FAQ
Please email support@schoolstrader.com if you need assistance (or call 01580 819085).
If you have a complaint of any kind (eg. about an ad or an advertiser) or a suggestion, please email us at office@schoolstrader.com
2. Holiday Homes - can't upload photo
3. Holiday Homes - can't select area
4. System keeps throwing me off
8. School and University groups
13. Can I register under 2 schools?
14. How can I make my ad work better?
16. Register as a Friend - site open to all
19. How do I find ads from my area or region only?
20. Young users
21. Status of users
22. Star Rating System
Q. You have sent me a new password and it won't work.
A. You must carefully copy it and paste it into the signing in box - don't try and hand type it in. Once you have signed in successfully, go to YOUR DETAILS and select a more memorable password. More on passwords below.
2. HOLIDAY HOMES - CAN'T UPLOAD PHOTO
Q. I can't upload the photo - goes white/produces odd text or error message.
A. This is probably because the photo you are using is too big. Please either shrink it or use a smaller file size photo.
3. HOLIDAY HOMES - CAN'T SELECT AREA
Q. I can't select the area.
A. Try selecting Holiday Homes in the first box then move your mouse away to some white space and click. This will make the system give you a list of the areas in that box for you to select. Then place ad as normal.
4. SYSTEM KEEPS THROWING ME OFF
Q. I have registered and the system throws me out. When I put in my details it keeps returning me to the generic welcome page.
Q. I have registered...signed in...found a category...clicked on an ad and it says you need to sign in to view the ad, so I sign in again and the same message comes up. What am I doing wrong?
A. These problems are probably to do with your browser settings (AOL, Internet Explorer). Sometimes these settings make it difficult to get onto some websites (and they also sometimes change for no apparent reason). We recommend that you download the Firefox browser. It takes a minute to do this and could solve the problem. It is very easy to use:
Click here: www.mozilla.org
It will then download. Once downloaded, run the file and the setup program will start. You can go for all the default options during the install. Once done, click on the Firefox item (should be on the desktop), or Start -> Programs -> Mozilla -> Firefox. Then use it like Internet Explorer or AOL. Put in www.schoolstrader.com and return to the site.
Q. I cannot upload a photo with my ad.
A. Perhaps the file size is too large. Try shrinking it to 150kb and then upload again - it's easy with Picture Manager or a similar programme. If the photo size is small but will not load please check it is a JPEG. If still a problem, send to support@schoolstrader.com and we will check it for you.
Q. How do I place an Ad with photos using my iPad?
Q. You have not sent me a password.
A. If you have requested one, we have. Please check your junk mail.
Q. I have forgotten my password.
A. Click on the "Forgotten password?" link on the left of the site where you sign in and follow the instructions.
Q. I would like to change my password.
A. Use the Your Details function on the site left.
Q. My new password won't work.
A. Copy and paste it carefully into the box. Don't try and hand type it. If it still won't work, please email us at support@schoolstrader.com and we will sort it for you.
7. WHERE ARE THE ITEMS FROM? WHICH SCHOOLS OR UNIVERSITIES?
Q. How do I know where the items advertised are from? Which schools or areas?
A. Items in blue are "local" and have been placed by people in your local area (eg Kent). Items in purple have been placed by people in your "region" (eg South East). Items in green are "national" and have been placed by people from across the British Isles. We show the area and region on each ad, and the type of community that the advertiser has registered under (eg Primary or University). Local items tend to be things like prams, bikes, toys, books. Regional items tend to be things like pets, cars, boats and furniture. National items tend to be more expensive cars, holiday homes, property and small postable items. It is up to users to decide whether to place an ad locally, regionally or nationally. If you see an ad that should not be a national ad, please click the Report Ad button and we will then contact the advertiser/remove it.
Q. Yes, but if I see something I like the look of, how do I find out where the advertiser is exactly?
A. Send them a quick email and ask.
8. SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY GROUPS
Q. Which schools or universities are in my local area?
A. Use the "Schools/Unis" section (tab at bottom of site) to search for your school community type or university community - when you select your nation, region and area it will show you in the drop down all the other similar communities in that area.
Q. Can I just advertise to my local area?
A. Yes. When you use Place Ads you can select either your area, your region or our national network. You can also opt to advertise only to specific communities (eg only Universities or only Primary and Secondary communities).
Q. How do I contact my agent?
A. Email office@schoolstrader.com and tell us your area and we will pass your email to your local agent.
Q. How do I become a local agent? What do they do?
A. Local agents liaise with local schools and universities in their area, and sell local advertising. Please call 01580819085 for more details.
Q. Can anyone advertise under this section?
A. No. Business and service entries are only made by Schoolstrader or its agents. The annual listing fee is currently £200 plus vat for a local listing, £300 plus vat for a regional listing and £400 plus vat for a national listing. Business advertisers also may be offered a free small banner ad on the site, subject to availability. We also have a Local Business Ads option (text and one image, site left side) for local advertisers. Call 01580 819085 for more.
Q. I keep getting "page not found" error messages.
A. Try FIREFOX - see 4. above.
13. CAN I REGISTER UNDER TWO OR MORE SCHOOLS?
Q. I have children at schools in two different groups but can only seem to register under one school community. Can you help?
A. Yes. You can register under the second school community using a different/second email address. If you only have one email address it is easy to create another - please contact your email provider for details of how to create a new email address.
Q. How can I make my ad work better?
A. Include a photo - research tells us that people much prefer to look at ads with photos. You can place up to three with each ad. It is easy to upload, so have a go. Also, why not refresh your ad regularly? Change the text a bit and maybe adjust the price if you have not had much interest. And every time you save your ad it will move to the top of the list (ads are in date order).
Q. Should I send my item in the post to the buyer before receiving the money from the buyer (and vice versa)?
A. This is a tricky one. The best answer is to use common sense. The more valuable the item, the more care you perhaps may need to take. If you are concerned, perhaps you have a friend in the buyer's area who could meet the buyer (or seller) and help with the transaction?
16. REGISTER AS A FRIEND - SITE OPEN TO ALL
Q. May I use the site, even if I don't have children at a school or university?
A. Yes. The site is aimed at parents and staff, alumni, family and friends of school and university communities, and students aged 15 or over. The site is open to all. People unconnected with a school or uni community may register on Schoolstrader as a "Friend" of that community, but their ads on the site (and their emails to advertisers responding to ads) will appear in a shade of orange to indicate that they are not directly linked to that community.
Q. I can see more ads on the site before I sign in, than after I sign in. Why?
Q. When I looked under the "Boats" section of Find Ads, without signing into the site, I saw an ad that I was interested in - but after I registered and signed in, I cannot find it anymore - why is that?
A. When you look at the site before registering or signing in you see an "example" of the site site (they are real ads). When you register and sign in, you then see your local area ads (which will include ads from your area and region and any ads placed nationally across the Schoolstrader network). Sometimes this means that you will see an ad for say a Speedboat before signing in, but not after you sign in, as the Speedboat is only advertised in one area of the UK (not yours) and is not advertised nationally.
Q. How do I do this?
A. Go to Your Details (site top left) and enter a new email address.
19. HOW DO I FIND ADS JUST FROM MY LOCAL AREA OR MY REGION?
Q. Can I see ads from my area or region only?
A. Yes - click the filter buttons on the top of the list of ads.
20. YOUNG USERS
Q. Can young people use the site?
A. Yes, anyone aged 15 or over can register and use the site. Young users aged 15 to 18 should take particular care when advertising items for sale that they have their parents' permission where appropriate, and that their parents are aware that they are using the site and may buy/sell items. They should also be very careful if they arrange to meet a buyer/seller/person through the site and make sure that their parents are aware and join any meeting.
21. STATUS OF USERS
Q. How can you be sure that someone registering as say a parent or teacher under a school community is really a parent or teacher at that school?
A. We cannot. You must take appropriate precautions and check with the individual direct if you are concerned. If you find that someone has registered incorrectly please let us know. Please refer to our terms and privacy statements.
22. STAR RATING SYSTEM
Q. How does this work?
A. All advertisers start with 5 stars. Stars are removed if Schoolstrader receives negative feedback about a transaction. Please email us at office@schoolstrader.com to comment on a transaction (either negatively or positively) with brief details or if you would like to discuss star ratings. Each advert shows the Star Rating of the advertiser, but this is for information only and neither Schoolstrader nor any school or university or any other member of the relevant school or university community will accept liability for any problems a buyer may encounter with any goods, services or advertiser. In our Terms we make it clear that we reserve the right, at our absolute discretion, to adjust the number of stars shown on any advert at any time without notice.