Step by step item listing instructions, with illustrative pictures, are below.

Collectivator is the fast, simple and inexpensive way to display and sell antiques and collectibles online. Our system is very easy to learn, and it takes an average of only four minutes (yes, we timed it) to complete a listing. You can create, edit, and delete listings whenever you want without the considerable cost of a website designer, domain registrar, and server company. Plus, because we are a web based system you can log into your Collectivator account from any computer. There's no program to install so you can maintain your site from any internet connection.

When you're selling your items, payments are handled the old fashioned way: buyers contact sellers directly and arrange for payment. We don't take a cut.

Fast simple and inexpensive. If you think you'd like to join us, here's the best way to start showing your stuff:

First, Contact Us
The first step to joining Collectivator is contacting us so we can create your account. Give us your contact information and within two business days we will phone or email to ask a few simple questions. Be prepared to give us a valid email address, password, and general description of your stock (for our Featured Galleries page). We do reserve the right to decline your membership or individual postings due to content. If everything is in agreement, we will set up your account for you, and answer any questions you may have. Please note that Collectivator respects your privacy. We will not trade or sell any of your contact information.

Second, Subscribe
After our initial communication, it's time to go to our subscription page and select your payment option. Both the $30 and $50 a month options are excellent choices (if we do say so ourselves). Your choice really depends on how many items you have, and if you would like categories for your stock. We accept Visa or Mastercard payments through Paypal. These secure monthly transactions will be automatically taken from your account using the encrypted PayPal services.

Third, Create a Listing
Now the fun begins. It's time to create your first listing! Our listing procedure is super easy and we include explanations of all the fields right on the form. For the uninitiated, here are the main steps to get you going. Please note that where there is a difference we've written and illustrated the procedure for both a PC and a Mac computer.

1. Log into your Collectivator account using your username and password (login is located on the left hand side of main page, or from the "User Login" link on the bottom of any your own pages).

2. Logged in, you will have access to your account menu. Select "Create Content" and then "Gallery Item"

3. Up pops the Gallery Item form. Write a descriptive title for your item in the "Name" field, then pick a category from the drop down "Image Galleries" menu. If you have the standard membership, you will place all the items in one listed category. If you have the premium membership, you will see a list of two to ten possible categories (these categories are chosen by you when we set up your account).

   

4. Place an image of the item on your listing. This is where directions for a PC and directions for a Mac differ slightly. If you are on a PC, you will click the "Browse..." button next to the image field. On a Mac, click "Choose File" under the "Image" section. On either type of computer, a small dialog box will appear similar to the ones pictured below. Use this box to find the image on your hard drive. It makes it easier if you put all your images in the same folder on your computer. Highlight the image you want and click "Open" (on a PC) or "Choose"(on a Mac). Collectivator will put the largest possible image on your listing and automatically generate a thumbnail.

5. Fill out the "Description" form. Try to give clear, concise details like age, colour, origination point, style etc. Remember that all the words used in the title and description will be accessable by the search function.

6. The "Price", "Price (Detailed)", "Purchasing Information" and "Status" indicator are all optional fields. Of course, Collectivator is mainly for selling, but if you are using Collectivator strictly to organize and catalog a personal collection, you can do that as well without listing a price.

7. The "Private Notes" field is the place to write anything about the item you do not want other people to see. Some people use it to list the price that was paid for an item, because this simplifies their accounting.

8. If you have other photos of the item, you can add them to your listing using the "File Attachments" submenu. Again, please note the difference between PC and Mac procedures. You follow the same basic steps as you did in Step 4 to add up to three extra photo attachments. Tip: Before you add your additional photos, you might want to rename your images with descriptive titles like "paintdetail.jpg" so people know the subject of your attachments.

   

And that's it! Click "Preview" to see what your listing looks like, and then "Submit" when you're happy with the listing. You now have an item listed which you can modify at any time. By the third listing you won't need instructions and by the fifth listing you'll be a seasoned pro!