Hungary’s largest online marketplace, Vatera, has introduced a new payment and buyer protection model. The platform also removed product listing fees as of April, encouraging more private sellers to join the marketplace.
The key development is the integration of a full-stack digital transaction system, allowing users to complete purchases, including online bank card payments and shipping fee settlements, entirely within Vatera’s platform, without redirection to third-party services.
Vatera Buyer Protection, a service marked by a shield icon with a “V” on applicable listings, is the centerpiece of the new model. Buyers pay for both the item and shipping via bank card, and the seller receives the funds only after the item is delivered and the buyer confirms its condition.
Only about 20% of Vatera’s transactions now involve face-to-face handovers, as most users prefer delivery lockers or home delivery, making traditional handoffs largely obsolete.
Operated by Big2 Platform Kft., Vatera.hu has been a cornerstone of Hungary’s e-commerce landscape since 2000. With over two million users and hundreds of thousands of monthly transactions, Vatera continues to lead the domestic C2C market.
