How to Yerdle

I am fairly new to online swapping. I joined Yerdle in response to a promotion that was posted on FreeStuffFinder.com.  The promotion offered 35 Yerdle dollars and free shipping on the first item, which was enough to pique my interest.

If the concept of online swapping is new to you, allow me to give you a quick tutorial:
Register for an account by inputting your name, email address, mailing address (where you will receive your items) and billing information (will explain this more below).

There are two actions - "Give" is you putting your unneeded items up for another person to request.  "Get" is requesting an available item.


Giving Your Goods
Let us start with the "Give" process to rid you of your unneeded goodies.  The simplest way to do this is by using the Yerdle app on your mobile device.

Yerdle is available in the App Stores for both Appple  Android. 

After creating the account, you are taken to a landing page where you see the trending items. Accessing features is done through the menu - the three stacked lines in the top left corner.   

Opening the menu will give you access to many features.  We will focus on the "Give" option for now.

Once have selected to "give" you are taken to the main give screen and you must click the white circle with the plus sign.  Strange extra step, but it is what must be done in this version of the app. 

 

The "Give" option will format the frame for the photo to the size the app uses to display the photos online.  You can snap up to 4 pictures (not all 4 are required).   If you are unhappy with a photo, press and hold the thumb nail and you will get an "x' icon which allows you to delete the photo so another can take it's spot.

Clicking "Done" after snapping your photos will drop you into the "Item Details" page where you will title the listing,
add a description, assign a category, note the condition, set a price, and determine delivery options.  Once all is set, select "Give" at the bottom and you are all done. 

You could complete this process through a computer as well.  The downside to using a computer is that you will have to snap and save the photos, and then try and fit them into the format used by the site.  It can be done, but it does take on an extra step.

Once your item is posted, someone who wants it will request to "Get" it and you will receive an email.

The email will list all of the items that the requesting party has selected and give you a link to a prepaid shipping label.  All you have to do is print the label (click the "Get Shipping Label" link in the email), pack your goods, and drop it off at the UPS location of your choice.  Once the UPS location has scanned the bar code of the shipping label, you will receive a second email indicating that your account has been updated with the value of the Yerdle money associated with that shipment.  

Getting Items From Yerdlers
Now we move onto the process of "Get."  You can look for items by category and search for items by name.  When you find an item you like just select "Get It" and complete the check out process.

The Circle Dollar Sign symbol indicates the amount of Yerdle dollars required to "Get"an item.  Be sure you have adequate balance to request the item up for Give.  Your Yerdle balance will display in the top right corner of the app, and top right corner of the website. 

Bundles
There are two ways to bundle - Yerdle Bundles and Custom Bundles
Yerdle Bundles - Available only through the mobile app (not through the website), will let you group up to four items from one seller.  This grouping process saves you money as Yerdle will discount the bundle (more on fees shortly).

When shopping with the Yerdle app on your mobile device, once you choose to "Get" an item you will be prompted to review other items available by the same Yerdler.

I have chosen to "Get" this item, and before
proceeding to checkout I am prompted to scroll
down and "Get more from Jocy M."

Scrolling through the Yerdler's other Gives I can see all
available items.

When I find an item I am interested in adding
to my purchase I select "Add to Bundle."

I can scroll left or right, at the top of my screen, to see
all of the items in my Yerdle Bundle.

Custom Bundles - Other Yerdlers may contact you and request you to make a custom bundle for them.  This process, if you choose to do it, requires you to remove your individual item posts and create a new post with a grouping of items.  This REALLY saves Yerdlers money as it shops like 1 Yerdle Give, instead of multiple Gives combined.  You will see these posted on the site usually with the title "Hold for (Person's Name)."

The Check-Out Process and Fees
Once you have chosen to "Get" an item(s) you will be prompted to check out.  At the point of check out you will be charged 3 values (unless otherwise stated through a promotion):

1. Yerdle Currency - value of the item set by the person giving it
2. Shipping Fee - $5 flat rate shipping on the first item, an additional $2 for the whole order if you are bundling (but the weight of the bundle cannot exceed 10lbs)
3. Yerdle Service Fee (in US Currency) - The first 24 hours an item becomes available it is considered "Just In" and will have a $3 service fee.  After 24 hours the service fee reduces to $2.  If you have become a pro-Yerdler (100 Gives) your service fee is reduced by $1, making it $2 for "Just In" items, and $1 for all other items. 

Shipping Notifications, Feedback, and Yerdle Customer Service
Shipping Notifications
Now that you have requested and paid for your item, all you have to do is sit back and wait.  The person giving the item has 7 days to drop it off at a shipping location.  Shortly after the packaged is scanned by UPS you will receive an email notification with tracking details.

Feedback
Once you have received your item you should review it to ensure that it appears as advertised.  If you had a good experience, you should visit your Yerdle account and find the "in use" section of your profile (in the mobile app get the menu from the 3 stacked bars, and clicking the "In Use."  From the web, click the icon in the top right corner that says "Me" and look for "In Use.") and leave the Yerdler a thumb's up.

If you had a unexpected or negative experience contact Yerdle Customer Service immediately. 

On your mobile device: Navigate to the "In Use" portion of your profile, find the specific item that is problematic, and then look for the Share icon (Sideways V).  This will bring up an option to Contact Yerdle.

On the web: Navigate to the "In Use" portion of your profile, find the specific item and select it. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the link for "Support."  At the top right portion of the Support page you will see an option to "Submit a Request."

Yerdle will respond to your registered email address. My experience has been very good, receiving responses within 12-24 hours.

Wish List
As you are browsing Yerdle you will find that items appear with the note "Wish for One" on them.  These items have already been given, but still appear at the end of each category, or at the bottom of search results.  Initially I thought this was a bit frustrating, as I was miffed at seeing the items I had missed.  Now that I have used the mobile app I am beginning to see the benefit of creating wish lists.

When you select the option to "Wish for One" the app creates a search function.  From that point forward, each time an item is listed matching your search criteria you will receive a mobile notification.  This gives you an advantage if you are looking for something specific.

Accessing your Wish Search Criteria is done through
the menu, under "My Wishes."

You can edit or remove wishes under the "My Wishes" tab
and see any available items that match your wish search
criteria under the "My Matches" tab.

Items that match your wish list criteria will be offered to you before they are live on the site for the general public to request.  If you choose to purchase an item from the "My Matches" tab, Yerdle will add a $1 Premium service fee to your final checkout value.


Tips, Thoughts, & Opinions
Pricing your items - This can be tricky as it really comes down to what you think it is worth.  The world of online swapping seems to be like the Wild West when it comes to value.  I posted some baby socks (new in package) for 35 Yerdle, they sold quickly.  I purchased 2 Pyrex Pie plates for 40 Yerdle.

I sold baby socks for 35 Yerdle

I purchased 2 brand new pie plates for 40 Yerdle. I took advantage of a promo that gave me free shipping and waved my Yerdle fee, so it was a true swap of socks for pie plates.

Glance at a few other listings to gauge your pricing, but if you are in no hurry then price accordingly.  I had several people message me and ask for lower prices on items, I politely declined and eventually sold everything for my original asking price.

Getting to 100 Gives Quickly - Reaching 100 Gives makes you a Pro-Yerdler.  This title comes with benefits, including a reduced service fee, so I highly recommend it.  Getting there can be tricky, and I have found that pricing items at 35 Yerdle is a good start.  Many folks come to the site because of the promo (35 Yerdle and Free shipping) so this is a good way to grab first-timers.

Another way to add more Gives to the tally is to post useful items.  Shipping supplies, such as used bubble mailers, will go quickly.  Writing instruments also seem to be popular (those pens you have from conventions and hotels galore! Just be sure they all work).

Importance of good photos - You get 4 photos to illustrate the specifics of the item you are offering as a Giver.  Use these photos to not only show the product to perspective Yerdlers, but to protect yourself in the event there is a misunderstanding.  I had some makeup samples that I put up.  I photographed everything carefully, and thought that I was thorough in my description.  One Yerdler complained that the products they received were not as advertised - that they were used and not "new."  I believe this stemmed from one of the cream bottles being less-than-full, as samples rarely fill to the top.  Now I photograph any container against a light to illustrate how full the bottle is.

Custom Bundles - Plenty of Yerdlers will fulfill requests to create a custom bundle, but many will not.  Here are the pros and cons:
Pro: As a buyer you only pay the 1 item shipping fee (normally $5, but varies with promotions).
Pro: As a seller you can move more items at a faster pace

Con: As a seller you are now tasked with removing multiple listings and creating a new one.  There is no guarantee that the Yerdler will actually buy the new listing.
Con: As a seller you will get fewer "Give" credits.  The more you give the better your Yerdle benefits get.
Con: Some Yerdlers have no Giving experience and therefore no concept of the process to give.  That said; they can be inconsiderate, greedy, and downright demanding.  If you are going to do custom bundles then have a number in mind (e.g. I can bundle up to 3 items in 1 listing.)

Yerdle has some thoughts on custom bundles as well, here.