HOW DO I GET STARTED? (REGISTERING FOR AN ACCOUNT ON SHOP-SPREE)

Welcome to the Shop-spree community!

We have been waiting for you and are so glad that you want to join us! Since Shop-spree is an e-commerce site, all buyers and sellers must be over the age of 18 (or have parental permission and supervision). You also need to familiarise yourself with our rules in the Terms of Use and the DOs & DON'Ts of Shop-spree.

Before you get started, you need to register an account for yourself. It's free, easy and quick! Just complete the following five steps:

Later, if you choose to become a seller on Shop-spree, you can convert your account to seller status.

Step 1: Click on “Register”

Click on the "Register" link (in the gray font) next to the Shop-spree logo at the top of the page.

Step 2: Fill out the registration form

Follow the prompts to fill out and submit the registration form.

Now that you've entered all this information, you can submit the registration form!

Step 3: Check your email

Now that you’ve submitted your registration form, wait for Shop-spree to send you an email. If you don't get it within an hour, check to make sure that it hasn't gotten caught in your spam filter or junk mail folder. If you add registration@shop-spree.com to your email contacts, your email service won’t mistake email from this address for spam or junk mail in future.

Step 4: Click on the confirmation link

The confirmation email from help@shop-spree.com will contain a link. Click on this to confirm your account.

Step 5: Sign in to Shop-spree

When you've successfully confirmed your account, Shop-spree will send you another email to let you know your account is ready. To sign in, go to: http://www.shop-spree.com and click on the 'Sign In' link in the gray header and enter your username and password.

Congratulations! You are now a registered Shop-spree user.

If you later wish to open a shop on Shop-spree, there is another step in the registration process that you will need to complete at that stage.

If you are having difficulty registering, you can contact Shop-spree's Support Team by email at support@shop-spree.com. We'll be happy to help you.

FOR BUYERS

I WANT TO BE A BUYER

How do I get started on Shop-spree as a buyer?

Welcome! Before you get started, you need to register an account for yourself. It's free, easy and quick! For more detailed instructions, read our FAQ on how to register.

If you want to be a seller, we also require that you have a valid credit card on file. Learn more about how to register as a seller.

Since Shop-spree is an e-commerce site, all buyers and sellers must be over the age of 18 (or have parental permission and supervision). You also need to familiarise yourself with our rules in the Terms of Use and the DOs & DON'Ts of Shop-spree. Once you're registered, please consult our Help resources for more info.

NOW THAT I AM A BUYER

How do I access my profile page?

To access your profile page, click on the icon of the little house next to the Spree logo at the top of any Shop-spree page.

How do I access my account?

To access your account, click on "Your Account" in the black header at the top of any Shop-spree page. Select "My Account" from the drop-down menu that appears.

What is a cart and how do I access my cart?

Your cart is just like the shopping cart you use when you go to the mall and will store all the items you want to buy until you are rdone shopping. You can access your Cart at any time by clicking on the bag icon that will always be visible on the right-hand side of your screen.

What is a favourite/heart?

A favourite is an item that you like but are not ready to buy yet and would like to save for purchase at a later time. By clicking on the heart icon when it appears next to a listing, you can add it to your Favourites. You can access your Favourites at any time by clicking on the heart icon next to the Spree logo on any Shop-spree page.

Why am I required to register before making a purchase?

When you register, you create a username for yourself.

Shop-spree's feedback system relies on being able to identify both parties involved in every transaction. Your username is the unique identifier that makes this possible.

It's easy and free to register.

What is PayPal and how can I use it when purchasing items on Shop-spree?

PayPal is an online payment processing company widely used on the Internet to facilitate sales transactions, including credit card payments. If you choose to pay with a PayPal account or a credit card via PayPal, then PayPal will securely process your payment for the seller. The seller will never see your credit card number or other financial information.

For more information and assistance with PayPal, check out PayPal's Help Center and learn more about paying by credit card without a PayPal account.

Shop-spree is not affiliated with or subsidised by PayPal.

What is PayFast and how can I use it when purchasing items on Shop-spree?

PayFast is an online payment processing company widely used on the Internet to facilitate sales transactions, including credit card payments. If you choose to pay with a credit card or InstantEFT via PayFast, then PayFast will securely process your payment for the seller. The seller will never see your credit card number or other financial information.

For more information and assistance with PayFast, visit PayFast Website.

Shop-spree is not affiliated with or subsidised by PayFast.

What currency is used on Shop-spree? How do I handle currency conversions as a shopper?

You can choose to specify either South African Rand (ZAR) or United States Dollars (USD).

Shoppers on Shop-spree can view listing prices and shipping costs in a preferred currency, different from the listing currency. Shop-spree provides an approximate conversion based on exchange rate data from PayPal.

As a shopper, you can select your currency using the link next to the price on each listing page or the link in the site footer. If you're signed in, you can also set your preference at: Your Account > Settings> Preferences. You can change your currency preference any time and you don't need to be signed in to your account to view prices in other currencies.

Transactions on Shop-spree occur in USD (since PayPal does not accept ZAR as a currency).  Therefore, the Shop-spree invoice record will reflect the approximate conversion at the time of purchase for your reference. If you pay via PayPal (or credit card via PayPal), PayPal will provide automatic currency conversion. For all other purchase payment methods (for example, money order or personal cheque), the buyer and seller should discuss the currency of the payment before payment is submitted.

Although Shop-spree makes every effort to obtain the most accurate currency rates, due to currency fluctuations, Shop-spree cannot guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, reliability or completeness of the rates. This feature is for informational purposes only.

How do I purchase items on Shop-spree?

With millions of amazing handmade items, vintage goods and crafting supplies available on Shop-spree, we're sure you'll find something you'll love.

If you're new to Shop-spree, please take a moment to create an account. It's free and easy to register. Once you have a shop-spree account, you can purchase items, add items to your Favourites, send messages to other members and participate in our online community features.

The following guide will walk you through the simple steps to Checkout, so you can buy that special item:

Step 1: Add an Item to Your Cart

When you find an item you want to buy, click on the “Add to Cart” button on the item listing page. You can access your Cart at any time by clicking on the bag icon that will always be visible on the right-hand side of your screen. You can continue shopping and add multiple items from different Shop-spree shops to your Cart.

If you are not yet ready to make a purchase, consider adding the item to your Favourites. This is a way to bookmark an item so you can find it later.

Before you add an item to your cart, you can direct any questions you may have to the shop keeper. To do this, click on the green "Contact the shop owner" link at the bottom of the right-hand-side panel on the listing's page. This will open a new Shop-spree Conversation addressed to the shop.

To go to your cart, click on "My Bag" (with the bag icon next to it) towards the top right-hand side of your screen. Items in your Cart are grouped by shop. Orders are placed individually, by shop.

In your Cart, you can add several details to your order before proceeding with payment:

Note: You can add an optional message to the shopkeeper in the notes section. Be sure to include your preferences here if the listing offers options like size, colour or other customisation.

SHIP TO: Choose the country to which you would like the item(s) shipped from the drop-down menu to the right above your order. If the items are not available for shipping to your country of choice, Shop-spree will tell you. Once you have selected a destination, the Shipping and Order Total will update with the proper costs.

MOVE TO FAVOURITES: You can move an item from your Cart to your Favourites list to save for purchasing at a later time. The heart icon towards the top right-hand corner of the listing page (and next to the Spree logo on any page) will allow you to move all the items from a shop to your Favourites.

REMOVE: If you change your mind, you can remove an item from your Cart. The “X” icon in the action column of the order form will remove the item.

Once all these details are correct, you can proceed by clicking on the red “Proceed to Checkout” arrow at the bottom of each order.

Step 3: Review your Order

Review the details of the order. If this is your first order, you will now be prompted to provide a shipping address. If the a shipping address is already listed, but it is not the one you want to use, change it by clicking on the "Ship to new address” link below the address listed.

If the shop collects sales tax on orders shipped to your address, you will see the sales tax cost in the order summary.

HOW YOU’LL PAY: Choose your payment method from the options offered by that particular shop.

Please note that, if you purchase items from multiple shops, each seller must be paid individually.During Checkout, select the payment method for the shop from which you are making a purchase - you can choose between instantEFT, Visa and PayPal. These options will be visible at the bottom right-hand side of the page. How you submit payment will depend on the payment method you have chosen.

If you navigate away from the Checkout page after placing your order, you can access all the transaction details by visiting your “Invoice” page for this transaction. Just click on "Your Account" in the black header at the top of the page. Select "My Account" from the drop-down menu that appears. Once on your account's page, click on "My Account" on the right-hand side of the screen. Select "My Purchases" from the drop-down menu that appears. Click on the “Invoice” link next to the transaction concerned in the table at the bottom of the page.

SHOP COUPON CODE: If the shop owner is offering a discount, the space below the order on the right is where you can enter a code to redeem your coupon.

Step 4: Submit your Order

To complete the process, click on the red “Confirm Order” arrow below the order form. You will see a confirmation that your order is complete.

Congratulations! You've just made a purchase on Shop-spree. Shop-spree will send an email confirming this to both you and the shop in question.

You can view your order information at any time when you're signed in to your Shop-spree account: Just click on "Your Account" in the black header at the top of the page. Select "My Account" from the drop-down menu that appears. Once on your account's page, click on "My Account" on the right-hand side of the screen. Select "My Purchases" from the drop-down menu that appears. Click on the “Invoice” link next to the transaction concerned in the table at the bottom of the page.

Some sellers may send an additional email to let your know that your order has been shipped. This will include tracking information, if available, and a message from the seller. If you need to communicate with the seller, you can contact them via Shop-spree Conversations or email.

Once you have received your item, you may leave feedback for the seller.

FOR SELLERS

I WANT TO BE A SELLER

What should I know about copyright and protecting my work?

It is important that you know and understand your rights with regard to copyright protection.

Shop-spree prohibits the selling of counterfeit goods. Please do not sell them. A seller may be held liable for selling counterfeit products if the seller knows or has reason to believe that those products are counterfeit. If the seller fails to inquire about the authenticity of the products, for fear of what such inquiry may yield, this may constitute knowledge. Once knowledge has been established, a reseller of counterfeit products may be held liable for counterfeiting.

Who can be a seller?

Anyone who is at least 18 years of age (or authorised and supervised by a parent or caretaker) can be a seller on Shop-spree. Check out the Terms of Use of Shop-spree for more specific membership requirements.

How do I become a seller on Shop-spree?

First, you'll need to register for a Shop-spree account.

Learn more about registering for an account.

The username you enter during registration represents you as a person and cannot be changed, so choose carefully.

Once you've registered for an account, you'll need to upgrade your account to seller status. To do this, log in and click on the “Sell” link on the left in the black strip at the very top of any page on the site and follow the on-screen directions. You will need a valid credit card (or a debit card with a credit card logo) to become a seller on Shop-spree. You will also need to enter personal information and billing information. Billing requires that you keep a valid credit card on file.

Please be sure to read the Terms of Use and review Shop-spree's policies about Membership and Shops and listings before you register to become a seller on Shop-spree.

What items can I sell on Shop-spree?

Shop-spree provides a marketplace for craftspeople, artists and collectors to sell their handmade creations, vintage goods and crafting supplies. Most shops belong to individuals, but small groups may also run Shop-spree shops as collectives.

Here is an overview of the three types of items that may be listed on Shop-spree:

• Handmade by you. Handmade items must be created by the seller (or a member of the collective) operating the Shop-spree shop. Production assistance for certain intermediary tasks in some crafts may be acceptable. Learn more about Shop-spree's policies for handmade items.

• Crafting supplies. The Supplies Category is for both handmade and non-handmade ("commercial") crafting supplies. A crafting supply is an item that is primarily used to make the kind of handmade items that you might find for sale on Shop-spree. Learn more about Shop-spree's policies for crafting supplies.


• Vintage goods.The Vintage Category is for items that are at least 20 years old. Items in this category are not required to be handmade.

What items can't I sell on Shop-spree?

Shop-spree's marketplace is limited to handmade items, vintage goods and crafting supplies. All items listed in the Handmade Categories must be made by the Shop-spree seller; we do not allow reselling of handmade goods. Mass-produced items — though they may technically be made by hand in some cases — are not in the spirit of Shop-spree and may not be listed in the Handmade Categories. We do, however, allow some non-handmade items in the Vintage and Supplies Categories; these items must comply with additional policies for their Categories.

Please read the Terms & Conditions of Shop-spree for detailed policies regarding what may be listed for sale. Some items are inappropriate for Shop-spree's marketplace, even though they may otherwise meet Shop-spree’s selling criteria; check the DOs & DON'Ts of Shop-spree for a list of other prohibited items. Listings for items not in compliance with our policies may be removed by Shop-spree; the seller is still obligated to pay the listing fee for that item listing.

What’s it going to cost me? Is there a fee to get started (opening a shop)?

Registering for your shop is free. There's no set-up fee and no monthly fee for simply having a shop. You are billed only for the services you use.

Learn more about Shop-spree's fees.

How am I billed for fees associated with selling?

When you sign up as a seller, we require that you keep a valid credit card on file. At the end of each month, we will email you an invoice detailing all the charges. You can also pay your fees at any time after a bill has been issued by going to: Your Shop > Your Bill. You have the option to pay your bill via PayPal or with the credit card you have on file with Shop-spree.

NOW THAT I AM A SELLER

How do I create a name for my shop?

After you've registered as a seller on Shop-spree, you will be able to select a shop name that is different from your username. Choose carefully as you will only ever have one opportunity to change the shop name.

How do I add a banner to my shop?

Each shop on Shop-spree has the option to display a banner graphic at the top of the shop.

What is an item listing?

An item listing is a page on Shop-spree that represents an item for sale from a Shop-spree seller.

Each item listing has several elements that a seller controls:

• Up to five product images


• Item title


• Item description


• Tags


• Materials


• Shipping Information


• Payment methods


• Quantity in stock


• Price

To list an item for sale on Shop-spree, there is a listing fee. When a shopper purchases the listing, the seller also pays Shop-spree a transaction fee based on the price (not including shipping).

Learn more about Shop-spree's fees.

How do I list an item?

You must be registered as a seller to list items for sale on Shop-spree.

To begin, sign in to your Shop-spree account and go to: Your Shop > Add New Item. Follow the steps to complete your item listing.

How can I list a made-to-order, custom item in my shop?

Sellers may create listings for customisable, made-to-order items in the handmade Categories. There are some specific rules that must be followed for listing custom orders.

Here are some pointers for sellers to keep in mind when listing custom items:

When does an item listing expire?

An item listing expires three months after the date it was first listed or last renewed.

To check your item listings' expiration dates, go to: Your Shop > Currently For Sale. The “Expires” column shows you the date when each listing is due to expire. You can sort your listings by their expiration date by clicking on the “Expires” column header.

To renew an expired listing, go to: Your Shop > Expired Listings. Click on the checkbox to the left of the listing you want to renew, and then click on the “Renew” button at the top or bottom of the page.

How do I renew an expired listing?

Expired listings do not show up in your public shop. You can renew an expired listing to put it back in your public shop for another three months. To do this, go to: Your Shop > Expired Listings. Check the box next to the item you want to renew, then scroll to the top/bottom of the page and click on the “Renew” button. This will give your listing four more active months. You will be charged the standard listing fee per quantity on your Shop-spree bill for renewing.

Is there a fee for editing or renewing an item listing?

You will be charged the standard listing fee per quantity on your Shop-spree bill for renewing.

There is no fee to edit an item listing. You may edit an item listing (for example: revise the description, change the photos, add tags) as many times as you like for free. However, if you increase the quantity in stock in a listing, then you will be charged a listing fee accordingly.

How do I feature items in my shop?

Each Shop-spree shop can feature up to four item listings at a time at the top of their shop's home page, just below the “Featured” space. This doesn't affect the listings that appear on the Shop-spree homepage.

To select item listings to be featured in your shop, go to: Your Shop > Currently For Sale and click on the stars next to each item listing you want to feature. More than four item listings can be selected to be featured, but only the four top-ranked featured listings will appear at one time. When a featured item listing sells, it will be replaced with the next item listing on the list. If no other item listings are selected to be featured, the space will be blank and fewer item listings will show as featured on your shop home page.

What are shop sections?

Shop sections are a handy way to organise your item listings to help shoppers browse through your different items.

You can create up to 10 custom sections. Section titles are limited in length to 24 alpha-numeric characters (letters and numbers only; no symbols). Learn more about creating sections.

There is one default section in every shop, named “All Items”. Every item listing in your shop will always be inside this section, even after you create additional sections. This section cannot be renamed or deleted. If you ever decide to remove a section you've made, it won't delete any of the item listings inside it; they'll still be in “All Items”.

Empty sections with no listings will not appear on your public shop page.

How do I create shop sections and add items to my sections?

Sections are a useful way to organise item listings in your shop for shoppers. Your sections are displayed as links in the left sidebar of your shop. You can use sections to group together item listings in many ways, for example: by product lines, by types of items (like categories or departments for your shop), by sizes of items. You may have up to 10 custom shop sections, as well as the default “All Items” section that is available in every shop.

To add or manage your Sections, go to: Your Shop > Info & Appearance > Sections.

To add a new section, click on “create new section”, type in the name of a new section, and then click on “Save”. A section's name is limited to a maximum of 24 characters.

To edit your sections' names, you can click on the pencil link next to a particular section.

You can remove a section by clicking on the trash can icon. Removing a section does not deactivate the listings within that section; those listings will simply no longer be in a section.

To put your items into Sections, choose the “All Items” section on this page. Click on the checkbox next to the listing(s) you want in a specific section, then select the section name from the drop-down menu and click on “Save”. You can also move or remove listings from a section this way. Sections that do not have any item listings will not appear on your public shop page. You can only place a listing in one section.

You can change the order in which sections appear in your shop by dragging and dropping the move icon for the section.

You can also add an individual listing to a section when creating or editing the listing. There is a drop-down menu for your sections just below item description.

I WANT TO PAY MY SHOP BILL

Is there a minimum amount I must owe Shop-spree before I can pay my bill?

There is no minimum amount you must owe Shop-spree before you can pay your bill. You have the option to pay your bill via PayPal or with the credit card you have on file with Shop-spree.

How do I pay my bill?

If you are a seller who wants to pay your Shop-spree fees, follow the instructions below:

• Go to: Your Shop > Your Bill and click on the green button that says “Make a Payment Now” then follow the on-screen instructions. You have the option to pay your bill via PayPal or with the credit card you have on file with Shop-spree.


• To pay via EFT, please contact our support for bank details


• To pay with PayPal, select the PayPal option and click on the button that says “Submit Payment”. You will be sent to PayPal and prompted to log in to your PayPal account. Log in, review your payment and click on “Pay Now”. You will then be redirected back to Shop-spree for the conclusion of the transaction. If you pay via PayPal eCheck, your payment will be held as "Pending" until the payment clears, and your bill balance will not change until your payment is cleared.

I WANT TO COLLECT PAYMENTS

What happens after I sell an item?

When you sell an item, you are sent a sales notification email containing all the info pertinent to the sale (item, buyer, payment method, etc.). This notification is sent to the email address on file in: Your Shop >Settings. You may want to add suport@shop-spree.com to your email address book to make sure your sales notifications won't get caught in your spam filter.

The item's quantity is automatically reduced by the number that was sold, and the transaction information will show up in:ÂYour Shop > Sold Orders.

Once you've confirmed that payment has been received, you can ship the item to your buyer. If the buyer paid via PayPal, the funds will be in your PayPal account. Money orders and cheques will be shipped to the address you provide, you should wait for the money order/cheque to clear before shipping. If the buyer selects 'other' as their payment method you'll need to get in touch with them to work out the details of their payment.

The invoice can be marked as shipped and you can send a notification to your buyers to let them know. You'll have the option to include tracking information if available. Read more about notifying your buyers of shipment.

Finally, leave feedback for your buyer in:Your Account > Feedback > Items Awaiting Feedback.

How and when do I get paid by the buyer?

The buyer in the transaction will select a payment method from your approved list of payment options. Learn more about setting up your payment options.

Most buyers will pay right away, especially if paying via PayPal.

If the buyer is sending payment by mail (such as a cheque or money order), they should contact you to make arrangements and notify you as to when payment will be sent.

In some countries, the option to use bank transfer may be available. After the buyer sends the transfer, it may take 2-3 days before the funds appear in your bank account.

If you don't receive payment or hear from the buyer within a reasonable amount of time, you should politely contact them with a reminder.

We also recommend that you put information about payments on your Shop Policies page. You may want to consider stating a policy regarding payment deadlines and accepted payment methods.

How do I open a PayPal account?

PayPal is a service that securely facilitates online payments. Buyers can use a credit card or PayPal account with PayPal.com to submit payment for Shop-spree purchases without sharing financial information. It is necessary to have a PayPal account in order to accept it as a payment method in your Shop-spree shop.

To get started with PayPal as a Shop-spree seller, you will need to go to: http://www.paypal.com/za and register. Sellers are encouraged to sign up for a Premier or Business account, and not a Personal account for two reasons: personal accounts are subject to receiving limits every month, and personal accounts cannot accept payments from buyers that are funded by a credit card. There are only slight differences between Premiere and Business PayPal accounts.

When you have created your PayPal account, be sure to modify your payment methods on Shop-spree to accept PayPal.

How does PayPal work on Shop-spree?

PayPal is a commonly accepted method of payment with Shop-spree sellers. Here is a brief outline of how to use PayPal to pay for a purchase on Shop-spree.

• During Checkout, the buyer selects PayPal as the payment method. The buyer is directed to PayPal to complete the payment process. The buyer can either sign in to their PayPal account or may be able to use a credit card without having to register for a PayPal account.


• After submitting payment through PayPal, the buyer is directed back to a confirmation page on Shop-spree. Shop-spree and PayPal will send the buyer and seller an email receipt about the order.


• The seller will see money deposited into their PayPal account. The payment may need to be "confirmed" on the seller's end.