservation Window. If the transaction is not completed within that timeframe because you fail to meet your obligations, you may lose your deposit. The consequences depend on the circumstances. See the Terms & Conditions for the full contractual rules.
Contact Details
Before paying the deposit, you can communicate with the seller through the Ani-Malls messaging system. If anything about the animal, the seller’s conditions or the practical arrangements is unclear, ask the seller before you commit.
Once the required deposit has been paid successfully and the reservation is created, both parties automatically gain access to each other’s contact details. You can then use these details to make the remaining arrangements within the terms of the reservation.
Seller Type
Always check whether you are buying from a Private Seller or a Business Seller. The seller type is displayed on the listing and can materially affect your legal rights.
Consumer protection rules that may apply when buying from a Business Seller do not apply when buying from a Private Seller. For example, statutory withdrawal rights generally do not apply to purchases between private individuals.
Ways to Buy
Ani-Malls supports two purchasing routes: Regular Listings and Auction Listings. Both can lead to the same reservation process described above, but the way a purchase agreement is formed differs.
Regular Listings
Regular Listings always include a Buy Now option, allowing buyers to purchase an animal immediately for the listed price.
Some sellers also choose to enable buyers to Make an offer, allowing submission of a purchase offer. Whether this option is available is entirely at the seller’s discretion.
Buy Now
The Buy Now option allows you to purchase an animal immediately without waiting for the seller to respond to an offer.
- Click Buy Now.
- Review the seller’s terms and conditions, any applicable shipping costs, the required deposit and the number of days for the reservation.
- Confirm your purchase, by clicking Order and Pay Now.
- You will be redirected to our secure payment page.
- Pay the required deposit.
Once the deposit has been paid successfully
- your reservation is created;
- the Reservation Window begins;
- the seller’s contact details become available automatically;
- you and the seller can arrange the remaining payment, pickup or shipping directly.
Making an Offer
Some Regular Listings allow buyers to submit a purchase offer. Whether this is available depends entirely on the seller.
- Click Make Offer.
- Enter your proposed purchase price.
- Review your offer, the seller’s conditions, any applicable shipping costs, the required deposit and the number of days for the reservation.
- Submit your offer.
- The seller will be notified immediately and may either accept or decline your offer.
- If your offer is accepted, once the required deposit has been paid, the Reservation Window begins and contact details become available.
- You can then arrange the remaining payment, pickup or shipping directly with the seller.
Important information about offers
- Offers are legally binding.
- Sellers cannot make counteroffers.
- Multiple buyers may submit offers on the same listing.
- Sellers can only accept one offer at a time.
If your offer is accepted, you have 48 hours to pay the required deposit. Once the deposit has been paid, the Reservation Window begins and contact details become available. Failure to pay the required deposit within 48 hours is a failure to meet the buyer’s payment obligation and does not automatically terminate the purchase agreement. The consequences of non-payment depend on the circumstances and applicable law. See the Terms & Conditions for the full contractual rules.
Auction Listings
Auction Listings allow buyers to compete for a purchase by placing bids until the timer runs out.
Some Auction Listings include a Buy Now option that allows buyers to purchase the animal immediately without waiting for the auction to end. The button remains available until the current highest bid exceeds the seller’s Buy Now price.
Placing a Bid
To place a bid on an active Auction Listing:
- Click Place Bid.
- Enter the amount you wish to bid.
- Review your bid, the seller’s terms and conditions, any applicable shipping costs, the required deposit and the number of days for the reservation.
- Submit your bid.
- If you are the highest bidder when the auction ends and the reserve price has been met, you win the auction. Once the required deposit has been paid, the Reservation Window begins and contact details become available.
- You can then arrange the remaining payment, pickup or shipping directly with the seller.
Important information about bids
- Every bid is legally binding.
- Every new bid must be at least €1 higher than the current highest bid.
- Every auction has a reserve price determined by the seller.
- If the reserve price is not met, the auction ends without a sale.
If you become the winning bidder, you have 48 hours to pay the required deposit. Failure to pay the required deposit within 48 hours is non-performance and does not automatically terminate the purchase agreement. The consequences depend on the circumstances and applicable law. See the Terms & Conditions for the full contractual rules.
Buy Now during an Auction
Where an Auction Listing includes a Buy Now option, it remains available provided the current highest bid has not reached or exceeded the seller’s Buy Now price.
If a buyer completes a Buy Now purchase before the auction ends:
- the animal is sold immediately;
- the auction can no longer be won by other bidders;
- the listing is marked as Sold.
Anti-sniping Protection
To ensure fair bidding, Ani-Malls automatically extends an auction by 2 minutes whenever a valid bid is placed during the final minute of the auction. This extension repeats for as long as a valid bid is placed during the final minute of the current auction period.
Binding Agreements
Please purchase responsibly.
A legally binding purchase agreement is created when:
- with Buy Now, when you successfully pay the required deposit;
- the seller accepts your offer;
- you become the winning bidder in an auction where the reserve price has been met.
From that moment, both buyer and seller are expected to fulfil their obligations under the purchase agreement and cooperate in completing the transaction.
Seller Responsibilities
Once the required deposit has been paid, the seller is required to reserve the animal exclusively for you for the duration of the Reservation Window shown in the listing. The seller must also, within 7 days, take practical steps towards the transaction. This includes contacting you and making arrangements for the remaining payment, collection or shipping. If the seller fails to perform and the purchase agreement is lawfully terminated on that basis, the Terms & Conditions require the seller to repay your full deposit.
Ani-Malls is not a party to the purchase agreement itself. If a problem affects the reservation, follow the steps on our Problems & Disputes page so Ani-Malls can review the reservation and relevant platform information needed to handle the issue on our side.
Continue Exploring Ani-Malls
Looking for more information? Explore our related guides for selling, reservations and fees, or contact Ani-Malls Support if you still have a question or suggestion.
Selling on Ani-Malls
Learn how to sell animals using Buy Now, Open to Offers and Auction Listings. Understand deposits, Reservation Windows and buyer responsibilities.
Reservations on Ani-Malls
Learn how deposits, Reservation Windows and purchase agreements work together to create commitment between buyers and sellers.
Fees & Payouts
Find out how deposits, platform fees, auction fees and seller payouts are processed on Ani-Malls.
Contact Support
Still have a question, spotted something unclear or have a suggestion for Ani-Malls? Our support team is happy to hear from you.