Hot Swap Basics

Hot Swap is a large trading post where you can list any item you own, and request what you want in return for it. You can trade for other items or just sell things for cold, hard cash!

You can also view all of the items which other people wish to trade.

So, how do I get my items up on the site?

That's easy! Once you've logged in, just click Add Hot Swap and fill in all the information you can about your item. Once you've submitted some initial details, you'll be able to upload pictures of the item!

I want to see what other people are offering!

In the menu to the left of the page, you'll notice several categories, such as Auto/Marine and Home/Lifestyle. By selecting a category you can view all of the items that other users have posted for that category.

Remember that while you can view items directly by their category in Hot Swap, you can also see all items which match your interests in the My Matches section of My Pot! 

It's important to understand your options if you see anything you like, so read on!

Keep An Eye Out

If you want to keep an eye on an item, click the "Tag This Swap" button. Tagging a Hot Swap will make it easier to find it again later, by looking in your My Activity section of My Pot. 

Pass It On

If you see anything you think someone else you know might be interested in, click the "Pass It On" button. Fill in the required details to send your friend a link to a Hot Swap page! The best part is that your friend doesn't even have to be a Hot Potato member - it can be anyone at all!

I Want It!

If you see something you want, you'd better make a bid on it by clicking the "Make a Bid" button! This will enable a section at the bottom of the page where you can fill in the details of your bid.

You can offer money, items you have which aren't listed anywhere in the Hot Swap section, or items that you have already listed! Don't forget that the other user may have preferences about what they're swapping for, so it's important to read the "Swap Suggestions" section in their item's details!

To offer an item which you've already posted in Hot Swaps, select the "Choose a bid from my list of swaps" button and then select from the drop-down menu which of your swaps you'd like to offer.

Otherwise, click the "Make a new bid" button and give as much detail as you can about what you're offering!

For help on the bidding process, see the Help and FAQ sections. 

Communication Is Key To Success

Want to contact the person who is swapping an item? Click the "Send Message" button to ask them a question or share your thoughts!