How to List an Item

After Registration, You Can Now Do Listings:

To list an item, click on the button on the menu bar at the top of the page. You will also be able to list an item by clicking on colored text links throughout the site where applicable, such as in the following paragraph.

When you click List an Item, a box will pop up, asking for your username and password. By entering your username and password, the site becomes personalized to you, and will not ask for this information again during this session.

NOTE: When you accept an offer on an item or service with TradeAway, our system automatically shows it as Gone. So if you have more than one item or service available, you will either need to reinstate it each time you accept an offer, OR accept their offer outside of TradeAway, so the system will continue to show it as available.

Step 1. Terms:

The first step in listing an item is deciding your terms. You can either pay per ad, or have unlimited listings for either 180 or 365 days. You will be charged $3.00 for a one time listing, $9.95 for 180 days and $14.95 for 365 days. If you select unlimited listings, you will not have to pay the next time you post an ad if you are under the selected time period.

Step 2. Type of Listing:

The second step in listing an item is deciding what type of listing it will be. There are 5 options for you to choose from.

1. Wanted- This is a wanted ad. You want the item you are about to describe.

2. Sell- The item you are listing is for sale only.

3. Trade- The item you are listing is for trade only.

4. Sell or Trade- This option checked means you are open to cash or trade.

When you say "Sell or Trade," you are not committing to trade, you are just open to look at offers. If you have a $4,000 car you are trying to sell so that you can buy a boat, truck, etc. you should think about listing your property as "Sell or Trade," and include the words "boat, truck" etc. in your wishlist (described in a moment). This may eliminate the need for the "sell-to-buy" routine (and save you time and money!)

5. Free- This means your listing is a free item. To choose a type of listing, simply click the circle to the left of each option. It will look similar to this:

Wanted Sell Trade Sell or Trade Free

Step 3. Title:

This is a heading, or title for your description. Example: 1982 Glastron Boat

The title is what shows up in categories and search results. Each word in the title can be thought of as a keyword that the database searches for. So, using the above example, if a person searched for "boat," one of the search results would be your "1982 Glastron Boat."

Step 4. Description: Write a realistic, detailed description of your item, property, talent, or service. Note: TradeAway is worldwide, but also can be searched by community. You may want to specify in your description that shipping charges would apply if outside your local area. When selling/trading over the Internet, it helps to be as detailed as you can be. Be explicit about flaws in the item. It is better that a buyer or fellow trader is pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed when receiving your item.

Step 5. What Do You Want? Also referred to as "Wishlist," this enables you to tell us what you may be willing to exchange for, or want to find. (You can leave this step blank if you just want to see what folks will offer!)

Example: boat, speed, motor, ski will cover all those individual words plus motorboat, skiboat, speedboat, etc.

Each time a new listing comes in with one of these words in the title, the person creating the listing will be informed that you are "wishing" for his or her item. Once you have acquired an item on your wishlist, it is important to take these words off your wishlist so that you are no longer contacted. This is accomplished by clicking "User Services" from the top menu bar, and then "View/Change Your Listing." Once there, simply change the words or delete your wishlist all together.

Step 6. Insert Photo: When you registered, TradeAway created a picture directory for you to upload pictures easily. Photos must be 200k or less, and can be uploaded by simply clicking the "Browse" button. This opens a box that shows the contents of your computer. Find your picture in the file you have it saved in, and double-click on it. The picture is then copied to your listing, and saved in your directory for as long as your listing is on. When an offer is accepted, or you delete your listing, your picture is automatically deleted from your picture directory. At this time, each listing is allowed one picture. (We will be adding the option for you to upload more than one soon.)

Step 7. Item Value: This is the value of the item you are listing. Put a value on your product or service that can be verified. If this is a wanted listing, this can be the price range you are looking in. When typing your listing's dollar value, do not include commas or dollar signs.

Step 8. Feature Listing: On TradeAway's home page, you will notice a "Featured Listings" area that randomly rotates listings. Featured items get the best exposure possible, utilizing home page advertising in addition to the standard categories! Any type of listing (wanted, for sale, trade, etc.) can be featured for an additional charge of $20.

Step 9. Choosing a Category: This option allows to you to choose the category you would like your listing to show up in.

Bonus! You may choose as many categories as you would like! Each listing is allowed up to 3 category choices at no charge. Each additional category chosen will be charged a fee of $1.

Step 10. View Listing: Click on this button to see how your listing looks. You must view your listing before it is posted on TradeAway. If everything looks good, click "List My Item" at the bottom of that page. You will then see your listing again, and an item number will be at the top of the page. Once you see your item number, you know that your item is listed.

Bonus! There is no need to write down your item numbers, as TradeAway "remembers" them for you, and will have them available for you when you need them.