Sell your downloads on tradebit! - FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Merchant Payout Status (no replies)

puzzler — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:11:04 -0500

Folks, we are paying out in 2 steps again this Wednesday. The first round goes up to all revenues up to last Friday. The weekend will follow asap. I think we are catching up nicely on the fraud attacks and got some solid indications what happened where and how. Lot of work, will keep you posted! Thanks for being patient!

Cheers,
Ralf

Product listing order questions (3 replies)

puzzler — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:48:44 -0500

Folks, I got this question several times in the past weeks: "What is the listing order of products?"

That is quite easy to answer: on the catalog pages, we have a very simple listing process: First of all, we do not list large files for small prices. That makes no sense. If you want to sell a movie for .99 $ and it has 600 MB, we are not interested to create that much traffic for anything below 2.75$. Large files below that "hurting line" are NOT listed or promoted by us in any case. We do not delete them, but why should anyone including the merchant have interest to sell a 600 MB file for 99 cents?

Then the listing process is simple: we do build a cache every 3-4 hours to be faster in the browsing. So very freshly uploaded files are not listed, when you are logged out. That happens, when the cache is build later on.

Standard is: First all products with thumbnails, pictures, a description and sales. The the files with all the infos and no sales then the files without infos and no sales.

The perfect situation to be listed first on tradebit is:

Have a product with a thumbnail picture, a detail picture, a non-duplicate description of at least 2 sentences, tags and at least 1 sale. Then your product will evolve upwards.

Hope that answers that.

Wednesday payout (4 replies)

puzzler — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 03:19:28 -0600

Folks, we constantly receive the question from affiliates and merchants on Wednesdays: "Where is my money?"

Today we have not (yet) paid out. When we say Wednesdays, we mean US west coast time based Wednesdays. We are currently check and confirm the last block of transactions and will be paying within the next 3-4 hours. That varies every Wednesday on the amount of open tickets, chargebacks, etc.

Furthermore: all credit card payments, which landed on your account are paid 2 weeks later. Only the paypal payments of the last week are closed on the following Wednesday. I have create a graphic a while back:

so if the first payment comes in via credit card on a Monday (day 1) this payment will be processed and paid on the Wednesday 2 weeks later (day 17).. if it comes in on a Sunday (day 7), it would also be process on Wednesday (day 17) - means a week of credit card payments is closed on the next Wednesday - 10 days later.

Consumer payment questions for Paypal and Credit Cards (no replies)

puzzler — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 13:45:32 -0600

All products on tradebit are provided by partners or merchants, who upload their catalog to the site.

If you select a download and pay via the payment options, you get a download code eMailed to the eMail you used. If you pay with Paypal, the download information is sent to that payment email address.

If you pay via credit card directly, we ask upfront for your email address.

Sometimes a typo happens or the eMail you entered is no longer valid. Then you can dig up the sale (if it was successful) on the sale finder page here:

[www.tradebit.com]

on the right side, where is says "Lost the code".

You have to enter the file ID of the product you purchased (which is always part of the URL of the product and also mailed to you by paypal in the receipt).

Please make sure, that our download information did not land in your SPAM folder. That also happens a lot!

If you still can not find the download or something else went wrong: our support staff tries to answer all requests within 24 hours if you mail to tickets(at)tradebit.com...

Payouts, payments, fraud, etc. (no replies)

puzzler — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 03:58:09 -0500

Because some merchants mailed me with questions about the pay-out and why some of the payments suddenly appear as "Pending" in their statistics:

Very simple - there is a guy out there, trying hard to do credit card fraud on tradebit. Before we payout Wednesdays, we try to find his payments and set them to Pending. The process is quite obvious, but hard to filter automatically. The guy uses open proxies and does 2 things: he creates now merchant accounts and uses products with high affiliate rates.

So for new merchants and new affiliates: payments can be set to pending for up to 4 weeks in order to find fraud. After 4 weeks we will activate the payments again and pay out that money.

But if you have sudden sales of products with high affiliate rates: that could be the fraudster working on your files. Instead of deleting your account, we thought it is better to set questionable payments to "Pending" and see how that behavior develops. We are in close contact with the processing company to track down fraudulent users and there are many things to improve over the next weeks. We are getting better...

Removing Merchants with Cover Scans (no replies)

puzzler — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:06:07 -0500

I have deleted the first merchants who still post cover scans to their files. If you use the logo or the cover of a manufacturer, we will increase deleting speed now - get rid of it!

Best of 2009 - Questions and postings (2 replies)

puzzler — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:21:43 -0600

Here some snippets of infos, we have added in the past weeks and months:

First, there is a FAQ page for the beginners: [www.tradebit.com] <= here

Then the Google Checkout question:

"An interesting aspect of selling via your own domains is also not mentioned often enough: Selling with Google Checkout!

Once you have setup your Google Checkout ID in the member area of tradebit, you can sell on your own pages with a simple link that looks like:
http : / / www .tradebit .com/indexNew.php/paymentarea/googleCheckoutWithOneItem/[FILE ID] (example)

and gives you a direct payment option via Google Checkout example:
[www.tradebit.com] "

and all the little highlights of 2009:

we went spanish: [www.tradebit.com]

then italian: [www.tradebit.com]

earlier we got the new layout: [www.tradebit.com]

after we got the easy admin: [www.tradebit.com]

introduced some copyright protection methods: [www.tradebit.com]

and besides all that we also imported the actual charts songs just a few days ago: [www.tradebit.com]

That (and many unmentioned things more) was a lot of work for one year and we are in clean up mode now, as you can read on the blog. In January there will be a lot of new things coming for all of us and I will be out of the office for the next days - working from a little hotel room with ocean view to warm up and get some coding done!

Account cancellation (no replies)

puzzler — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:58:16 -0500

Hi, if you want to cancel your account, just log into paypal and list your open subscriptions. there should be one to us! Cancel that and everything else is automated.

Design on detail pages... (no replies)

puzzler — Tue, 16 May 2006 07:48:24 -0500

Folks, tradebit tries to solve a lot for you, but the detail pages under tradebit can not be adjusted to individual designs... if you look for a consistent design and process model, we recommend to use the provided buttons for your pages. So you have full control of everything!

Ralf

Can I mix tangible and intangible goods in one basket (no replies)

puzzler — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 12:26:09 -0600

Well, the short answer is: yes!

tradebit will throw an error message on the tangible good and mail it to you, but the rest (download codes) will be generated and mailed out.

Some merchants use it that way and I was thinking about enhancing that feature anyhow. That will happen soon!

We are still on full power with more merchants and more products daily.

I will keep you in the loop!

Cheers,
Puzzler

Anyone lost a session today? (2 replies)

puzzler — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 06:53:34 -0500

I had a feedback from a merchant today, that he looses the session after uploading a file and tradebit tells him: "you are not logged in"...

kind of strange and I was able to see the same message after uploading and leaving the computer for about 1 hour. After I came back and clicked, I saw the same.

Now we are not sure, if we forgot something... anyone with the same problem?

cheers,
puzzler

Question about security... (no replies)

puzzler — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 18:49:50 -0600

Today the following question came in:

Quote

You state that you store the files in a very secure place, but I do not see any sign of ssl, is it possible to get that for your account?

and here what i answered:

We have a certificate for "[www.tradebit.com];
and you can call the regarding username with https, but that is not needed, because:

1. The files (on sale or restricted files) are stored in a place,
which can not be accessed from the web.

2. Payments take place to https/paypal and paypal notifies us
on https as well in the back.

Once you got your download code, it is only valid for 5 downloads or 72 hrs and that also via https....

For safe links you can also use:

instead of e.g.: [music.tradebit.com]

[www.tradebit.com]

which is the same...

Ok?

The files are NOT under the WEB address, they are on a seperate storage computer and are fetched on payment...

Regards,
puzzler

Never got the download code? (6 replies)

drluv — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:43:50 -0600

About 10-20% of my buyers complain, that they did not get their download codes. I have been over at puzzlers' place to talk to him about the process and how it is setup.

I can not find anything bad in that process. Missing download codes must be a result of SPAM filters. I will now add a link to the "Missing Codes" page on tradebit to lower the support further.

Just to let you (fellow merchants) know...

Peace!
DrLuv

Revenue posted on homepage? (no replies)

puzzler — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:17:47 -0500

Hi folks,

because you asked: the revenue posted on the homepage is just US$, we have a considerable portion of UK pounds and Euros as well, but I do not want to slow down the homepage by that complete calculation...

it is always the last 30 days, so that figure could jump up and down remarkably! Do not be confused :-)

Nevertheless: good to see, that we are used and cruising smoothly!

have a good weekend!
puzzler

Sell files from your site (7 replies)

puzzler — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:57:57 -0500

Hi,

another frequently asked question is:

"hello! can i sell mp3s from my webpage withot having to redirect the costumer to a trade bit site ? thanks!"

and our answer is:

yes, that is possible. we offer:

1. a simple paypal payment button for your page

2. a flash player for your page with a "buy" link

3. a little iframe with product info

tradebit is a generic sales system with a very open approach. it has many features, sometimes on the cost of simplicity in the frontend (all the features need buttons :-) ), but our merchants love the independance...

ask, if you got questions,
puzzler

How to prevent corrupted files... (3 replies)

puzzler — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:21:59 -0600

David mailed me today, that his customers sometimes got corrupted files after download. This is, what he found out:

Quote

Its me again. Some of my customers are getting a file corrupt error when they download my files because they have to turn off the power saver options so their hard drive does not shut down during download and there is no interruption of download. I usually mail them an email explaining how to fix it and there is no problem.

I am hoping a note can be added asking customers to turn of power saving options and screensavers during downloading larger files.

I think the customers will find this too be a great service.

and right he is, it should be placed here AND in the download code mails and the page!

working on it!

puzzler

Problems with ebay integration - missing codes (no replies)

puzzler — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 08:15:33 -0500

Hey folks,

let me point out the most common error, why download codes are missing if you sold via ebay:

The paypal address in your profile MUST fit the email address you got the payment for. Otherwise it would be too easy to hack!

please go to the profile section in the member are and check, if that paypal email is set right and if not, change the values accordingly so they fit.

ask me, if you got questions...
puzzler

Linking and publishing MP3 files online (no replies)

puzzler — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 05:32:02 -0500

A lot of musicians ask us about embedding their songs on their webpages, and I want to publish one support mail, I wrote yesterday, regarding this question:

If you want to link to your files on tradebit, you got a bazillion possiblities to do so:

[www.tradebit.com]

important is, that you understand, that tradebit is
a very powerful system... because of that a bit complicated
once in a while, but it can do much more than you think :-)

here are some tutorials:

[www.tradebit.com]

you should, by default, offer a lo/fi version of your
song on myspace (creation of that format is available
in the member area) and sell the full quality file...

look at the music site of tradebit:

[www.song-titles.net]

you can create these players in flash or win format,
with the ease of a click, if you want...

understand the basic concept of tradebit:

All files are grouped into virtual groups, though still available on a direct URL, but also available (depending on their file type) with media players, etc.

Each files HAS to be sorted into categories AFTER upload...
watch that movie of uploading, it will give you a good idea!

Hope that helped!
Puzzler

People asked, how to link to their files and music on tradebit (2 replies)

puzzler — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 06:01:35 -0500

Ok folks,

some independant musicians asked us, how they could link to their file on tradebit and I wanted to show you the options you have:

===================================================

You can link in various ways to files (mp3 or whatever), here follow some
examples for 1 file (moody river from the toylanders):

1.) direct http link:

http://www.tradebit.com/usr/thetoylanders/pub/3004/64kbps-moodyriver-roll-and-roll.mp3

2.) link for our listed file (with rating, review, etc.)

http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/48814

(the number at the end is the file id on the system)

3.) counting the downloads:

http://www.tradebit.com/download.php/48813

4.) using the little javascript snippet here, bringing the details to your page:

http://www.tradebit.com/layouts/portable-javascript.php?newprodid=48814

5.) the flash player (you can use the windows media player by switching):

http://www.tradebit.com/layouts/musicstream.php?newprodid=48813&flash=1

I think that is about it... we offer more stuff especially for musicians in the member area...

And that is all I have to say about linking to your files :-)

cheers,
puzzler

Descriptions are NEEDED to be listed! (no replies)

puzzler — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 05:31:34 -0500

I mentioned it serveral times now, and because a lot of people ask, what happened to their files and why these are not listed: in order to be listed in the directory or your subdomain: YOU NEED a description added to your files... at least 5 characters long!

cheers,
puzzler

Finding your URL of your file for linking (no replies)

puzzler — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 03:38:01 -0500

Folks, the standard files should be linked from the outside with the download.php link, if you do image hosting and want a direct URL, that is possible, too!

because you asked:

1.) Upload you stuff

2.) Sort your stuff

3.) Go to the files area and click on "Browse my files" on the left

4.) for the file you want to link: got to the EDIT page

5.) you find BOTH links on top of the page: right click, copy link location!

ok?

puzzler

Creating custom links in the member area (no replies)

puzzler — Sun, 28 Aug 2005 07:00:48 -0500

If something went wrong during your sale and your customer did not recieve a download code, you can manually create a custom link for your file.

You also might create a link with a custom, individual price for a product.

That feature was initially introduced for ebay sales of software downloads, but can be used for any simliar purpose, too!

Mind the attached picture, to get an idea!

cheers,
Puzzler

Uploading and sorting files (no replies)

drluv — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:40:15 -0500

hello...

in the last days i have answered some mails from my friends, who I brought to tradebit and some really have simple questions or are not used to work online. for them i have the "one pic says it all" screen shot, see the attached!

peace!
dl

Questions about ebay integration (5 replies)

puzzler — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:13:56 -0500

Yesterday an email with questions about the ebay integration reached me - here are some parts which might be of broader interest:

> ...Does the Tradebit integration work for
> ebay Fixed Price Buy It Now?
> I did NOT see your answer.

Yes, ebay is transmitting the auction ID to paypal and paypal is transmitting the auction ID to tradebit.

Tradebit looks into the database, if that auction ID was registered to a product and generates a download code mail, if the minimum price was met.

Just make sure, that you enter PRICE - 1 cent as the minimum price. that should be fine!

> My additional questions on that subject are:
>
> 1. In the "Sales - Marketing Section" it says after an eBay
> auction to
> enter the final price and set to restricted in Tradebit System. Is
> that for Fixed Price also?

The best way is to enter your product in tradebit with the full details, including the targetted price... if you enter an auction now, you take the full details over.

You product is on sale on tradebit AND on ebay on the same time.

The description covers ONLY the old, manual version. In the new version the stuff is automated, once you registered the auction.

> 2. For Fixed Price (Buy It Now) on eBay can we sell an
> unlimited number of
> the same digital item in each auction - OR just one item per auction?

ebay transmitts the SAME auction ID for these "many sales" items and that works. chalmersc is doing that all day...

> 3. In the "eBay Auction Automation Section" It says enter ebay item
> number, set minimum price & expiration. After that is all filled in,
> is there anything else that has to be done for Fixed Price (Buy It
> Now) items after customer pays thru pay pal-----OR is the delivery to
> the customer automatic after that.

You just have to make sure, that the IPN for paypal is set...
see the FLASH video, on how to set that:

[www.tradebit.com]

that is crucial, because paypal sends the payment data to tradebit and our server generates everything for the buyer...
no notification = no interaction...

The rest is automated...

Puzzler

What is that blogger software you use? (1 reply)

puzzler — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 13:13:43 -0500

Another question, which came up, regarding the additional blogging software, that you get with your tradebit account: it is php blogger, especially used for photo blogs and publishing...

it is a very simple piece of software, but let's you go public with some pictures instantly and is very nice for publishing a few holiday pictures or just a little collection of the last party!

check it out!

puzzler

Picture of group invitation (no replies)

puzzler — Tue, 09 Aug 2005 04:33:04 -0500

Hi folks,

the question about group management popped up again today and I created a little screenshot, to show you, how you invite people to your groups.

Please note the attached picture!

Cheers,
Puzzler

New tutorial for the affiliate management (2 replies)

puzzler — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 10:29:20 -0600

On request by a few merchants, I have clicked thru the affiliate side of the merchants and recorded my mouse moves:

[www.tradebit.com]

the last entry!

and further, if you want to promote digital goods, join our merchants here:

[www.tradebit.com]

have fun...

puzzler

Questions from Ed... (no replies)

puzzler — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 16:03:03 -0500

I just got some questions from Ed without a valid email... maybe he will read it here...

Ed, here are your questions, which might be of public interest:

> I will get round to upgrading my account ..honest ;) But i was just
> wandering what are the limitations for the free 20mb account? Is there
> a bandwith limit?

hi ed,

the limit with the free account is:

- no gallery (like [puzzler.tradebit.com])

- no own advertising on subdomain (like [acidfanatic.tradebit.com])
=> you can change texts and colors, but top and side are our ads

- no affiliate program

But that is it! Sell as you like! I cover your costs from the ads around your content!

Puzzler

PS: What are bandwidth limits? :-)

How does the ebay integration work? (5 replies)

puzzler — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 09:08:26 -0600

The integration with an ebay auction and the software you host here on tradebit is managed in the following way:

1. you have a file here on tradebit you want to sell

2. you start an auction on ebay, where you will get an auction ID

3. you put that auction ID here into an input field, assigned to the product on sale

additional information is available in our little PDF overview:

[www.tradebit.com]

ask me, if you need to know more!

puzzler

Next developments, roadmap (no replies)

puzzler — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 03:53:08 -0500

Hi folks,

thanks for all the input and the suggestions. I have gathered a list of things we should improve and enhance in the next weeks.

Please feel free to add to this thread!

Here my priority list:

1.) Solve download mail problems

Seems like 20-30% of mails get lost,
especially verizon does not like our download codes

2.) Affiliate program

The affiliate program works OK, but is still Version 1.0,
we will beautify it and add some functions, membership
in groups should be considered!

3.) Internal notes

Add notes to your files, just you can see...

4.) Reminders

Allow users to get notified, when you upload new files

5.) Cosmetics

On some pages, the links are well hidden :) or the
interface design is not very intuitive...
We want to clarify and improve serveral pages.

That is the plan for the next 10 days, feedback welcome!

Regards
Puzzler