FIRST PURCHASE GUIDE

Complete Buying Tutorial for New Users

Your First Order: What to Expect

Making your first purchase on a darknet marketplace can feel overwhelming. This guide walks you through every step, from browsing products to finalizing your order. Follow each section carefully to ensure a smooth and secure transaction.

First-time buyers often worry about making mistakes. That concern is healthy and means you're taking security seriously. The process becomes routine after your first successful order. Take your time reading this guide before placing any order. Understanding the complete flow helps you avoid common pitfalls.

We'll cover prerequisite setup, product browsing, vendor evaluation, checkout procedures, address encryption, order tracking, and finalization. By the end, you'll have confidence to complete your first transaction safely.

Prerequisites Checklist

Complete these before attempting your first purchase

Account Setup

  • Marketplace account registered and verified
  • PGP key generated and configured
  • Two-factor authentication enabled
  • Profile information completed

Without these basics, you cannot complete purchases securely. The registration guide covers account creation in detail.

Registration Guide →

Wallet Funded

  • Monero deposited to your marketplace wallet
  • Balance confirmed with sufficient confirmations
  • Funds cover product price plus shipping
  • Extra balance for marketplace fees

Never try to purchase without confirmed funds. Pending deposits may take hours to clear. Fund your wallet before browsing products.

Monero Guide →

Security Ready

  • Accessing marketplace via Tor Browser only
  • Verified onion URL from PGP-signed source
  • PGP software installed for address encryption
  • Secure delivery address planned

Security shortcuts lead to problems. Verify everything before entering sensitive information or completing transactions.

Tor Guide →

Step 1: Browse Products

Finding What You Need

The marketplace offers multiple ways to find products. Choose the method that best fits your search needs.

Search Function

The search bar at the top of the page provides the fastest way to find specific products:

Category Browsing

Categories let you explore available products without specific terms in mind:

Featured and Popular Sections

These curated sections highlight quality vendors and products:

Step 2: Evaluate Product Listings

What to Examine Before Purchasing

Careful listing evaluation prevents problems later. Spend time researching before committing funds.

Product Information

Vendor Reputation

The vendor matters as much as the product. Evaluate sellers carefully:

Customer Reviews

Reviews from other buyers provide invaluable insight:

Shipping Details

Step 3: Contact Vendor (Optional)

Before ordering, you can message vendors to clarify questions or make special requests. This step is optional but sometimes valuable.

Good Reasons to Message First

Messaging Process

  1. Navigate to the vendor's profile page
  2. Find and click the message or contact button
  3. Write a clear, professional message
  4. Let the platform encrypt with vendor's PGP key
  5. Send and wait for response (typically one to 24 hours)

Professional communication improves vendor cooperation. Keep messages concise and specific. Vendors receive many messages and appreciate clarity.

Step 4: Add to Cart and Checkout

Building Your Order

  1. Select product quantity on the listing page
  2. Choose shipping option if multiple are available
  3. Click the Add to Cart button
  4. Continue shopping or proceed directly to checkout

Checkout Process

  1. Click the cart icon in navigation
  2. Review all items, quantities, and pricing
  3. Verify total amount including shipping and fees
  4. Click Proceed to Checkout to continue

Step 5: Enter Shipping Address

Address Entry (Critical Step)

Your shipping address will be PGP-encrypted before transmission to the vendor. Double-check every detail before submitting.

Standard Address Format

Recipient Name
Street Address Line 1
Street Address Line 2 (apartment, unit, suite)
City, State/Province ZIP/Postal Code
Country

Address Security Considerations

Encryption Verification

The platform automatically encrypts your address with the vendor's public key. Confirm encryption succeeded by checking the order details. Encrypted addresses appear as PGP message blocks. Only the vendor with the matching private key can read your address.

Step 6: Payment and Escrow

Selecting Payment Method

Most marketplaces accept multiple cryptocurrencies:

Select your preferred cryptocurrency from the payment options.

Understanding Escrow

Escrow protection is mandatory for new buyer safety. Never bypass escrow on your first purchases or with unfamiliar vendors.

Never finalize early (FE) regardless of vendor requests. Scammers use FE to steal funds. Only consider FE after multiple successful transactions with the same trusted vendor.

Learn More About Escrow →

Step 7: Review and Confirm Order

Final Verification

Before submitting, verify every detail:

Placing the Order

  1. Click Place Order or Confirm Purchase
  2. Enter 2FA code when prompted
  3. Confirm the transaction
  4. Funds transfer from wallet to escrow
  5. Order status changes to Processing

Congratulations! Your order is placed. Note the order number for future reference.

Step 8: Track Your Order

Order Status Meanings

Monitoring Your Order

  1. Navigate to the Orders section
  2. Click your order number
  3. View status updates and timestamps
  4. Check for vendor messages
  5. Review tracking information if provided

Vendor Communication

Vendors may send encrypted messages containing shipping confirmation, tracking numbers, and estimated delivery dates. Decrypt any messages using your PGP private key.

Step 9: Receive and Inspect

Package Delivery

If Everything Is Correct

Proceed to finalize your order (next step).

If Package Never Arrives

If Product Is Wrong or Damaged

Step 10: Finalize Order

When to Finalize

Only finalize after confirming:

Finalization Steps

  1. Log into the marketplace
  2. Navigate to Orders section
  3. Click on the completed order
  4. Click Finalize or Release Escrow
  5. Confirm your action
  6. Funds release to vendor

Warning: Finalization is irreversible. You cannot dispute after finalizing. Only finalize when completely satisfied.

Auto-Finalization

Orders automatically finalize after 14-30 days if you don't act. This protects vendors from buyers who receive products but never confirm. Open disputes before this deadline if problems exist.

Step 11: Leave Feedback

Why Reviews Matter

Your feedback helps other buyers identify reliable vendors and avoid problematic ones. The community depends on honest reviews.

Rating Categories

Writing Good Reviews

Dispute Resolution If Needed

When to Open a Dispute

Dispute Process

  1. Navigate to your order page
  2. Click the Open Dispute button
  3. Select the reason category
  4. Provide detailed explanation with evidence
  5. Upload supporting photos or screenshots
  6. Submit the dispute for moderator review
  7. Wait for resolution (typically three to seven days)

Resolution Outcomes

Moderators may decide full refund, partial refund, or release to vendor based on evidence. Strong documentation improves your case. Always attempt direct resolution with vendor before escalating to formal dispute.

Common First-Timer Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid

What Successful Buyers Do

First Purchase Safety Reminders

After Your First Successful Purchase

Completing your first transaction is a milestone. You've learned the essential process and can now shop more confidently. Here's what changes after your first success.

Building Your Reputation

As a buyer, your transaction history builds over time. Vendors can see your completed order count and review history. Buyers with positive track records receive better service. Some vendors offer perks to established customers.

Expanding Your Options

With one successful transaction under your belt, you can explore more vendors and products. Consider building relationships with reliable vendors for repeat purchases. Loyal customers often receive priority shipping, discounts, or early access to new listings.

Continuing Security Practices

Never let success breed complacency. Verify URLs every session. Keep software updated. Maintain strong operational security regardless of how routine purchases become. The most experienced users still follow basic security protocols every single time.

Ready to Sell Instead?

Interested in becoming a vendor? Learn the requirements and process

Vendor Guide → Escrow System →

🕒 Last updated: December 2025

Nexus Market Shopping Tips

Your first Nexus purchase sets the pattern. Start small on Nexus to learn the process. Nexus experienced users recommend testing with inexpensive items first.

Research Nexus vendors before buying. Check Nexus vendor ratings and reviews. The Nexus community shares honest feedback. Trust the Nexus rating system.

Communicate with Nexus vendors using encrypted messages. The Nexus messaging system protects your privacy. Always use PGP for sensitive Nexus communications.

Nexus escrow protects your first purchase. Never skip Nexus escrow as a new buyer. The Nexus protection system exists for situations exactly like this.

After your Nexus purchase arrives, leave honest feedback. This helps other Nexus buyers make decisions. The Nexus marketplace thrives on accurate reviews.

Nexus Market Community

The Nexus marketplace has grown into a trusted platform. Nexus users appreciate the reliable service. Thousands choose Nexus daily for secure transactions.

Nexus Market moderators work continuously. The Nexus team resolves disputes fairly. Both Nexus buyers and sellers receive equal consideration.

Join the Nexus community today. Experience why Nexus leads in security. Your Nexus journey starts with registration. Nexus Market welcomes new members.

Nexus development never stops. The Nexus platform improves constantly. User feedback shapes Nexus priorities. Help make Nexus even better.

Trust Nexus for your marketplace needs. Nexus security protects every user. The Nexus escrow safeguards all transactions. Choose Nexus with confidence.