Firefox 2.0.x with Windows XP, Mac OS 10.3.x
Q: Help! I can’t log in!
A: First of all, make sure you’re using the Firefox or Internet Explorer web browser. If you can’t remember your password, enter your email into the login box and click on the “Forgot Your Password” link. We’ll email you a new password. Make sure to enter that password exactly as we email it, since MyThings is caps sensitive.
Q: How do I upload an image?
A: When you’re looking at your item, you should see an “Add Images” link above the big box for your picture. Click on that link and three browsing options should appear, as well as an upload button. Click Browse, select an image from your computer then click Upload. If something goes terribly awry, it may be one of these problems:
1. Make sure you’re using Firefox or Internet Explorer. Other browsers can cause problems in this area.
2. If you can’t see the upload button when you’re adding your images, the problem may be that you’ve increased text size in your browser to reduce eye strain. If you’re using Firefox, go to Preferences and reduce the size of the text. If you’re using IE, go to View and change the Text Size to something a bit smaller.
3. If your image is too large, you can easily make it smaller by opening the image in MS Paint, pushing Ctrl+A to select the entire image. Go to Image and select Stretch/Skew, then “Stretch” the image to 70% horizontal and 70% vertical. If this is still too big, you can try this procedure again. Save the image and upload as usual.
4. Make sure you don’t have any punctuation or spaces in the image file name – for example, a file called mom’s_favorite_lamp.jpg won’t upload because of the apostrophe and underscores.
Q: Can anyone see the items I put into Things I Own?
A: You can make your items private – which means they are completely invisible to anyone looking at Things I Own – or public and open to the community. You can change this setting at any time.
Q: Is it possible to remain anonymous?
A: Yes, by definition, all MyThings members are anonymous. We never ask for your name or address—only your email address, which we do not reveal. You control how much information you reveal about yourself, such as your photo, profile, city, and gender. You don’t need to share any of this if you prefer not to. Only your screen name needs to be visible to others. MyThings maintains a rigorous Privacy Policy .
Q: Is there a way for someone to track down where I live from MyThings?
A: No. While you can indicate your location by city or country, you don’t have to display this information and we never ask for addresses.
Q: I’ve forgotten my password
A: If you’ve forgotten your password, enter your email address into the login box, then click on the Forgot your Password link. You’ll be asked your security question, then MyThings will email you your new password. You can always change your password in the Account page.
Q: How do I change my picture/email address/screen name?
A: Go to your Things I Own page then click on the Account link in the upper left. Then click on Profile Information to change your picture and screen name. To change your email address, go to Communication Preferences.
Q: I want to be notified whenever anyone sends me a message or comment.
A: Go to your Things I Own page and click on the Account link in the upper left. Then click on the Communication Preferences section. You can change all your e-mail settings there.
Q: What should I put in Things I Own and how many items can I add?
A: You can add whatever you want and there’s no limit to how many items you can add. MyThings doesn’t discriminate. Furniture, appliances, electronics, antiques, glass, shoes, trousers, rings, cutlery. Whatever you like – we like, and someone else on MyThings is sure to like it as well.
Q: How long does it take to add new items?
A: You can add a new item to Things I Own in a matter of seconds. Either find them in the Product Catalog and add them automatically, or add them manually by selecting the category for the item. MyThings will then prompt you for the relevant information based on the category, such as the brand, model, where purchased, date purchased, price paid, serial number and image. Only the name of the item is required. Just how much information you include is up to you.
Q: I don’t want anyone to see the price I paid for an item in Things I Own. If I make the item public, will other people be able to see this information?
A: Never. Only certain information, like the brand, model, description, and image are made public. When you see the MyThings lock icon next to a piece of information, such as price paid, it is 100% private.
Q: How secure is MyThings—can hackers get my personal information?
A: MyThings is encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), the standard security technology that ensures the link between your web browser and our web server is secure. Your browser indicates when you are protected by an SSL encrypted session with the padlock icon. Our SSL Certificate issued by Comodo demonstrates that MyThings is in compliance with 128-bit SSL.
Q: How can I buy and sell on the website?
A: If you want to sell your item on eBay, you can use our one-click Sell on eBay feature that allows you to transfer all your info from your MyThings item into an eBay selling form. You can also include selling info in your items description and let people know you’re selling it in the Forums, accessible via the Blog. You can also contact another member to enquire about an item and agree to a transaction offline.
Q: I’m looking for a specific item – how do I find it?
A: You can search or browse for public things by keyword, category, or tag. For any public item, you can read all the product information related to it, such as reviews, accessories, buying guides, the owner’s description, and comments added by other people.
Q: How do you decide what items are featured on the homepage and Everyone’s Things?
A: The best items are the ones that have photos and stories – so those are the ones that are featured.
Q: Do you have any shortcuts to building my Things I Own page?
A: Yes, MyThings has two clever tricks to help you add new items. Whenever you add something in one of the consumer electronics categories—like a TV, MP3 player, or mobile phone—you’re likely to find the item in our comprehensive database of consumer electronics products. Just start entering the name and the possibilities will pop up. From there, you can find your specific model name, number, and a photo. Just click to add.
Another way we make it easy is by working closely with our retail partners. Whenever you buy from them online, your purchase and all the important details are automatically added to your MyThings Things I Own page. Let our computers do the work! We already have this unique integration with online jewelers like Gerald Online and F. Hinds and plan to add several major retailers soon.
Q: The first item I added to Things I Own was purchased online at TigerDirect. Is MyThings part of TigerDirect?
A: No, MyThings is not part of TigerDirect or any of our many online retail partners, including Tesco Direct, Halfords, Jessops, and Casio. We work with our partners to provide a way to add items to Things I Own automatically after an online purchase. But we are an independent company operating across a wide spectrum of retailers.
Q: What, exactly, are MyThings Messages, and how are they different from email?
A: MyThings Messages are internal email (sometimes referred to as inmail) sent within the MyThings community from one member to another, to members from MyThings, and to members from our partners.
Q: I’m concerned about spam. After adding things to Things I Own, will I receive emails or MyThings Messages I don't want?
A: We built MyThings with the email controls we would want for ourselves as consumers. MyThings will never share your email address with anyone. Period. We communicate with you through the Messages feature of the website and use your personal email address for administrative messages only.
You will never receive Messages from our partners unless you specifically opt-in to receive them. In addition, you may block Messages from other members. Therefore, with Messages, you have absolute control over any marketing messages or communications from other members. We have set aside specific areas where our partners may present their services and special offers to you.
Q: Is MyThings a U.K. or U.S. site?
A: MyThings first launched in the UK but now is equally active in the states. Depending on where your IP address information is coming from, MyThings will show either a U.K. or U.S. version of the site. Both sites are essentially the same and differ only in regional spellings.
Q: What is Trace.com?
A: As part of the MyThings family, Trace.com is a website where members are able to search the database of lost and stolen items before they buy or sell to help ensure that they aren’t lost of stolen. Trace members may also report stolen items to aid recovery. This service is also FREE.
Q: Who uses Trace?
A: Auction houses, such as Bonhams and Christie’s, use Trace to perform due diligence to assess the provenance of art and collectibles for their auctions. Law enforcement organizations also use Trace to reduce the sale of stolen property and to identify recovered property.
Q: What is Swift-Find? Why did you change the name to Trace and MyThings?
A: MyThings and Trace began as Swift-Find. In December 2006, to better serve Swift-Find customers, we split the business into two different websites—Trace for professional users conducting due diligence on lost or stolen items, and MyThings for consumers with online portfolios of their valuables. Increasingly, these two audiences needed different things from Swift-Find, so we created two distinct environments to give our members more precisely what they need.
Q: I’m currently a Swift-Find customer. Which site should I visit?
A: Professional customers who use our due diligence services should go to Trace.com and click on Report to get to the sign-in page for transferring members. Consumers with portfolios of personal items should go to MyThings.com and click on sign in. In either case, your Swift-Find portfolio will be transferred to your new Account.
Q: Where can I go if I have more questions?
A: If you have further questions, please contact us .