Why
should I register?
Only registered users will be allowed access to all of the features
on iOffer. You may browse or search for items without registering, but
you will need to register in order to list items for sale, negotiate
or buy.
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Does
it cost anything to register?
No. Registering on iOffer is free.
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Can
I register if I am under 18?
No. You must be 18 years old to register as a member of iOffer..
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Do
I have to live in the United States?
No, iOffer is a world-wide service. Keep in mind that shipping costs
may differ significantly if the item is shipped internationally.
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Do
I need a credit card to register?
No. You may register without using a credit card. However, in order
to list items for sale you will need to either (1) place a credit card
on file, (2) make a payment via PayPal of at least $20 or (3) send in
a pre-payment of at least $20.
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Is
using a credit card on iOffer secure?
Yes. iOffer encrypts all credit card numbers before they are stored
on our database. We use Verisign and SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption
which is an industry-standard security protocol that transmits users’
personal or credit card related information securely and privately over
the Internet. SSL provides data privacy, data authentication and message
privacy. We also require that you enter your password every time you
enter your credit card information on the site as an additional security
measure.
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Will
my credit card information be kept private?
Yes. Nobody has access to your credit card information, including other
members of iOffer.
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What
credit cards may I use?
Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
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Will
I be anonymous?
Yes. You will only be identified by your User ID.
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Will
anyone see my email address?
The only time your email address will be revealed to another user is
when you complete a transaction with a buyer. We will send contact information
to both parties so you can arrange for shipping and payment.
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How
do I choose a User ID?
You should choose a User ID that tells people something about yourself.
Consider using a User ID that expresses your favorite hobby, business
name, or even the name of your pet!.
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Can
I use my email address as my User ID?
No. You may not use your email address as your User ID.
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Are
there any limitations on my choice of a User ID?
Yes. Your User ID must be at least 2 characters long and may contain letters
(a-z), numbers (0-9) and/or most symbols. The following may not be part
of your User ID::
- The “@”
symbol
- The “&”
symbol
- The letter “e”
followed by numbers
- URLs, such as
“ABCWIDGETS.COM”
- The “<”
or “>” symbols
- Consecutive underscores
“_ _”
- A User ID that
begins with an underscore “_”, dash “-“
or period “.”
- Any spaces or
tabs
- The word “ioffer”.
Only iOffer employees may use “ioffer” in their User Ids.
This is to prevent non-iOffer personnel pretending to be employees
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Can
I change my User ID?
No. You cannot change your User ID. Remember that your User ID is associated
with your rating and this helps others to evaluate you and do business
with those with positive ratings.
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How
do I choose a password?
You should choose something you will remember, but not something that
others can easily guessed.
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How
do I change my password?
You can change your password by clicking on this link.
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What
should I do if I forget my password?
You can receive an email reminder of your password by clicking on this
link.
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What
if my password doesn’t work?
You should first click here
and request an email reminder of your password. If your password still
does not work, please notify customer
service.
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How
is my personal information used?
Your personal information is used to assist you in using the features
of our site and to personalize your experience on iOffer. For more information,
please view our privacy
policy.
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How
can I change my personal information?
To make changes to your personal information go to My iOffer, where you
can view all of your account information and iOffer activity in one convenient
place. .
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How
does the negotiation process work?
Once you have listed an item for sale, a buyer can make you an offer.
You will be notified that a buyer has made an offer. Then you can either
(1) accept the offer, (2) make a counter-offer or (3) decline the offer.
If you accept the buyer’s offer, the deal is closed! Keep in mind
that you are now legally obligated to sell the item to the buyer at the
price you accepted..
If you make a counter-offer,
the buyer will be notified and they have the same three choices. You will
be legally obligated to sell the item at the counter-offer price if it
is accepted by the buyer.
Of course you can
decline the buyer’s offer (or counter-offer). If you decline the
buyer’s offer (or counter-offer), you are under no further obligation
to sell the item and the negotiations will end.
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How
is the negotiation process different from an auction?
iOffer is a person-to-person trading community that allows you to use
the Internet to buy and sell in the way people have done it for thousands
of years ?through negotiations. That’s why our tagline is "The
Original Way to Buy and Sell"!
Unlike an auction
site, iOffer allows buyers and seller to negotiate in an open, anonymous,
secure and entertaining format. And the control stays with you. Buyers
can browse or search for items. Then you can make an offer on the
item you want or simply Buy It. If the seller accepts your offer
- it’s a done deal! Or the seller can make a counter-offer, then
it’s up to you. More interactive than an auction and you don’t
have to wait a week for an auction to end - the control remains with the
buyer and seller, where it should be.
For Buyers
- No more bid and
just wait to see if you are the winning bidder! And using iOffer is
entertaining - match your negotiating skills against another.
- No risk of losing
at the last minute to another bidder.
- All negotiations
are open to everyone to view.
- Ability to simply
Buy It and close the transaction.
- No risk of false
bidders running up the price.
- No need for proxy
bidding – you are always in control.
- Not tied into
a bid – you can walk away at any time.
- You can ask questions
on our open Questions & Negotiations Board.
- We have a consistent
rating and feedback system.
- Ability to track
all activity through MyiOffer
For Sellers
- No more list
an auction and just wait! Control over the selling price remains with
you.
- FREE to list
items.
- No more hassles
trying to price your item - the market does the work for you.
- No obligation
to sell until you accept an offer or your Buy It price has been accepted.
- Ability to sell
even quicker with our Buy It feature.
- Ability to use
your own personalized HTML ads or use our custom layouts.
- Ability to negotiate
anonymously.
- We have a consistent
rating and feedback system.
- Ability to track
all activity through MyiOffer.
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Can
I negotiate on multiple items?
Yes. You can negotiate for an unlimited number of items.
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What
is the Questions & Negotiations Board?
This is the central place for questions from buyers, answers from sellers
and negotiations on a particular item. Questions and Negotiations from
all other buyers on a particular items are listed here. They are conveniently
arranged according to each buyer..
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How
do I make the seller an offer?
Simply go to the bottom of the Questions & Negotiations section of
the item. Enter (1) the price you want to offer the seller, (2) quantity
you want, (3) shipping terms of your offer and (4) any additional comments.
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Can
I negotiate with multiple buyers for the same item?
Yes! One of the benefits of the iOffer system is that you can negotiate
with an unlimited number of buyers at the same time. Keep in mind that
you should not accept offers from more quantity than you have listed for
sale.
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What
do you mean “Items Currently being Negotiated”?
This is a list of items that are currently being negotiated between buyers
and other sellers. You can list similar items and we will notify these
buyers about your item. Remember that these are ready buyers!
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Are
the negotiations open for everyone to view?
Yes. We believe that the best system for everyone is one that is open,
not one with secret negotiations. Everyone, including prospective buyers,
can view negotiations between you and buyers.
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What
if someone offers me less than my Asking Price?
You can either (1) accept the buyer’s offer, (2) make a counter-offer
or (3) decline the buyer’s offer. If you’re comfortable
with buyer’s offer, you should accept as this guarantees you a
sale! It’s usually not advisable to decline the buyer’s
first offer, instead make the buyer a counter-offer. Remember that this
buyer has made a good-faith attempt to open negotiations with you and
may not have given you his highest price in his initial offer.
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How
can I make a “Counter-Offer” to a buyer?
You should press the “Counter-Offer” button on the New Offer
page. Then simply fill-out the fields at the bottom of the page, including
(1) your counter-offer price (2) who pays shipping (3) any additional
comments or selling points and (4) the total price offered (offer price
+ shipping costs).
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What
if someone offers me more than my Asking Price?
This may happen if a buyer is very motivated to buy your item. You should
accept the buyer’s offer!
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How
long can negotiations last?
Negotiations can last until the listing expires.
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How
many offers and counter-offers can be made?
There are no limitations on how many offers and counter-offers can be
made between you and the buyer.
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How
do I accept a buyer’s offer?
Simply press the “Accept Offer” button on the “New
Offer” page.
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Can
I decline a buyer’s offer at anytime?
Yes, you are always allowed to decline a buyer’s offer.
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What
happens once we agree on a price?
We will send contact information to you and the buyer. You are now obligated
to sell the item to the buyer at the agreed on price. You should contact
the buyer immediately to arrange payment and shipping. Remember that prompt
attention to the buyer during and after the negotiations will help to
ensure a satisfied buyer and receive positive rating. You should also
give the buyer appropriate rating once you have received payment.
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How
do I arrange for shipping and payment once a transaction is completed?
You and buyer should agree on shipping and payment terms prior to completing
a transaction.
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Is
there one place where I can handle all of my activity on iOffer?
Yes. My iOffer allows you to view all of your iOffer activity in one convenient
place. This includes your Buying Activity, Selling Activity, Alerts, Account,
Rating and Profile.
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How
do I list an item for sale?
Listing an item on iOffer is easy. Simply click on the "Selling"
tab at the top of any page. This takes you to our listing form. Fill-out
the information on the listing form. You can include pre-made HMTL listings
you might already be using with other sites. You may want to choose special
listing features to help attract buyers to your item such as Home Page
Featured, Featured, Highlighted or Bold. Then review the listing form
information and submit your listing. That’s all it takes - and remember
that listing an item is FREE with iOffer.
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How
long is an item listed?
Items can be listed for 30 or 60 days.
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Can
I attract more buyers to my listing?
Yes. For a small fee you can choose our premium listing services, such
as Front Page Featured, Featured, Bold or Highlighted. You can also list
your item in a second category and get more exposure for your item.
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How
many pictures can I upload?
You can upload 1 picture for free. You can also give a URL of a site that
contains more of your pictures. Each additional picture is $0.05 (up to 5)
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Can
I use HTML to customize my listing?
Yes. You can use HTML listings you have already created by cutting-and-pasting
the information in the "Description" portion of the listing
form.
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Can
I modify my listing after I’ve listed it?
Yes. Click on the My iOffer tab at the top of any page. Then click on
the "Selling" tab. View your listings under the section "Items
I’m Selling". Here you can click on the "edit" link
to make changes to a listing.
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Can
I negotiate with multiple buyers at the same time?
Yes. This is one of the biggest advantages of iOffer. We believe that
the fairest system is one in which everyone is allowed to participate
at the same time. Offers from all buyers are visible on the Questions
and Negotiations Board and you are encouraged to negotiate with as many
buyers as you want. You should not, however, agree to sell to more buyers
than you have available inventory.
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What
is my Asking Price?
This is the starting price for negotiations with buyers. Remember that
the most competitive price gives you the highest chances of closing the
sale!
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How
do I determine my Asking Price?
This is entirely up to you. You should determine the amount you are willing
to sell the item, keeping in mind that this is the starting price for
your negotiations.
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Can
a buyer simply purchase the item at the Asking Price?
Yes. Buyers can use out fixed-price feature and purchase the item at the
Asking Price.
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What
if I don’t want to include an Asking Price?
One of the benefits of iOffer is that you don’t have to even know
what you should ask for your item. You can simply choose the option in
the Asking Price section of our listing form that allows make you offers.
This eliminates the guess-work out of pricing your item. You just sit
back and see what offers you get from buyers. And remember that you are
never obligated to accept an offer, so you maintain control.
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What
information should I include in my item description?
This is entirely up to you. The more information you provide to potential
buyers, the more likely you will close a sale! You should consider including
the item’s condition, any special features model number and size/weight.
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What
information cannot be included in my listing?
Please view our listing
policy.
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What
items are prohibited from being sold on iOffer?
Please view our listing
policy.
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Can
I include personal information in my listing?
No, personal information may not be included in your listing. This includes
items such as email addresses, phone numbers, real names, mailing addresses
or URLs.
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Can
I sell multiple quantities of the same item?
Yes, you may enter the quantity of items you are selling on the listing
form. You should only use this option if you are selling multiple quantities
of the same item. Your listing will continue until you sell the entire
quantity you have listed or the end of the period for which you have listed
the item, whichever comes first.
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How
can I include a picture in my listing?
Including a picture in your listing is easy and done through the listing
form. If your picture is on your computer, simply press the Browse button
in the "Pictures" section of the listing form. Then all you
need to do is confirm the exact image (or file) on your computer’s
hard drive that you want to include in your listing. Click the attach
button and our system will do the rest. You can also include a URL that
contains pictures you want to include in your listing by entering the
Internet address in the appropriate box on the listing form. You should
always include a picture if possible. Pictures help buyers to determine
if this is the item they are looking for and increase their trust in the
buying process, which means that your chances of selling your item increase.
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Can
I change my picture once I’ve listed an item?
Yes. Click on the My iOffer tab at the top of any page. Then click on
the Selling tab. View your listings under the section entitled "Items
I’m Selling". Now click on the "edit" button to add
or delete pictures.
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Can
I re-list an item if it doesn’t sell the first time?
Yes. To re-list your item(s), please go to the "Selling Activity" section in My iOffer. Your previous listings can be found in the "Expired and Ended Items" section. You can locate the re-list option on the far right-hand side, next to each listing or you may choose to re-list multiple items using the "Relist Items" button below your list of items. Please click below to go there now:
http://www.ioffer.com/myiOffer.do?tab=SELL&status=CLOSED
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Is
there a fee to re-list an item?
No. As with the original listing, it is FREE to list an item.
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What
are Buyer Alerts?
Buyer Alerts notify you via e-mail when a buyer has either (1) posted
a Want Ad or (2) a buyer is currently negotiating on an item. Remember,
these are ready buyers and it’s FREE.
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Does
it cost anything to receive buyer alerts?
No. Buyer Alerts are free to sellers.
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What
is "Snag a Sale"?
By choosing this option, you will be notified whenever an item that matches
your criteria is being negotiated between a buyer and another seller.
Then you will have a chance to list a similar item and we’ll notify
the buyer. It’s free to list and these are ready buyers. Click
here to learn more
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What
are Buyer Alerts for Negotiations?
By selecting this choice you will receive notifications when a buyer is
negotiating on an item that matches your Buyer Alerts criteria (i.e.,
keyword & category). We always give the first seller a chance to close
the sale on the first offer. However, if another seller either declines
or makes a counter-offer to a buyer, a Buyer Alert is sent. This means
that you, as a seller, now have a chance to compete for this buyer’s
business.
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What
are Want Ads?
Want Ads allow you to post what you are looking for. Try and be as specific
as possible so sellers can better understand your needs. Sellers can either
browse or search Want Ads, or receive them by signing-up for our Buyer
Alerts. Then sellers can list items buyers are looking for and we'll notify
the buyer about the item. For buyers we take the work out of finding your
item! For sellers we make it easier to sell items by bringing buyers to
you!
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Does
it cost anything to list an item similar to one being negotiated?
No. It is always free to list items
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What
happens once I list an item similar to one being negotiated?
We will notify the buyer about your item. The buyer will then have the
opportunity to view your listing and either Buy It or make you an offer.
Your item will also be available to the rest of the iOffer community.
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How
do I respond to a Want Ad?
By responding to a Want Ad, you are actually listing an item for sale.
The buyer who posted the Want Ad will be notified about your item. Your
item will also be available to everyone else in the iOffer community.
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If
I am responding to a Want Ad, will the buyer be informed about my item?
Yes. The buyer will receive an email notification with a link to your
item. The buyer will then have the opportunity to view your listing and
either Buy It or make you an offer. Your item will also be available to
the rest of the iOffer community.
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How
does the rating system work?
For each positive comment that is left in a member’s rating, the
overall rating goes up by one point. Similarly, for each negative comment,
the overall rating goes down by one point. You can only affect another
member’s rating by one point (positive or negative), regardless
of how many times you rated that member. Comments cannot be retracted
once left, so please be thoughtful in your remarks about other members.
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How
do I determine if a member is a good or bad buyer?
You should carefully review a buyer’s rating and comments left by
other buyers. Most buyers are honest, but there is the occasional bad
apple. See what other sellers have said about the buyer and then make
a decision. Also remember that just because a buyer is new does not mean
you should not do business with them.
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How do I determine
what type of rating to give to a buyer?
Positive Rating:
If you’re happy with the way the person treated you during (and
after) a transaction, then you should leave a positive rating.
Neutral Rating:
This is appropriate in a situation that simply doesn’t warrant a
positive rating, but was not so bad that you would want to mark someone’s
rating with a negative. For example, the item arrive but took much longer
than anticipated and the seller was somehow at fault. The primary difference
between a neutral and a negative is that in a neutral situation the transaction
took place, just not in a way you found acceptable.
Negative:
Negative is appropriate in situation such as (1) the buyer refuses to
pay (2) the seller refuses to sell (3) the seller fails to send an item
after receiving payment (4) the seller sends an item that doesn’t
match the description and refuses to refund the buyer’s money (5)
any dishonest or illegal behavior. We strongly suggest that the negative
comment should get right to the point. Avoid name-calling or emotional
responses. For example, if several weeks pass and a promised item failed
to arrive, a negative comment like this will suffice: "Waited one month
and no payment arrived, only promises. As we suggest you refrain from
any ?beware?or ?caution?statements as future buyers can make a judgment
based on the facts you provide. Also please remember to be honest in your
comments as you are legally responsible for them.
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Do
I have to rate my buyers?
You are not obligated to rate a buyer, but we strongly encourage rating
as it makes our community stronger and allows others to benefit from your
experience.
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How
can I see what ratings buyers have left for me?
You can view ratings left for you in My
iOffer.
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What
is my Personal Profile?
This is your chance to let other members know more about you! This will
help buyers determine whether they should buy from you.
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Why
should I create a Personal Profile?
The more you tell about yourself, the more likely it is that other members
with similar interests will want to do business with you. Your Personal
Profile also helps other members find you because it can be searched by
keyword. So choose words that reflect the areas in which you buy or sell.
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How
can I create my own Personal Profile?
Simply go to My iOffer and
click on the Profile link.
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What
should I include in my Personal Profile?
You should not include anything that is offensive in nature.
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Can
I search for other members’ Personal Profiles?
Yes. This is one of the biggest benefits of the Personal Profile section.
You can search for other members with similar interests, hobbies, businesses,
etc.
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Is
there anything I should not include in my Personal Profile?
You should not include profane or obscene language or material.
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Does
it cost anything to list an item?
No. Listing is FREE on iOffer.
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How
do I calculate my Final Value Fees?
Click here
to view a schedule of Final Value Fees.
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What premium listing
options are available?
Get more promotion for your listings with our premium listing services.
These include:
| Home
Page Featured |
$19.95
|
Feature
your item on our Home Page
|
| Featured
Plus |
$
9.95 |
Feature
your item on top of our category listings and search results page.
|
| Highlight |
$
2.00 |
Your
item will be highlighted with yellow on category listings and search
results pages.
|
| Bold |
$
1.00 |
Displays
the title of your listing in boldface type.
|
| List
your item in 2nd category |
$
0.10 |
Reach
more buyers with this feature.
|
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How
do I pay my fees?
The easiest way to pay your fees is by placing a credit card on file with
us. Click here
to place a credit card. You can also pay your fees by PayPal or by sending
in a check.
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What
types of payment methods can I use to pay my iOffer fees?
The easiest method to pay your iOffer fees is with your credit card. You
may also send us a check or pay by PayPal. Click here
to make a payment.
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Can
I make a one-time payment by check or PayPal if I have a credit card on
file?
Yes, but you must pay your account before the last day of the month. If
you do not pay your invoice amount before the last day of the month, your
credit card on file will be charged for this amount.
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How
do I activate my account?
The easiest way to activate your account is by placing a credit card on
file. You may also activate your account by depositing a minimum of $20
through PayPal or by sending in a check in a minimum amount of $20. If
you send in a check, however, your account will not be activated until
your check clears your bank.
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When
is my payment due?
If you have a credit card on file with us, payment of your invoice amount
is due on the 1st of each month for all activity up to the 25th of the
previous month. For example, all charges for your invoice that spans between
October 25-November 25 will be charged to your credit card on December
1st. If you do not have a credit card on file, your check or PayPal payment
must be received by the 25th day of the month following the date of the
invoice.
|
Invoice
Date
|
Payment
Due Date
|
|
Credit
Card
|
25th
|
1st
of following month (your credit card will be automatically charged)
|
|
Check/PayPal
|
25th
|
25th
of the following month
|
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What
should I do if a buyer doesn’t pay me?
Remember that you must email the buyer within 3 days of the close of your
sale. You should make every effort to obtain payment from the buyer. You
may use our site to contact the buyer and make a formal
request for payment.
You may be entitled
to a refund of your Final Value Fee if:
(1) The buyer has
not paid for the item, and
(2) It is more than 21 days and less than 45 days after the close of the transaction
(3) You have sent a formal request for payment through our site
(4) You have given the buyer a Non-Paying
Buyer Rating mark.
Your account will
be credited with Your Final Value Fees from the reported transaction and
the unused portion of your premium listing fees (if any). Keep in mind
that the buyer's rating will be marked with a permanent Non-Paying Buyer
transaction designation. We strongly encourage you to try and resolve
any disputes prior to reporting a buyer as Non-Paying. Also, remember
to be honest and direct about your comments as you could be held legally
responsible for damages to a user's reputation if a court finds that your
remarks constitute libel or defamation.
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Can
I pay by another method if I already have a credit card on file?
Yes, you may pay by another credit card, check or PayPal. However, we
must receive payment by the 1st of the month following your charge date.
For example, if your invoice date is January 25th, we must receive payment
before February 1st.
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What
if my credit card fails to be authorized?
You should check to see if the account number and expiration date are
both correct. You should contact your issuing bank if the credit card
still does not authorize.
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Can
I change the credit card I have on file?
Yes. Click here
to change your credit card.
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How
does payment by PayPal work?
For your convenience, we allow you to pay your iOffer account using PayPal.
PayPal may also be used to verify your account by making a pre-payment
of at least $20. Payment will be sent from your PayPal account to iOffer.
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What
happens if the buyer doesn’t pay me?
Remember that you must email the buyer within 3 days of the close of your
sale. You should make every effort to obtain payment from the buyer. You
may use our site to contact the buyer and make a formal request for payment.
If (1) the buyer
has not paid for the item and (2) it is more than 21 days and less than 45 days after the close
of the transaction and (3) you have sent a formal request for payment
through our site you may give the buyer a Non-Paying Buyer Rating mark.
Your account will be credited with Your Final Value Fees from the reported
transaction and the unused portion of your premium listing fees (if any).
Keep in mind that the buyer’s rating will be marked with a permanent
Non-Paying Buyer transaction designation. We strongly encourage you to
try and resolve any disputes prior to reporting a buyer as Non-Paying.
Also, remember to be honest and direct about your comments as you could
be held legally responsible for damages to a user’s reputation if
a court finds that your remarks constitute libel or defamation.
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How
long does it take for a payment to post to my account?
If you paid by credit card or by PayPal, your payment should post to your
account immediately, but sometimes may take up to one day. Payments made
by check could take up to seven days to post to your account.
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