Frequently Asked Questions
Fishing Exchange is a marketplace for consumers to buy and sell fishing gear and equipment. Listings are free. There is a small sales included in the price that is paid by the buyer when an order is placed.
What happened to your Facebook Login? I created my account with my Facebook user and I no longer see the Facebook Login button.
We decided to stop offering Facebook as a login option. Don't worry though, if you created your account with Facebook, your account (with your Facebook email as the email) is still active. Simply select the Forgot Your Password link on the Login form and you will receive an email to create a new password.
What are the different Item Conditions that sellers must choose from when listing a product for sale?
- New: Never used, includes original packaging and all accessories (also not used), no signs of use
- Great: Little to no signs of use, Basically unblemished
- Good: Used but still in good condition, minor blemishes expected, item still looks and functions as intended
- Fair: Moderate blemishes, item has been used significantly, still in useful condition
In what category should I place my item when I list it for sale?
Items should be listed in the most relevant category that you can select from when you are creating the listing. For example, jon boat should be placed in the Boats & Motors/Boats category. You can add an item to only one category.
To identify the proper category, we suggest you familiarize yourself with our menu structure. Fishing Exchange routinely monitors the placement of products within categories. If items appear to be misplaced, Fishing Exchange reserves the right to relocate to a different category.
What criteria does a item have to meet to be listed on Fishing Exchange?
- The item's purpose must be intended to be used in the fishing industry
- The seller must own the item and have the right to sell it
- Seller must be able to accept payment through a Verified PayPal account
- The item must meet one of Fishing Exchanges listing Item Conditions criteria (New, Great, Good, Fair)
- Seller must upload a photo showing your item
How much does it cost to create a listing?
Listing items for sale is free on Fishing Exchange. Fishing Exchange receives a sales fee when a sales transaction is completed. This fee is included in the item price listed on the site.
Why does Fishing Exchange review listings?
Fishing Exchange aims to review listings to confirm their legitimacy and that the listing adheres to our marketplace policies. This is a security feature to help protect buyers and make Fishing Exchange a safe place to buy online. We still encourage all buyers to carefully review listings you're thinking about buying.
Can I use Fishing Exchange from anywhere in the world?
Currently, the marketplace is available to users in the United States and Canada.
How do I contact a seller?
To ask a seller a question about an item, use the Item Questions and Answers section on the item page. Once you make a purchase, you will receive the contact information for the seller.
Feedback Star Rating Guidelines
Please use the following guidelines for rating the seller after a sale.
- 5 Stars: Sale was fulfilled successfully with very prompt shipping.
- 4 Stars: Sale was fulfilled successfully with reasonalbe shipping promptness.
- 3 Stars: Sale was completed successfully, but with some issues. Sale was not completed successfully, but the seller was reasonably accommodating. Seller refunded promptly rather than fulfilling the sale.
- 2 Stars: Seller was rude or intentionally deceptive. Lack of communication after the sale. An issue with the product surfaced and the seller would not address it.
- 1 Star: The seller was a scammer and never replied.
These guidelines are issued to avoid unfair feedback. For instance: if you as a buyer keep the product, the seller should not receive 1 star feedback.
How will I know when the Seller ships my item?
Fishing Exchange provides notifications when the seller updates the shipping status within his/her account.
What are my payment options when buying?
All sales occur through a seller's Verified PayPal account. Buyers do not have to have a PayPal account to make a payment. However, PayPal buyer protections are only available to a buyer if the buyer pays via a PayPal account.
Why do I have to have a Verified PayPal account to sell gear?
Fishing Exchange requires sellers to have a Verified PayPal account to help ensure that payments can be properly received from buyers. It is unfortunately not uncommon for seller to have issues with payment transactions without a Verified PayPal account. There are a number of advantages to having a PayPal verified account. PayPal addresses these advantages here.
Fishing Exchange provides sellers a tool to check the status of your PayPal account from the Shop Settings page inside your seller account. Simply provide your PayPal first name, last name, and email and then hit the Verify button. Once we have confirmed your account as Verified, you can begin listing gear for sale in your shop.
Why use PayPal for payments?
PayPal is easy, secure and trusted. PayPal has extensive (and free) protections for buyers and sellers that automatically apply to most Fishing Exchange transactions:
What PayPal fees will a Seller incur?
Sellers will receive payment from buyers for their sold listings via PayPal. PayPal determines and charges transaction fees for using their service. PayPals fees are deducted from the amount the Seller receives.
PayPal fees will be deducted from the payment received by the seller for the Ask Price he/she established for the listing. PayPal's fees are typically 2.9% + $0.30 USD per transaction, but may vary. Please consult PayPal's site for more information.
What happens if what I get doesn't match what I bought?
Don’t worry. Sometimes mistakes happen. Next, follow these steps:
- Contact the Seller by using the contact information in your purchase confirmation email
- Alert Fishing Exchange so we can help
- If seeking a refund and you used your PayPal account for payment (did not check out using PayPal Guest), then use PayPal to start the process using the links below
The good news is that you are most likely covered by PayPal's buyer protection policies (this is one big reason we use PayPal for transactions). Use the links below to figure out how to proceed:
How do I cancel a pending payment via PayPal?
If you purchased via your PayPal account, and if a payment to a seller is still in the "Pending" status you may be able to cancel the payment.
Login to PayPal, click the "Payments sent" link, find the payment to the seller, click the Details button, and there should be an option there to cancel the payment.
Does the buyer or seller pay shipping costs?
Fishing Exchange asks all sellers to include fixed fee shipping costs in the listing for both domestic (same country shipping) and international shipping. Sellers will indicate in the listing if they are willing to ship internationally. It's possible that sellers that are willing to ship internationally may want to work with buyers to determine the proper shipping fee to charge.
Can I cancel my listing at any time, without cost?
Yes, you can cancel a listing you created at anytime before it is sold.
Do I need to charge sales tax for same-state sales?
If you are an individual selling your own property, and not a registered / licensed business, then you almost certainly do not need to charge sales tax.
Either way, the answer of whether or not you need to charge sales tax for in-state sales depends on your state's tax laws. We are not accountants so please do not rely on us for tax advice.
Fishing Exchange offers sellers the ability to create a Sales Tax Schedule for U.S states, but currently does not support sales tax features outside of the US. To setup a sales tax schedule, go to My Shop Settings in your account and enable the Sales Tax feature. Please note that this Sales Tax feature charges tax based on the full List Price (and shipping if selected).
What are the site return policies?
Returns cannot be processed directly through Fishing Exchange. Sellers can define return policies for their listings. If no return policy is listed in the item description, buyers should assume that returns will not be accepted. However, all marketplace sales are based on the pre-condition that the item is received as advertised and in accordance with Fishing Exchange policies. No seller may deny a return / refund when not as advertised.
What are the procedures that should be followed for a return?
Because Fishing Exchange uses PayPal for payments and they provide the payment protections, PayPal policies for returns take precedent and should be followed.
For returns, the seller should provide instructions / address and the product should be shipped back with tracking and proper insurance. The refund should be processed promptly when the product is received back by seller.
PayPal, who provides the payment protections, recommends the buyer file a dispute before sending back.
Notify Fishing Exchange when the product is on the way back and we will cancel out the sale and refund the sale transaction fee (if appropriate).
How do I refund a buyer via PayPal?
- Log in to your PayPal account
- Find the payment and click Details
- Scroll down to refund the payment
- You can select a full refund or a partial amount
You'll receive a refund of your PayPal fees based on the type and amount of the refund you issue. If the buyer used a credit card without logging in to a PayPal account (in other words, if they used PayPal Guest Checkout), the refund will go back to their credit or debit card. It can take up to 30 days for the refund to show up on their card statement. Please ensure you notify Fishing Exchange staff that you are refunding a buyer.
What happens if I sell a listing I can't fulfill?
- Refund the buyer via PayPal immediately
- Contact the buyer via email to explain the situation
