Plusto is the world’s first business-2-business trading platform that facilitates actual transactions and provides users with the tools that they need to make informed business decisions about trading internationally. Registering on Plusto is free, and there are no basic listing fees. Plusto earns revenue through your own success on our trading platform, and charges a percentage of the final sale fee. For a breakdown of Plusto’s fees click here. Please read through this user guide to understand how to list your products and services on Plusto. Plusto has various selling formats and facilities for sellers, and reading this User Guide will help you to assess which selling formats are best for your company.
Plusto Limited 27 Fortfield Park New Row South, Dublin 8 Republic of Ireland
CONTENTS
Page 1. General
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2. Launch Offer
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3. Registering as a Seller
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4. Different ways to Sell on Plusto
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5. Overview of Plusto’s Fees
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6. Preparing to list an Item
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7. Creating a listing on Plusto
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8. Additional Notes
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9. Getting Help and Contacting Plusto
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CHAPTER 1: GENERAL Protection of your Information and data Your information is stored on our servers located in the United States. We treat data as an asset that must be protected and use lots of tools (encryption, passwords, physical security, etc.) to protect your personal information against unauthorized access and disclosure. However, as you probably know, third parties may unlawfully intercept or access transmissions or private communications, and other users may abuse or misuse your personal information that they collect from the site. Therefore, although we work very hard to protect your privacy, we do not promise, and you should not expect, that your personal information or private communications will always remain private. Plusto uses numerous tools to protect your data against unauthorized access. We use encryption, passwords and even physical security when storing and transmitting data. However, third parties may still unlawfully access transmissions and intercept data transfer or private communications, and they may misuse or abuse the data collected. We have implemented security policies, rules and technical measures to protect the data that we have under our control from unauthorized access, improper use or disclosure, unauthorized modification or unlawful destruction or accidental loss. All our employees and data processors, which have access to, and are associated with the processing of data, are obliged to respect the confidentiality of our user’s data. We ensure that your data will not be disclosed to State institutions and authorities except if required by law or other regulation. Your password is the key to your account. Use unique numbers, letters and special characters, and do not disclose your Plusto username or password to anyone. If you do share your password or your personal information with others, remember that you are responsible for all actions taken in the name of your account. If you lose control of your password, you may lose substantial control over your data and may be subject to legally binding actions taken on your behalf. Therefore, if your password has been compromised for any reason, you should immediately notify Plusto and change your password. Backing Up your Data All our servers are housed in Atlanta, USA, offering complete redundancy in power, HVAC, fire suppression, network connectivity, and security. The data centre facility sits atop multiple power grids driven by TXU electric, with PowerWare UPS battery backup power and dual diesel generators onsite. Plusto backs up the data on our servers continuously, and it is therefore not necessary for Users to back up the data that is provided to Plusto.
Internet Connection Plusto is a web-based platform and Users need to be connected to the internet to access its tools and facilities. We recommend using one of the following Web Browsers: • • • •
Internet Explorer Version 6.0 or higher Apple Safari Version 3.2.2 or higher Mozilla FireFox Version 3.0.9 or higher Google Chrome Version 1.0 or higher
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CHAPTER 2: LAUNCH OFFER During the launch phase of Plusto and for a limited time only, Plusto is offering to assist sellers in getting started on our platform by loading their products and services for them. Sellers can send the items that they wish to be listed to GlobuTrade, the sourcing division of Plusto, and GlobuTrade will load your stock free of charge. The final sale fee of 3.5% will be added to your prices to cover GlobuTrade’s costs. This fee will only become payable by the seller when a sale becomes final on Plusto, and the proceeds of the sale have been paid and cleared by the purchaser. For more information, or to send your products lists to GlobuTrade, please provide the following information in a spreadsheet or document and send it to: mail@plusto.com • • • • • • • • •
Prices per unit if applicable (no prices are required for Classified Ads (trade leads) Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ) INCOTERMS (FOB etc) Accepted Payment Methods (TT, LC, PayPal etc) Description with specifications of products Sample Availability, Sample Prices, Sample Package size and Sample Gross Weight Packaging: Description, Size and weight of packaging Return policy, Refunds terms etc Images of the products or a link to a website where the images can be obtained
GlobuTrade will upload a sample of your products on your behalf, and then provide you with a link which will display all of your uploaded products for you. Once the format and content of these sample listings is approved, GlobuTrade will upload the rest of your items. When GlobuTrade loads your items on the seller’s behalf, all listing fees are paid by GlobuTrade and the seller does not pay any fees such as listing upgrade fees, classified ad (trade lead) fees or store fees.
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CHAPTER 3: REGISTERING AS A SELLER Registering as a Seller on Plusto is FREE, and your information is stored on our secure servers in Atlanta, USA. To REGISTER on Plusto: 1. Click the REGISTER tab situated at the top of all Plusto pages 2. Select you Username and Password Your Username and password will be required every time you sign in to Plusto. 3. Enter your Email Address Enter an email address that you are able to check immediately. To complete the registration process, Plusto will send you an email to the address provided with a verification code that is required to complete the registration process. If you forget your password, Plusto will also use this email address to send you a reminder of what your password is. This is the email address that will be used to notify you when you have won an auction, where invoices and other documents will be sent to, and where we send you notification of products and services available and needed relevant to your business. 4. Enter your Personal Information This step requires you to provide us with your name, address, date of birth and contact number. Persons younger than 18, are not permitted to be Plusto members. 5. Enter your Billing Information If your billing information is the same as your personal information, you can simply copy all of the fields across to the Billing section. Alternatively add your billing details to your account in this area. 6. Read the Terms and Privacy Policy You must accept the terms of the Plusto user agreement and Privacy Policy to continue with registration and become a Plusto member. Read more about our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. 7. Select your Company Type By providing Plusto with your company type, we are able to customise your use of Plusto and only send you information about the types of products and services that you use, as well as Requests for Quotes (RFQs) for the products and services that you supply. 8. Enter the Validation Codes Plusto uses this process to protect our site from abuse and stop automated registrations. Using reCaptcha also assists in digitising and preserving books that were written before the computer age. 9. Check your Email Plusto will send you a registration email immediately. Follow the instructions in the email to complete the registration process. 10. Request to become a seller on Plusto You will either need to place your credit or debit card details on file during the registration process, or be verified manually to enable Plusto to verify your identity. If you wish to be verified manually, you will be required to submit certain personal and business information to us before being able to list products and services on Plusto. If you provide your credit or debit card information it will be used for identity verification purposes only. Plusto will never charge your credit or debit card without your explicit consent.
Please Note: If you selected to be verified manually during the registration process, your seller account may take up to 24 hours to be activated. Plusto performs certain checks on the information that you have provided to verify your company's existence.
Plusto will send you an email once your account has been verified and your seller status has been approved.
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Important: • • •
On Plusto all registration is as a business, however in the terms of the User Agreement, the individual who registers on behalf of the company is liable jointly with the company for any transactions entered into and for any fees incurred. Your card will be used for identity verification only and will not be charged. When your registration information changes, there is no need to register a new Plusto account. Simply go to My Plusto to change your contact information. You can change your account details and billing details for your account.
Registering multiple Plusto accounts You can register multiple accounts with Plusto under the following circumstances: • •
You are involved in more than one type of business activity and wish to handle the business activities separately Your business has different departments, and you wish to handle each department separately
Each account with Plusto needs to have its own unique Username and email address. The two accounts are treated as completely separate accounts by Plusto. Important: Using separate accounts for the purposes of confusing other users regarding your identity is against Plusto’s policy.
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CHAPTER 4: DIFFERENT WAYS TO SELL ON PLUSTO There are different ways to sell your products and services on Plusto, and understanding the difference between our selling formats is critical to you getting the most benefit from being a Plusto user. The two most common forms of selling on Plusto are: • •
Classified Ads Seller Trade Leads
Other ways to sell on Plusto include the following: • • • •
Auction Style Listings (with Reserve Price and Buy it Now options) Fixed Price Format Dutch Auction Style Listings Responding to Requests for Quotes
Please click on the anchors above to go to the section which provides more information on each Listing Format.
Classified Ad Format Classified Ads are most often used when the seller wishes to generate multiple leads. This format does not facilitate any online transacting, and PLUSFeedback is not available for any transactions generated through classified ads. Classified Ad Fees When you list an item, service, or property on Plusto using Classified Ad, you're charged an Insertion Fee according to the following table. No Final Sale Fee is payable for a Classified Listing. This type of listing can be compared to an advert that you would place in a print publication offering your goods and services. Classified Listings are available for longer periods of time than other listings. Fees for Classified Ads are independent of the value of the item being sold and are currently free. Duration of Classified Ad
Fee
3-day listing
FREE
7-day listing
FREE
30-day listing
FREE
60-day listing
FREE
90-day listing
FREE
365-day listing
FREE
All Listing Upgrade fees (Home Page Featured, Category Featured, Gallery Listings, Bold and Highlighted Listings) are also applicable to Classified Listings. You may list two images free of charge, and additional images are charged for at €0.20 per picture. Features of Classified Ads • • • • •
No bidding takes place, so we suggest you list your asking price You can list a phone number in a classified ad to enable interested buyers to contact you Interested buyers fill out a contact form, and their information is sent to you Classified Ad durations are 3 days (for Industry Auctions), 7 days, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days and 365 days The same listing upgrade features are available for Classified Ad as they are for other selling formats
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Privacy Policy The seller must treat the buyer's contact information in full compliance with Plusto's Privacy Policy. This policy prohibits sharing the buyer's information with third parties as well as use of the buyer's information for any purpose other than communicating with the buyer about the item, unless expressly permitted to do so by the buyer. Failure to comply with this policy can result in the seller's suspension or expulsion from the Plusto community.
Seller Trade Leads Seller Trade Leads are similar to Classified Ads, but have different features in terms of duration and pricing options. Seller Trade Leads are similar to the listing formats that are available on traditional business trading platforms like Alibaba.com. This is the most popular selling format for sellers that have Plusto Websites. Seller Trade Leads never expire. There are 3 pricing options when listing under the Seller Trade Lead format. Because Seller Trade Leads do not expire, these prices are continuously updated by the seller rather creating new listings: Fixed Price: A fixed price per item of the product being sold Price Range: Stipulate a Minimum (Price from) and Maximum Price (Price to) for the product Pricing Increments: Create a pricing increment structure based on the number of items that a purchaser is willing to buy Fees for Seller Trade Leads are independent of the value of the item being sold and are currently free. All Listing Upgrade fees (Home Page Featured, Category Featured, Gallery Listings, Bold and Highlighted Listings) are also applicable to Classified Listings. You may list two images free of charge, and additional images are charged for at €0.20 per picture. Features of Seller Trade Leads • • • • •
Your company name appears next to the item being sold on catalogue pages Your company name will link to your company profile page, and a list of your other products Interested buyers fill out a contact form, and their information is sent to you Seller Trade Leads never expire, but can be edited or ended early by the seller Pricing Options give you the ability to display your products with a fixed price, a price range or price incerments
Fixed Price Format This is the most common format of listing products on Plusto because it is FREE. When you list items using a fixed price format, you are able to sell the items immediately at a set price, and without having to wait for an auction to end. • • • • • •
Features of Fixed Price Listings Your listing attracts buyers who want to purchase items instantly at a set price You can offer one or more identical items for sale at a fixed price. Buyers can decide how many items they want to purchase Fixed Price items display in Plusto's normal browse and search results pages. The Buy it Now icon displays beside the item title as fixed price items can be bought immediately The same listing upgrade features are available for Fixed Price Listings as they are for other selling formats There is no bidding involved
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Fixed Price vs. Buy it Now Fixed price listings are also Buy it Now listings, however an auction listing can also have a Buy it Now option. In an auction style listing: Buyers will have the option to buy your item immediately or place a bid on your item The Buy It Now option will only be available when there are no bids on the item or until the reserve price is met. Once there’s a bid or the reserve price is met, the option disappears You can only sell one item per listing. There is no Buy it Now option for a Dutch Auction (Multiple Items)
Auction Listing Format Auction format listings can either offer a single item, or multiple items (Dutch Auctions) in a typical bidding environment. An auction style listing works as follows: Buyers visit the listing and bid on the item during the online auction's duration When the auction-style listing ends, the high bidder or bidders buy the item from the seller for the high bid. Note: When you use an auction style listing, you will be given many options during the listing process. These include: • • •
Giving buyers an opportunity to buy at a fixed price (Buy It Now) Selling multiple identical items (Dutch Auction) Setting a hidden minimum-selling price (Reserve Price)
Auction style listings usually work best when: • • •
There is a high international demand for your goods or services The items are scarce, rare or carry some form of historical or artistic value You have surplus stock of a certain product and are willing to sell it to the highest bidder
Dutch Auction Format There are three options to consider when you are selling multiple items on Plusto. • • •
Dutch Auction – Selling Multiple items in an auction Fixed Price Listing – Selling multiple items at a fixed price Classified Ad – Generate multiple leads for your items
How a Dutch Auction works Dutch Auctions are more complicated than single item auctions. It is critical that you understand how a Dutch Auction works before you consider listing an item, or bidding for an item listed in this format. The winning bid in a Dutch Auction is based on the highest bid per item. Example: Suppose you have 50 batches of 100 T-Shirts, all the same, that you'd like to sell for at least $150 per batch each. You would list them as a quantity of 50, and a starting price of $150. Bidders specify both their offered price per batch, and the number of batches they want.
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Winning bids are selected in order of bid price per item – that is, a bid for 20 batches at $180 per unit is ranked above a bid for 40 batches at $160 per unit Important: If two bids have the same price per item, the earlier bid is given priority. Winning bidders will pay a price equal to the lowest winning bid So in the example if: • •
Bidder A bid for 20 batches at $180 each Bidder B bid for 40 batches at $160 each
The lowest successful bid was $160, so the outcome of the listing is: • •
Bidder A wins 20 batches at $160 each (Because he was the highest bidder) Bidder B wins 30 batches at $160 each
Important: Winning bidders have the right to refuse partial quantities. This means that if you win some, but not all, of the quantity you bid for, you don't have to buy any of the items. In the above example, Bidder B bid on 40 batches, but won only 30 of them. Bidder B can refuse to complete the purchase, because Bidder B did not win the quantity they bid on. Bids are displayed when you click on the link reading, "Bid History". The bid amount shown reflects the bidder’s highest price that they are willing to pay, and not necessarily the price that they will pay. Winning bidders will pay a price equal to the lowest winning bid. Bidders can bid for different batches of items at different prices. So a single bidder can bid for 10 items at $180, and for 15 items at $160. All bids are treated separately, so in the above example, the bidder may be liable to purchase 25 items.
Responding to Requests for Quotes and Submitting Quotes to Sell Search Requests for Quotes to find buyers who want exactly what your company provides. RFQ is also a great place to find out about selling opportunities in the international marketplace. You can only use this feature if you have been verified as a seller on Plusto. To start selling using Requests for Quotes: 1. Find RFQ listings by using Advanced Search or through the Output Products and Services links on Company Type pages. You can also use the Filter by Listing Type feature on all search and browse catalogue pages. 2. If you want to submit a quote to a buyer, enter your bid (quote) amount, and your quote description. 3. Check the Upload Attachments box if you intend uploading attachments to your quotation. The file formats that can be uploaded are doc, pdf, rtf, jpg, and bmp, and the maximum size of a file is 200KB. 4. Upload your quotation details or attachments associated with your quotation. 5. Confirm your Quotation.
Note: When submitting quotes, Sellers need to remember that they will be paying Final Sale Fees on the items quoted on and they need to calculate this into their quotation. The seller will either accept or reject your quotation when the RFQ listing expires. You will be notified whether or not your quote has been accepted by email. If your quotation is accepted you enter into a legally binding agreement with the person who listed the RFQ listing (the purchaser). Important: Final Sale Fees are paid for by the seller of the products or services. Listing Upgrade fees for RFQs are paid for by the company that listed the RFQ (buyer).
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Chapter 5: OVERVIEW OF PLUSTO’S FEES Basic listing on Plusto is FREE! Certain types of listings (Classified Ads) are charged an insertion fee. When an item sells on Plusto, the seller is charged a Final Value Fee. The total cost of selling an item is the Insertion Fee (where applicable) plus the Final Value Fee. All fees are quoted and charged in Euros. Insertion Fees Basic listing on Plusto is FREE! Classified Ads Fees Seller Trade Leads are currently free. Classified Ads Fees are dependent on the duration of the listing: Duration of Classified Ad
Fee
3-day listing
FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE
7-day listing 30-day listing 60-day listing 90-day listing 365-day listing
Listing Upgrade Fees Listing Upgrade Fees are paid to make your listings stick out from the rest. Type of Listing Upgrade
Fee
Home Page Featured Item(s) will be randomly selected to be displayed on our main page. Category Featured Item(s) will be featured above other items in category listings. Gallery Listing Item(s) will be featured in our gallery sections. Highlighted Listing A colored highlight will make your listing stand out. Bold Listing The item(s) title will be displayed with a bold font.
€2.00
€0.80
Free €0.20
€0.10
Final Sale Fees You are charged a Final Sale Fee if your item is sold, ends with a winning bid, or is purchased. This fee applies whether or not you complete the sale with the buyer. Final Sale Fees do not apply to Classified Listings Final Sale Fees are calculated using tiers, as per the following table: Final Sale Price (in EUR)
Fee Percentage
€0 - €100 000.00
1.50
€100 000.01 - €200 000.00
1.25
€200 000.01 - €500 000.00
1.00
€500 000.01 - €1 000 000.00
0.75
€1 000 000.01 and more
0.50
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The Final Value Fee for a Multiple Item Auction (Dutch Auction) is determined by taking the Final Value Fee of the lowest successful bid and multiplying it by the number of items sold. The Final Value Fee for a Multiple Item Fixed Price listing is calculated per item sold, based on the final sale price of the item.
CHAPTER 6: PREPARING TO LIST AN ITEM Before listing an item on Plusto, make sure that you have all the information required to allow potential purchasers to make an informed decision about bidding on or buying your products or services. Inspect the Item Ensure that the item you are selling is carefully inspected to allow you to describe it properly. Check for any flaws, wear-andtear or damage to the item before listing it on Plusto. Do not represent the condition of the item, and ensure that you are describing it accurately. Research the Item’s value on Plusto Find similar items that have recently been sold on Plusto to assess your item’s value, which listing format is most appropriate and what price you should start an auction listing at. Researching the demand for your item in the Plusto marketplace can help you decide how best you can sell your item on Plusto. Take Pictures of your Item Take good quality pictures of your item to allow buyers to see exactly what it is that is on offer. Always include enough pictures to allow the buyer to see the condition of the item and allow them to make an informed decision about bidding on or buying the item. Write a Title and Description for the item The title and description for your item are the two most important parts of your advertisement. Writing a good and appropriate title and description can attract more suitable buyers to your listing. You can write the description using word processing software before publishing it to Plusto. It is a good idea to proof-read the description before posting your listing. Provide Sample Information Buyers will want to request a sample of most products before buying wholesale. Provide the details of the samples you offer together with the price of the sample, and the sample package details to allow them to get an instant quote for having the sample shipped to them by FedEx International Priority within 1-3 business days, or by using their own service. Provide Packaging and Shipping Information By providing shipping and packaging information, buyers can get instant worldwide quotes for having the items delivered to them by sea (LCL, FCL and Bulk), air, road or rail. CargoKey puts buyers and sellers in control with an online logistics application to control all of their shipping needs and to estimate the total landed cost of products from all over the world. You can list an item by clicking the BUY or SELL link on the top of all Plusto pages.
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CHAPTER 7: CREATING A LISTING ON PLUSTO When you create a listing on Plusto you need to provide certain required information such as a title, description, price, and payment method. Optional fields are also provided to allow you to submit additional information which will help potential buyers make a more informed decision about buying your products. Our selling process guides you through a step-by-step process which makes listing your items easy. See How to Sell on Plusto for more information if you are selling on Plusto for the first time. To create a listing start the selling process by clicking BUY or SELL on the top of all Plusto pages. You will need to be signed-in to Plusto and be registered as a seller to list an item. If you are not listed as a seller, you will be prompted to provide credit or debit card details. The Selling Process Step 1 Select a category - Selecting the appropriate category for your products or services is critical to ensuring that you get optimal exposure on Plusto. You can either search for a category by entering words about your items and selecting the suitable category from the search results, or you can browse through the categories provided. If you have a Plusto Website and have created a Category Hierarchy for your own website, then you will need to select the Plusto category as well as the category that the item must be listed in on your own website. Step 2 Select a listing format – Understanding the different types of auction and fixed price formats and their pricing options helps you become an efficient seller. You can also select to list a Request for Quote (RFQ) if you are wanting to source products and services from thousands of international suppliers. Preferred Currency – Select which currency you want to list your item in. Plusto offers various international currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, INR, AUD, CAD, CNY, INR and ZAR. Item Location - Select which country, state/province (if applicable) and closest city your item is in. The system will also save all of your previously used locations, to enable you to select the location from a drop-down list. The location will be used to get instant worldwide shipping quotes on CargoKey, as well as allow buyers to filter their results by location. Step 3 Select a price – This includes deciding on a starting price and pricing options such as reserve price and Buy It Now to help you get the price you want for your item. If you are listing using a Seller Trade Lead format, select your pricing option, and include the pricing details Provide Additional Information regarding Shipping, Payment, Returns and Acceptable Payments – Enter all the relevant information regarding shipping (weights, volume, and number of containers), sample availability, return policy and accepted payment methods. The more details you include on the Sell Your Item form, you will receive fewer questions from buyers and the end of your listing will be easier. Write a good title – Buyers usually find listings based on their titles, so be sure to write an appropriate one for your listing. Write a detailed description – Creating descriptions that are clear, complete, and descriptive will help you sell your item. Make sure that you provide all the information necessary for potential buyers to make an informed decision about buying your item. Step 4 Select a start date and listing duration – Leave the date field blank to start your item as soon as you post it. Plusto works on GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Please convert your start time to GMT. Auctions and Fixed price listings can last from 1 to 30 days, and classified ads can last for 3, 10, 30, 60, 90 or 365 days. Most Industry auctions last 3 days, but you can specify any duration for your listing.
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Auto Re-List – You can choose this option if you want your listing to be automatically re-listed up to 3 times if it is not successful. When an item is re-listed you will be charged for any listing upgrade fees that you selected for the initial listing. Hit Counter Style – Select which hit counter you want to appear on your listings which will record how many times your listing has been viewed. Select listing upgrades – Listing upgrades such as home page featured, category featured, bold, highlighted and gallery listings can help you promote your item. Upload pictures – Including sufficient, good quality photos helps sell your item. Adding pictures to your listing is easy. Plusto allows you to upload 2 images per listing for Free. Additional images are charged at €0.20 per image. Review and Submit Listing Review all the details of your listings as well as the fees that are being incurred for the listing before posting the item. If there are any errors in the listing you can click the ‘Back’ button to edit any details that you need to. Once you post the listing, only certain elements of the listing can be edited, so ensure that the information that you have provided in the listing is accurate before you click the ‘Post Item’ button. Note: If you start to create a new listing in the Sell Your Item form but aren’t able to finish it, the information will be lost. When you return to Plusto, you will need to start your listing again.
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CHAPTER 8: ADDITIONAL NOTES Selecting a Category for your Listing Selecting the appropriate category for your products or services is critical to ensuring that you get optimal exposure on Plusto. Before you list your item, search for items that are the same or similar to yours and note what categories they are listed in. Also look at the number of bids and the page-view counter (if shown) and select categories with a high bid and page-view count. You can also visit Industry and Company type pages to see which categories promoted on each page type. When listing your item You can start the selling process by clicking the BUY or SELL link on the top of all Plusto pages. Selecting the appropriate category for your listing is your responsibility. In most circumstances you are able to change the category that your item is listed in before the listing has ended. You can either search for a category by entering words about your items and selecting the suitable category from the search results, or you can browse through the categories below. If you don't find a category you like in the list of displayed categories, refine your search. Try using additional or more descriptive keywords. If there are sub-categories under your selected search result, click on the one that is most appropriate to your items. Important: All items must be listed within appropriate categories. Plusto may move your listing if it's listed in a category that is unrelated to the item you are selling. For more information see our policy on Categorization. If you have a Plusto Website and have created a Category Hierarchy for your own website, then you will need to select the Plusto category as well as the category that the item must be listed in on your own website.
Selecting your Listing Currency When you list your products or services on Plusto you need to select a listing currency from Plusto's list of approved currencies. Our approved currencies are: • • • • • • • • • •
US Dollars (USD) Australian Dollars (AUD) British Pounds (GBP) Canadian Dollars (CAD) Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY or RMB) Euro (EUR) Indian Rupee (INR) Japanese Yen (JPY) South African Rand (ZAR) Swiss Franc (CHF)
Your item will be listed in the selected currency all all bids by buyers are submitted in that currency. Plusto provides a currency calculation facility only to provide buyers with an estimate of what the price is in thier selected currency. When the listing is concluded, payment needs to be made in the same currency as the listing. Buyers need to be mindful of possible exchange rate fluctuations between the time of bidding, and the ending time of an auction style listing.
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Entering your Item Location By entering the closest location to where the products or services are located, you receive extra visibility at no additional cost. Your item will be shown in buyers' search results when they sort or filter by location. Your item is in a global and local marketplace at the same time! To add or change your location to your item listing, simply enter it on the Sell Your Item form. The item location is also used in Plusto's shipping calculator (CargoKey) to provide instant global shipping quotes by sea (LCL, FCL and Bulk), air, road and rail. Location is selected by selecting country, state or province and closest city. If your city or town is not displayed, please select the closest town or city to the actual location. The system will also save all of your previously used locations, to enable you to select the location from a drop-down list.
Writing a good Title & Description The title and description for your item are two most important parts of your advertisement. Writing a good and appropriate title and description can attract more suitable buyers to your listing. It is important that you follow Plusto’s policies relating to Writing Titles.
Titles Write a good title by following these tips: • • • • •
Use descriptive keywords that clearly define what you are selling Include item specific information – Example: if selling denim textile – include colour, weave and composition If appropriate include the item’s brand name Do not use punctuation marks or asterisks State what the item is, even if it repeats the category name
It is important that you follow Plusto’s policies relating to Writing Titles. • • •
Titles may not contain web addresses, email addresses or phone numbers. Titles may not include profane or obscene language. Titles may not include inappropriate brand names. Only the brand name of the company that manufactured or produced the item may be listed. For additional information see our policy on Keyword Spamming.
In addition, do not use words such as ‘banned’, ‘illegal’ or ‘prohibited’ which bring into question the legality of an item by either governmental or Plusto standards. Listings using keyword spamming, having misleading titles or contravene any of our policies will be ended immediately, and listing upgrade fees will be forfeited. We also suggest that you don’t use too many acronyms, and that you avoid writing your title in ALL CAPS.
Descriptions Make sure that your description includes as much information as is necessary to enable potential buyers to make an informed decision about buying your item. The more information you provide in the description, the less you will have to respond to unnecessary questions from multiple potential buyers. If you get common questions from numerous buyers, you can edit your description to include answers to the questions you have received.
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Include the following information in your description: • • • • • • • • •
What material is it made of? When was it made? What company/artist/designer/author made it? What condition is it in? Is the item new, used, or still under warranty? Be sure to mention any flaws or repairs. What are its dimensions? Does it have any notable features or markings? Does it have a special background or history? How the item might be used.
Do not include any of the following in your description • •
• • •
Anything that is not true. Keywords that are unrelated to your item in order to try to lure buyers searching for these words. (For example, do not say, "If you like Moet & Chandon, you'll like these wines.") This is known as "keyword spamming" and it is against Plusto's listing policies. Prohibited and restricted content – for more information see Plusto's Prohibited and Restricted Items Policy. Item descriptions copied word-for-word from other sources (i.e. e-commerce Web sites, other Plusto listings, manufacturer Web sites, etc.). Trademarked logos unless you have permission to use them.
Listing Durations and Times For auction listings, fixed price listings and requests for quotes, you can choose a listing duration of between 1 and 30 days. You are also able to schedule your listing so that it coincides with the relevant Industry Auction. You can create your listings at your convenience and control the time they start and end. You are not permitted to change the duration of your listing once it has been posted. Promote your listing with timing • •
30 day Listing– Select the longest listing available. Scheduling Your Listing – Make your listing coincide with Industry Specific auctions. Plusto drives millions of buyers in specific industries to the site over 3 day Industry Auctions. Start your listing at a specific time is not only convenient for you, but it may also expose your listing to more potential buyers.
Market considerations Time dependencies If your item is related to an Industry Auction, you should make sure your listing is open during the duration of that auction Market demand Certain buyers and buyers of certain products watch items for a while and think about them before placing a bid or using Buy It Now, so a longer duration may be to your advantage. Selling volume If your items tend to sell quickly, and you sell high volumes of a particular product, consider a 1-day listing. Plusto limits the number of identical items that you can list simultaneously to 15. So a 1-day listing format lets you offer up to 105 listings for identical items per week, compared to only 30 per week with the 3-day listing format.
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Start and End times for Listings Start Time In Step 4 of listing your products or services select a start date and time. Leave this field blank to start your item as soon as you post it. Plusto works on GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Please convert your start time to GMT. End Time Listings end in whole-day increments from the listing's start time. For example, if you submit your auction listing at 11:14 GMT Sunday, and select a listing duration of 3 days, your item will end at exactly 11:14 GMT on Wednesday. Fixed Price listings and Auctions with a Buy it Now option end as soon as the item has been bought. Seller Trade Leads do not expire, but can be ended by the seller.
Time Zone Considerations Listing times on Plusto correspond to GMT. For example, if it is 17h00 p.m. Central African Time (in Cape Town), it is 15h00 GMT (in London). The official Plusto time (GMT) is displayed on the bottom of all Plusto pages. You can also select to have your local time shown underneath the official time by selecting your time zone from the drop-down list. Daylight Saving Time (DST) Daylight Saving Time (DST) involves moving clocks forward one hour in Spring and moving clocks back one hour in the Autumn. When you list items on Plusto during these time changes, it may appear that you lose or gain an hour in on your listing.
Listing Upgrades and Promoting your Items You can make your listings stick out on Plusto by selecting various Listing Upgrades during the selling process. Some listing upgrades highlight your listing and others ensure that your listing is featured on a prominent part of the page. • • • • •
Listing upgrade fees are dependent on the type of upgrade you choose. For more information see Listing Upgrade Fees. Listing upgrade fees are flat fees, so you should consider the price of the fees in relation to the value of your item. Combinations of Listing Upgrades can be used maximize the exposure of your item. Listing upgrade fees are charged to your account when you post the listing and are not refundable. Listing Upgrades are available for all listing formats on Plusto.
Promote your Listings in Prominent Areas • •
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Home Page Featured The most exposure available on Plusto. Your listing is displayed randomly on Plusto’s home page. Category Featured Your item is listed in the Featured Items section of its category list and also displays in the item list at the top of the page in the search results list. Gallery Featured This option ensures that an image of your item is displayed on browse and search result catalogue pages, and is also displayed when a user selects the Gallery tab on any catalogue page.
Promote your Listings by Highlighting them • •
Highlight Listing A colour highlight will make your listing stand out. Bold Listing The item(s) title will be displayed with a bold font.
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Promote your listing with Timing By promoting your listing using timing, you ensure that it will get the maximum exposure possible. Being smart with the timing of your listings doesn’t cost anything, but can be the most important aspect of being successful when selling on Plusto. Long Listings Select a 30 day listing for Auctions, Fixed Price Listings and Requests for Quotes to ensure that your listing is exposed on Plusto for the longest time possible. For Classified Ads you can select a 365 day listing, ensuring that your item is exposed on Plusto for a full year. If you use the Seller trade Lead option, your listing will never expire, but you can end it early. Scheduling Your Listing Make your listing coincide with Industry Specific auctions. Plusto drives suitable buyers in specific industries to the site over a 3 day Industry Auctions. Starting your listing at a specific time is not only convenient for you, but it may also expose your listing to more relevant buyers.
Taking Good Pictures for Plusto Taking good pictures for your listings is critical to how successful you will be in the Plusto marketplace. Ensure that your pictures are representative of what you are selling, and that you provide enough imagery to allow a potential purchaser to make an informed decision about buying your items. Hints when taking Pictures • •
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Avoid background clutter that can distract buyers or confuse them regarding what you are selling. Where possible we suggest you use a white background, or etch the images taken so that the item appears on a white background. Photograph items at close range and at an angle. Photos should be big enough to show details and fill the whole frame when appropriate. Multiple photos enable buyers to see as much detail as possible. For example, controls, materials, packaging, and accessories. You can upload 2 images free of charge per listing. Additional images are charged for. If an item has any wear and tear or flaws, try to document it with a photograph, so that the buyer can assess the condition of the item. Consider using lighting to light the item thoroughly. This is particularly applicable to small items, and items with textures and details. Set the camera to medium resolution. This provides good photo quality, but also for a quick upload time on Plusto. This quality is also good for photo editing if required.
Try to Avoid • •
Avoid using a flash where possible, particularly when your item has a reflective surface. If your automatic flash goes off, try to introduce more natural light to the area where the picture is being taken.
Important: Never copy pictures from another Plusto seller’s listings without their permission.
Edit your Photos Once you have taken your pictures, and downloaded or scanned them to your computer, use picture editing software to improve, crop or resize the image to get them ready for uploading. The ideal size for images on Plusto is 500 pixels wide or tall (whichever is the greatest), with a resolution of 72dpi.
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Save Your Photo Save your edited picture as a JPEG (.jpg) or GIF (.gif) file. Here's how (in many programs): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Click the File menu Select Save As ... When the Save As dialog box appears, name your file Use the Save as type pull-down menu, select JPEG (.jpg) or GIF (.gif) Click Save or OK
When editing, minimize the number of intermediate "saves" in JPEG format because successive saves reduce the quality.
GETTING HELP AND CONTACTING PLUSTO There are various ways to get help on Plusto. Ensuring that you get help when you need it and find the answers that you need is important to making your Plusto experience an enjoyable one. Try Online Help Plusto has an extensive help menu which should allow you to find just about everything about anything that you want to know about our global marketplace. We want your trading with Plusto to be a great experience time and time again. We’ll do everything we can to provide you with all the assistance we can when you are using Plusto.
Contact Us for Assistance Please click the CONTACT link at the bottom of all Plusto pages if you still can’t find what you are looking for. This will allow you to send an email request to Plusto Customer Support. We will endeavor to respond to your question immediately, but based on your enquiry it can take up to 48 hours to receive a response from Customer Support. As you work your way through the contact forms, the relevant help and policy items will be displayed to hopefully give you an answer to your question. If you still need to contact Plusto via email, click on the appropriate reason and complete all the information on the contact form. Plusto does not have a general help phone number, but by working through the Help pages and contacting the right department at Plusto through the Contact Us forms, your questions will always be answered quickly and efficiently.
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