What is PlayTrade?
PlayTrade is the new way to make money selling your DVDs, CDs, Books, Games and more to the millions of customers who shop at Play.com. As a PlayTrade seller, your products will appear for sale on the Play.com web site, giving you the benefits that only the UK's largest entertainment online retailer can offer. We do all the advertising and merchandising, credit card processing and first-line customer care. All you need to do is decide on your price and send the products to the customers promptly.
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How does PlayTrade work?
How does PlayTrade work?
Whether you have one or one million things to sell, listing them for sale at Play.com couldn't be simpler. Our step-by-step guidelines will ensure that your products appear on the site within a matter of minutes, and the next time a customer comes to buy that item, they are given the option to buy it from you. We then process their order on your behalf and let you know where to send the product. Once you have sent it out, we pass the proceeds on to you.
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What is my PlayFunds account?
Your PlayFunds account is where we deposit your cash when you make a sale on PlayTrade. When you register as a PlayTrader we automatically create a PlayFunds account for you to store the proceeds of any sales you make. You may transfer the money from your PlayFunds account into your bank account or may spend the money on further purchases at Play.com to save even more.
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What are the fees for using PlayTrade?
Our fees are an incredibly low 10% commission plus 50p per completed sale. If you plan to sell a lot of items we recommend you apply to become a ProTrader. A ProTrader does not incur the 50p closing fee and can list as many items as they want. A ProTrader account costs £19.99 per month.
If you decide to transfer your cash to your bank account there is a 5% transfer fee on the balance you choose to transfer. However if you spend the money at Play.com there is no charge, saving you the 5% transfer fee altogether!
Commission on PlayTrade sales
When you make a sale on PlayTrade the proceeds of the sale are deposited into your PlayFunds account, less a commission fee of 10% of the sale price plus a 50p (75c for European sellers) closing fee.
For example
You sell a DVD for £15.
After 10% commission (£1.50) and 50p you receive £13 in PlayFunds.
You can use the money in your PlayFunds account to buy things from other PlayTraders and from Play.com. You can also withdraw your money and deposit it directly into your personal bank account.
Withdrawing money from your PlayFunds account.
When you withdraw money from your PlayFunds account we deposit the money directly into your bank account, less a transfer fee of 5% of the balance transferred.
For example
You transfer £13 from your PlayFunds to your bank account.
After 5% the transfer charge (65p) you receive £12.35 in your bank account.
As a security feature you must wait for 21 days after you give us your bank details before you can spend or transfer money from your PlayFunds account.
Spending the money in your PlayFunds account
If you choose to spend the money in your PlayFunds account on Play.com, rather than transfer it to your bank account, there is no transfer charge. This results in a further 5% saving. In the example above, instead of withdrawing £12.35, you would have £13 to spend on purchases from Play.com or other PlayTraders.
Discounts for ProTraders
Subscribers to our ProTrader scheme pay just 10% commission when an item sells. ProTraders do not pay the additional 50p closing fee.
For example
You sell a DVD for £15.
After 10% commission (£1.50) you receive £13.50 in your PlayFunds account.
Spending PlayFunds is free. If you transfer PlayFunds to your bank there is a 5% transfer charge.
Subscription to our ProTrader scheme costs just £19.99 per month (€29.99 for European sellers). As well as receiving a discount on fees, ProTraders are able to list more than 50 items for sale at any one time, and also gain access to our ProTrader volume selling tools.
VAT-Registered Businesses
All of our fees include VAT where applicable. If you are a VAT-registered business within the EU you may qualify for VAT-exclusive fees. Please contact merchants@playtrade.com to find out more.
Exchange Rate
If you choose to list your item in both GBP and Euros, and it is bought by an overseas buyer, the purchase value will be converted to your designated currency at the rate of €1 = £0.80.
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What is a ProTrader?
A ProTrader is a large seller on PlayTrade. Instead of paying the 50p (or 75c for Euro sellers) per-item closing fee, ProTraders instead pay a monthly subscription fee of £19.99 (or €29.99 for Euro sellers). In addition to this, ProTraders are able to list more than 100 items for sale at any one time, and are able to list some restricted items, such as Electronics and Gadgets. A ProTrader will also have access to our ProTrader volume selling tools. If you are interested in becoming a ProTrader you can apply within your Account Preferences section of your PlayTrade account. Please note that ProTrader applications are subject to additional security and identity checks. As of 1st April 2013, we are no longer accepting applications to become a ProTrader. If you would like to become a Merchant and sell on the Rakuten Marketplace, you can find more information here
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How do I decide on a price?
Start by looking at other PlayTraders who are selling products similar to the one you plan to list to see how your item compares to theirs. Most people will expect to pay less for something that has been used than something that is brand new. Being among the cheapest will help your item to sell more quickly, but this is not always the case. Customers also look for sellers with good feedback, or the sellers who are located closest to them. Remember that all prices must include the cost of posting the item to the customer: this is particularly important if you are selling bulky or heavy items. If you decide to list your item for sale in both UK and Europe, remember to factor in the extra cost of posting internationally in case your item is purchased by an overseas customer.
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How quickly do I need to dispatch the product?
Our customers expect great service, so we ask that you dispatch your items as quickly as possible after they sell. The Play.com web site calculates an estimated delivery time for the buyer of your item, based on where you are sending the item from. Therefore dispatching your item quickly will earn you better feedback. Broadly speaking, we recommend that you dispatch the item within 24 hours of the item selling.
Delivery Estimates
Each of your listings carries a delivery estimate which explains to the customer when they can expect their item if they buy from you. These delivery estimates are fixed and can not be changed, so it’s important to send out items quickly in order to meet the expected time frame.
Customers' expectations on delivery times are as follows:
Posting an items from the UK |
- to a customer in the UK
- to a customer in mainland Europe
|
3-4 days 3-4 days |
Posting an item from mainland Europe |
- to a customer in the UK
- to a customer in mainland Europe
|
5-7 days 5-7 days |
Posting an item from outside Europe |
- to a customer in the UK
- to a customer in mainland Europe
|
10-14 days 10-14 days |
In order to meet these timeframes, you generally need to dispatch items within 24 hours if posting second-class, or within 48 hours if posting first-class. Obviously the faster a customer receives their purchase the better, so quick turnaround and fast delivery can earn you better feedback.
Postage and Packaging
The aim is to get the item to the customer in the same condition as when you posted it, so you should wrap your items in adequate protection to ensure they are not damaged in transit. Bubble-wrap and jiffy bags are widely available from newsagents and discount stores very cheaply, and are well worth investing in.
You should write the customer’s name and address clearly and legibly to avoid items being delayed or lost in the post, and supply a return address on the back of the package. Ensure that the package is well-sealed and has enough stamps to cover the cost of delivery. Remember all prices should include P&P. You are not permitted to charge the customer for extra postage.
Very occasionally, an item may be lost or damaged in the post because of circumstances outside of your control. For this reason we recommend that you obtain proof of postage from the post office, and insurance on valuable packages. In these circumstances, you should give the customer a refund and take up your claim for a refund with the company you instructed to deliver your package.
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I have sold something. Why has the money not appeared in my PlayFunds account?
Your sale proceeds are credited to your PlayFunds account when you confirm that the product has been posted to the customer. Once you have posted the item, log into your Account and select Sales from the PlayTrade menu. Locate the order and click
Confirm Dispatch. This sends an email to the customer confirming that the item is on its way, and credits your PlayFunds account with the proceeds of the sale.
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Is there anything I am not allowed to sell?
You can sell almost anything that is in our online product catalogue. As long as the item is in acceptable condition it can be sold on PlayTrade. Currently it is not possible to sell Mobile Content or Clothing and Accessories. Some items such as Electronics and Gadgets are restricted to ProTraders only.
Choosing a Condition
When you list a product, it’s important to choose the correct condition carefully. The more accurate your description, the easier it is for a customer to decide what to buy. If you don’t describe your item condition carefully, it may result in the customer asking for a refund or leaving bad feedback for you.
Condition Types
NEW |
This item is still brand new, unopened and any shrink-wrapping unopened. |
USED |
This item has been opened or used before. |
COLLECTABLE |
The item is a particularly rare version, of particular interest to collectors. |
Sub-Condition Types
If the item you are selling is Used or Collectable, you will need to choose a sub-condition to describe it further. The sub-conditions you can choose are:
Like new |
The item is in mint condition, and shows no obvious signs of having been opened or used. Under all but the closest inspection the item appears to be new. |
Very good |
The item may show some very minor shelf wear, but should still be suitable for giving as a gift. At a casual glance the item appears new. |
Good |
The item shows some signs of being used before. It may have marks to the cover, slight wear or fading but overall has been looked after well. DVD, Game and CD cases may show scratches, and books may have slight creasing to the spine or cover. |
Average |
The item has been a well-loved possession and displays visible signs of every-day use. This might include creasing to the spine or covers of books, minor scratches or cracks to cases, or slight tears to pages. The item should nevertheless be in full working condition without any missing pieces. |
Items which are below average condition, or which are damaged or defective in any way, may not be sold on PlayTrade.
Describing Your Item Further
Whatever the condition of your item, you can supply your own comment to describe the unique features of your item. PlayTraders who provide good, accurate comments for their listings receive better feedback and fewer customer returns.
You can use up to 1,000 characters to describe your item. A further description is mandatory if your item is collectable, or in Good or Average condition. If the item is in New, Like New or Very Good condition, you do not have to supply a comment, but it is recommended.
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What is feedback?
A seller’s feedback is based on the comments and ratings left by customers who have bought from a particular PlayTrader. Over the course of time a PlayTrader develops a feedback score, showing how previous customers rated their service. We encourage buyers to compare PlayTraders’ feedback scores as an important part of choosing who to buy from.
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What happens if something goes wrong?
As with any shop, occasionally something can go wrong with a customer order. The majority of problems can be resolved quickly by talking to the customer. We also provide a set of tools within your PlayTrade seller account that allow you to issue refunds, respond to customers, view sales history, and confirm dispatch of the products, basically all of the tools you need to see the sale through from start to finish.
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How do I start selling?
It’s quick and easy to set up a PlayTrade account with us. To start selling, click the ‘Sign Up’ button below. To become a Merchant and sell on the Rakuten Marketplace, find out more
Other Help?
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