🚧 Development & Testing Phase — User data input is not retained or guaranteed

How to Use Swapia

📝
Sign Up
Create an account
🏷️
Sell Items
Post your items
🔍
Find Items
Search & browse
💬
Messaging
Contact sellers

📝 Creating an Account

  1. Visit the registration page: Go to /register
  2. Enter your location: Enter your ZIP code to enable local trading. Click "Auto-detect" for automatic location detection.
  3. Choose login method:
    • 🔵 Google - Quick login with your Google account
    • ⚫ GitHub - For developers (also enables AI Agent assistance)
    • 📧 Email - Traditional registration with email & password
  4. Verify email (for email registration): Check your inbox for a verification link
  5. Complete! You can now buy and sell items in your local area

🏷️ Selling Items

📋 Item Status Explained

Draft

Only visible to you. Buyers cannot see draft items.

Use this to save your listing as a draft and publish later.

Active

Visible to all buyers! Your item is live and can be found in search.

This is what you want when ready to sell.

Sold

Marked as sold. No longer visible in search.

You can relist it anytime if it's available again.

📝 How to Post an Item

  1. Log in to your Swapia account
  2. Click "Post Item" in the navigation bar
  3. Fill in details: photos, title, price, category, condition, description
  4. Choose delivery: Local Pickup or Shipping
  5. Click Submit - your item goes to Draft first

🔄 Posting Workflow

Submit→Draft→→Active→→Sold

💡 Tip: Go to My Items to manage your listings.

🔍 Finding & Buying Items

  1. Browse or search:
    • 🔎 Use the search bar to find specific items
    • 📂 Browse by category (Electronics, Furniture, Clothing, etc.)
    • 📍 Filter by distance from your location
  2. View item details: Click on any item to see photos, description, condition, and seller info
  3. Contact the seller: Use the "Contact Seller" button to send a message via our secure messaging system
  4. Save favorites: Click the heart icon to save items you're interested in
  5. Arrange the deal: Message the seller to agree on price, time, and place

💬 In-Site Messaging System

How It Works

Swapia uses a built-in messaging system to protect your privacy. When you contact a seller or when a buyer contacts you, all communication happens through our secure messaging system - your email address is never exposed to other users.

🔒 Privacy Protection: Your email address is hidden from other users. They can only message you through the Swapia platform.

Sending Messages

  1. Go to any item page and click "Contact Seller"
  2. Type your message and click Send
  3. The seller will be notified of your message
  4. Check your messages at /messages

Message Notifications

When you receive a new message, you'll see:

  • A red badge on the Messages link in the navigation bar
  • A notification dot on the messages page

📧 Email Notifications

Setup Email Notifications

By default, email notifications are disabled. You can enable them to receive an email when someone sends you a message on Swapia.

  1. Go to Your Profile
  2. Scroll down to "Email Notifications" section
  3. Click "Enable Email Notifications"
  4. Check your email for a confirmation link
  5. Click the link to verify and activate notifications

What You'll Receive

  • New message alerts: Get an email when someone sends you a message
  • Message preview: See a preview of the message content
  • Quick link: Direct link to the conversation

⚠️ Important: You must verify your email address before enabling notifications. If you registered with Google or GitHub, add and verify an email address first.

Disable Notifications

To stop receiving email notifications, go to your Profile and click "Disable Email Notifications". You can re-enable them at any time.

💡 Tips for Better Experience

  • ✅ Add multiple photos - Items with more photos sell faster
  • ✅ Be descriptive - Include details about condition, flaws, size, etc.
  • ✅ Price competitively - Check similar listings to set a fair price
  • ✅ Respond quickly - Quick replies lead to more sales
  • ✅ Use your real location - Helps buyers find items near them
  • ✅ Enable email notifications - Never miss a message from a buyer
  • ✅ Check messages regularly - See /messages

📱 Add to Home Screen

For the best mobile experience, add Swapia to your phone's home screen. It works like an app!

iPhone / iPad (Safari)

  1. Open swapia.net in Safari
  2. Tap the Share button (rectangle with arrow)
  3. Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen
  4. Tap Add in the top right

Android (Chrome)

  1. Open swapia.net in Chrome
  2. Tap the Menu button (three dots)
  3. Tap Add to Home screen
  4. Tap Add

💡 Tip: Once added, you can access Swapia directly from your home screen without typing the URL!

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is it free to use?

Yes, Swapia is free to use. There are no fees for listing or buying items.

How does local trading work?

When you enter your ZIP code, we show you items near you. You can arrange to meet locally for pickup or shipping.

Can I sell internationally?

Yes, if you offer shipping as a delivery option. However, most transactions are local for safety and convenience.

Is my email address visible to other users?

No. All communication happens through our secure messaging system. Your email is never exposed to buyers or sellers.

How do I get notified of new messages?

You'll see a badge on the Messages link. Optionally, enable email notifications in your profile to receive alerts by email.

What if I have issues with a transaction?

Contact the seller through our messaging system. For disputes, contact our support team at support@swapia.net.

How do I delete my account?

Contact support@swapia.net to request account deletion. We will remove all your data within 30 days.

📧 Need Help?

If you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to contact us.

📧 Email: support@swapia.net

🌐 Website: https://swapia.net

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