About Us
What Is Listia?
Listia is a new kind of auction site where you bid on other people's stuff using credits instead of real money. We make it easy for users to get rid of stuff they don't need anymore and find stuff they want for free. Listia is a marketplace where people enjoy giving and getting items for free.
Every user gets 100 free credits after signing up and listing an item. The more popular your listing is, the more credits your auction will go for. You bid credits for things you want. So each thing goes to the person who wants it most! Getting more credits is easy, fun and most importantly, costs nothing!
Listia is a new kind of auction site where you bid on other people's stuff using credits instead of real money. We make it easy for users to get rid of stuff they don't need anymore and find stuff they want for free. Listia is a marketplace where people enjoy giving and getting items for free.
Every user gets 100 free credits after signing up and listing an item. The more popular your listing is, the more credits your auction will go for. You bid credits for things you want. So each thing goes to the person who wants it most! Getting more credits is easy, fun and most importantly, costs nothing!
How It Works
1
A user lists something they don't want anymore. (like an old TV)
2
Other users bid on the TV using credits they received for signing up, referring friends, or selling their own stuff.
3
When the auction ends, the user who bid the highest amount of credits wins!
4
The buyer gets the TV, and the seller gets credits to use for something else on Listia...
Watch our video tutorial on the basics of Listia. Watch video
Bidding System
Listia uses a proxy bidding system simliar to Ebay. The way this system works is that the "current high bid" displayed is the second highest bid plus some increment. When the auction ends the highest bidder pays this price. This is the reason why you can be automatically outbid. It's because the high bidder may have bid something much higher than the displayed "current high bid", but it is not shown until the second highest bid increases.
Wikipedia also does a good job of explaining this here.
Listia uses a proxy bidding system simliar to Ebay. The way this system works is that the "current high bid" displayed is the second highest bid plus some increment. When the auction ends the highest bidder pays this price. This is the reason why you can be automatically outbid. It's because the high bidder may have bid something much higher than the displayed "current high bid", but it is not shown until the second highest bid increases.
Wikipedia also does a good job of explaining this here.
Referral System
We like to reward members who help expand the community by inviting their friends and family to join Listia. Our current invitation system allows users to send invites using email, facebook, twitter or simply by using a special link on their own web site or blog.
For each new user invited, you can receive up to 50 Credits + 20% of the credits earned on their first auction. These bonus credits will be calculated and credited to your account after the new user has signed up AND completed their first successful auction. Start inviting friends now!
We like to reward members who help expand the community by inviting their friends and family to join Listia. Our current invitation system allows users to send invites using email, facebook, twitter or simply by using a special link on their own web site or blog.
For each new user invited, you can receive up to 50 Credits + 20% of the credits earned on their first auction. These bonus credits will be calculated and credited to your account after the new user has signed up AND completed their first successful auction. Start inviting friends now!
Rewards Auctions
Listia regularly features brand new products and gift cards in our rewards auctions. You bid on these using credits just like any other auction so you don't have to spend any money. As the community grows, we will continue to list even better high-ticket items. This is our way of saying thank you for using Listia! The best ways to earn credits to bid on these auctions are by listing items for sale, interacting with the site and referring friends.
Rewards auctions will usually be featured at the top of the site or on the home page.
Listia regularly features brand new products and gift cards in our rewards auctions. You bid on these using credits just like any other auction so you don't have to spend any money. As the community grows, we will continue to list even better high-ticket items. This is our way of saying thank you for using Listia! The best ways to earn credits to bid on these auctions are by listing items for sale, interacting with the site and referring friends.
Rewards auctions will usually be featured at the top of the site or on the home page.
Referral Rewards Auctions
Referral reward auctions are a special kind of auction where you must refer a certain number of friends before you can bid. The friends must be invited and join while the the auction is running so previously referred users do not count. This is typically a high value, very desirable item!
Tiered Referral reward auctions are another type of referral auction where the auction item changes based on how many people the entire community invites to join Listia while the auction is running. Once a specified referral amount has been reached the auction item will automatically change and upgrade to something different! In addition, to even qualify to bid, you must refer at least one person to join. Hopefully this can be fun for everyone!
Referral reward auctions are a special kind of auction where you must refer a certain number of friends before you can bid. The friends must be invited and join while the the auction is running so previously referred users do not count. This is typically a high value, very desirable item!
Tiered Referral reward auctions are another type of referral auction where the auction item changes based on how many people the entire community invites to join Listia while the auction is running. Once a specified referral amount has been reached the auction item will automatically change and upgrade to something different! In addition, to even qualify to bid, you must refer at least one person to join. Hopefully this can be fun for everyone!
Voting Auctions
The item that the winner receives in a Voting Auction is determined by the popular vote of users. Each user can vote up to once per day for what they would like the winner to receive. There are typically between 2-6 possibilities and the results are not shown until 30 minutes before the auction is over, so it remains a mystery up until the very end! The winner then receives the item with the most number of total votes from the community. In the event of a tie, the winner will be able to choose between the items with the top votes.
The item that the winner receives in a Voting Auction is determined by the popular vote of users. Each user can vote up to once per day for what they would like the winner to receive. There are typically between 2-6 possibilities and the results are not shown until 30 minutes before the auction is over, so it remains a mystery up until the very end! The winner then receives the item with the most number of total votes from the community. In the event of a tie, the winner will be able to choose between the items with the top votes.
Sponsored Auctions
Companies and organizations can sign up to give away free stuff as a sponsored auction. The items featured in these auctions are provided directly by the company or organization involved and they do not receive credits in return for these auctions. Sponsors can add information about themselves in the description and are allowed to put a link to their own web site or product page in the auction. It's a great way to do a giveaway promotion and raise awareness for new or existing products. Want to become a sponsor? Please contact us.
What you get:
- Sponsored Auction Listing on Listia.com (Example: No Drip Umbrella)
- Your sponsored auction is promoted via rotating banner ad at the top right hand corner of the entire site
- Promote your brand, website and business
- Provide outbound link to website or particular product
- Chance to engage with customers via comments on auction
- You can expect thousands of pageviews for auction and visits to company website
- The more unique, more expensive, and more desirable the item listed, the more views you'll receive
- You can also run a coupon or discount offers to user to provide incentive to make purchase on website
What Listia needs:
- Provide an item worth more than $50 retail to auction on Listia and offer Free Shipping
- For a Limited Time no Fees!
Companies and organizations can sign up to give away free stuff as a sponsored auction. The items featured in these auctions are provided directly by the company or organization involved and they do not receive credits in return for these auctions. Sponsors can add information about themselves in the description and are allowed to put a link to their own web site or product page in the auction. It's a great way to do a giveaway promotion and raise awareness for new or existing products. Want to become a sponsor? Please contact us.
What you get:
- Sponsored Auction Listing on Listia.com (Example: No Drip Umbrella)
- Your sponsored auction is promoted via rotating banner ad at the top right hand corner of the entire site
- Promote your brand, website and business
- Provide outbound link to website or particular product
- Chance to engage with customers via comments on auction
- You can expect thousands of pageviews for auction and visits to company website
- The more unique, more expensive, and more desirable the item listed, the more views you'll receive
- You can also run a coupon or discount offers to user to provide incentive to make purchase on website
What Listia needs:
- Provide an item worth more than $50 retail to auction on Listia and offer Free Shipping
- For a Limited Time no Fees!
Premium Auctions
Use your credits to turn your auction into a Premium Auction after it has been listed! If you are eligible you should see a button on your auction page to do this. Sellers are required to have the Seller Wings badge for this feature.
What do I get? When your auction is a Premium Auction the title of your auction will be bold in search results and you will also get a small Premium Auction icon next to it. Your auction will also get special placement on the search results and auction pages. The more visibility your auction gets the more bids you'll get!
How much does it cost? The cost for Premium Auctions will change based on availability. There will only be a limited number of spots at certain prices so if you find it cheap be sure to grab that spot!
Use your credits to turn your auction into a Premium Auction after it has been listed! If you are eligible you should see a button on your auction page to do this. Sellers are required to have the Seller Wings badge for this feature.
What do I get? When your auction is a Premium Auction the title of your auction will be bold in search results and you will also get a small Premium Auction icon next to it. Your auction will also get special placement on the search results and auction pages. The more visibility your auction gets the more bids you'll get!
How much does it cost? The cost for Premium Auctions will change based on availability. There will only be a limited number of spots at certain prices so if you find it cheap be sure to grab that spot!
Charity Auctions
Our charity auction system is undergoing a major overhaul and we will update this section as soon as it is complete.
To see how much we have been able to donate and read about the future of charity auctions, please click here.
Our charity auction system is undergoing a major overhaul and we will update this section as soon as it is complete.
To see how much we have been able to donate and read about the future of charity auctions, please click here.
Pending Credits & New Sellers
We have developed and launched a new post auction transaction system for both pending credits and returns. The pending credits system is similar to the previous methodology.
Sellers without the "Seller Wings" badge are considered new sellers. If a seller has this badge they are exempt from the following process and credits are immediately transferred from the auction winner to the seller at the end of an auction. (This does not apply to high value auctions, which still need to go through the pending credit system)
When a new user completes an auction the credits from the winner are held for the lesser of 10 days or until the winner acknowledges that they received the item. After 10 days from the close of an auction if the winner has not taken any action then the seller will automatically get credits from the auction. The following are the various scenarios and outcomes from a new seller auction.
Winner: no response, Seller: no response
Seller will receive the auction credits after 10 days days from the date of auction close.
Winner: receives item, Seller: delivers item or no response
The seller will immediately get their credits if the winner claims they received the item.
Winner: does not receive item, Seller: no response
The winner has 60 days to file a dispute for a refund. For more details on this please read about credit refunds.
Winner: does not receive item, Seller: delivers item
The winner has 60 days to file a dispute for a refund. For more details on this please read about credit refunds.
We have developed and launched a new post auction transaction system for both pending credits and returns. The pending credits system is similar to the previous methodology.
Sellers without the "Seller Wings" badge are considered new sellers. If a seller has this badge they are exempt from the following process and credits are immediately transferred from the auction winner to the seller at the end of an auction. (This does not apply to high value auctions, which still need to go through the pending credit system)
When a new user completes an auction the credits from the winner are held for the lesser of 10 days or until the winner acknowledges that they received the item. After 10 days from the close of an auction if the winner has not taken any action then the seller will automatically get credits from the auction. The following are the various scenarios and outcomes from a new seller auction.
Winner: no response, Seller: no response
Seller will receive the auction credits after 10 days days from the date of auction close.
Winner: receives item, Seller: delivers item or no response
The seller will immediately get their credits if the winner claims they received the item.
Winner: does not receive item, Seller: no response
The winner has 60 days to file a dispute for a refund. For more details on this please read about credit refunds.
Winner: does not receive item, Seller: delivers item
The winner has 60 days to file a dispute for a refund. For more details on this please read about credit refunds.
Credit Refunds
Refunds from auctions are handled automatically after an auction has completed. Auction winners may file a dispute for a credit refund 2 days after the auction has ended. If your auction is eligible for a credit refund it will be stated on the auction page with a link/button to start your claim. Auctions are closed after 60 days and credit refunds disputes can not be filed after this time. Listed below are the possible outcomes of a credit refund dispute.
Winner: requests refund, Seller: no response
The winner will receive an automatic credit refund 5 days after the dispute has been filed.
Winner: requests refund, Seller: replies with reason
The seller can approve or disapprove of the credit refund request. If the seller approves the winner will get their credits automatically. If the seller disapproves then a Listia moderator will look at the details of the transaction and issue credits one way or the other.
Refunds from auctions are handled automatically after an auction has completed. Auction winners may file a dispute for a credit refund 2 days after the auction has ended. If your auction is eligible for a credit refund it will be stated on the auction page with a link/button to start your claim. Auctions are closed after 60 days and credit refunds disputes can not be filed after this time. Listed below are the possible outcomes of a credit refund dispute.
Winner: requests refund, Seller: no response
The winner will receive an automatic credit refund 5 days after the dispute has been filed.
Winner: requests refund, Seller: replies with reason
The seller can approve or disapprove of the credit refund request. If the seller approves the winner will get their credits automatically. If the seller disapproves then a Listia moderator will look at the details of the transaction and issue credits one way or the other.
Experience Points (XP) and Levels (beta)
XP is a points system for stuff you do on Listia (currently in beta testing). This can range from simple things like checking in to the site to more substantial things like listing auctions. Your user level is determined by the amount of experience points you have. The XP bar at the top of the screen shows the total number of experience points you have in the middle and on the right hand side is your current level. The meter displays how much more XP you need to get to the next level. Some actions that give you XP have limits on the amount of times you can do them each day. Have fun with it! We will be rewarding users with high XP and levels in the near future. In the meantime, start leveling up!
XP is a points system for stuff you do on Listia (currently in beta testing). This can range from simple things like checking in to the site to more substantial things like listing auctions. Your user level is determined by the amount of experience points you have. The XP bar at the top of the screen shows the total number of experience points you have in the middle and on the right hand side is your current level. The meter displays how much more XP you need to get to the next level. Some actions that give you XP have limits on the amount of times you can do them each day. Have fun with it! We will be rewarding users with high XP and levels in the near future. In the meantime, start leveling up!
Feedback Rating
A users feedback rating is a quick way to see how reputable a user is. An example feedback rating could look something like "(20) 75%". What this means is that the user has received 20 feedback ratings where 75% of those (excluding neutral ratings) were positive. The number of feedback ratings include neutral ratings as well. When a user has a percentage of "NA" this means that this user has not received any non neutral feedback ratings yet.
When Negative Feedback Is Not Allowed
Starting 3/2010 we are going to add more structure to leaving feedback closely tied to the state of an auction. We realize there are some scenarios where you would like to leave a negative feedback, but in these situations please explain your situation with a neutral feedback. If you are allowed to leave a negative feedback and then your auction goes into one of the following scenarios, your feedback will be removed automatically and you can leave another one. All feedback options are available except for the following cases below.
Auction winner can't leave negative feedback for seller
Seller can't leave negative feedback for winner
Abuse Policy
We do not edit feedback comments unless it contains:
Feedback FAQ
What is a user's seller feedback rating? On the auction page the rating next to the seller is a users seller feedback rating. This rating is calculated using only seller feedback. Feedback this user received for buying items is not included.
It says I can't leave feedback yet, why? You may only leave feedback once an auction is out of the pending state.
Can I change feedback that I have already given? If you need to change a feedback you already left due to an error, please contact us and submit a request. We will look at the circumstances and may be able to change it for you if the request is received within 30 days from the end of the auction. After 30 days have passed from the end of the auction, we cannot change your feedback anymore.
A users feedback rating is a quick way to see how reputable a user is. An example feedback rating could look something like "(20) 75%". What this means is that the user has received 20 feedback ratings where 75% of those (excluding neutral ratings) were positive. The number of feedback ratings include neutral ratings as well. When a user has a percentage of "NA" this means that this user has not received any non neutral feedback ratings yet.
When Negative Feedback Is Not Allowed
Starting 3/2010 we are going to add more structure to leaving feedback closely tied to the state of an auction. We realize there are some scenarios where you would like to leave a negative feedback, but in these situations please explain your situation with a neutral feedback. If you are allowed to leave a negative feedback and then your auction goes into one of the following scenarios, your feedback will be removed automatically and you can leave another one. All feedback options are available except for the following cases below.
Auction winner can't leave negative feedback for seller
- Auction completes normally
- When credits are transferred to the seller from the winner without any form of dispute the auction winner can't leave negative feedback for the seller. If the exchange warrants a negative feedback to the seller the auction winner should file a request for their credits to be returned.
- Auction winner didn't respond or refused to pay shipping
- If an auction winner does not fulfill their end of the exchange (not responsive, refused to pay shipping, decides they don't want the item, etc.) the seller will keep the credits and the auction winner can't leave negative feedback for the seller. The reason for this is to protect sellers against getting negative feedback from unresponsive or uncommitted bidders.
- Moderator favors seller in a dispute
- This does not include disputes that are settled because it is too difficult to favor one user over the other, so both users receive equal compensation. In such cases, both users will be free to leave any feedback they like.
Seller can't leave negative feedback for winner
- Auction winner requests a refund from seller and seller does not respond
- If an auction winner requests a refund from the seller and there is no reply from them, the seller can't leave negative feedback for the auction winner.
- Auction winner requests a refund from seller and seller agrees
- If an auction winner requests a refund from the seller and they agree, the seller can't leave negative feedback for the auction winner.
- Moderator favors auction winner in a dispute
- This does not include disputes that are settled because it is too difficult to favor one user over the other, so both users receive equal compensation. In such cases, both users will be free to leave any feedback they like.
Abuse Policy
We do not edit feedback comments unless it contains:
- Personal information about another member
- Comments that do not reference the current auction
- Profane, vulgar, obscene or racist remarks
Feedback FAQ
What is a user's seller feedback rating? On the auction page the rating next to the seller is a users seller feedback rating. This rating is calculated using only seller feedback. Feedback this user received for buying items is not included.
It says I can't leave feedback yet, why? You may only leave feedback once an auction is out of the pending state.
Can I change feedback that I have already given? If you need to change a feedback you already left due to an error, please contact us and submit a request. We will look at the circumstances and may be able to change it for you if the request is received within 30 days from the end of the auction. After 30 days have passed from the end of the auction, we cannot change your feedback anymore.
Account Verification
To combat fraud, we have implemented an account verification system to help bidders avoid untrustworthy users. Verification is currently optional but highly recommended if you want to show that you are serious about your auctions.
Currently, we offer two types of verification. The first is "phone verification", which means that the user has successfully given us a working phone number which they have access to. The second is "credit card or bank account verification", which means the user has successfully completed a small purchase on the site to prove that they have a working credit card or bank account. This also implies that they are willing to spend at least a small amount of money to show that they intend to be a constructive member of the Listia community.
Although verification does not necessarily mean a user is 100% trustworthy, it is an additional tool that we hope will go a long way in helping users decide for themselves whether or not to bid on an auction. For example, users who have completed all the verification steps and have good feedback on the site can be considered more trustworthy than those without one or the other.
To combat fraud, we have implemented an account verification system to help bidders avoid untrustworthy users. Verification is currently optional but highly recommended if you want to show that you are serious about your auctions.
Currently, we offer two types of verification. The first is "phone verification", which means that the user has successfully given us a working phone number which they have access to. The second is "credit card or bank account verification", which means the user has successfully completed a small purchase on the site to prove that they have a working credit card or bank account. This also implies that they are willing to spend at least a small amount of money to show that they intend to be a constructive member of the Listia community.
Although verification does not necessarily mean a user is 100% trustworthy, it is an additional tool that we hope will go a long way in helping users decide for themselves whether or not to bid on an auction. For example, users who have completed all the verification steps and have good feedback on the site can be considered more trustworthy than those without one or the other.
Blocked Users
You are allowed to block users from your auctions and from contacting you through Listia. To do this, just go to that user's profile page and click the link that says "block". Blocked users will not be able to bid or comment on your auctions. They also won't be allowed to send you emails through Listia. However, if they have contacted you before and know your email address already, we can't stop them from emailing you off the site.
To unblock users, you can go to their profile page and remove them from your block list. Alternatively, you can go to your account page and find the section where you can view all the users you have blocked.
You are allowed to block users from your auctions and from contacting you through Listia. To do this, just go to that user's profile page and click the link that says "block". Blocked users will not be able to bid or comment on your auctions. They also won't be allowed to send you emails through Listia. However, if they have contacted you before and know your email address already, we can't stop them from emailing you off the site.
To unblock users, you can go to their profile page and remove them from your block list. Alternatively, you can go to your account page and find the section where you can view all the users you have blocked.
Auction Disputes
The following set of guidelines is used when Listia needs to step in to solve a dispute over an aution that has ended. In some cases, we will refund credits to the auction winner, and in other cases we will award the credits to the auction lister.
Credits Refunded to Winner
- Lister does not contact or respond to winner in a reasonable amount of time
- Lister changes the original terms stated in the auction
- Lister intentionally misrepresents the item being auctioned
- Lister sends an item that is different than the item being auctioned
Credits Awarded to Lister
- Winner does not contact or respond to lister in a reasonable amount of time
- Winner refuses to pay stated shipping charges
- Winner backs out or does not want the item anymore
The following set of guidelines is used when Listia needs to step in to solve a dispute over an aution that has ended. In some cases, we will refund credits to the auction winner, and in other cases we will award the credits to the auction lister.
Credits Refunded to Winner
- Lister does not contact or respond to winner in a reasonable amount of time
- Lister changes the original terms stated in the auction
- Lister intentionally misrepresents the item being auctioned
- Lister sends an item that is different than the item being auctioned
Credits Awarded to Lister
- Winner does not contact or respond to lister in a reasonable amount of time
- Winner refuses to pay stated shipping charges
- Winner backs out or does not want the item anymore
Avoiding Scams
You can avoid would-be scammers by following these common-sense rules:
- LOOK FOR SELLERS WITH GREAT FEEDBACK AND/OR ACCOUNT VERFICATION - this is the easiest way to avoid most scammers
- IF THE SELLER DOES NOT HAVE A REPUTATION YET, LOOK FOR AUCTIONS WITH FREE SHIPPING - most scams involve shipping money, so auctions with free shipping are your best bet if you are not sure you can trust the seller
- PAYPAL IS THE SAFEST WAY TO PAY FOR SHIPPING, BUT DO NOT USE THE GIFT OPTION - you can contact paypal to recover shipping money in case there is a problem, but not if you choose the "gift" or "personal payment" option
- IF YOU ARE PAYING FOR SHIPPING, AVOID SENDING CASH, CHECKS, MONEY ORDERS AND NEVER SEND WIRE TRANSFERS - these types of payments are extremely hard to recover in case the seller does not ship your item or there is some other dispute, and Listia is unable to help recover shipping money
- DO NOT CLICK THE "GOT IT" BUTTON - until you actually receive your items
- LISTIA IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE ACTUAL EXCHANGE OF GOODS - we provide an open marketplace for listing items and transfer credits between users, but do not handle any payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer protection against loss
- NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION - bank accounts, credits cards, social security, etc.
- BID ON 'MYSTERY' AUCTIONS AT YOUR OWN RISK - some users like to post 'mystery auctions' where you don't know what you are going to get for sure. If you bid on these, we cannot refund credits if you do not like the outcome and the seller has technically given you what the auction describes.
- IF AN AUCTION SEEMS FISHY OR 'TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE' - it probably is! Avoid these completely and stick with the auctions from the thousands of great Listia users out there
If you suspect an auction listed or a seller may be part of a scam, you can report it by submitting a ticket here
You can avoid would-be scammers by following these common-sense rules:
- LOOK FOR SELLERS WITH GREAT FEEDBACK AND/OR ACCOUNT VERFICATION - this is the easiest way to avoid most scammers
- IF THE SELLER DOES NOT HAVE A REPUTATION YET, LOOK FOR AUCTIONS WITH FREE SHIPPING - most scams involve shipping money, so auctions with free shipping are your best bet if you are not sure you can trust the seller
- PAYPAL IS THE SAFEST WAY TO PAY FOR SHIPPING, BUT DO NOT USE THE GIFT OPTION - you can contact paypal to recover shipping money in case there is a problem, but not if you choose the "gift" or "personal payment" option
- IF YOU ARE PAYING FOR SHIPPING, AVOID SENDING CASH, CHECKS, MONEY ORDERS AND NEVER SEND WIRE TRANSFERS - these types of payments are extremely hard to recover in case the seller does not ship your item or there is some other dispute, and Listia is unable to help recover shipping money
- DO NOT CLICK THE "GOT IT" BUTTON - until you actually receive your items
- LISTIA IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE ACTUAL EXCHANGE OF GOODS - we provide an open marketplace for listing items and transfer credits between users, but do not handle any payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer protection against loss
- NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION - bank accounts, credits cards, social security, etc.
- BID ON 'MYSTERY' AUCTIONS AT YOUR OWN RISK - some users like to post 'mystery auctions' where you don't know what you are going to get for sure. If you bid on these, we cannot refund credits if you do not like the outcome and the seller has technically given you what the auction describes.
- IF AN AUCTION SEEMS FISHY OR 'TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE' - it probably is! Avoid these completely and stick with the auctions from the thousands of great Listia users out there
If you suspect an auction listed or a seller may be part of a scam, you can report it by submitting a ticket here
FAQ
Why free stuff?
While doing some spring cleaning we found that there was a bunch of stuff we didn't need, but couldn't bear to throw away because we were sure someone could find it useful. Listing my 20" CRT monitor on Ebay just wasn't going to work and who wants to answer dozens of phone calls, fake inquiries and emails on Craigslist?
Is everything REALLY free?
Yes. Listia charges no fees nor does it cost anything to participate. All items listed by Listia, such as Reward Auctions, offer free shipping. It costs nothing to list a new auction, or add photos, or list a charity auction. We encourage everyone who signs up to get involved by giving away items you no longer need, before receiving items for free from other users. However, no giving is required and no purchase is necessary. Every new user starts with free credits that can be used to bid and win auction items (by the way, bidding doesn’t cost anything either). Listia is very proud of the fact that it costs absolutely no money to participate, while providing an exciting new way for people give and get free stuff.
Why credits?
The market decides what everything is worth. Credits also make transactions much easier and void of fraud.
How do I get more credits?
Read more here.
How much is 1 credit worth?
Users can earn more free credits by selling items and interacting with the site, but if you really need some credits right away, you can buy more from Listia at $1 for 10 credits. Credits cannot be cashed out.
Can I return credits that I buy?
You can return credits within 7 days from the date of purchase if they are unused. This means the credits must still be in your account and also cannot be pending (a currently winning bid) on any auctions. At this time we do not accept partial returns, so you will have to return all the credits in the purchase. To initiate a return, please contact us.
Can I sell back my credits?
No, but we do have Rewards Auctions that are meant to reward our active users with a lot of credits.
Who pays for shipping?
Because of the nature of the stuff being listed on Listia we assume all auctions are better suited for local exchanges. However, if a seller is willing to ship their item (at the seller or winners expense) this should be specified in the description or the questions and comments.
How do I get what I win?
When you either sell or buy something and the auction ends, both parties are emailed the final auction details and you can arrange on a way to exchange the item. We've also built a tool that makes it easier to send emails notifying the other party about item exchange details. To use this tool just go to auction you've won or sold something after it has finished.
What can and can't I sell on Listia?
Click here to see what is not allowed on Listia.
It says my account is suspended, why?
Click here to see our policy behind suspended accounts.
How do I delete an auction?
You can only delete an auction if there are no bids on it. When you list something on Listia you should be designating that item to a winner on Listia. If there are no bids on the auction you can delete it under "My Account" then find the auction under "Auctions Listed".
How do I edit an auction?
You can only edit an auction if there are no bids on it. The reason for this is because it would be unfair for any previous bidders if the auction information changes. This applies to both auction information and images. If there are no bids on the auction there should be an "Edit" button at the top right on the auction page when you are logged in.
When trying to bid it says I have a smaller number of credits to bid than my total credits. Why?
The number of credits at the top of the page is your total credits regardless of where you have placed bids. Say you have 500 total credits and you bid 100 on an auction which you are now winning. The total amount of credits at the top of you page will still say 500 because you haven't won yet. However, on any other auction you will only be allowed to bid 400 credits because the other 100 are tied up in the auction you're winning. If you are eventually outbid on that auction you will then have 500 credits to bid on other auctions.
How do I retract/delete a bid I have placed?
Deleting bids is not allowed, but if you are the only user bidding on an auction we will take it into consideration.
What is the auction link?
What does it mean to "hide my email" when I contact another user?
When this check box is clicked the recipient of your email will not be able to see your email address. Your email message will be sent by us and the recipient will only be able to contact you through Listia.
Where can I see my credit activity?
Once you are logged in you can go to "My Account" -> "Credit Balance" -> "View Your Credit Activity" (top right). This page shows a detailed list of all your credit activity.
Why free stuff?
While doing some spring cleaning we found that there was a bunch of stuff we didn't need, but couldn't bear to throw away because we were sure someone could find it useful. Listing my 20" CRT monitor on Ebay just wasn't going to work and who wants to answer dozens of phone calls, fake inquiries and emails on Craigslist?
Is everything REALLY free?
Yes. Listia charges no fees nor does it cost anything to participate. All items listed by Listia, such as Reward Auctions, offer free shipping. It costs nothing to list a new auction, or add photos, or list a charity auction. We encourage everyone who signs up to get involved by giving away items you no longer need, before receiving items for free from other users. However, no giving is required and no purchase is necessary. Every new user starts with free credits that can be used to bid and win auction items (by the way, bidding doesn’t cost anything either). Listia is very proud of the fact that it costs absolutely no money to participate, while providing an exciting new way for people give and get free stuff.
Why credits?
The market decides what everything is worth. Credits also make transactions much easier and void of fraud.
How do I get more credits?
Read more here.
How much is 1 credit worth?
Users can earn more free credits by selling items and interacting with the site, but if you really need some credits right away, you can buy more from Listia at $1 for 10 credits. Credits cannot be cashed out.
Can I return credits that I buy?
You can return credits within 7 days from the date of purchase if they are unused. This means the credits must still be in your account and also cannot be pending (a currently winning bid) on any auctions. At this time we do not accept partial returns, so you will have to return all the credits in the purchase. To initiate a return, please contact us.
Can I sell back my credits?
No, but we do have Rewards Auctions that are meant to reward our active users with a lot of credits.
Who pays for shipping?
Because of the nature of the stuff being listed on Listia we assume all auctions are better suited for local exchanges. However, if a seller is willing to ship their item (at the seller or winners expense) this should be specified in the description or the questions and comments.
How do I get what I win?
When you either sell or buy something and the auction ends, both parties are emailed the final auction details and you can arrange on a way to exchange the item. We've also built a tool that makes it easier to send emails notifying the other party about item exchange details. To use this tool just go to auction you've won or sold something after it has finished.
What can and can't I sell on Listia?
Click here to see what is not allowed on Listia.
It says my account is suspended, why?
Click here to see our policy behind suspended accounts.
How do I delete an auction?
You can only delete an auction if there are no bids on it. When you list something on Listia you should be designating that item to a winner on Listia. If there are no bids on the auction you can delete it under "My Account" then find the auction under "Auctions Listed".
How do I edit an auction?
You can only edit an auction if there are no bids on it. The reason for this is because it would be unfair for any previous bidders if the auction information changes. This applies to both auction information and images. If there are no bids on the auction there should be an "Edit" button at the top right on the auction page when you are logged in.
When trying to bid it says I have a smaller number of credits to bid than my total credits. Why?
The number of credits at the top of the page is your total credits regardless of where you have placed bids. Say you have 500 total credits and you bid 100 on an auction which you are now winning. The total amount of credits at the top of you page will still say 500 because you haven't won yet. However, on any other auction you will only be allowed to bid 400 credits because the other 100 are tied up in the auction you're winning. If you are eventually outbid on that auction you will then have 500 credits to bid on other auctions.
How do I retract/delete a bid I have placed?
Deleting bids is not allowed, but if you are the only user bidding on an auction we will take it into consideration.
What is the auction link?
What does it mean to "hide my email" when I contact another user?
When this check box is clicked the recipient of your email will not be able to see your email address. Your email message will be sent by us and the recipient will only be able to contact you through Listia.
Where can I see my credit activity?
Once you are logged in you can go to "My Account" -> "Credit Balance" -> "View Your Credit Activity" (top right). This page shows a detailed list of all your credit activity.
Tips & Tricks
Want to learn about our advanced search options or how to take better photos? Check out our tips and trick page here.
Want to learn about our advanced search options or how to take better photos? Check out our tips and trick page here.
Badges
Badges are a way to quickly see who's who on Listia. Ranging from number of auctions listed to connecting via Facebook or Twitter, badges let you visually see what other users are up to on Listia. Click here to see a list of badges available and what they mean.
Badges are a way to quickly see who's who on Listia. Ranging from number of auctions listed to connecting via Facebook or Twitter, badges let you visually see what other users are up to on Listia. Click here to see a list of badges available and what they mean.
Who We Are
Listia Inc. was founded in the Spring of 2009. We are a Y Combinator-funded startup in Silicon Valley and launched in August of that same year. Since then, we have been steadily growing and adding exciting new features. Our goal is to create the largest online marketplace for people to give and get free stuff. We hope you find it both useful and fun!
Follow us on twitter @listia
Really need to get a hold of us? Email us here.
Listia Inc. was founded in the Spring of 2009. We are a Y Combinator-funded startup in Silicon Valley and launched in August of that same year. Since then, we have been steadily growing and adding exciting new features. Our goal is to create the largest online marketplace for people to give and get free stuff. We hope you find it both useful and fun!
Follow us on twitter @listia
Really need to get a hold of us? Email us here.
