SILKFAIR makes buying and selling fun and easy

What is Silkfair?
Silkfair is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell anything from anywhere. Silkfair makes the experience of buying and selling fun and easy! Silkfair is designed to be faster, easier and very cost effective in selling. There are no startup costs to start selling. Are you going to let this opportunity pass by?

At Silkfair, we aim to be the premier e-commerce site for users to buy and sell their goods online. We are always looking to innovate and provide more great features and tools to our users.

Silkfair makes virtual stores more fun than ever with its new features, which allow you to promote your store and items with your creative ads, commercials or demos, using the video player application. It allows you to customize your store, so that you, with your creativity, can have a direct impact on customers. Don’t wait any longer, join Silkfair today!

Why the name ‘Silkfair’?
Our name takes its roots from the trade routes for commerce called "Silk Route" or "Silk Road" established by the ancient civilizations of China and India thru the Middle East up to the Mediterranean Sea. The ancient trade routes bridged the East with the West and greatly influenced the development and flowering of these great civilizations, helping to lay the foundation for the modern world trade patterns.

What is so unique about Silkfair?
Silkfair is the only marketplace where sellers can effectively showcase products without feeling like being at a crowded and cluttered flea market. Silkfair provides a space for you to customize and showcase your products. We bring the latest in technology to help you sell, and to enable you to engage and interact directly with customers. It is the only marketplace that gives you all the advanced tools you need to sell online that you can set up quickly. You can set up your own store, with your own name and it will even give you your own URL, under the Silkfair domain. If you wish, you can also bring your own domain name.

Silkfair has a unique user-friendly interface - Tired of going through page after page just to list or edit an item? - We don’t like that either, hence we have designed our user interface so that sellers can edit listings directly. Just log in with your ID, get to the item you want to edit and click on any field. Hovering your mouse/cursor over the editable fields will give you gentle highlighted signals to let you know that it’s an editable field and go on, make your change.

Other particularity that Silkfair offers is that of the video application, where you can showcase your product in glorious detail. You know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words; now imagine what a video can do! You can use this application to show video clips of your products, on your store; you can even upload an ad of your own store. Don’t just show your customers product pictures! Now you have the chance to SHOW your products to your customers.

Additionally, each store can create and maintain its own forum and blog. Allowing you to interact with interested customers directly, maintaining customer satisfaction and loyalty, gaining customer trust and their feedback on your products, and on your store, all with unbelievable ease and sophistication.

Silkfair is a marketplace fully loaded with the latest technology with the easiest and most interactive applications. Another feature that Silkfair take a lot of attention to is that of security. Silkfair is designed so that your financial information is kept as secure and private as possible thru the use of multiple layers of complex encryption.

Silkfair is a marketplace designed for you, designed thinking in all attributes that will enable you to interact with customers in a more personal manner. Silkfair makes buying and selling fun and easy.

REGISTERING & LOGIN

How do I get started on Silkfair?
The first step is to become a member. Just click the Register today link at the top left-hand corner of the site to get started. You will need a valid e-mail address, a unique username and a password. Usernames can only be numbers and letters; no funky characters or spaces are allowed; usernames are not case-sensitive so don’t worry about using lower or upper-case.

How to register?
Sellers must be careful when choosing their username because it will also be their shop’s name. If you want to become a seller, we also require that you have a valid credit card. Since Silkfair is an e-commerce site, all buyers and sellers must be over the age of 18 (or have parental permission and supervision). There are three simple steps to register:

1. Register on Silkfair using the Register today link and fill-in the form and click on ‘Submit’.
2. Check your e-mail, where you will receive an e-mail from Silkfair (this is to validate your e-mail and activate your Silkfair account). Click on the link that it will appear on this email to activate your Silkfair Account.
3. And That’s It! WELCOME! You are now, part of the Silkfair Community! Enjoy!

During registration, please take some time to familiarize yourself with our regulations in the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Why do I have problems Login?
Have you activated your account via the confirmation e-mail sent by Silkfair? You can't login if your account has not been activated. When you first register with Silkfair, we send you a confirmation e-mail. You'll just need to click on the link appearing on this e-mail to activate your account. You might also be mistyping your password, be sure that the CAPS LOCK is off. If the problem still persists get in touch with our customer support department at: support@SILKFAIR.com.

Where is my confirmation e-mail? I don’t think I received one!
Check your junk mail folder, it may have ended up in there. Sometimes e-mails from unknown sources are sent to the junk mail folder or spam folder by e-mail providers.

I never received the confirmation e-mail, how do I get it resent?
Go to the Register screen and look in the lower right where it says "If you already completed this part, but need us to resend the confirmation email, enter your email address here."

ACCOUNT INFO

Can I change my username?
Usernames on Silkfair cannot be changed. For this reason, please take your time and consider your username carefully, as it will be your Store’s Name ID (if you are planning to be a Seller). This would interfere with Silkfair’s feedback system and open doors to fraud. Your username is also assigned to your given e-mail address, so the e-mail address is unique to your username.

I forgot my password, what should I do?
If you cannot recall your password, just click on the forgot password? link on Silkfair’s top menu. Silkfair will e-mail a temporary password that you can use to sign back in the system. After you can change your password back to something you can remember by going to: My Account > My Account Page > Edit Profile (all these on top of the page)

I can't remember my username, can I still login?
If you've forgotten your username, click on the forgot password? link on Silkfair’s top menu. As long as you enter the e-mail address you used to sign up for your account, we can send you an e-mail with your username and temporary password.

If I forgot my username and/or password and/or e-mail address, what can I do?
In this case, you'll have to e-mail support@SILKFAIR.com and ask for help. Keep in mind we'll need some way for you to prove ownership of the account. If you've lost all your information, you'll have to register as new.

Will my information be kept private?
Silkfair is committed to protecting your privacy. Please see our Privacy Policy.

How do I change my password?
Once you log in to Silkfair go to My Account > My Account Page> Edit Profile, here you can change it by following the on screen instructions. If you cannot remember your password, just click on the forgot password? link. Silkfair will e-mail a temporary password that you can use to sign in with. You can change your password back to something you can remember by going to: My Account > My Account Page> Edit

How do I change the e-mail address for my Silkfair account?
You need to login to Silkfair and go to My Account > My Account Page> edit Profile, and this will allow you to change your e-mail.

How do I change my mailing address?
Login to Silkfair and go to My Account > My Account page> edit Profile, and then modify as needed.

How do I change the billing information?
Login to Silkfair and go to My Account > My Account page> Look for the ‘Financial Tab’ and then follow the on screen instructions.

How do I close my Silkfair account?
Are you leaving us? Why? If you really want to, please e-mail us at support@SILKFAIR.com to request this and we'll do it for you.

Can I close my account to start a new one?
Yes you can, but you will need to use a different e-mail address and none of your information will be carried over. For security reasons usernames and e-mails can't be reused once they are in our system. Please contact us at support@SILKFAIR.com, if you would like to close your account.

PUBLIC PROFILE

How do I add more personal information about myself?
Login to Silkfair and go to My Account> My Account page, you can add some more detailed personal information.

SITE FEATURES

What are PowerGroups for?
Coming soon!

What are tags for? Do they really matter?
Tags are keywords used to sort items on Silkfair. The first tag on an item determines under which top-level category it will be listed. Subcategories on Silkfair are also based on tags. For example the ‘Men’s Clothing’ subcategory will show items tagged with Clothing & Shoes. A single tag can be included of multiple words, e.g. Accessories & Apparel. Tags are single-word keywords. If you were looking at an item in a store and there was a small tag attached to it, what words would it have on it to help you identify or understand the item? Tag words are chosen by the seller for each item, and may be used to help people find an item or related items. For example, if you're looking at a scarf with the tag "sheep wool," you can click it and see all other items with the same tag.

What are materials? How do they work?
Materials are a special kind of single-word keywords. Instead of helping you understand what an item is used for; they help you figure out what it's made out of. You can click a material anywhere you see it to be taken to a list of all other items using the same material.

What is the Color browser for?
This is a new tool Silkfair offers to buyers, this option of searching for items of specific colors allows buyers to find exactly what they are looking for. This is to give buyers a more precise way of finding what they are looking for. So Silkfair allows sellers to categorize their items under a primary and secondary color code so that buyers can more precisely browse Silkfair.

What is the Item browser for?
In order to offer a more explicit manner of showroom, Silkfair has added its Item Browser, where you will be able to take a good, close look on the Items of your interest, before getting into more detail information about the Items themselves. Silkfair want to make the browsing easier, faster and the Item Browser shows you in clear, large pictures images of the Items of your interest.

What is the Communicate feature for?
This feature is so that you can keep track on the Silkfair interface of all communication you have between your matching parts. So you can a have direct access to the information shared among your clients or your vendors. Silkfair once again is aiming to make the E-experience more direct, more user-friendly and at the same time allow you to keep control and track of all your communication.

What is the Community feature?
Community allows you to interact with either sellers or buyers of specific items and gain the full knowledge on their items, on their interest. It enables the direct relations between you and your counterpart. Through Blogs and Forums already existent or through the creation of a new one on the field of your interest, you can give space to a community of individuals interested in the same aspects as you. Silkfair is decreasing the gap between you and your matching part.

What are Forums?
The Forums are a big part of Silkfair community spaces. These are public bulletin boards on Silkfair for all members to discuss a variety of things, ranging from getting help with using the site or advice on running a shop to suggesting new site features and reporting bugs, as well as just socializing with others in the Silkfair community. The Forums can be found in the Community section of the site (top of the page)

What are Favorites?
When you find an item or shop on Silkfair that you love, you can bookmark it by adding it to your Favorites. To add an item or a shop, click the link in the right side of your screen, underneath your ‘Watchlist’ where the "Add to favorites" link is situated. To view your Favorites list, go to the ‘’Add to favorites’’ link and there click on ‘View all your Favorites’’

What about the Video application, how does it work?
In an effort to offer users all technologies available, Silkfair has innovated and added a Video feature on product page and product thumbnails. This feature enables you to upload videos of pretty much anything you want (please see our Terms of Use for details on inappropriate materials that should not be submitted). The video function could be used to:
• Show in more detail your product’s features
• Show a demo of your store or product
• Show an ad of your store, just imagine that, a VIDEO-AD OF YOUR STORE ON THE WEB!
As you can see you can do pretty much anything. They say a picture says a thousand words, now imagine what a video can do! This video feature will be free for a very limited time, after that, usage fees will apply. You are going to be able to set a limit for video usage, so you can control the expenditure on this feature.

Feedback Mapping, what does it mean?
The Feedback mapping feature will enable a better view of users leaving feedback. Once the feedback loop is closed, this means a buyer leaving feedback to a seller and vice-versa, Silkfair will map these feedbacks. This will enable Silkfair member to have a better view in spotting potential ‘feedback-scams.’ This is a problem that is currently damaging other marketplaces. Silkfair has found a way to deal with it, now take advantage of that!

What is PayPal or Google Checkout?
PayPal or Google Checkout is an account-based system that lets anyone with an e-mail address securely send and receive online payments using their credit card or bank account. It’s a popular way to electronically pay for items online as a seller or buyer.

How to use the Search Bar on Silkfair?
The search bar on top every page is contextual, based on what section of the site you're in. You can use the ‘Advance Search’ option to specify in more detail the item you are looking for.

Will you add a missing category to the main list?
If there's a category we've missed, email us your suggestion at support@SILKFAIR.com, we will evaluate your reasons for adding. Take advantage of using tags, materials, and descriptions to classify your items. This will effectively help broaden your product listing.

I have an idea to make Silkfair better, would you like to hear it?
Certainly! We are always looking for new ideas and improvements to make. Contact us at support@SILKFAIR.com, we will love to hear you.

BUYING ON SILKFAIR

How do I buy items from others?
When you find an item you'd like to purchase click 'Buy Now’. The item will remain in your cart as you continue to navigate the site. When you are ready to purchase the item, click 'Buy Now’ for an item or ‘Checkout All' for all items in the Shopping Cart, and at this point you will see the details of your purchase(s). You will be asked to enter billing address, shipping address, and payment method information to complete your purchase(s). Note: You’re also given the ability to perform multiple purchases at one time from different sellers.

Are transactions limited?
No, transactions are not limited. Silkfair allows users to complete as many transactions as they like.

What if my purchase is declined?
If your purchased has been declined, it’s probably because the seller did not feel your purchased was adequate to be accepted. If you need further detail information on the declined purchased, simply contact the seller directly or look for a similar item to buy or make a purchase from another seller.

What if the product I received was not as it was listed by the seller?
It’s unfortunate when situations like this occur, but members should try to contact each other, detailing what has happened before they try to contact Silkfair. If the situation is not rectified you can now take further action and contact Silkfair via the ‘Contact Us” page to notify thee users mishandling of items. Silkfair will then contact that user to find a solution to the problem. If the problem still persists that user’s account will be monitored for future similar problems, and may be even terminated.

SELLING ON SILKFAIR

How do I get started as a Seller?
First, register at Silkfair. Once you've registered for a basic (Buyer) account, you'll need to upgrade to a seller account. To do this, click on the ‘Sell’ button and ‘My Store’ option from the top navigation menu. Next, you will need a valid credit card to become a seller. Once you have been validated, begin building your store by entering your store information and start uploading your items.

Who can be a seller?
Anyone over the age of 18 can be a seller on Silkfair. If you are under 18, you may still do so with the permission of (and under the guidance of) a responsible adult.

Can I just sell 1 item?
Of course! Start with 1 Item, and you will most likely find it so easy and enjoyable that in no time you will be listing more! Silkfair has been designed so that sellers can feel free, independent and distinguished among other sellers, by allowing them to customize and expose themselves freely.

I'm in Canada, or the UK, or anywhere else in the world besides the US, can I sell on Silkfair?
Yep, as long as you've got a valid credit card you can sign up. We're working on making Silkfair an international marketplace loaded with diversity of product from all around the globe.

What do I get as a seller?
PLENTY! Each seller has a store represented by a personalized, unique web address under the silkfair.com domain (username.silkfair.com). Sellers have diverse tools to sell and market their wares. Sellers with existing eBay feedback scores can have their rating integrated into Silkfair profile. Each seller with an approved credit card can list as many items they want for sale. In the near future, Silkfair will be providing online tools and complete customization capability to those sellers who wish to have a customized store under their own domain.

How much does it cost to setup a store?
Signing up to be a seller is free. Every seller also gets their own store for free, located at username.silkfair.com when they register.

How much does it cost to list items on Silkfair?
Listing your items to build your store at Silkfair is FREE, so upload as many items you want to sell as you want! However, although we would like to keep the system free from listing fees in the future as a long term permanent policy, we reserve the right to raise the possiblity of applying listing fees if abuse to the system occurs. If the circumstances arise where we need to bring up the matter, we will first hold a public vote and have community discussions to determine the best course of action for the community.
We welcome your feedback and suggestions.

How much does it cost to sell items on Silkfair?
Final Sales Fee : 3% of per item price sold.
Final sales fee is a percentage of the final selling price, not including sales tax nor shipping & handling.
Video usage fee : TBD

How am I billed for fees associated with selling?
When you sign up as a seller, we require that you always keep a valid credit card on file. You will be billed on a monthly basis. The charges will be applied automatically to the credit card you supplied for fee payment. During each month, fees are "queued" to be charged and you may view this queue at any time under My Store>Fees/Billing.

What items can't I sell on Silkfair?
Selling these prohibited items on Silkfair can lead to your account being terminated. Here are prohibited items on Silkfair: 1. No wildlife animals, pets are allowed to be sold on Silkfair. This is really due to animal conservation laws and offenders may face prosecution. 2. No fake or counterfeit currencies may be sold on Silkfair. 3. School Related Software. This means any school related software that is being sold at a reduced pricing to student and researchers. 4. This is similar to point 3 except it deals with copyright, trademark etc. Examples include brand names of popular consumer products. Beta software, CD, VCD and DVD material in which there is no proof of authenticity. 5. Any kind of downloadable media. This usually refers to any video, software and any digital media items. There are exceptions in this case which is if you hold the copyright or the sole owner of the item. Do note, you may be asked by Silkfair to verify your copyright ownership, trademark etc if you sell it on Silkfair. 6. Prohibited Goods from other countries cannot be sold on Silkfair. 7. Names, faces, signatures of people without their proper permission. 8. Obviously, you can’t sell any kind of weapons or ammunition on Silkfair. 9. You can’t sell any government documents or personal documents such as identification card, passport, car license etc. By knowing the above list of prohibited items on Silkfair, make sure you do not list any of these items for sale on Silkfair.

Do I have to build a store?
Building a store is required if you plan to sell. However, it is not necessary to build a store in order to purchase items from other members at Silkfair.

How do I list an item?
You may list an item as soon as you are registered and set you store at Silkfair. Once you are logged in, you can start listing your item by clicking “Sell” on the top menu and select “List an Item” link.

How do I add pictures to an item listing?
This is step 3 as part of the item listing process above. All you need to do is upload the original image and we'll take care of all the resizing for you (including making the thumbnail). The file size of the original picture you upload should be no more than 2MB. The following file types are OK: JPEG (and JPG), GIF and PNG.

How do I unlist an item?
Once you're logged in, click "My Shop" in the top right. Click "remove" in the row next to the item you want gone.

How can I upload videos?
It is as simple as uploading a picture, just click on the Video Box, find the video you want to upload and that’s it. Every member is able to upload two videos into each item listing. It could be a video about your store, your items and a demo or just about you!

What type of videos can I upload?
Major file formats that could work include: .avi, .dv, .mpeg, .mpg, .mov, .wmv, .asf

What kind of video quality will my videos be shown?
We will convert the video you upload and try to maintain the best quality possible. However, it is possible that some noise or slight loss from original quality due to digital conversion, can take place.

How can I customize my Store Profile?
Customize your Store Profile by going to ‘My Store’ and clicking ‘Profile’ tab. From there you have the options to add your store profile, add a store banner, display store’s featured items, custom URL, Tags and Meta Tags. We are always looking to add great new features to Silkfair, so keep an eye for further customization features.

If I can’t find the category for my item, what should I do?
If you would like to have a category added to more suitably fit your items description, send us information on the items and category you would like added to support@SILKFAIR.com.

Can I use my own category?
We are working on a custom category feature. It will be available soon.

Can all the other members and non-members view my store’s items?
Yes, once you’ve completed registering and building a store, members and non-members are able to view the items listed within your store.

How often should I visit Silkfair?
Visit Silkfair as often as you like. Keep your store updated and looking fresh to optimize your experience. Visit other Silkfair stores and build a network of fellow sellers to completely experience everything Silkfair has to offer. When your account requires your immediate attention either because a new offer has been received or an item has been sold from your store we will notify you via the e-mail address you provided.

How can I import/export items into/from my store?
When you are adding items or manage your store externally from Silkfair, go to ‘My Store > Products’ page to upload/download CSV file format (other outside source: eBay Importer Tool and Yahoo Importer Tool – Coming Soon!).

Are there any items that can’t be posted at Silkfair?
Fire arms, drugs, pornography or any x-rated items or services are prohibited -- Any legally prohibited items cannot be listed. Silkfair has the right to refuse or delete any items that we deem inappropriate. We reserve the right to remove or shut down any site displaying inappropriate material. For more information please view our Terms of Use.

What if I have multiple sizes/variations of the same item?
You can create price profiles with various attributes such as size, color, length, width or any other custom attributes. You can create any number of price profiles in your Store profile. When you create your item listing, just simply select any price profile you have created earlier.

How about different taxes and shipping charges?
Similar to the price profiles, you can create custom tax profiles and shipping profiles.

Can I remove an item I’ve posted if I no longer want to sell it?
Yes, you can remove any items you no longer wish to sell by going to your store’s product listing, and remove the items you want, by clicking on the ‘Delete’ button.

Once one of my items is purchased, what happens next?
The Silkfair system is designed to manage your inventory, so when items are sold (order generated), the quantity available of that item will be reduced by the number sold. If this was the last available unit of a particular item, be sure to keep your items updated! After the transaction is completed, the contact information for each party will be sent, and you will have to ship the item that was purchased.

Does Silkfair handle payments or shipping & handling?
No, Silkfair does not handle payments nor shipping & handling for the seller, users are individually responsible. However, Silkfair is integrated with Authorize.net, PayPal and GoogleCheckout for the sellers who have those accounts.

How can I review my order history?
Go to My Store > Orders page to see your entire order history. This will list all your orders information from all buyers with full order details, payment transactions and feedbacks.

What if the person who wants to purchase with me has no transaction history?
If the person who wants to buy any of your items has no transaction history, this means that it’s a new member or a member who has yet to fulfill any successful sale. Give each member a chance, everyone has to start somewhere!

What if there is a non-payment from the buyer for an item?
It’s unfortunate when situations like this occur, but members should try to contact each other detailing what has happened before they try to contact Silkfair. If the situation is not rectified you can now take further action and contact Silkfair via the Contact Us link to notify of the user’s mishandling of item(s). Silkfair will then contact that user via email to find a solution to the problem. If the problem still persists, then that user’s account will be monitored for future similar problems, and may be even terminated.

FEEDBACK

How does the Feedback system work?
As a Seller or Buyer you may leave a feedback rating varying form ‘Very Good’ to ‘Poor’ and a textual comment about individuals within the Silkfair Community to whom you've been involved in a transaction. Your feedback score or ‘Average Feedback’ is the result of all feedback received. This is calculated following the Stars that you give or receive from your matching part.

My Silkfair Rating

Buyers are given the oppotunity to give a Yes/No answer to the following 3 questions describing the purchasing experience :
- Was the item received as described?
- Was the seller able to answer questions and resolve any problems?
- Was the seller responsive throughout?

Sellers are also given the opportunity to give a Yes/No answer to the following 3 questions describing the sales transaction experience :
- Was the buyer responsive with payment and completing the transaction? - Was the buyer easy to deal with and cooperative?
- Did the buyer have any issues with the item(s)?

Our feedback system is a double-blind feedback system, where neither buyer nor seller knows what each other have issued until both parties completed both feedbacks. When one party issues the a feedback first, that triggers a grace period of 14 days in which the other party needs to complete the feedback before the ability to issue feedback is closed. Feedbacks should begin when both parties agree the transaction completed.

How do I leave Feedback?
To leave feedback log into Silkfair and go to Start Page>Feedback. Then click the Awaiting Feedback tab, and you'll see everything there. Each feedback entry must be submitted separately.

How do I view feedback I've received and given?
Login and go to Start Page>Feedback and click the appropriate tabs on that page.

When should a buyer leave feedback?
Once the item purchased is received from the seller and the transaction completed in accordance to the terms set by seller in the product listing.

When should a seller leave feedback?
The seller can leave feedback as soon as they receive payment, or wait until they've confirmed that the buyer has received the item and is happy with the transaction, we recommend waiting until buyer confirmation.

When does feedback end?
Once either the buyer or seller issues a feedback, this begins the countdown of feedback grace period of 14 days, in which the other party can complete the other feedback before feedback is closed.

What is the User Rating System?
Users are encouraged as buyers and sellers to rate one another. We also encourage people to endorse their friends. Building a reputation is instrumental in ensuring safe, legitimate transactions. Ratings are an aggregate of peer evaluations completed on each transaction. A user’s rating reflects their ability to deliver payment on time and items promptly and in ‘as advertised’ condition.

Silkfair Rating System Explained

I've left feedback for the wrong person. What do I do?
If you have confused your feedback deliver, just e-mail us at support@SILKFAIR.com for help.

I believe I've received unwarranted or malicious negative feedback. What should I do?
Please e-mail us at support@SILKFAIR.com for help, and we will investigate the matter.

SITE ABUSE

Where can I find Silkfair's regulations?
Silkfair's rules are described in the Terms of Use (which is a legal agreement for using the site) you can find the link in the left-hand corner at the bottom of the page

How do I report a violation of Silkfair’s regulations?
You may send us an e-mail to abuse@SILKFAIR.com. We take all such matters seriously and act on the matter as soon as we are aware of the abuse. Don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to make Silkfair fraud-free.

What are the consequences for breaking Silkfair's regulations?
Initially, we try to solve matters with users personally and privately. If things don’t get resolved successfully, Customer Support will issue an official warning letter. If the warning is not effective in cutting regulation-breaking behavior, site abilities may be limited or an account may be terminated. If site abilities are limited, it will only affect the section of the site being abused (for example, sending spam on Blogs or Forums will conclude in the user being banned from these sites).