FAQ & Safety
How does a swap work?
Find a bottle you like, tap Propose a swap, pick which of your bottles you'd offer, and send a message. If the other person is interested, you chat to arrange a time and place to meet and trade in person.
Does Bottle Swap ship wine?
No. Bottle Swap is a listing and discovery tool — we don't ship, sell, or handle any wine or payment. All trades happen in person between users. This keeps things simple and avoids the heavy regulation around shipping alcohol.
Is trading wine legal?
Laws on transferring alcohol between individuals vary by state and country, and you are responsible for making sure any exchange you arrange is legal where you live. Bottle Swap doesn't provide legal advice. See our Terms for details.
Do I have to be 21+?
Yes. You must be at least 21 (or your local legal drinking age, if higher) to use Bottle Swap.
How do you protect my location?
We only store an approximate, slightly randomized location — never your exact address. Others see rough distance and city-level info, and you choose what to share in chat. You can edit or remove your location any time in Settings.
How is the wine info and value generated?
When you photograph a bottle, we identify it and research it from the winery's site and reputable sources to fill in details, a description, a rating (if one exists), and an estimated market value. It's a helpful starting point — always double-check and edit before publishing.
Meeting safely
- ✓Meet in a public, well-lit place — a café, shop, or busy parking lot.
- ✓Bring a friend if you can, especially for a first trade.
- ✓Inspect the bottle in person before completing the swap.
- ✓Keep conversation in the app until you're comfortable.
- ✓Trust your instincts — you can decline or cancel any swap.
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