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FAQs
About Us
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Your BTH Account
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Editing Your BTH Shop
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Selling Questions
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Buying Questions
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Promotional Questions
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Community Questions
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Troubleshooting
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About Us
- Our Mission
Our mission is to provide an affordable and easy to use system for connecting buyers and sellers of arts and crafts worldwide. By These Hands (BTH) is an interactive online community that provides a venue for handmade goods, fine art, classic, designed items, supplies and media. BTH is an e-commerce approach for artists and crafters desiring to sell their creations online. - Is BTH a US company?
Yes. We are home based in central Florida. - How does BTH make money?
BTH offers a Premier Seller Account with additional selling features and tools. This upgrade has no-contract and can be canceled at any time. Currently the cost to upgrade is $4.95 a month. This account has many extra features to enhance your selling experience. - What fees does BTH charge?
We don't charge fees to any of our members. There are no listing or relisting fees or sales commission charges. If you sign up for a Free Seller Account you can list and sell your items at absolutely no cost. - What kind of accounts does BTH offer?
BTH offers 3 types of accounts: Buyer, Free Seller and Premier Seller.
- With a Buyer account, checkout is quick and easy to use.
- Our Free Seller account allows you to list up to 25 active items, with a maximum of 4 images for each item plus additional features such as automatic Google Analytics, Google Base and Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
- Our Premier Seller account includes all the features of a Free Seller account plus much more. It allows you unlimited listings with up to 4 images for each item. You are also able to customize your shop and link to your Facebook and Twitter pages. You also have the ability to show a customized video right from your shop (YouTube download) and much more.
- How do I sign up for a BTH account?
Joining BTH couldn’t be easier! -- just click on the SELL tab on the homepage to get started. There you will be able to choose between a Free Seller Account and a Premier Seller Account. Your user name and shop name will be the same and cannot be the same as another user/shop name on the site. - Where can I find BTH policies?
Those can be found in the User Agreement and these FAQ’s.
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Your BTH Account
- How do I activate my account?
As soon as you have completed the steps to set up your account, it will be activated. BTH will ask for your name, a username, and password, which will be checked in the database to make sure it is available. Once these steps are completed, your account is activated and you can begin listing items. - I haven’t received a confirmation email. What happened?
It was probably caught in your email programs or email providers spam filter. Add @bythesehands.com to your safe senders list. - I signed up for a Buyer Account and now I would like to Sell on BTH. What is the process?
By clicking on Sell on the top of the home page, you will be directed to a sign in to sell page with simple step instructions for setting up your Free or Premier Account. - How do I upgrade from a Free Seller to a Premier Seller Account?
If you have already signed up as a Free Seller, log in to your account and click the Upgrade to Premier Seller link. This will take you to the Premier Seller sign up page. - How will I be billed for my Premier Seller Account?
You must have a PayPal account as your method of payment for your Premier Seller Account. If you created an automatic draw for your monthly payment it will come out of your account on the same day every month. If, you change any information on your PayPal account (i.e. card number or address), PayPal will automatically cancel your subscription. If that happens, we will contact you to re-enter your PayPal information. Your monthly fee will be debited from your account on the same day every month. - How do I change my password?
You can change your password as often as you like. Just log in to your BTH account and click on Change My Password under My Account. You will see the Change Password section where you will need to enter your new password twice and then click the update button. - How do I set up my security question?
When you create your account, we will ask you to chose a security question and answer. You can also select the My BTH button once you are logged in and this is also where you can change or add any personal information. Click the submit button when finished. - How do I change my other information, such as my address?
When you log into your account, click on Edit Account Information. This will allow you to change or add any personal information. Click on Submit Edits when finished. - Can I close one account to open another account?
Yes - Can I sign up for multiple accounts?
Each seller is allowed only one Free Seller account, although sellers may have as many Premier Seller accounts as they wish. Once your account has been downgraded, you will be able to operate as a Free Seller. If you downgrade, all of your Premier Account features will be removed. - Why am I not receiving emails from BTH?
It is most likely that spam prevention software is catching it. Add @bythesehands to your safe sender list in your email program. - How do I cancel my account?
After logging in to your account, choose the Delete Account button. Be careful, because if you delete your acccount your shop will disappear from the BTH website. - Where can I find my shop URL?
You can use either http://myshopname.bythesehands.com or http://bythesehands.com/shop/myshopname.com and insert your username instead of 'myshopname.' - Where is my billing information located?
We process all financial transactions through PayPal. The only financial information we will need is your PayPal email address.
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Editing Your BTH Shop
- How do I edit my shop?
There are links set up once you log into your account to edit all information. These links are found on the left hand side of your account page once you have logged in. From there, you can edit or delete any personal information, such as your address, location, bio and others. To edit your shop appearance, click on Shop Design on the left hand side and you can change your banner, shop message, keywords and descriptions. - How do I set up my bio?
You can set up or change your bio and photo under My Account after you log into your BTH. Click on Bio with Photo on the left hand side of the page and you will have access to your bio information and photo. Click on Submit when finished. - How do I set up my profile?
Once you have an account set up, the steps will walk you through setting up your profile. If you are not ready to enter all of your information right away, you can go back to it at any time and add that information by clicking on Edit Account Information on the left hand side of your account page once you are logged in. - How do I upload my shop/bio image?
This is your personal image identification. We like to see a photo image of each seller, as a way for buyers to feel more in touch with the artist or craftsman. To upload your image, you can save a picture from your digital camera to your computer as a jpg file. From there, click on browse to look through your photos and find the picture. Once uploaded, the picture will appear on your shop and bio pages for buyers and other sellers to view. - What are featured items or shops?
Featured items and featuring your shop can be purchased for minimal fees for a 24 hour period. Your item can be featured on the BTH home page and main category pages. We also offer a spot especially for you to feature your shop banner at the top of the home page.
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Selling Questions
- Who can sell on BTH?
In order to set up a shop on BTH you must be at least 18 years old. Check out the BTH Terms of Use for more specifics. - What am I not allowed to sell on BTH?
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Firearms
- Fireworks
- Explosives
- Real Estate
- Stolen items
- Pirated materials
- Protected antiquities
- Dangerous chemicals
- Mass produced electronics
- Personal data or information
- Misrepresented items or products
- Items that violate this Agreement
- Prostitution or other similar services
- Replica items, including designer items
- Hazardous materials, products or items
- Illegal, counterfeit or contraband items of any sort
- Any item that in whole or in part is subject to a recall
- Items not in your possession or items you don't intend to deliver
- Ivory or animal products from endangered species collected illegally
- Motor vehicles, parts for motor vehicles or parts for recreational vehicles
- Harmful, harassing, intimidating or defamatory materials, products or items
- Items, materials or products that are copyrighted, trademarked or patented by another party
- Any product or service that BTH determines to be inappropriate, harmful, fraudulent or illegal
- Adult material, erotica or pornography inclusive of any material unsuitable for children under the age of 18
- Items or products that carry or transmit hidden codes or signals with the intention of causing harm or tracking personal or transactional information of any sort
- Any item or service that violates applicable local, state, federal or international laws with regard to manufacturing, distributing, advertising or transporting said item
- Mature items intended for adults (due to language or imagery) that falls outside of the traditional acceptable standards for broadcast television that are not properly identified as "mature" in the listing process
- Where should I list my item? Handmade, Classic or Supplies?
This is to help you decide which main category your item belongs in.
- Your item will need to be handmade or hand altered to be listed in the "HANDMADE" category.
- Your item will need to be a traditional craft supply, or an item that can be repurposed for an art or craft to be listed in the "SUPPLIES” category.
- Your item will need to be at least 20 years old and have collectible or have artistic value to be listed in "CLASSIC" category.
- Can I sell handmade, classic and supplies in one shop?
Yes! When asked for the category for the item you are listing, just simply pick the category it fits in. - How do I edit an item I've already listed?
Once you are logged into you account,under My Shop click on Active Items. You will then be able to view a list of the items you have for sale. From that list you will be able to select an item under Actions to edit. - How do I change my accepted methods of payment?
Once logged into your account, you will be able to change the accepted methods of payment for your shop under Edit Account Information. - Once I list items, where will they appear on the site?
Once your item has been approved by BTH staff, it will be listed at the top of the main category page where the item fits. The main category is chosen by the seller when the item is listed. Each item can take up to 24 hours to be approved, however, it usually shows up in the category sooner. As items are listed, the items move down the page; the latest item listed in each category will always be at the top. - How do I relist my items?
There are several reasons why a seller would relist an item. If an item sells, but the seller does not receive payment for the item from the buyer, the seller has the ability to cancel the sale and the item can be relisted. Another reason would be if the item expires. Each item when listed, is active for 3 months. If the item does not sell in that time period, you can relist the item and the 3 months will start over. To relist an item, click on ’relist an item’ under My Shop on your BTH page. Under Actions (next to the inactive item) you can click on relist. When relisted, your items will move to the top rotation in the category/new listings. - How do I feature items or my shop?
After you sign up to sell on BTH, the featured spots can be purchased in the seller admin section. - How many featured spots can I buy at one time and when can they be purchased?
The number of spots that can be purchased at a time varies by category. To find out how many spots you can purchase at a time, see the featured items page at the time of purchasing a featured spot. - How long is my featured item or shop displayed?
All featured items or shops are purchased for a 24 hour period. Make sure to check the calendar provided for the date you choose since spots are limited. - How do I become a featured seller?
Featured sellers are selected by the BTH staff. You will be notified by email if you have been selected and will have the ability to reply to our request. - What happens if a featured item sells out?
When featuring an item, you will be asked to list 5 items in the order you wish them to appear - if your first item sells out during the time it is featured, your next selected item will take it's place. - How do I add a shop banner?
The shop banner is added during the seller account creation or can be added later through your admin. Banner must be a gif or jpg file and must be 700 pixels wide by 200 pixels tall. - How do I upload pictures of my items?
Pictures can be uploaded from a digital camera onto your computer. When listing an item to your shop, the picture has been edited to your satisfaction and saved at the correct size, click on browse until you find the picture you want to upload. - What dimensions should my pictures be?
Depending on where the image goes in the store, it may need to be different sizes. The sizes will be spelled out next to each image upload location. - Why do my shop banner and photos not look right?
The banner and photo sizes are probably not formatted to fit properly. The proper sizes for the images are indicated where you upload the image. - Can I change the order of the listings in my shop?
Only as a Premier Seller on BTH will you have the ability to customize your shop to make it your own. - What is an item title?
The title should be fitting for the item you are listing to give the buyers an accurate description of the item. Usually a few words works best. - What is a shop title?
Your shop title will be the same as your username. Choose your username carefully as this cannot be changed. - What are tags or keywords?
Tags are a list of key words used to describe your items. They are used to help the buyer find a specific item or shop that carries an item that they may be searching for. - What is - ‘message to buyers’?
A ‘message to buyers’ is your way of thanking a buyer for purchasing from your shop. - What is a shop announcement?
Shop announcements are an important way of telling those who visit your shop what is happening there. Maybe a sale, new item listed, upcoming items, etc. - What are shop sections?
Shop sections are used to divide your shop if you have more than one type of item. If you have items made from different mediums, you may wish to have them in different section listings within your shop. - How do I open a PayPal account?
To open a Paypal account go to www.paypal.com and register. We encourage you to register for a premier or business account rather than a personal account. There are limits to the personal account that may not be beneficial to you. - What happens after I sell an item?
When an item is sold, you get an email from BTH informing you of the sale, along with the buyer’s shipping information. This does not guarantee that you have already received payment for the item. If the buyer is paying through PayPal, you will receive an email from PayPal informing you that the item has been paid for. If you accept checks or money orders, you will receive them by mail. Once the item has been sold out, it will be removed from your active items list and added to your sold items list. These can be found on the left hand side of your account page. - When and how do I get paid when an item sells?
Within your shop, you will list your terms of payment. A buyer paying with PayPal will pay you immediately, when paying with a check or money order it may take a while for you to receive payment. - What is Google Analytics?
Google Analytics is used to track the traffic to your site from Google product search. To set up a Google Analytics account (that can be mapped to your BTH Shop), click on this link:
https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=analytics&passive=true&nui=1&continue=https://www.google.com/analytics/settings/&followup=https://www.google.com/analytics/settings/ - How do I cancel or void an incomplete transaction?
If a sale needs to be cancelled due to nonpayment or other reasons, you need to click on ‘sold items’ on your account page. There you will see all items that have been sold. Next to each item will be a link that says ‘cancel’. Click on that link and BTH will ask a few questions about the nature of the cancellation and you will have the option to relist your item. - How do I put my shop on vacation mode?
From your BTH page, there is ‘vacation mode’ on the left hand side. Clicking on this will give you the option to leave an away message to any buyers who purchase an item while you are away. It also has a place to fill in the dates of when you will be on vacation for buyers to see. - What will my shop look like on vacation mode?
The shop will look the same, however your away message will be at the top of the page to let buyers know that you are away and that their shipment may be delayed until you return. - What are shop policies?
‘Shop Policies’ is information you add to your shop page to inform the buyer of your methods of payment, shipping, and exchanges or returns. Policies are used to inform the buyer and can help alleviate discrepancies. - Can BTH site-wide policies be over ridden by seller shop policies?
No, a seller must agree to the BTH site wide policies. Additional shop policies may be added to an individual sellers shop with regard to exchanges and returns, etc. - How do I contact a buyer?
Each time you make a sale, the buyer’s information will be provided to you in the notification email you will receive from BTH. If you need to contact the buyer, the buyer’s email and mailing addresses will be listed there. - What currency is used on BTH and how do I handle currency conversions?
BTH uses United States dollars (USD). We also have available currency conversion. Just remember that rates change often so be sure to check the conversion at the time of purchase. - Can people outside the United States have shops on BTH?
Yes, anyone can set up a shop to sell on BTH as long as they adhere to BTH policies and procedures. All you need is a PayPal account. - Can I use PayPal or debit/credit cards to become a seller?
BTH only accepts PayPal at this time. For more information about registering for a PayPal account go to www.paypal.com . - Do I need to collect Sales Tax?
BTH cannot provide specific legal advice to our sellers, which includes advice regarding taxes. It will be up to each seller to check their local laws regarding collecting and reporting applicable taxes. Tax regulations will vary greatly for each state or region. If you're not sure about the tax laws in your area, we recommend you consult with an accountant or expert in your area. - How do I improve my search engine optimizatio (SEO)?
Your item description will include keywords that will help a buyer find your items. You may want to check your Google Analytics to see how people are finding your shop. You may also want to edit your keywords from time to time as that gets more attention by the search engines. - How do I promote my shop on Facebook, Twitter, etc.?
You will have links available to chose from in your Shop set up so your buyers will be able to find you on your social network sites. - What is Google Base?
Google Base is a place where you can easily submit all types of online and offline content, which we'll make searchable on Google (if your content isn't online yet, we will host it for you). You can describe any item you post with attributes, which will help people find it when they do related searches.
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Buying Questions
- How do I pay the seller?
You will be instructed at check out how to pay a seller for an item you wish to purchase. It’s fast and easy! - Can I make a purchase without a BTH account?
Feel free to browse any shop on BTH. When you wish to purchase, you must register by providing your information on the buy page to ensure your purchase. - Do I need a PayPal account before I check out?
You do not need a PayPal account unless the shop you wish to make a purchase in only accepts PayPal. Each shop will have their own policies of payment.
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Promotional Questions
- Are there post cards and business cards I can purchase to promote my BTH shop?
Yes, there are post cards and business cards available for purchase (at a discount) on the BTH Store. You can hand them out to friends, co-workers, at craft shows, etc.. There is a place to write in your personal shop URL address so buyers can find you easily. - What is My Market Hub?
This is available only to Premier Sellers. This promotional tool allows you to link to your social networking sites and online venues, such as Flickr, Etsy, Twitter and Facebook. You can set up your Market Hub by clicking the Market Hub link on your My BTH page.
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Community Questions
- How do I flag an inappropriate item?
If you find a product listed on BTH that should not be on the site, you can flag that item to bring it to our attention. Please click on ‘Report as Inappropriate’ under Shop Actions. Tell us why you are reporting this item as inappropriate. The seller will receive a flag notification which will include your explanation. BTH will review the flag and help the seller adjust their listing or remove it. If you feel an entire shop should be flagged, please do not flag the entire shop, instead email us at support@bythesehands.com. - I believe I was flagged unfairly. How do I appeal?
Email us at support@bythesehands.com. Please include a description of your item, and include details as to why you feel your item should not be flagged. If you have any questions regarding content that is prohibited on BTH, please review the Terms of Use Agreement on the BTH Website.
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Troubleshooting
- I recently signed up for a BTH account, but am unable to log in.
On the log in page, there is a link to obtain your email and password if you have forgotten it. BTH will ask you to enter your email address and your username and/or password will be emailed to you. - What do I do if I forgot my username and/or password?
On the log in page, there is a link to obtain your email and password if you have forgotten it. BTH will ask you to enter your email address and your username and/or password will be emailed to you. - I put in the wrong username/misspelled my username. Can I change my username?
Unfortunately, once you register for a username (shop name) it is not able to be changed. Please look over the information and spelling closely when you choose a name. - I edited my images by uploading new ones. Now I cannot see my newly uploaded images. What do I do?
You probably need to clear the cache on your browser. Here a link that explains how to do this on most popular browsers. - I cannot see my newly uploaded banner.
You probably need to clear the cache on your browser. Here a link that explains how to do this on most popular browsers. - My Shop information will not save correctly. Why?
Email us with the information you are having trouble with and we will track it down and get back to you. - Having trouble logging in with your Username and Password?
Link to how to clear your computer's cache for many popular browsers:
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