Dealer standards
Last updated · June 2026
Lithos Market is built on the premise that collectors should be able to trust a dealer the moment they see the hallmark. These standards apply to every dealer on the platform, from bronze to gold.
Verification tiers
- Bronze — identity, address and business registry confirmed.
- Silver — bronze plus five+ years of documented trade and consistent buyer satisfaction.
- Gold — silver plus institution-grade material, full provenance documentation and museum references.
Listing accuracy
- Species identification must be honest. Tentative IDs must be marked as such.
- Locality should be as specific as known, with country at minimum.
- All treatments, repairs and restorations must be disclosed in the listing.
- Photos must be of the actual specimen, lit accurately, with at least one in-scale shot.
Conduct
- Respond to buyer messages within 3 working days.
- Ship within the timeframe stated in your dealer profile.
- Package fragile specimens to museum-shipping standards.
- Do not route Lithos Market enquiries off-platform to avoid fees.
Compliance
Dealers are responsible for complying with import, export and protected-species laws in their jurisdiction and the buyer's. Lithos Market does not allow listings that violate CITES, fossil-export restrictions, or local heritage law.
Consequences
Standards violations trigger a warning, tier downgrade or removal depending on severity. Patterns of buyer-protection claims, undisclosed treatments or off-platform circumvention are grounds for permanent suspension.
Questions? Reach the Lithos Market team at hello@lithos.market.