How to write an ad to sell your item

We hope these tips will help you to place your ad.

• Ad Headline

  The Ad title should describe the advertised goods in just a few short words. The Ad title is what is displayed in the search result when users are search through our ads. We recommend that you do not use UPPER CASE in your text, as from our experience most people find it annoying to read.

• Description

  A good description will help make your ad appeal to potential buyers. Try to include as much information as possible about the item you are selling. We recommend that you do not use UPPER CASE in your text, as from our experience most people find it annoying to read.

• Price

  We recommend that you always include a price with your item or goods as it stops people calling you just to find out the price. Be sure to include in the description if your price is negotiable or not.

• Photos/Video

  Adding photos to your ad make it more appealing to potential buyers. From our experience, you have a better chance of selling your goods if you include a photo. Videos are also a great way to showcase your goods and can give buyers a really good idea of what you are selling. Only use photos and video of the item you are selling. More information on the advertising laws can be found by visiting http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/consumer-affairs/consumer-protection/consumer-rights/consumer_advertising

• Multiple Items

  If you have several items to sell you should advertise them individually as it makes it much easier for potential buyers to find your items.

• Sold Your Goods

  Be sure to remove your goods when they have been sold to avoid unnecessary phone calls and e-mails.

How to Pay for your Ad by Phone

It’s so easy to pay for your ad on Fetch by phone

• Pay by Phone

  When you are on Payment Options page you will see a phone number and a six digit activation code.

  Please phone the number and enter the activation code. The total cost of the call is €3* and is charged to your phone bill

  Your ad is then placed on Fetch shortly after the call

• Is it safe to pay by Phone

  Yes it is safe to pay by phone. The phone service used by Fetch us regulated by Regtel. Each call costs €3* only. There are no recurring fees and no hidden fees.

• What type of phone number is used?

  We use what’s known as a Per-Call Charged Service (starts with 1518). This call normally lasts no more than 20 seconds, but the cost is the same even if the call lasts longer.

• Can I call from any phone?

  You can call our number from any Republic of Ireland phone (including mobiles*). The fee will be charged to whatever phone you make the call from.

• What if I am unable to get through?

  Some phones are blocked from calling premium rate numbers. If you are unable to get through to our 1518 number you can try the following:

  • Call from another phone
  • Contact your phone service provider and ask them to unblock your phone from calling premium rate numbers. Click here to get a list of Phone Company Numbers.

I can’t get through to the Fetch phone number to pay for my ad?

If you cannot get through to our 1518 number to pay for your ad it may be because your phone is blocked from calling premium rate numbers. You need to contact your telephone company as they can unblock your phone straight away.

To help you, here is a list of the Customer Service phone numbers for the major providers:

Premium Rate Fees

Premium Rate Fees for calling a 1518 number, as at 1st September 2009

Land Line

Mobile

How to Place an Ad

Follow our simple 4 step process to place your ad on Fetch

Step 1 – Enter Ad Details

• Click on Place your Ad
• Enter your ad details which will include the Ad Headline and Description.
• Enter the price of your item for sale (We recommend that you include a price with your ad)
• Select the county you are located in from the drop down list.
• You must now select a category and if applicable a sub-category (This makes it easier for buyers to find your ad).
• Choose whether your ad is a For Sale Ad or Wanted Ad.
• Select if your ad is a Private ad or a trade ad (If it is a trade ad you must enter your business name and address where indicated)
• Now choose how you wish to be contacted – You can select to be contacted by either phone or e-mail or both.
• Click on next step

Step 2 – Upload Photos

• Here you can upload photos and video to your ad.
• Photos can be uploaded from your computer or by taking a picture with your phone and sending the photo to your ad by MMS.
• Please follow the instructions on this page to upload your photos and video
• Click on next step

Step 3 – Register or Login

• If you have used Fetch before, please enter your e-mail and password here
• If you are a new user, please enter your Name, E-Mail Address, Contact Phone Number and choose a password. Note that the name and phone number you enter here will appear in your ad.
• If you have used Fetch before but can’t remember your password, follow the easy steps to reset your password.
• When you have completed the above, click on proceed to move to the next step.

If you are having difficulty and need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us for assistance.

How to Move your Ad to the top of the Search Page

• You can bump your ad to the top of the search page at any time for only €3
• Simply Login to your account.
• In My Ads Management you will see all your ads.
• Click on Bump in the options column and follow the simple steps.

How to Update or Edit Ad

• You can update or edit your ad content at any stage for free.
• Login to your account and click on My Account
• Now go to My Ads Management where you will see all of your ads.
• Here you can view, edit, change or update photos and video, delete or bump your ad.
• To edit, simply click on edit in the options column. Then make the changes you want and click save changes.
• To update photos or video, click on media in the options column. Now follow the instructions to upload or delete photos and video. Photos can be uploaded from your computer or by MMS from your phone.

How to Remove an Ad

• You can remove you ad at any time.
• Login to your account and click on My Account
• Now go to My Ads Management where you will see all of your ads.
• In the options column click on Delete
• You will now be asked if you are sure you want to remove your ad
• If you are happy to remove your ad, please select the reason for removing it from the drop down menu and click Yes, remove this ad.
• Your advert will now be removed.

How to Report an Ad

• Go to Contact us
• Fill in the Contact Box outlining briefly why you are reporting the ad
• Ensure you include your e-mail address
• Click on send

How to receive alerts when ads of interest are placed

• Click on My Account
• Then click on Email & RSS Alerts
• Create a new alert by selecting your criteria that is the type of ads you want to be alerted about.
• You can create numerous alerts and you can delete an alert at any time.

How long will my ad be visible?

Any ads placed on fetch will be visible for 2 months.

A couple of days before your ad is removed we will send you a short e-mail, in case you want to renew the ad for another 2 months.

If you want you can easily remove the ad yourself at any time.

I have called the phone number to pay for my ad but I cannot see it anywhere?

Sometimes it can take a few minutes for an ad to be published on the site after payment has been received. If your ad does not appear within a reasonable amount of time, we recommend that you contact us at support@fetch.ie. We do not recommend that you call the phone number again to avoid being charged twice.

Your phone company will charge you every time you call our number.

My ad is not displayed under the correct category?

When you are placing your ad, you need to ensure that you select the correct category and subsequent sub-categories from the drop down lists. This will ensure that potential buyers can easily find your ad.

However if you have already placed you ad and it is still not appearing in the correct category, you can simply log in to your account and click on “My Ads Management”. From here you will see all of your ads that are active. Then simply click on “Edit” which will allow you to change the category that your ad will appear in.

Why do I need to include a phone number in my ad?

Valid phone numbers must be included in all ads on fetch as they add a lot of trust and security for both buyers and sellers of second hand items.

Why Report an Ad?

Please “Report an Ad” if you think:

• The ad is not suitable for fetch
• The ad may not be legitimate
• It is using false advertising

I can’t get through to the phone number to contact a seller

If you are experiencing difficulties or problems with a phone number displayed in an ad, it is usually due to one of the following reasons:

• Cross Border – If the phone number is from the opposite side of the border that is in Ireland or Northern Ireland, you need to ensure that you add the country prefix to the phone number. See our guide: “How to make cross border telephone calls”
• Error or Mistake- The advertiser or seller might have input the wrong phone number by mistake when they were placing their ad. You could try to contact the seller by email and if this does not work, you could “report the ad to us” and we will contact the seller advising them to update their phone number.
• Scam – It may be a scammer who won’t display their real phone number. We would ask you to be extra careful and vigilant if phone number does not work. We strongly recommend that you read our “Guide on Safety”. If you do suspect that the ad is a scam, please “report it to us” and we will investigate and remove it.
• It could also simply be down to the seller being unable to answer their phone. They may be at work or have their phone on silent. This is highly unusual but does happen on occasion. We recommend that you try to contact them by e-mail or maybe try again later on.

Fetch Tips for Buying and Selling

Tips for Buying Second hand Goods

• Don’t pay in advance for any goods
• Be cautious if the goods are cheaper than normal. As the old saying goes “If it sounds to good to be true it usually is”
• Be cautious if the seller is pushing you to buy quickly.
• We recommend that you use cash or bank drafts when paying for goods.
• Never pay for goods using money transfer services such as Western Union.

Tips for Buying Dogs or Cats

• Be sure that you will be able to provide food and healthcare for your new pet
• Dogs and Cats often make great companions so be sure you can provide companionship for you new pet dog or cat.
• It is always advisable to see the mother when you are buying a puppy or kitten.
• Ensure that the puppy or kitten breeders facilities are clean and the animals look healthy and alert.
• You should ensure that you new puppy or kitten has had the appropriate injections or vaccinations and we recommend that you have your new puppy or kitten checked out by a vet as soon as possible.

Tips for Buying a Horse

• Be sure that you will be able to provide food and health care for you new pony or horse.
• Ensure that the horse or pony’s breeding facilities are clean and that the horses or pony’s look health and alert.
• Ensure that your horse or pony has a valid passport.
• We recommend that you check out the following website for more information about buying a horse or pony. www.ispca.ie

Tips for Buying a Car

• Check the background of the car you are buying with mywheels.ie or motorcheck.ie
• Has the car passed the NCT and when is the next NCT due.
• Check with the Hire Purchase Register (phone 01-2600905) to make sure that the vehicle is not under a Hire Purchase Agreement.
• It is always advisable if possible to have mechanic inspect a second hand car prior to purchase.
• You need to ensure that the correct paperwork is completed to transfer ownership of the vehicle. Information on this can be obtained from Citizens Information.

Buying & Selling Safely

How to Buy safely

Here are some tips on how to buy safely

• Always deal with people locally who are willing to meet in person.
• Never pay for goods in advance
• Never send cash in the post
• Never give anyone your personal bank details over the internet
• Be extra cautious if the goods are cheaper than normal or if the seller is putting you under pressure to buy quickly. As the old saying goes, “if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is”
• Always be extra vigilant when buying branded goods and tickets and be sure that they are originals.
• Always get the seller to sign a proof of purchase for you.
• Ask the seller for their home number as well as their mobile, which will allow you contact them should you have a problem.
• Use cash or bank drafts when paying for goods
• Never pay for goods by western union or other similar money transfer services

How to Sell Safely

Here are some tips on how to sell safely

• Do not part with your goods until you have received payment in full
• Always insist on cash or bank drafts as payment.
• Never give anyone your personal bank details over the internet
• We do not recommend accepting personal or business cheques as payment for goods.
• Always check with the Bank that issued the bank draft that the draft is genuine before handing over your goods. You can phone the bank or go into one of their branches.
• Never ever accept foreign bank drafts or foreign cheques as payment

How to avoid Scams

• Nearly all transaction on Fetch are 100% genuine however as in all walks of life there are some chancers and bad individuals out there who will try various scams. We ask all users of Fetch to let us know of any potential scam and we will keep users informed of any potential scam we become aware of. We have technology employed on our site to eliminate scammers, however there may always be some that slip through the net.
• The easiest way to avoid a scam is by using common sense and here are some tips to help you avoid the scammers.
• Only deal with people that will meet you in person.
• Never trust anyone that guarantees you a sale as there is no such thing.
• Never pay for goods by western union or other similar money transfer services
• Never buy and sell to a foreign country

Remember the old saying ““if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is”