Dave's List
OldHippie.com's Free Classified Ads
On September 26, 2010, OldHippie.com installed a brand new Free Classified Ads system for it's members to use. We encourage you to take advantage of this free benefit — and tell your friends of it. The more people who use it — the better it will be for both buyers and sellers.
About:
A benefit of membership in the forums of Old Hippie.com is the free use of the classified ads. In the Free Classified Ad web site you will find categories to buy and sell just about anything you can think of — from vehicles and items for the home; to office furniture and machinery; to collectibles and real estate.
With each ad, member's can upload up to 9 photos that can be up to 800 pixels wide. Members are encouraged to upload photos with their listings, as items listed with photos are rotated onto showcases for Recent Listings, Most Popular Listings, and Random Listings. Those items without photos do not make it onto those show cases.
How To Use
Member's registered to post in the forums are ready to post ads without any further action. If they're logged onto the forums — then they're also logged in at the Free Classified Ads — as both applications share the same registration database and log on cookies. If you are not yet registered to post — doing so it quick, easy, and free. Click here to register for the forums and free classified ads.
In the navigation bar of most any page on the site — you will find a link labeled Free Classified Ads. Clicking that link will take you to the site. Navigate to the category you wish to place an ad, and then click the link in the NavBar labeled Place An Ad. Placing the ad is just a matter of filling in the boxes.
Be sure to also list how to contact you (phone number and/or email address), and the location of the item. The more information/photos you give about the item, location and contact information — the better your chances of selling the item. If you wish to be notified when someone comments (asking questions) about your item — you will need to check the box in your ad to be updated, and you need to have your forum User CP set to receive email from the administrator (the default unless you physically change it).
Membership Benefits
The number of free ads you are allowed is based on your level of membership — but generous in all cases. Registered Users receive 5 free ads, Moderators receive ten, Premium members also get 10, and Founding members receive 50. Additionally, premium and founding members can upgrade their ads with Bold and/or italics, and Founding can additionally have their ads highlighted. These are $5 options for other members. There are instructions on how to upgrade your membership for $20 (Lifetime) on the forums.
The seller can set the term of the ad to run from 1 day to 90 days. Ads go away after the expiration, freeing it up for the member to reuse for placing another ad.
Safety:
Many people have sold millions of dollars of items on the previous Free Classified Ads site here and the one on MoparStyle — without being ripped off. However that said, whenever someone wants to buy or sell something, there will always be scam dogs wanting to separate a fool from his money no matter where or how he advertises the item for sale.
One scam is called the "Nigerian" Scam — where the buyer (often in another Country) offers to send you much more money that the cost of the item — so that you can pay for the transporting and send him the change — which is often 100s or 1000s. The scam works because you are sending them real change for their bogus money. Use caution with dealing with anyone outside the country — as you have no real recourse.
Another Scam aimed at the seller is counterfeit Money Orders or Cashier's Checks. I will take a Bank Cashier's check — if I can call the bank and verify with them that they did indeed issue that check. That requires that you are presented with the Cashier's Check during banking hours — and this is why many of these Cashier Check Scams occur in the evenings and weekends.
If you receive a personal check — you should not release the item for 7 banking days after depositing the check.
One form of payment that is as good as gold is Interbank Wire Transfer through the Federal Banking system. Once the money is in your account from a IBWT — it is yours. It is the only form of payment (short of cash) that I trust for larger transactions.
The best method to protect yourself, regardless of if you are the buyer or seller, is to ask all of your questions and assume nothing. Trust your intuition. If it doesn't sound right, doesn't feel right, or the other party just isn't coming across as being honest with his answers — take extra precautions in the transaction.
If you are not big, armed, and have a lot of people at your residence like me, and someone is coming to look at the item you have for sale (like a vehicle) — you may want to meet in a more public place and with a friend.
None of this is meant to scare you, as 99% of transactions are free of danger or fraud. However, that is usually because proper precautions are being taken.
Disclaimer:
Old Hippie.com only provides the vehicle for buyers and seller to be introduced to each other. It accepts no responsibility for any of the items listed, or the people who are part of the transaction. Buyers and sellers are urged to use common sense practices when dealing with any stranger.
If you have a Question, Comment or Problem Using The Free Classified Site:
If you have any further questions, would like to suggest a category, or are having a problem using the Free Classified site — then please post it in this thread. In that way someone will quickly be able to help you, and if the thread doesn't already have a solution from someone previously having a similar problem — it will be help for someone in the future with that problem. Moderators will monitor the thread — so check back for your answer or solution.
Now go grab that digital camera, take some photos of stuff that you will never use taking up space, and turn those items into cash.