Classifieds / Swap Shop Rules

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The Flatpicker Hangout provides the Classifieds system and the Swap Shop forum as tools for people interested in buying, selling, or trading flatpicked guitars, flatpicked guitar-related accessories, parts, services, and other musical instruments.

These tools work together, but are used in different ways.

The Classifieds system is used for the listing and browsing of classified listings. It is a specialized, powerful tool which makes it easy to create and browse a variety of listings in a variety of ways.
The Swap Shop forum is for discussing listings found in the Classifieds system. The forum format allows for easy, public discussion of classified listings, so everyone can be informed about listings.

The classifieds system is funded by sellers. Payment of the lesser of 2% or $75 is required on items sold using the classifieds system. The minimum payment for any sold item is $1. Go here to pay any classified payments due >.

The Flatpicker Hangout cannot assume any responsibility for the transactions that occur here.

These rules were last revised 9/8/2021.

Classifieds System Rules

Listings marked as “For Sale” or “For Sale or Trade” must be given a specific price in $US. If you are flexible on the price and want to let people make offers, simply state that in your listing. Items marked as “For Trade” only do not require a price.
Flatpicked Guitars for sale must be listed individually. This allows people to search the classified flatpicked guitar listings by make, price, etc.
Items listed in any other categories (such as Flatpicked Guitar Accessories) do not require individual listings, although that is usually a good idea if you want maximum exposure for your listing.
Listings marked as “For Sale” or “For Sale or Trade” must contain only items which can be purchased directly from the seller by contacting them through the Hangout or through contact information the seller posts on the topic, such as email, phone, or in person.
Listings for items which can only be purchased through a third-party website are prohibited.
Multiple ads for the same item are not permitted.
We do not accept ads requesting sale or trade of illegal items. Specifically banned items include, but are not limited to:
1. Bootleg albums or other non-authorized copies of copyrighted material;
2. Tortoise-shell products protected by the 1973 Endangered Species act, including picks made from antique shells.
No ad promoting activities that would be illegal under the laws of California, the United States of America, or of the state or country of domicile of the person posting the ad shall be allowed.
"Baiting" (advertising one price and then increasing the price upon inquiry) will not be tolerated.
You may post a classified ad for an item which is posted for sale on another website (such as eBay or a website you manage), as long as your listing conforms to the classified system rules listed here.
Editing your classified ad is prohibited once it has been sold or traded. Ads need to be preserved in their original state to provide a record of your communication.
Ad titles should be written in title case (first letter of each word capitalized). ALL UPPERCASE titles or phrases like "PRICE DROP" are not permitted.

Swap Shop Rules

All of the regular discussion forum rules apply to the Swap Shop.
Swap Shop topics must be related to a specific classified ad.
Editing of the forum topic posts is prohibited once your item has been sold or traded. These posts need to be preserved in their original state to provide a record of your communication. You are allowed to add “SOLD” or “TRADED” to the title of the post for clarification.

Classified ads or Swap Shop forum posts in violation of these rules may be edited, moved or deleted at the discretion of the Flatpicker Hangout.