How to: Use the Classifieds

[Arachnoboards]

Welcome to our Classifieds Tutorial

The Classifieds can be reached by clicking "Classifieds" in the forum toolbar, menu, or by clicking here.

Make sure to read the Classifieds Terms and Rules which can be found by clicking here.

The Classifieds contain four regional areas:

• General - (viewable by all members)
• Asia-Pacific - (viewable by Asia-Pacific group members only)
• Canada - (viewable by Canada group members only)
• Europe - (viewable by Europe group members only)

Each regional area has two sub-categories:

• For Sale/Trade/Wanted/Free
• Invertsonals

You must be a member of one of the following user groups to post in the For Sale/Wanted/For Free categories:

• Active (user promotion)
• Old Timer (user promotion)
• Classifieds User (paid upgrade)
• Arachnosupporter (paid upgrade)
• Arachnosupporter + (paid upgrade)

Groups have the following classifieds posting abilities:

	Registered​	Active/Old Timer/Classifieds User​	Arachnosupporter​	Arachnosupporter +​
Maximum number of open ads	1 (Invertsonals only)​	2​	3​	3​
Can change ad expiration date	No​	No​	Yes​	Yes​
Maximum time before ad expires	15 Days​	15 Days​	30 Days​	60 Days​
Bump/Post as Update Delay	Unavailable​	2 Days​	1 Day​	1 Day​
Tag own ad	No​	No​	Yes​	Yes​
Lock/Unlock questions on own ad	No​	No​	No​	Yes​

Creating a Classifieds Ad

For Sale Ad Form:

1. If you have not already created one, create a review item for yourself in the appropriate review category:
   • Dealer - Instructions here
   • User - Instructions here
2. Click here or go to our classifieds and click the "post ad" button.
3. Select the appropriate Region and Sub-category for your Ad:
   • For Sale/Trade/Wanted/Free
   • Invertsonals
4. Input the title for your ad
5. Input a brief description - Optional
6. Select the appropriate ad type:
   • For Sale/Wanted/Free
     • For Sale
       • Input Price - (Do NOT input the currency symbol in this field). If you have a range of prices, put the lowest price in this field.
       • Select currency type:
         • USD
         • CAD
         • AUD
         • GBP
         • EUR
       • Set Price Range box - If your ad has a range of prices, check this box and put the highest price in the field that appears.
       • Set Sale Price box - If your item is on sale check this box and input your sale price/range of sale prices.
         • Sale prices must be less than the amounts entered in the "Input Price" field.
         • Leave the 2nd sales price input field empty or 0.00 if you don't have a price range set.
     • Free - (Proceed to #7)
     • Wanted - (Proceed to #7)
       
       
   • Invertsonals
     • For Loan - (Proceed to #7)
     • Wanted - (Proceed to #7)
7. Input Ad Expire Length (Days) - Optional
   • If nothing is input, your ad will run for the "maximum time before ad expires" value for your usergroup. (see table above)
   • If you input a number, your ad will run for that many days. The number of days cannot exceed the "maximum time before ad expires" value for your usergroup. (see table above)
8. Input your location.
9. Check locations that you ship to: - Multiple selections allowed - Optional
   • U.S.A
   • Canada
   • Europe
   • Asia-Pacific
   • Worldwide
   • Local Pickup
10. Input the URL for your website - Optional
11. Input the URL for your Arachnoboards.com Review item (Tutorial on copying your Review Item URL can be found here.)
12. Input your ad details (including your TOS/TOL).
13. Attach any files (images) you would like in your ad. - Optional
    • Unless you choose otherwise, the first image attached will be the featured image for your ad.
14. Input tags for your ad - availability based on the "Tag own ad" value for your usergroup. (see table above) - Optional
15. Read the Classifieds Terms and Rules and check the box to confirm you accept them.
16. Click Post Ad to post your ad

 

[Arachnoboards]

Ad Status

Each usergroup has an allowable "maximum number of open ads" . (See the table in the first post.)

Ads can have one of four status:

• Open - An ad that is not marked as Closed, Expired, or Sold.
• Closed- An ad that was marked Closed by the ad owner. A reason may or may not be given
• Expired- An ad that has exceeded the "maximum time before ad expires" value for your usergroup. This is based upon the ad owners usergroup or their input into the "Ad Expire Length" field (#7 above)
• Sold - A For Sale ad or Free ad that was marked as sold by the ad owner.

When viewing the Classifieds index, or a category index, viewable ads can be filtered by the viewer. This can be done by clicking the filters menu. Available filters may vary. The default view is open ads with the most recently updated/bumped ads being listed first.



Users will have the following filters to choose from:

• Featured Ads
• Has Image
• On Sale
• Ad Type
• Ad Status (Expired ads are only visible by the ad owner)
• Price
• Created by
• Last Updated

The filter menu will also allow users to choose how they would like the ads sorted.


Advanced Functions

Advanced function toolbar: (functions will change based upon available permissions and if you are viewing your own ad or someone else's ad.)

Someone else's ad:

• Contact Seller (term changes based on ad type) - Starts a conversation with the user who posted the ad.
• Ask a question - Takes you to a form where you can, publicly, ask the user a question regarding the ad.
• Watch/Unwatch - Choose whether to be notified if there are updates made to the ad, questions asked, or questions answered. (Works like watching a thread.)
• Bookmark - Creates a listing for the ad in your Arachnoboards bookmarks.

Your own ad:

• Ask a question - As the Ad Owner, you can potentially use this to post questions that you have been asked before and answer them yourself. (for example: a FAQ)
• Bump - Bumps the ad (Only visible if the "Bump/Post as Update delay" for your usergroup has been met. See the table in the first post.)
• Close/Open - Changes the Ad Status to "Closed". When closing an ad, you will have the option to enter a reason for closing the ad. If viewing a closed ad, that has not exceeded the "Maximum time before ad expires" for your usergroup, this will say "Open" and allow you to reopen your ad.
• Mark sold - Only available on For Sale and Free Ads. This is used to conclude your ad if you have sold (For sale) or given away (Free) all items listed in your ad,
• Unwatch/Watch - Unwatches the ad. (turns off notifications of any questions posted on your ad.) If you have unwatched your own ad, you can turn notifications back on by clicking "Watch". (Works like watching a thread.)
• Bookmark - Creates a listing for the ad in your Arachnoboards bookmarks.
• ...(more options) - items in this menu will vary based upon your usergroup. (See the table in the first post.)
  • Set cover image - If you have multiple image attachments in you ad, this allows you to change the "main" image.
  • Lock questions - Disables users from asking questions publicly on your ad.
  • Edit ad - Allows you to edit your ad.
  • Change ad expire length - Allows you to change the length of time your ad will run. Time cannot exceed the "Maximum time before ad expires" value for your usergroup. (See the table in the first post.)

Bump/Post as Update

"Bump" or "Post as update" both accomplish the same thing, they designate your ad as the most recently updated ad. As the default sort order for the Classifieds is "recently updated" it effectively makes your ad the first listing. (Until it is superseded by another ad through a new posting, a bump or a "Post as update" edit.)

While ads can be edited at any time, "Bump" and "Post as update" are only available when the "Bump/Post as update delay" (see the table in the first post) for your usergroup has been met. Each open ad can be bumped/posted as update independent of a users other open ads.

• Bump - Used when you would like to "bump" your ad to the top of the listings and there are no updates to make to your ad.
  • Click the "Bump" button and then click the "Bump ad" button to confirm that you want to bump your ad.
• Post as update - Used when you would like to "bump" your ad to the top of the listings and there are updates to make to your ad (quantities, prices, availability, etc.).
  • Expand the "...(more options)" menu.
  • Click "Edit ad"
  • Update your ad content
  • Check the box for "Post as update" and (optionally) input your update message.
    
  • Click "Save"

Please Note: Editing your ad does not make your ad the most "recently updated" ad. Only bumping or posting as update moves your ad to the top of the listings.

 

[Arachnoboards]

Post reserved for future updates.

 

[Arachnoboards]

Post reserved for future updates.

 

[Phobic1]

cant seem to find the function that allows me to close an ad or even update it.

 

[MrDeranged]

cant seem to find the function that allows me to close an ad or even update it.

From what I can see, you only have an expired ad listed. Currently, once an ad has expired, no further changes can be made to it and a new ad will need to be created.

 

[Phobic1]

Ahh. I keep forgetting I use another forum as well and confuse the 2 occasionally. Thank you.