Messages & safety

How to talk to other users, what's filtered, and how to report or block.

How do I message a seller?

Every listing has an Ask the seller a question link under the gallery. It opens (or reuses) a private thread tied to the listing. Your messages live at Dashboard → Messages; sellers see the thread on their end the same way.

After a sale, the order page also has a "Message seller" / "Message buyer" link that uses the same threading system for shipping coordination.

Why can't I share my email, phone, or website?

Pre-sale messages can't include email addresses, phone numbers, or external URLs. The same rule applies to listing titles and descriptions. This is anti-fee-circumvention — without it, sellers and buyers could agree to move the transaction off-platform, which cuts Trevul's fees but also removes the dispute trail and Trevul's ability to back up either party.

Trevul and USDA-related links are whitelisted (your "see USDA hardiness zone X" reference works). The filter is shape-aware — it won't false-positive on plant Latin names or cultivar codes that look vaguely URL-ish.

Once a sale exists between you and the other party, the gate opens for that thread so you can coordinate shipping addresses, phone numbers for the carrier, etc.

How do I attach a picture to a message?

Up to 5 images per message (JPEG / PNG / WebP). Use the file picker in the thread reply form. Attachments upload directly to Trevul's image store; the recipient sees them inline in the bubble.

Can I block another user?

Yes. Settings → Blocked users. Blocking is bidirectional — they can't bid on your listings, you can't bid on theirs, and neither side can message the other. The block stays private (no notification fires) and lifts only when you remove it.

How do I report something?

A listing — "Report" link in the footer area of every listing detail page. Pick a reason (misrepresentation, prohibited item, other), add details, submit. Limited to 5 reports per 24 hours per user.
A specific message — "Report" link under any received message bubble in a thread. Pick a reason (off-platform solicitation, harassment, spam, other), submit.

Both types route to support@trevul.com and our moderation queue. Sellers aren't notified when a listing is reported; only if our team actions the report (removes the listing) does anything visible change.

What about offensive content in reviews or display names?

Reviews go through a content filter that rejects profanity outright (rather than redacting it — keeps the public review feed clean). Display names get the same filter at signup and on every rename. Anything that slips through can be reported by email to support@trevul.com; we'll hide reviews server-side and they'll show as Moderated on the order page where the author can see them, but stay hidden from the public profile.