Frequently Asked Questions
(and one not-so-frequently asked question)
The Short and the Long of It
General Help
What is recycler and why should I use it?
What geographic regions does recycler cover?
How do I report a bug I have encountered with the site?
How do I suggest new features?
In what areas can I also place ads in a print publication?
Registration, Username, and Password
What are the benefits of registration?
How do I register with recycler?
I forgot my password. What should I do?
Placing an Ad
What kinds of ads can I post on recycler.com?
How much do private party ads cost?
How long will my Ad run?
Why should I include my photos with my Ad?
Do I have to provide a ZIP code when I create an ad?
Will you remind me to renew my ads?
Do you guarantee that an item will sell?
What types of payment do you accept?
What is the card security code?
How does the security code protect me?
Is my credit card information secure?
What is your refund policy?
Do I have to register to advertise on recycler.com?
How can I get more responses to my Ad?
How Do I get my Ad on the Homepage?
What if I do not have a digital camera?
What happens when my item is sold?
Why is there no Business Directory?
Ad Policy
What is your Ad Policy for?
Why was my Ad removed from the site?
Why am I being told that I posted too many ads today?
Why was my Ad declined?
Buying an Item Advertised on recycler
How do I search for a specific product or service?
How do I do a National Search?
How do I save ads?
How do I send an Ad to a Friend?
How often are listings updated?
How can I contact the poster of the Ad?
What recourse do I have if my transaction has gone bad or I have been defrauded?
Are ads screened before they go on the site?
Am I buying merchandise from recycler?
Do any of the services or merchandise on recycer.com come with a warranty or
guarantee?
What types of ads are found on recycler.com?
Does the vehicle pricing/payments include tax, title, plates, or other costs?
Does recycler offer any type of mediation between buyers and sellers?
Creating Efficient Ads
How many responses does the average Ad generate?
The “Dos and Don’ts” of Creating an Ad…
What is the best way to photograph my vehicle?
Account Management
What is Ad Status?
How do I manage my Ads?
How do I renew my Ad?
How do I change or cancel my Ad?
How do I edit my public profile?
Email Alerts
What is an email alert?
How do I stop email alerts or change how often they are sent?
Community Action and Moderation
What should I do if I see an ad that I think is spam, offensive, mis-categorized, or illegal?
What are the various options in the flag field?
General Monotreme Knowledge
What is the plural spelling for platypus?
General Help
| What is recycler and why should I use it? | [top] |
The Short Answer: The single most awesome online classifieds site in the history of
time, nigh unseen by simple earthlings. The What is also the Why.
The Long Answer: recycler.com is an online community of buyers and sellers, created to
simplify and revolutionize the classified shopping experience. Delivering state-of-the-art
web2.0 technology and powerful search features unlike any other site, recycler.com is
home to millions of listings – advertising for both private and commercial goods and
services. With an expansive and established network spanning across the United States,
recycler.com supplies you with the ability to buy and sell locally or nationally –
providing the options to advertise online and in print!
| What geographic regions does recycler cover? | [top] |
The Short Answer: From Sea to Shining Sea…with purple mountains in between!
The Long Answer: recycler stretches from coast-to-coast, serving users – advertisers,
buyers and sellers – across the entire United States. When placing an ad or searching for
ads, the location is based upon the desired target zip code – but the breadth of recycler’s
reach is wide and the flexibility to search and post where you want is great. If you are
interested in the specific cities we cover, you can check out our “Cities” list at the bottom
of the home page.
| How do I report a bug I have encountered with the site? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Try not to get all twitterpated – then let us know!
feedback@recycler.com
The Long Answer: Any bug you find within our site, we want to readily squash with a
tissue or at least shoo it out the door…If you find a bug or something not working
properly on our site, please contact us via email at feedback@recycler.com . Please
include the following information:
• The webpage address (URL) that the bug occurred on;
• Anything you did that might have caused the bug;
• What web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc), your operating system
(Windows Vista, XP, or Mac OS), and the Internet service provider you use.
Thank you for helping keep our site clean and bug-free!
| How do I suggest new features? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Run it by your friends first, and if they like it, let us know at
feedback@recycler.com
The Long Answer: We don’t pretend to have all the answers and good ideas (just most
of them). We would love to hear from you how we can improve our site. Please send any
suggestions you have that would enhance the online classifieds experience to:
feedback@recycler.com
| In what areas can I also place ads in a print publication? | [top] |
With a network of print magazines that has successfully connected buyers and sellers
since the ‘70s – all having made the necessary shift to online – the recycler has an
established, nation-wide classifieds spider web made up of the best people and
publications in the business. A genuine connect-the-dots of quality classifieds print and
online publications covering the United States, recycler delivers an experienced, tried-
and-true community to all its users.
California:
Trade Express – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura/Los Angeles
Photo Ad and Easy Ad – Central Coast
SLO City Advantage – Central Coast
Recycler – Los Angeles. Orange County, Inland Empire and Ventura County
CARS Weekly – Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and Ventura County
Jobs Magazine – Orange County
AutoBuys – Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and Ventura County
Autopix – Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and Ventura County
RV Buys – Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and Ventura County
TruckBuys – Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and Ventura County
Cycle and Boats Buys – Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and Ventura
County Classified Flea Market – San Francisco Bay Area
Bay Classifieds – San Francisco Bay Area
The Nickel Classifieds – Northern California
Great Northern Wheels and Deals – Northern California
Auto Weekly – Northern California
Pacific Northwest:
Columbia Basin Real Estate – Moses Lake, Washington
Nickel Saver – Moses Lake, Washington
Potato Guide – Moses Lake, Washington
Driveline – Spokane, Washington
Home Buyer's Guide – Spokane, Washington
RV Wheel Deals – Spokane, Washington
HomeFront – Tri-Cities, Washington
Nickel Nik – Tri-Cities, Washington
Wheel Deals – Tri-Cities, Washington
Buyline – Walla Walla, Washington
Destination Washington – Washington State
Homes – Wenatchee, Washington
Nickel Ads – Wenatchee, Washington
Southwest:
Dandy Dime Classifieds – Tucson and Southern Arizona
Cars and Trucks – Tucson and Southern Arizona
Phoenix Auto Guide – Phoenix
Quik Quarter – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Pennysaver – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Best Deals on Wheels – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Pre-Owned – Houston, Texas
Central:
Auto Focus – Chicago
Cycle Focus – Chicago
Wheeler Deeler Classifieds – Mid-Michigan
Auto Guide Wisconsin -- Wisconsin
Southeast:
News on Wheels – New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Photo Seller Classifieds – Baton Rouge
Trade Winds Classifieds – Mississippi
Bargain Mart Classifieds – Knoxville and East Tennessee
Photo Features -- Tennessee
Trading Post – Tennessee, South Virginia, and North Carolina
Iwanta Classifieds and Picture This – Central Savannah River Area, Georgia
Penny Pincher Classifieds – Macon and Central Georgia
Big Bend Classifieds -- Tallahassee
Tallahassee Advertiser – Northern Florida and Southern Georgia
Car and Truck Buyers Guide – Southern Florida
New Cars Buyers Guide – Southern Florida
Northeast:
Traders Guide – West Central Pennsylvania
Penny Saver – West Central Pennsylvania
New York Auto Finder – New York
Wheeler Dealer – Western New England and Massachusetts
Registration, Username, and Password
| What are the benefits of registration? | [top] |
The Short Answer: They are too “phat” to list…for shizzle…
The Long Answer: Registration is a fast, easy, and, most importantly, a FREE way to
improve the way you do classifieds. Registering is required for posting ads, but even if
you’re just here to buy, registration offers many advantages and tools to make things
easier to find. Here’s a brief and far from complete list of the benefits of registration:
• For Buyers: Register to save searches or individual ads for quick reference;
request free and instant email alerts based on specific criteria you’ve selected. Let
us do the work for you!
• For Sellers: Register to place, modify, and renew ads. Create a public profile or
upgrade your ad to increase its chances of success!
• For Buyers and Sellers: It’s FREE! Join our high quality community of top-
notch buyers and sellers and stay connected. By becoming a member of our little
recycler.com club, you can receive promotional announcements, while buying and
selling with ease and safety.
| How do I register with recycler? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Go to: recycler.com > “Sign Up” > Put info into boxes > Confirm >
Validate Email > Reap Benefits.
The Long Answer: Simply go to and click on the “Sign Up” link located at the top right
of any recycler.com page, and on the next page fill in the necessary fields with all your
information. You will need to input the following info:
• Valid Email Address (which will also serve as your Username)
• Password
• Name
• Street Address
• City, State and Zip Code
• Functional Phone Number
You will be sent an email to validate your email address, pronto. Just follow the provided
link to finish registration and begin using recyler.com to its fullest!
You will not be able to change the Username ID (Registration email), as it will always be
needed to sign in. However, if your email changes, you can edit your Contact email at
any time in Your Account (the change will not affect Registration email).
If you choose Place an Ad before registering, you will be directed automatically to the
registration page during the creation process. You cannot post or modify ads, save ads or
searches, sign up for email alerts, or create a Public Profile without registering – it’s easy
and it’s free!
| I forgot my password. What should I do? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Reset your password; eat more ginseng…
The Long Answer: First, don’t be so hard on yourself – these things happen. What you
need to do is go to Sign In and then click “Get a New One” (which is just beside the
phrase Forgot Your Password?). You will then have to enter the email that you used to
create the account (your Registration email, which is also your unique Username ID). An
email will be sent to your current Contact email (regardless of any disparity between it
and the Registration email you just entered) with a temporary password and a link to
reset your password – click on that link. On the page you are directed to, input the
temporary password you were given and your new password below that. Retype the new
password in the designated input field box to confirm it and your password will be reset.
Try to remember it this time!
Placing an Ad
| What kinds of ads can I post on recycler.com? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Lots!
The Long Answer: recycler.com offers a wide range of packages and upgrades to give
you the utmost flexibility when trying to sell a product or service. For private parties, we
offer the following general packages:
• Free Online Ad
• Enhanced Online Ad
• Enhanced Online and Print Ad
The availability and pricing of each package is determined by the category and the
subcategory of the Ad. For more information, click “Place an Ad” in the top right corner
of the recycler.com homepage, and then select the desired category, subcategory and ZIP
code (the area you want to target, not necessarily where you live) – from here you will be
given more details on prices.
If you have a business , please contact us for your available options: 1-888-916-5888 or
sales@recycler.com (Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. PT).
| How much do private party ads cost? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Well that just depends…
The Long Answer: Prices for posting ads start at as low as zero – a.k.a Free! The prices
and availability of each specific package depends on the category and subcategory of the
item you intend to advertise. We offer a wide range of choices to give you the flexibility
to decide how much or how little you want to spend and what kind of coverage best fits
your budget (there are plenty of Free Ad options). For specific prices and offered
packages, click on “Place an Ad” in the top right of the recycler.com homepage, and then
select the desired category, subcategory and ZIP code (the area you want to target, not
necessarily where you live). You should then be presented with the options available to
you and what each option will cost.
| How long will my Ad run? | [top] |
The Short Answer: This is completely up to you…
The Long Answer: Your Ad’s run length depends on what ad package you choose when
creating the Ad, but it ranges from two to six weeks. The longer an ad runs obviously
increases its exposure and its chance to sell, so we allow you the freedom to give
longevity to your ads and extend their lives if need be. Like visiting the Fountain of Ad
Youth, you can renew your Ad any time by logging into “Your Account” and then
Manage Ads. From this page you can always modify, cancel, or renew each individual
ad.
| Why should I include my photos with my Ad? | [top] |
The Short Answer: You wouldn’t marry someone sight unseen, would you?
The Long Answer: Not only can photos grab a buyer’s attention, they also add
credibility to you and your Ad. Sometimes, seeing is believing – and potential buyers
know this. Pictures don’t lie, and can usually make the difference between quick sales
and a cluttered garage. Multiple photos just increase the item’s allure, showing it from
different angles, close-up or wide.
When uploading photos, be sure to designate which photo you want to be used as the ad’s Main Photo.
select "Make main photo" below each uploaded photo
If you are going to use photos, be sure that they are current and of good quality.
| Do I have to provide a ZIP code when I create an ad? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Yes. But luckily ZIP codes are only 5 digits.
The Longer Answer: Classifieds are an intrinsically local experience, dating back to
posting a bulletin – with nail and hammer – on the Town Hall door. Including your ZIP
code (where you want to sell the item, not necessarily where you live) will target your Ad
to a specific location generating the most and the highest quality leads. However, when
you are searching, it is possible for you to do a nationwide search. Regardless of being
required to input your desired ZIP code when selling, we do not want to limit your reach
– your Ad will show up in any buyers’ broader searches as well as local ones. If they are
looking, they’ll find it.
If you live in larger cities, especially those with multiple ZIP codes, you may think listing
a ZIP code is limiting – but keep in mind that when searching, a user is given results for
everything in a 50-mile radius, unless manually altered.
| Will you remind me to renew my ads? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Yes – Of course!
The Long Answer: We know you have a lot on your mind and have better things to do
than track your ads every waking moment. We will email you a reminder just a few days
before the Ad expires. After that, however, it is out of our hands. We do not renew ads
for you and they do not renew automatically, so if you get the email reminder, quickly
hop onto your Manage Ads page under Your Account and renew the soon-to-be-
expired ad – it only takes a few seconds.
For this reason and for any other reason we may need to contact you, it is important for
you to keep your Contact email address up-to-date.
| Do you guarantee that an item will sell? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Nope.
The Long Answer: Although we firmly believe recycler.com offers the single best
advertising value on this here World Wide Web, we cannot guarantee a sale. Though,
with our helpful creation tools, writing a good Ad Title and Description, while posting
excellent photos – combined with a wide-reaching online and print package – will
dramatically increase your chances of a speedy and profitable sale rather than, say,
putting the item in your front yard with a magic marker scratched “For Sale” sign or on
some other old, bland, unsafe and chaotically cluttered website (we won’t mention any
names).
| What types of payment do you accept? | [top] |
We accept MasterCard, Visa, and American Express for private party ads placed online.
Depending on the category and subcategory of your Ad, some packages require payment,
as do some easy Upgrade Features that can enhance even the basic free ads – and your
information, FYI, is completely safe and private.
| What is the card security code? | [top] |
The card security code is a nifty little Internet security feature, which provides a
cryptographic verification of the information pressed into the card. The code is a
relatively recent security characteristic, a simple three-digit number appearing on the
back of most Visa and MasterCard credit cards.
The security code is intended to validate that the customer placing the online order
actually has the credit card on his or her person, and that the credit account is legitimate.
| How does the security code protect me? | [top] |
The Short Answer: With intimidating glares and deadly force if necessary…
The Long Answer: Not contained in the magnetic strip information, the security code is
only printed on the card; nor does it appear on paper documents like sales receipts or
billing statements – designed that way so the card must be in hand in order for the user to
know and use the code.
Card Security Codes are not raised, so they cannot be scanned into basic credit card
readers. Hypothetically, these numbers are only visible to you, the cardholder. When you
give your Card Security Code to an online merchant, you assist that merchant in verifying
that you, the cardholder, are actually placing the order.
| Is my credit card information secure? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Safer than a hotdog in a vegan cafeteria! Safer than the Wicked
Witch of the West in the Sahara Desert! Safer than a crash test dummy in an airbag
factory! Safer than…
The Long Answer: Using your credit card with recycler.com is completely safe. We use
an advanced encryption technology that safeguards your personal information and
ensures your privacy as it travels over the Internet. We also maintain a SSL Certificate
with Thawte that serves as an electronic substitute for your signature.
| What is your refund policy? | [top] |
We cannot be responsible for user errors – so be extra careful when creating an ad. If you
make an error while creating the ad online, you can correct or modify it any time by
logging into Your Account and going to Manage Ads. Likewise, you can cancel any
ad placed online by going to Manage Ads. Unfortunately, we do not issue refunds for
private party ads. If you make a material error in your ad, we will give you a credit
towards the purchase of future advertising.
| Do I have to register to advertise on recycler.com? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Did Doc Brown’s Flux Capacitor take Marty McFly back in time to
1955 in his custom DeLorean DMC-12 after generating 1.21 gigawatts of energy at a top-
speed of 88 miles per hour?
The Shorter Answer: YES!
The Long Answer: We need to be able to communicate with you if you choose to
advertise on recycler.com. Registration is quick, safe, easy and free. You do not have to
register to buy from recycler, but we recommend it – it’s easy, free, and will immediately
grant you convenient and easy tools, enhancing the way you do classifieds.
• For Buyers : Register to save searches or individual ads for quick reference, and
request free and instant email alerts based on specific criteria you’ve selected. Let
us do the work for you!
• For Sellers: Register to post, modify, and renew ads. Create a Public Profile or
upgrade your ad to increase its chances of success!
• For Buyers and Sellers: It’s FREE! Join our high quality community of top-
notch buyers and sellers and stay connected. By becoming a member of our little
recycler.com club, you can receive promotional announcements, while buying and
selling with ease and safety.
| How can I get more responses to my Ad? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Read the Long Answer…
The Long Answer: You are here because you want to generate the most potential buyers
for what you are offering. We are here to make that happen, but there are certain things
you can do (things we have tried to make easy and fun) to increase responses from
potential buyers. Here is a quick rundown of tips:
• Pick a package that includes both print and online – we cannot express enough the
benefits of getting the Ad into ink, as well as onto the Web.
• Include at least one, clear, well-lit photo to showcase the item you are selling –
we recommend several pictures, from different angles.
• Make the Ad Description as detailed and clear as possible – bad punctuation
makes an ad stand out in a very bad way and can be confusing or distracting;
respect grammar.
• If you are flexible on price, make that clear! State or best offer (obo), non-
negotiable (firm), or negotiable (neg.) when applicable.
• Make things easy on potential buyers! Let them know location and availability for
fast and easy pick up.
• Tell your friends! The more people on recycler.com, the more responses you will
get!
| How Do I get my Ad on the Homepage? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Have the same last name as someone on our Board of
Directors…kidding!
The Long Answer: If you are interested in getting your Ad to appear on the recycler.com
homepage, please contact our sales department. You can contact us at 1-888-916-5888 or
sales@recycler.com
The homepage ads are selected at random from a pool of qualifying ads, so every visit to
the homepage will yield a different set of featured ads.
| What if I do not have a digital camera? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Go to your local electronics store and join us in the 21st
Century…kidding!
The Long Answer: That’s totally OK! Just take your traditional film camera to your
local photo-processing lab and request a photo CD. Or, you can turn prints into digital
pictures with the help of a scanner. And you can always borrow a friend’s
Though we can’t all be Ansel Adams, please do your best to make sure the photos are
clear, well lit, large, and of good quality. If the photos look like some sort of terrible
Rorschach test, or if your advertised used car looks like a dinosaur’s blurry sonogram,
your Ad will not produce results.
| What happens when my item is sold? | [top] |
The Short Answer: We celebrate profusely and show our enthusiasm by slapping hands
and bumping fists! Now please cancel your Ad!
The Long Answer: Congratulations on the sale, but you aren’t done yet. We are happy
as clams we were able to help you find a buyer, but we ask that you Sign In and go to
Manage Ads to cancel the Ad so it is no longer live on our site. Do not simply let the
Ad die a slow, painful death – painful for both of us because neither you nor we want to
be inundated with calls and emails from curious or frustrated buyers who’ve stumbled
across your unavailable Ad thinking it’s still available. Responsibly canceling your Ad
will help keep recycler.com free from the clutter of old and unavailable ads, making it
easier for everyone involved!
| Why is there no Business Directory? | [top] |
The Short Answer: Same reason there are no longer any cowboys…
The Long Answer: To be quite frank, business directories are somewhat pointless these
days (people generally just use the yellow pages for business look-up). Our experience
has shown that buyers are more interested in the items than the sellers. However, any
member posting more than one ad will have a “More from this seller” link on each of his
or her ads, which direct potential buyers to the dealer page’s with all the items listed
contact information.
Ad Policy
|
What is your Ad Policy for? |
[top] |
The Long Answer: Here at recycler we are proud to adhere to a firm Ad Policy when
dealing with user submitted ads, providing us the ability to deliver a trusted marketplace.
Our policy is a series of guidelines put in place to create a benefit for both buyers and
sellers in our marketplace. We have the unique opportunity to deliver thousands of
classified ads to people all over the country, but with that opportunity comes great
responsibility. The Editorial Team members who enforce the Ad Policy strive to keep the
site safe, clean, easy-to-use, and unadulterated. Without the Ad Policy, the shared
benefits of recycler.com and our users could not exist.
recycler.com reserves the right to decline or approve any ads based on our Ad Policy, and
may modify that policy at any time without notice.
|
Why was my Ad removed from the site? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: It was a bad, bad ad; or…it died
The Long Answer: There are several reasons your Ad may have been removed from the
site – as recycler retains the right to remove or modify any ad we see fit (but promise not
to exercise that right unless forced). Here is a quick rundown of the most common
reasons your Ad might have pursued the Dodo into extinction:
• The Ad violated our Ad Policy
• Users flagged the Ad for being spam or offensive
• The Ad was a duplicate of another ad
• The Ad has expired
|
Why am I being told that I posted too many ads today? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Slow down, take a breath, stop posting ads for the day, and go
outside!
The Long Answer: There is a limit of 25 ads per person per day. This restriction is in
place to prevent users from abusing or “spamming” the site, and for deterring users from
selling, for example, their Limited Edition Collector’s Lego Sets piece-by-piece. This is a
community, so we treat it like one – any rules we have established that may seem to limit
users’ are sanctioned for our and your own good. We ask all recycler users to practice
restraint when posting ads and avoid abuse to keep this site the best on the Web.
If you are a business and would like to place more than 25 ads per day, please contact us
at 1-888-916-5888 or sales@recycler.com
|
Why was my Ad declined? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: You did a no-no!
The Long Answer: There are many reasons our Editorial Team might decline a
submitted ad. As per our Ad Policy, rejections may be caused by, but no limited to, the
following:
Counterfeit – recycler.com does not accept advertisements for content that may
be counterfeit or replicated in any way. This includes stamps, currency, coins, and
designer goods. This also applies to any tools or machinery that can be used to
manufacture aforementioned counterfeited goods.
Endangered Species – recycler.com does not permit the advertising of any animal
or part of an animal that is categorized as an endangered or protected species. For
a full list of Endangered Species, please see the Fish and Wildlife Service’s
website.
Academic Aids – recycler.com does not permit advertisements for test-taking
services in which one takes an exam for another – nor do we accept academic
paper-writing services providing custom/pre-written essays, theses, dissertations,
etc. You’re going to have to do the work yourself, like the rest of us!
Advertisements for proof reading or editing services are allowed.
Embargo – recycler.com does not permit services that appear to facilitate the sale
of goods from, with, or to countries, organizations, businesses or persons with
whom the U.S. law has regulated trade.
http://www.bis.doc.gov/policiesandregulations/05forpolcontrols/chap5_embargo.htm
Certain restrictions have been placed on goods coming from Cuba – a country
that currently falls under the Embargo category:
It is OK if: any Cuban item is of an "informational" nature, such as books,
movies, artwork, photographs, music, cancelled stamps, and similar materials.
These Items may be sold without restrictions.
It is NOT OK if: the Cuban Government issued valid stamps or currency
before the embargo date, but they were still in Cuba (or in the possession of a
Cuban national) at any time after the embargo date. These items may NOT be
listed.
Defamatory – recycler.com does not permit ad postings that contain items,
photos, or terms that are abusive, threatening, libelous, promote hate or
intolerance, or would generally be considered offensive by our users. If you can’t
post anything nice, don’t post anything at all.
Illegal Drugs – recycler.com does not permit ads promoting goods or services
that appear to facilitate the use or distribution of illegal drugs or substances whose
primary purpose seem to be recreational mind alteration. This includes services or
products that facilitate the evasion of drug laws, such as those promoting ways to
beat a drug test.
Unacceptable – recycler.com does not permit advertisements that contain content
about prostitution, hacking, cracking, Warez, assault/automatic weapons
fireworks, explosives, alcohol, gambling, items that require a prescription or are
of questionable legality.
Links– recycler.com does permit ads that contain an external link seemingly used
for the sole purpose of driving traffic to another website. The ad is only allowed
to contain a link to an external site if and only if it is used to give the user more
information about the item being offered (for example product details, pictures,
etc.). However, any link that directs users to information on a third party site such
as “Craigslist” or “eBay” is not accepted.
Duplicate – recycler.com does not permit the placing of multiple ads for the same
item in the same category or through multiple accounts. Our policy states that
advertisers may only place the same ad in up to two different categories for a
particular item. Duplicate ads in the same category are not allowed. This ensures
that our users receive a variety of results, and prevents our listings from being
monopolized by a single advertiser.
Adult – recycler.com does not permit ads that are adult in nature. Ads that contain
references to nudity, pornography, escort services, sexual favors in exchange for
money or personal ads that are adult in nature are currently not accepted.
Pets (age) – recycler.com does not permit ads in violation of state guidelines
regarding the sale of pets. Puppies and kittens must be at least 8 weeks old prior
to being placed for sale. Please resubmit your ad when the animals reach 8 weeks
old or modify your ad to state that you will be accepting deposits with a legal
pick-up date clearly expressed.
Pets (Restricted) – recycler.com does not permit advertising animals considered
to be restricted in your state. Please visit your State Fish and Wildlife Department
website to review the regulations on restricted animals.
Real Estate: Fair Housing – recycler.com does not permit ads in violation of the
Federal Fair Housing Act guidelines on advertising. Under this Act,
advertisements for real estate cannot intentionally or unintentionally express a
preference or exclusion of any persons based on race, color, religion, sex,
handicap, familial status or national origin.
Please visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s site on
Fair Housing Laws for more information.
Real Estate: No Location Entered – recycler.com does not permit ads that do not
clearly articulate the location of the advertised real estate – we require that a
location must be included in the ad to be considered for approval. Please Sign In
to your account and visit the Manage Ads section to make any necessary changes
and resubmit the ad.
Location: Outside of the United States – recycler.com does not, at this time,
permit ads that are either located in or advertising services that are available
outside our current coverage area. Presently, recycler.com only accepts
advertisements from individuals located within and serving the U.S. marketplace.
Data Collection – recycler.com does not permit ads for documents or items that
may aid in identity theft including, but not limited to, identity documents,
personal information in any form, including mailing lists and financial records,
government and transit badges, government documents or licenses.
Please feel free to peruse our Ad Policy here.
Buying an Item Advertised on recycler
|
How do I search for a specific product or service? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Locate the Search Box at the top of the page. Use it.
The Long Answer: recycler.com offers a powerful search engine that gives you the
flexibility to find exactly what you want, where you want it. Use the Search Box at the
top of each page by entering a keyword (Year/Model/Make for cars and trucks) and
specifying the city/state or the zip code. You can narrow and refine the search by
specifying criteria (like price, location, make, model, mileage, brand, color, etc) on the
left-hand side of the search results page. If you are not getting many results, try different
keywords, broadening or removing your specific criteria, or changing ZIP codes.
There is also an option “Show only ads with photos” located near the number of results at
the top of the page. Selecting this will – surprise, surprise – display only ads with photos.
recycler also offers buyers the opportunity to search nationwide, by clearing the location
field, to locate and buy that hard-to-find item hidden somewhere within the nooks,
crannies, mountains, lakes, and cornfields between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
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How do I do a National Search? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Finagle your way onto “The Tonight Show” with Conan O’Brien
and give a Wanted shout out…
The Long Answer: Typing in the keyword and then either clearing the Location field or
leaving it blank will automatically start a nationwide search. We recommend you do this
if you are searching for something unique and rare. Also, if you are just browsing and not
using keywords, select “Change Location” in the results and clear it to default to a
nationwide search.
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How do I save ads? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Mouse over the Ad > Click “Save” > Go make a sandwich¹
The Long Answer: Can’t find a pen or paper? Lacking the memory of a five-toed
pachyderm (that’s science talk for elephant)? No worries! If you are interested in an ad
just mouse over the Ad to highlight it and then click “Save” once the link appears. It will
be under the listed price and have a small folder graphic next to it. You can also go into
the Ad’s detail page and select “Save” at the top above the large display photo.
The Ad will be saved to your account and can be recalled and viewed any time by going
to Your Account and selecting “Saved Ads” under the Buyer heading. A saved ad will
remain in your account even after the ad is cancelled, for comparison and reference, for 3
months.
¹you don’t have to make a sandwich after saving an ad, but you’ll have to do something with all the time
you save from this easy and convenient Ad Save feature…we just figured you could be hungry.
|
How do I send an Ad to a Friend? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Carrier Pigeon would be cool…
The Long Answer: When browsing search results, if you come across something a friend
might like, just mouse over the ad and click on “Send” next to the green envelope. A box
will pop up for you to enter yours and your friend’s names and email addresses. You
have the option to post a personal message, which will be included in the body of the
email containing the ad details and necessary links automatically sent to his or her
account after you click “Send.”
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How often are listings updated? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Constantly.
The Long Answer: We update our online inventory multiple times a day, so you can see
any changes or updates quickly, such as a new asking price or more/new photos. We also
encourage you to keep your ads fresh and up-to-date by requiring you to renew your ads
every two to three weeks.
After you first submit an ad, however, it may take some time to get it up and running on
the site because it is initially sent to our Editorial Team for approval. Once approved, it
will be posted on the site – this usually happens within one business day. If several days
come and go and you cannot find your Ad, please call us at 1-888-916-5888 or shoot us
an email at service@recycler.com (Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. PT)
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How can I contact the poster of the Ad? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Via phone if a number is listed, or email using the Contact
feature…or yell really loud if they are incredibly local…
The Long Answer: If you are interested in a listing, click on the Ad for more
information. If you are still interested, on the right side of the Ad, under Contact in big
letters, you can fill in the required fields and click on the green “Contact” button below to
send the seller an email. If a phone number is included in the Ad, you can always call the
seller. Be sure to check out the seller’s Public Profile for contact details. Also, the Ad
Description may have more detailed instructions on how or when to contact the seller.
|
What recourse do I have if my transaction has gone bad or I have been defrauded? |
[top] |
If you feel that your transaction with another member has gone bad or you have been
cheated by a Fraudulent Ad on the site, please let us know about it immediately. If
appropriate, you should contact the police to pursue criminal charges. Remember to trade
locally and transact in person to reduce the risk that your transaction will “go bad.”
Visit our Safety Center for more info.
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Are ads screened before they go on the site? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Are astronauts screened before they go to the moon?
The Long Answer: Yes! – recycler.com adheres to a firm Ad Policy in a continuous
effort to keep the site secure from fraud, safe for families, and unadulterated. We have
high standards for ourselves and expect the same from our users – and we stick by our
guns! Every ad submitted online is sent immediately to our Editorial Team. From there
the ad is carefully reviewed in accordance to our Ad Policy and, if approved, posted
online and printed in one of our many publications (if you so choose). If it is declined,
you will be notified via email – we encourage you to review our Ad Policy and make
necessary changes to your declined Ad for resubmission.
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Am I buying merchandise from recycler? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: No.
The Long Answer: recycler.com is an online marketplace that connects buyers and sellers – recycler does not own or sell anything it is advertising and we do not make any
commission or “cut” on any successfully sold item or service. We are simply here to
facilitate the classifieds process – the recycling of quality goods – between private and
commercial buyers and sellers.
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Do any of the services or merchandise on recycer.com come with a warranty or guarantee? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Never from us, recycler.com…
The Long Answer: Warranties or guarantees provided by the sellers may be available for
the services or merchandise on recycler.com. In some cases, extended warranties may be
purchased from third parties – recycler.com does not directly provide any warranties or
guarantees. To find out more information about a warranty or guarantee options, please
contact the seller.
Be leery and research thoroughly anything “guaranteed” by a private seller.
|
What types of ads are found on recycler.com? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: What types of ads aren’t found on recycler.com?
The Long Answer: recycler.com has one of the largest inventories of used cars, trucks,
SUVs, vans, and new vehicles, along with merchandise, pets, electronics and appliances
employment, real estate, and a galactic gallimaufry of other classified ads in the United
States. Over 300,000 new ads appear on recycler.com every week. Private parties,
franchise & independent car dealers, and both small and large businesses advertise with
us. It can all get overwhelming, so in order to assist you in finding the item that you are
looking for, we have searches by year, make and model for autos – and keywords
everything else.
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Does the vehicle pricing/payments include tax, title, plates, or other costs? |
[top] |
Just the Short Answer: Vehicle pricing from a dealer does not include tax, title &
registration, where it’s applicable. Also, advertised payments are based on Tier 1 Credit.
Private sellers may specify any included details in the ad description. If not, you can
always ask after contacting them.
Are any of the vehicles certified?
Just the Short Answer: Many of the vehicles for sale are certified by the dealer selling
the vehicle. To find out more information about a specific vehicle's certification, please
contact the seller.
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Does recycler offer any type of mediation between buyers and sellers? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: No. We are just matchmakers – seeing the “relationship” through is
left to you and the other party.
The Long Answer: recycler is a platform to connect buyers and sellers. All transactions
and the details of the transactions are completed between the two parties – we aren’t a
middleman or go-between. At no time does recycler get involved in these details or
transaction itself, nor do we offer any types of verification as to who a person is or claims
to be. If you have any questions or concerns about a transaction please contact the other
party and do your best to resolve the situation between the two of you. If you feel you
have been defrauded, let us know ( feedback@recycler.com ) and contact your local police
department.
Creating Efficient Ads
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How many responses does the average Ad generate? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Uh…
The Long Answer: This is a bit of a difficult question and we can only offer a general
answer because there are so many different factors weighing on the final number of
generated responses. What you are selling and where you are selling it, among other
things, will have a drastic effect on how many responses it will generate. We can say that
without a doubt, the better written the ad, the better the photos, and the better the package
will all result in more and better quality responses. Here are a few quick tips when
creating an ad:
• Choose to advertise online and in print whenever possible.
• Include photos, the more the better.
• Be honest and be detailed – clearly title and describe your item for sale.
• Be realistic on your asking price. Unrealistic prices will not only be suspected of
fraud, but will not generate good responses.
• Include the VIN (if selling a vehicle) so the user can get a valid history report of
the vehicle (from Carfax.com for example).
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The “Dos and Don’ts” of Creating an Ad… |
[top] |
DO title your Ad with the item’s name; DON’T title it without thought or with gimmicky
intent…
In almost every case, the title of your Ad should be as simple as the name of the
item you are selling. Most buyers go to classified ads knowing full well what they
want to find and buy. Titling your Ad with a phrase (like “I have…” or “This
is…” or “I am selling…”) or an adjective (like “Brand new…” or “Red…” or
“Beautiful…”) is not only redundant, but it will only make your Ad blend in and
go unnoticed. If you are selling a car, keep it to Year/Make/Model. The title is the
most important part of writing an ad, so make it count.
DO use Standard English Grammar; DON’T invent new and interesting ways to use
punctuation…
The National Academy of Punctuation has so far come up with no correlation
between exclamation points and selling effectiveness. In addition, all studies have
thus far been inconclusive on the effects of random and haphazard punctuation
use on classifieds shoppers, but at this point there is no reason to believe that
flashy punctuation has any positive efficacy at all. Furthermore, severe
capitalization abuse is not only against our Ad Policy, but annoying and
amateurish. Be professional and you’ll get serious, professional responses
Classifieds Ads are not text messages and you are not Tom Wolfe – so don’t write
them like they, or you, are.
DO write an engaging description; DON’T overwhelm us with adjectives…
Every day hundreds of adjectives are abused under the cyber sun and no one does
anything about it. Adjectives simply want to spice up language a bit, bring joy
into a story or text, but it is becoming more and more common for ordinary
writers to overuse, exhaust, and misuse the poor adjectives. With just a dollar a
day you can sponsor a maltreated adjective…or just use adjectives sparingly! If
you post photos with your ad (which you should), then you don’t really need
adjectives at all, besides the basics (condition, colors, size, weight, etc).
DO your research; DON’T wing it…
Have a clue as to what you are selling, its market, and the right price for its
condition. You won’t get many responses if your price, which you just guessed at,
is way too high. Likewise, if you’re way under on your arbitrary guess, you’ll
likely just get ripped off and give some yahoo a story to tell at the local watering
hole. There’s no need to see someone on Antiques Roadshow talking about the
priceless heirloom they bought from you for a nickel – especially when it can be
avoided with a wee bit of research. Also, the more you know about what you are
selling, the better salesperson you can become, writing an excellently detailed and
enticing Ad Description.
DO post photos with your Ad; DON’T rely on buyers’ imaginations…
If you don’t own a digital camera, find one or use a traditional film camera and
get CD copies at the photo lab, or use a scanner. Save for the title, photos are the
best and easiest way to get your Ad noticed, resulting in plenty of leads and
inevitably a profitable sale. Make sure the photos are current and of good quality,
and showcase the item you are selling accurately.
Here is an SAT-level Analogy to help: If your photo is to your item as Clark
Gable is to Lyle Lovett you will not make any sales and will upset and frustrate
ex-potential buyers.
DO choose a print option; DON’T limit your coverage…
Getting your Ad printed in ink is a very easy way to get it into the hands of a
buyer who normally would not have found it. Published ads have no expiration
date, essentially, because they cannot be deleted and removed from cyberspace
and people’s memories. Using the established and vast network recycler provides
will dramatically increase your Ad’s coverage and chance to sell.
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What is the best way to photograph my vehicle? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Contrary to popular belief, without near-nude supermodels
glistening from the hood…
The Really Long Answer: The following tips will help you take high quality photos of
your vehicle:
• Do not shoot the shadow side of your vehicle.
• Make sure the sun is behind you and watch out for shadows on your vehicle.
• To help remove "glare spots" from your windows, roll them down.
• Shoot your vehicle in the morning or late afternoon; this will reduce shadows and
harsh glare.
• Always use your flash, even in bright sunlight (this will show more details of your
vehicle).
• Clean your vehicle, and don't forget tire treatment.
• Park your vehicle on clean pavement. (Special Tip: Wet the pavement)
• Position your vehicle in what is known as the 3/4 view (see below).
• Crouch down and shoot at headlight level (this makes your vehicle seem
“proud”).
• Stand back when shooting your vehicle. You don’t want to “clip” off the front or
back bumpers and you want to leave enough space around your vehicle so
recycler can crop it to size to fit the magazine format. (Example: if you fill the
frame (which is typically square in shape), then when your vehicle is cropped to
fit the frame of the advertisement (which is typically rectangular in shape). Your
vehicle will lose its roof or tires.
• Do not position your vehicle under a tree’s shade or striped canopy, this will show
up as a bad paint job in the photo.
• Your vehicle is the primary focal point of your photograph. Make sure that the
backdrop is neat. You should never have anyone standing beside your car and
your hood and doors should be closed.
• Turn off your camera's option of imprinting the date/time.
• Set your camera to the highest quality or fine quality setting.
Photos taken with film may be scanned and uploaded, but the online photo quality may
not be as good as digital photos. See the examples below:
Account Management
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What is Ad Status? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: What else? The status of your ad…
The Long Answer: While managing your Ads you may notice they are labeled with a
“Status.” Each status is used to designate where your Ad is in its life and what it is
currently “doing”:
• Pending: The Ad has been submitted and is being reviewed by the recycler
Editorial Team.
• Current: The Ad was approved by the Editorial Team and is currently running
online (and in print if so designated).
• About to Expire: The Ad is nearing expiration and requires the seller to renew it.
• Expired: The Ad expired and is no longer running. It can no longer be renewed.
• Cancelled: The seller has canceled the Ad – recycler will not cancel ads unless
asked by the user to cancel it for them.
• Declined: The Ad did not meet recycler’s Ad Policy and was rejected by the
Editorial Team.
• Removed: The Ad was flagged and removed from the site by our Editorial Team
due to it violating our Ad Policy, the state or national law, or our Terms of Use –
or it was reported as spam or fraud.
|
How do I manage my Ads? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: With a little tender love and care…
The Long Answer: After you Sign In and go into Your Account, you will be able to
click on Manage Ads beneath the Seller section. You can select to sort and review your
ads based on their status (Current, About to Expire, Cancelled, etc). Click on each ad to
make any desired changes – title, description, and/or photos. You can also renew ads that
are About to Expire to extend its life and extend your selling window. If your item has
sold or you decided to keep it, please cancel your Ad to keep our site fresh and clutter-
free.
|
How do I renew my Ad? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: With a shot of Vitameatavegamin…
The Long Answer: When you receive the email reminder that your Ad is About to
Expire , simply Sign In and go into Your Account. From here you can click on
Manage Ads, sort your ads by status, in this case About to Expire. Select the Ad
nearing expiration and click Renew to renew it.
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How do I change or cancel my Ad? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Very carefully…
The Slightly Less Short Answer: Simply Sign In and go into Your Account then
proceed to Manage Ads under the Seller heading. From here you can sort your ads, and
then modify or cancel any one as needed. When canceling the ad you will be asked the
reason for cancellation, please select the most accurate:
1) Item has Sold
2) Good or Service No Longer Available
3) Upgrading Ad, Changing Categories or Reposting New Ad
We ask that if you have sold your item, no longer offer the advertised service, or decide
to not to sell the advertised item that you cancel the Ad as soon as you can. This will keep
recycler.com clean of the clutter old and unavailable ads can create. Thank you!
|
How do I edit my public profile? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Never change. We like you just the way you are…but if you must…
The Long Answer: After you Sign In you can go to Your Account and select
Public Profile under the Seller heading on the left side of the page. From this page you
will be able to change your profile picture, URL, and display name as well as the
description about you. Keep your public profile photo current and tasteful, and the
information about yourself accurate, brief…and also tasteful.
Public Profiles are an excellent and safe way to give yourself and the item(s) you are
selling credibility. The more a buyer knows about you as a seller, the more likely they are
to buy from you.
You CANNOT change your contact or billing info from the Public Profile page. Any
account changes must be done from within the main Your Account page.
Email Alerts
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What is an email alert? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Not an alert informing the community of a kidnapped young email…
The Long Answer: recycler.com provides you with the ability to save searches and have
them emailed to your Contact email address. The alerts are FREE electronic notifications
of any new ads posted on the site that you specifically asked for. Don’t worry if you do
not find what you are looking for immediately – we are constantly posting new ads.
Simply set up an alert with the keyword(s) and location, choose how often you want them
sent (daily, weekly, monthly), and let us find them for you!
Email Alerts are not only for buyers searching for an item. As a seller you can also set up
alerts to receive specific notifications about your account. And you can manage these
alerts any time, as a buyer or a seller, by going to Alerts under the Seller heading in
Your Account.
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How do I stop email alerts or change how often they are sent? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Use the magic word…
The Long Answer: Sign In and go into Your Account. Under the Seller heading on the
left-hand side you will find Alerts . After clicking that link, you will be able to manage
how often you receive alerts – and this applied for buyer or seller alerts. If you no longer
wish to receive alerts, simply uncheck the specific alerts you wish to deactivate.
Community Action and Moderation
|
What should I do if I see an ad that I think is spam, offensive, mis- categorized, or illegal? |
[top] |
The Short Answer: Be a tattletale and tell – talk like an informant facing 20-to-life in the
slammer!
The Long Answer: We are always asking for help from our users. If you are suspicious
of an ad that you come across on recycler.com (hopefully based on more than a “gut
feeling”), the best course of action is to direct it immediately to our attention. To do this,
click “Flag” on the ad itself and select the reason why when prompted (see below for
reasons). Though we need users to help police our site, we do ask that you Flag
cautiously. You wouldn’t want your ads arbitrarily Flagged, so be sure to have “probable
cause” before Flagging someone else’s.
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What are the various options in the flag field? |
[top] |
• Mis-categorized: We have categories for a reason, so please flag any ad found in
the wrong category or subcategory (for example: a rabbit listed under Alarm and
Security…even if it has “Big Pointy Teeth” – or a parakeet listed under Aircraft
and Service…unless it’s big enough to ride).
• Fraud: These are ads that seem suspicious or are solely intended to scam users.
We are not fans of these ads. Incorrect phone numbers listed are often “red flags”
as are pet ads offering “free shipping.”
• Illegal, Inappropriate, or Discriminatory Content: Any Ad that contains
content that violates our Ad Policy , the state or national Law, or our Terms of
Use.
• Spam: An ad placed over and over, either in one category or within many
categories – or an ad not advertising anything specific (any non-classifieds
content).
• Unavailable: Listings that have been sold or are no longer available.
How can I report any scam emails I receive?
If you receive any suspicious, offensive, or “spammy” emails, please let us know immediately.
You can contact us at 1-888-916-5888 or sales@recycler.com
General Monotreme Knowledge
|
What is the plural spelling for platypus? |
[top] |
The Long Answer: This has been stumping people for ages, but it actually has quite a simple and, considering its dumbfounding mystery, ironic answer: There is no singular, universally accepted plural inflection for the name of this peculiar, egg-laying mammal! In the English language, scientists seem to have generally used “platypuses” or just “platypus” (like the plurals fish or deer). The colloquialism, with roots in Latin (following the lead of words like cactus or octopus), “platypi” has also been adopted into common and correct usage. Even the Greek-based “platypodes” has been recognized as acceptable, though rarely used.
The Short Answer: Who Cares?
If you have any question that is not answered in the above list, then please contact us at 1-888-916-5888 or email us at service@recycler.com