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Your frequently Asked Questions
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While we understand that this can happen with online resale, we'd like to remind you that HauteTrader is not a resale website. This is a Trade-Only marketplace with an exclusive trading currency that is to be regarded as cash. When a member trades for your item using Trade-Credits, she has essentially bought it outright and you are REQUIRED to send it to her. Failure to do so will likely incur a negative review.
Therefore, it is your responsibility to HauteTrader and to the other members of the community to ensure that your closet is up to date at all times.
To avoid receiving a negative review from the corresponding trader, we strongly recommend that you contact her immediately to offer her an alternative item, to which her Trade-Credits may be applied. If you communicate openly with her and explain your mistake, she will be more understanding.
When you invite a friend to HauteTrader, you'll receive 25 Trade-Credits after she completes her first trade. Plus, adding friends is a great way to increase your social presence on the site, because they're likely to follow your Trader-Closet and favorite your items.
Yes, they do. Trade-Credits expire after 6 months, so make sure to spend them while they're still valid. With so many yummy designer pieces on offer, it shouldn't be too hard, darling!
Your trade fee must be paid within 48 hours of trade agreement.
Your Offer Agreement Trade Fee is $25 if your traded item is listed as Standard
Your Offer Agreement Trade Fee is $50 if your traded item is listed as Premium
Trade Fees when using Trade-Credits are $25
Other resale and consignment sites charge you a sizable percentage of your transaction. As HauteTrader believes in transparency, we do not charge you a commission; we apply a standard fee across all trade and tier types. When you trade with us, you'll always know the fee upfront.
Our like-for-like trading system allows you to retain the full value of your garments and accessories. On other marketplaces, you'd be required to heavily discount your item in order to be able to sell it. You'd receive only a fraction of your garment's original cost. In order to receive an item of equal value, you would have to pay the difference yourself.
When you trade with us, your transaction is risk-free, because we have you completely covered. The standard Trade-Fee includes shipping and handling, and the additional shipping and processing costs in the eventuality that a trade is lost, disputed or Re-Traded. The standard Trade-Fee also includes Haute-Trust protection. We verify each member and track every shipment to ensure your safety in trading.
When you take all of the above factors into consideration, we hope that you will see that we facilitate and protect your trades at a very reasonable rate. With HauteTrader, you save 40% or more than you would with any of our competitors.
We implemented Premium Trading to protect you. It's risky to send an item valued at $1,500 + to someone you have never met without any reassurance that the item you'll receive is in the same condition as shown on site . Having both the Premium Item you're sending and the Premium Item you're receiving screened for authenticity protects you as a trader. Both you and the corresponding trader can be 100% assured that both items are genuine and that you are engaging in a fair trade.
Premium Trades cost more to process for two reasons.
(1) Top-tier items are made from higher quality materials, which tend to be heavier. On average, a Premium Item weighs between 3 lbs and 4 lbs.
(2) Premium Items are shipped to HauteTrader HQ to be screened by our style team before being forwarded to the recipient. Shipping to two locations increases the cost of shipping.
When you take all of the above factors into consideration, we hope that you will see that Premium Trading protects you and your items at a very reasonable rate. Premium Trading is what separates us from other marketplaces, which offer you no guaranteed protection against counterfeit merchandise. We hope that you'll appreciate the value of this fantastic feature.
After you receive your item, we'll ask you to leave feedback for the respective trader.
Award her a star rating (out of 5) and write a review. Did the item arrive within the expected delivery time? Does it appear as it did in the photos? If you contacted the trader to ask questions, was she communicative and helpful? Explain why you would or would not choose to trade with her again. If you write her a fair and detailed review, she'll be more likely to do so for you.
Our system is very review-sensitive, so you should strive to receive excellent ratings.
Yes, you do. At this time, you must be located in the United States in order to use HauteTrader.
Before you may begin trading, you must verify your telephone number and list atleast one item into your Trader-Closet. When we have approved your item (usually within 1 hour), it will appear in your closet and you may begin trading.
Click My Haute-Trader at the top right corner of the page and select Settings.
No, darling, we don't! It's absolutely free to become a member of HauteTrader. As long as you have at least 1 item in your Trader-Closet, a phone-verified account, and a desire to enhance your personal style, you may begin trading!
Absolutely. You may choose which of your details to make public, and only Haute-Trader members can see your public information on the site. Your information is kept private and secure with Haute-Trader.
To reset your password, select Forgot Password on the Log-In page. We'll send you an e-mail containing a temporary password and instructions for setting a new password.
You can add your photo in My Account. Click My Haute-Trader at the top right corner of the page; or go to your Trader-Closet and click Customize My Closet.
Don't be discouraged! You might want to adjust your approach.
Make sure your profile is complete. People like to know with whom they are trading. Upload your photo and include some info about yourself and your personal style. Verify your Haute-Trader account via the social networks. All of these things will help the other members to feel more comfortable about trading with you.
Before submitting an offer, check out the corresponding trader. Read her Trade-Rules. View her style preferences. Use this knowledge to put together some options she might like. Now go and make her a truly irresistible offer!
Visit the your HauteTrader settings and select the Deactivate account link.
At this time, it is not possible to cancel a Trade-Offer while it is pending.
To contact our friendly support team, send an e-mail to: support@haute-trader.com.
For press and media enquiries, write to: PR@haute-trader.com.
Or, you can leave us a message via the Contact Us page, which you can find at the bottom of any page of our website.
Upload at least 3 images of your item. We suggest photographing the item from the front, side, and back. Make sure any details or flaws can be clearly seen.
If you are located in the New York City area, our style team will come to you and list your items.
Yes, you may. To send a public message to another member, visit the page of the item you're interested in and leave a comment in the forum.
HauteTrader will send important notifications to the e-mail address you used when you registered with the site. Every time you sign in to HauteTrader, you'll be alerted to any new notifications in the My Haute-Trader section at the top right corner of the page.
If a member is abusive to you or you recognize a member as a known scammer from another site, feel free to report your concerns to our team. At the left side of your trader closet, select the box that says Report This User. In the message box that appears, please briefly describe the issue you are having or have had with the member. Haute-Trader strives to ensure safety in trading and will thoroughly investigate the matter.
Upload at least 3 images of your item. We suggest photographing the item from the front, side, and back. Make sure any details or flaws can be clearly seen.
If you are located in the New York City area, our style team will come to you and list your items.
We feel that this is the minimum number of items you would need to have in your closet in order to be able to make an attractive Trade-Offer. The corresponding member is more likely to accept your Trade-Offer if you present her with lots of lovely options.
No, you may not. HauteTrader accepts only items that are in good-to-excellent condition.
The Designer Index lists all the HauteTrader-approved designer labels and their corresponding tier values. To view it, click the menu at the left of the homepage or click Designers at the bottom right corner of any page on the site.
No, you may not. Each HauteTrader-approved designer has been assigned a tier number from 1 to 4. When you list your item and enter the designer's name, the system will automatically update your listing with the appropriate tier number.
HauteTrader accepts only pieces manufactured by designers approved by us (see the Designer Index). Each listing is individually screened by a member of our fashion team to ensure that the item meets our standards. All items are no more than 10 years old and in good to excellent condition.
You have 3 options: You may decline the trade; you may accept 2 items; you may accept a lesser-value item plus Trade-Credits. We leave this to your discretion. You are entitled to get the best possible value for your item.
HauteTrader does not limit the number of offers you can decline. You are free to turn down any Trade-Offer that doesn't appeal to you.
You can look this up in the designer index. To find it, click the Designers button at the bottom right corner of any page on the site.
We ask you to list at least 3 items before you may start trading. Beyond this, the sky's the limit. You can list as many items as you'd like!
No, you may not. Haute-Trader accepts only items that are no more than 7 years old.
Many designers provide sizing information on the Internet. Simply Google the designer's name and "size chart" or "sizing chart" to find out the exact measurements for each dress size. If you cannot find a sizing chart, you might try Googling the designer's name and "comes up big/small" or "true to size" to find out what other people say about this particular designer's sizing.
HauteTrader does not require a receipt for your item. However, if you have a receipt, including it in one of your pictures is a surefire way to garner interest in your item.
Generally speaking, once we approve a listing, we will not take it down. Therefore, if we have removed your item, we will have a very good reason for doing so. You may contact our friendly support team to query its removal, but most likely a member of our team will be in touch with you about it very shortly.
You can view your listings in your Trader-Closet. Click the My Haute-Trader area at the top right of the page and select My Trader-Closet.
Members who live in the New York City area may use our VIP Listing service. We'll arrange for a style expert to come to you, and photograph and list your items.
No, you do not. You may enter whatever sizing appears on the item's label, as long as you specify the region. For example: American size 2 should be listed as US 2; Italian size 32 should be listed as EU 30.
Members are required to upload at least 3 photos when listing an item. Images must be clear and accurate and clearly depict the condition and details of the garment. A member of our style team will personally screen every listing before it goes live. HauteTrader will not approve any listing that does not meet the above requirements.
Every listing is individually screened by a member of our fashion team. In order to ensure that Haute-Trader offers a truly high-end shopping experience, we must maintain impeccable standards. If your item is less than desirable, we cannot list it on our site. If we cannot see your item clearly enough in the images to ascertain whether it is suitable for listing on the site, or if you don't provide enough information about the item for us to be able to check it out, we cannot approve it.
We may have declined your listing for any of the following reasons:
The item's designer is not on our list of approved designers.
The item wasn't manufactured by the designer under which you listed it.
The item appears to be more than 7 years old.
The item is not in good-to-excellent condition.
You did not provide enough information about the item in your description.
The images you uploaded did not provide a clear enough representation of the item. The images did not show a front, side, and back view of the item. (If you think your item was declined because of a problem with the images you uploaded, you may take more photos and try to list it again.)
If you believe that your item is counterfeit merchandise, please file a dispute.
When USPS notifies our system that they have delivered your item, we will send you an e-mail containing a link to the Confirm Trade Delivery page. On this page, where you'll confirm receipt of the item, you may dispute the trade. In your message, please briefly explain why you doubt the authenticity of the item.
A member of our team will be in touch with you within five (5) days to notify you of the outcome decision. If the trade is deemed Good, the dispute will be closed. If the trade is marked Bad, we will issue a refund and ask you to retrade the inauthentic item. (In certain cases, we may ask you to send the item to HauteTrader HQ to be inspected by our style team.)
If your item looks different from the images that were posted by the sender, please file a dispute.
When USPS notifies our system that they have delivered your item, we will send you an e-mail containing a link to the Confirm Trade Delivery page. On this page, where you'll confirm receipt of the item, you may dispute the trade. In your message, please briefly describe how the item differs from the images.
A member of our team will be in touch with you within five (5) days to notify you of the outcome decision. If the item doesn't fit you or is simply not to your liking, the trade will be marked Good and the dispute will be considered closed. If the item's condition or appearance differs from the item's posted description, the trade will be marked Bad, the trade will be considered unsuccessful, and both traders will be required to Re-Trade their items.
You can check the status of your item on your Trade Info page. (This can be accessed by clicking the My Haute-Trader area at the top right of the page, and selecting Trade Info from the dropdown menu.) If the system shows your item was shipped more than a week ago, and yet you have not received it, we advise you to make a note of the tracking code and contact your local postal service company. If the system shows the item has not been shipped, we suggest that you first contact the respective trader. If there are any other issues, please contact the support team.
Yes. You should send the item within 3 working days. If by day 7 both you and your trade partner have failed to ship, your trade will be canceled. If your trade partner has shipped to you, you have until day 15 to complete your shipment. If not shipped by day 15 your trade will be canceled and you will be asked to return the received item to your trade partner.
Go to your Trade Info page (by clicking the My Haute-Trader area at the top right corner of the page and selecting Trade Info). Under In Transit/Completed Trades, you can find the item's tracking code, which you can use to track your item via the USPS website.
Yes, You are responsible for shipping your item, but we've made it really easy for you. When you've accepted a Trade-Offer, we'll send you a printable, pre-paid label for standard USPS shipping. Please drop your item in the mail within the next 3 working days.
Shipping should take from 2 to 5 business days. It may take slightly longer during busy seasons, such as the weeks leading up to Christmas.
When the respective trader receives your item, she will confirm the trade delivery and rate and review the trade. The system will mark the item as received, and you will be notified.
Your Trade Fee includes your shipping costs.
Haute-Trader provides you with a printable, pre-paid label that already has the recipient's address filled in. Every item is sent via USPS standard shipping and can be tracked on the USPS website using the tracking code that appears on your Trade Info page.
If you think your item has been lost or stolen, contact Haute-Trader HQ via the Contact Us page. In your message, be sure to mention the name of the trader and all the details of the trade, including the title listing and the date the trade was accepted and the date the item was shipped. A member of our team will be in touch with you shortly.
You can check the delivery status of your item on your Trade Info page. To access your Trade Info page, click My Haute-Trader at the top right of the page, and select Trade Info from the dropdown menu. If the system shows that your item was shipped earlier than 7 days ago, and you have not received it, make a note of the tracking code and contact your local postal service company. If the system shows that the item has not yet been shipped, we suggest that you first contact the respective trader. If, by Day 15, the item has still not been shipped, we will return your Trade-Fee and award you the allocated number of Trade-Credits as compensation for the lost item.
Upload a profile photo. Enter your stats, and describe your personal style. Set out your Trade Rules to let other traders know your preferences and requirements. Personalizing your closet and sharing some information about yourself helps other traders to get to know you. They'll feel more comfortable trading with you, and they'll be able to offer you trades that appeal to you.
If you have an issue with another user, unless she is behaving in a hostile or abusive manner, send her a message via the comment board and try to work things out. If it's a small misunderstanding, you may be able to sort it out between the two of you.
If that doesn't work, you may report her to the system. Go to her Trader-Closet. At the left side of the page, beneath her Trader-Rules, select Report This User.
After you have listed an item and a member of our team has approved it, you may remove it by selecting the Delete Item icon in the corner of the item's image box.
You can edit your Trader-Closet information under Settings > Customize My Closet. To do this, click the My Haute-Trader area at the top right corner of the page, select My Settings from the dropdown menu, and click into Customize My Closet.
Click My Haute-Trader at the top right corner of the page. From the dropdown menu, select My Trader-Closet. Click Customize My Closet. Update your profile, and save your changes.
It may take up to 2 weeks altogether. Your item will be shipped to Haute-Trader HQ in NYC, which may take up to 5 working days. It will then be screened by one of our in-house style experts. As soon as we've approved it, we'll ship it to the recipient, which may take up to 5 working days.
We implemented Premium Trading to protect you. It's risky to send an item valued at $1,500+ to someone you have never met without any reassurance that the item you'll receive in return is of equal value. Having both the Premium Item you're sending and the Premium Item you're receiving screened for authenticity protects you as a trader. Both you and the corresponding trader can be 100% assured that both items are genuine and you are engaging in a fair trade.
Premium Trades cost more to process for two reasons.
(1) Top-tier items are made from higher quality materials, which tend to be heavier. On average, a Premium Item weighs between 3 lbs and 4 lbs.
(2) Premium Items are shipped to HauteTrader HQ to be screened by our style team before being forwarded to the recipient. Shipping to two locations increases the cost of shipping.
Premium Trades garner the biggest Trade-Rewards. When you complete your Premium Trade you'll receive 400 lovely Trade-Credits, which you can use to splash out on another exquisite fashion item.
When you take all of the above factors into consideration, we hope that you will see that Premium Trading protects you at a very reasonable price. Premium Trading is what separates us from other marketplaces, which offer you no guaranteed protection against counterfeit merchandise. We hope that you'll appreciate the value of this fantastic feature.
(Please note that when you list a Premium Item, you may list the item as Premium - Accepting Trade-Credits or Premium - Not Accepting Trade-Credits. We offer you this option because we appreciate that some members may not wish to trade their top-tier items for Trade-Credits but would rather receive only Trade-Offers, which may be accepted or declined at your discretion.)
Simply list your Tier-4 item as a Premium Item, and we'll take care of the rest.
Having your Tier-4 item screened by our style team protects you as a trader by assuring the recipient that your item is authentic.
Premium Items are shipped to HauteTrader HQ to be screened by our style team before being forwarded to the recipient. It's risky to send an item valued at $1,500 + to someone you have never met without any reassurance that the item you'll receive in return is of equal value. Having both the Premium Item you're sending and the Premium Item you're receiving screened for authenticity protects you as a trader. Both you and the corresponding trader can be 100% assured that both items are genuine and you are engaging in a fair trade.
Premium Trading is what separates us from other marketplaces, which offer you no guaranteed protection against counterfeit merchandise. We hope that you'll appreciate the value of this fantastic feature.