Mooch

FAQ

---

Sections:

• The Basics
• Games I Have and Games I Want Lists
• Making Trades
• Trades In Progress
• Mailing
• Account and Billing

• What is Mooch?

  Mooch is a pretty sophisticated Web site that allows gamers to trade their used games with other gamers. Simply put, it's the best way to get more gaming for less money. If you're like us, you've got a shelf full of games you paid $40-60 bucks for, most of which you beat in a few days, just sitting there collecting dust. You could throw 'em in a bag, haul 'em to a retail store and trade them in, but we all know they're gonna give you jack-squat for them. That works great for the retailers, but sucks for us gamers. Mooch gives you a way to beat the system by trading games you've finished for games you want to play. And best of all, you'll be trading directly with gamers like yourself.

• How does Mooch work?

  The nice thing about Mooch is that we do all the work for you. All you have to do is enter the games you have, enter the games you want and Mooch will instantly find every possible trade you could make based on what you have and what you want. Then, just browse through the possible trades, pick the ones that look good to you and offer those trades to other gamers. You will also have incoming offers from other gamers that you can accept or reject as you please. Once you and someone else have agreed to a trade, you simply print a mailing label (with postage already on it if you want) put your game in one of the envelopes we supply and pop it in your mailbox. Then just sit back, relax and wait for your new game to arrive in the mail. It's that easy.

• How much does it cost?

  Right now we are running a beta to build up our trading community and Mooch is absolutely FREE. There is no cost at all for the Mooch subscription. But keep in mind that the cost of mailing material and postage are unavoidable. We do however, make the process painless by allowing Mooch members to order envelopes and purchase postage directly through Mooch. Even when the free beta ends, a Mooch subscription will only cost $20 A YEAR!

• How do I get started?

  Just click here to register and we'll guide you through the quick and easy registration process. It is totally free, it only takes a couple of minutes, and you can start trading right away.

• Why do I have to list the gaming systems I have?

  So Mooch will only show you trades, and game recommendations, for games that run on the systems you own while leaving out the ones you couldn't give a rat's booty about.

• Is this legal?

  Yes, trading games on Mooch is completely legal.

• Can I use Mooch if I live outside the US?

  Unfortunately, not right now. Mooch only supports subscribers living in the United States. So move to the United States!

• What are Mooch Points?

  Points are the currency of the Mooch world. Every game has a point value and every user owns a certain number of points. The number of points you have is important for a lot of reasons. First, you can trade points for games, without having to trade away one of your games (as long as the other person agrees to do that). Points are also used to balance uneven trades. For example, if your game is worth 100 points and the game you want is worth 150 points, you will have to trade your game + 50 points to get the game you want. Also, remember that Mooch only shows you the trades that you can make based on the number of points you currently have. So, the more points you have, the more potential trades you are likely to see.

• How do I get Mooch Points?

  You can buy Mooch Points by clicking on "Buy Points" here or in the left hand navigation. Also, if you make a trade for a game that has a lower Mooch Value than the game you are giving up, you will get the difference in point value credited to your account. In other words, if the game you're giving up is worth 100 points and the game your getting is worth 50 points, then you will receive the game and 50 points when you make the trade.

• Can I buy Mooch Points?

  Yes you can. Just click on "Buy Points" here or in the left hand navigation.

• How are game values calculated?

  Every game on Mooch is assigned a Mooch Point Value. This value is calculated using a complex algorithm based on data that gamers care about like the game's rating, the game's age, supply and demand in the Mooch system, and the lowest price available on amazon.com. Game values are updated daily so they are always accurate and fair.

• What platforms does Mooch support?

  Mooch supports the following platforms:

  • Microsoft Xbox
  • Microsoft Xbox 360
  • Nintendo GameCube
  • Nintendo Wii
  • Nintendo GBA
  • Nintendo DS
  • Sony Playstation 2
  • Sony Playstation 3
  • Sony PSP

• How many active trades can I have at once?

  Until you reach Level 3, you can only have two active trades (meaning trades that have been Accepted but not completed.) Once you reach Level 3, you can have as many active trades as you want. "So what's the deal with this whole level thing?" you ask...click here to learn more about your Level.

• What does my Level mean?

  Your level on Mooch works a lot like it does in some video games. The more experienced a trader you are, the higher your level. Whenever you do something that helps the Mooch community, like completing trades or referring a friend, you earn Trade XP. The more Trade XP you earn, the higher your level goes. The higher your level goes, the more rewards and privileges you earn. Here's a look at the different ways you can earn Trade XP as well as how much Trade XP you need to reach each level.

  Here are the ways you can earn Trade XP:

  • Complete a Trade = +10 Trade XP
  • Receive Positive Feedback = +10 Trade XP
  • Receive Negative Feedback = -20 Trade XP
  • Someone You Refer Joins Mooch = +40 Trade XP
  • Use the Mooch Postage System = +5 Trade XP
  • Buy Mooch Points = +10 Trade XP
  • Renew Your Account = +100 Trade XP

  Here is the Trade XP required to reach each Level

  • Level 1 = No Trade XP required
  • Level 2 = 1 Total Trade XP
  • Level 3 = 51 Total Trade XP
  • Level 4 = 116 Total Trade XP
  • Level 5 = 197 Total Trade XP
  • Level 6 = 296 Total Trade XP
  • Level 7 = 417 Total Trade XP
  • Level 8 = 566 Total Trade XP
  • Level 9 = 749 Total Trade XP
  • Level 10 = 975 Total Trade XP
  • Level 11 = 1253 Total Trade XP
  • Level 12 = 1595 Total Trade XP
  • Level 13 = 2015 Total Trade XP
  • Level 14 = 2531 Total Trade XP
  • Level 15 = 3165 Total Trade XP
  • Level 16 = 3945 Total Trade XP
  • Level 17 = 4904 Total Trade XP

• What is Trade XP?

  Whenever you do something that helps the Mooch community, like completing trades or referring a friend, you earn Trade XP. The more Trade XP you earn, the higher your level goes. The higher your level goes, the more rewards and privileges you earn. Trade XP never expires or resets. Here's a look at the different ways you can earn Trade XP as well as how much Trade XP you need to reach each level.

  Here are the ways you can earn Trade XP:

  • Complete a Trade = +10 Trade XP
  • Receive Positive Feedback = +10 Trade XP
  • Receive Negative Feedback = -20 Trade XP
  • Someone You Refer Joins Mooch = +40 Trade XP
  • Use the Mooch Postage System = +5 Trade XP
  • Buy Mooch Points = +10 Trade XP
  • Renew Your Account = +100 Trade XP

  Here is the Trade XP required to reach each Level

  • Level 1 = No Trade XP required
  • Level 2 = 1 Total Trade XP
  • Level 3 = 51 Total Trade XP
  • Level 4 = 116 Total Trade XP
  • Level 5 = 197 Total Trade XP
  • Level 6 = 296 Total Trade XP
  • Level 7 = 417 Total Trade XP
  • Level 8 = 566 Total Trade XP
  • Level 9 = 749 Total Trade XP
  • Level 10 = 975 Total Trade XP
  • Level 11 = 1253 Total Trade XP
  • Level 12 = 1595 Total Trade XP
  • Level 13 = 2015 Total Trade XP
  • Level 14 = 2531 Total Trade XP
  • Level 15 = 3165 Total Trade XP
  • Level 16 = 3945 Total Trade XP
  • Level 17 = 4904 Total Trade XP

• What are my Games I Want and Game I Have lists?

  Your Games I Want list is just a list of the games you want (complicated huh?). It doesn't cost more to trade more, so you might want to throw some games on your Want list you might not buy, but wouldn't mind trying out. Your Games I Have list is just a list of the games you have. You can go ahead and list all the games you own whether you want to trade them right now or not, because listing them in the Games I Have section doesn't mean you have to trade them right away. You can put games on hold on your Games I Have page until they are ready to be traded. That way, once you beat the game to a pulp, you're one click away from trading it for something else you really want to play.

• How do I add games to my Want and Have lists?

  There are a number of ways to easily add games to either list. Every game on the site has a "Want" and "Have" button below or near it. Simply clicking either of those buttons will instantly add the game to either list. (Remember that a game added to your "Games I Have" list will be available for trade by default, so if you aren't ready to trade it, make sure to put the game on hold after adding it. Also, you can go to either your Games I Have or Games I Want page and click the "Add a Game" button at the top of the page. This will bring up a simple interface that will allow you to manually enter game titles and easily add them to either list.

• How do I put a games on my Have list on hold or make a game on hold tradable?

  Just go to your Games I Have page and uncheck (click on) the box to the left of the game title. To confirm that the game is now on hold, the game and its information should be grayed-out. That game will no longer be seen by the Mooch system as available for trade. (To make it tradable again, simply click on the box again.)

• Do I have to trade the games listed on my Want and Have lists?

  No. The only times you have to trade a game are when you accept an offer on your "Accept Offers" page, or someone else accepts an offer you made. You can reject offers till your fingers bleed, but we don't recommend that cause it'll really mess up your mouse and keyboard. Also remember that you can put any game on your Have list on hold and the system won't even generate potential trades for that game until you decide to make it tradable again.

• How does trading work?

  One of the really cool things about Mooch is that it does all the work for you. You just enter the games you have and the games you want, then Mooch goes out and finds all the trades you could make (including any "points only" trades (What are points only trades?). By clicking on the "Make Offers" button, you can see all possible trades for each of your games. You can make any or all of these offers to other Mooch subscribers. You can also see offers other subscribers have made to you by clicking on the "Accept Offers" button. Once someone accepts one of your offers, or you accept one of theirs, both subscribers are alerted and asked to complete the trading process by mailing the game, telling us when the new game arrives and rating the trade. The trade is then complete. (Remember, there is no need to add the new game you received to your Have list as Mooch will do that automatically once you confirm that you have received it. And don't worry, the system is smart enough to know that you just got the game, so it will automatically be put on Hold until you make it tradable. How do I make a game tradable?

• Can I cancel an offer I have accepted or one I have made?

  Once you have accepted an offer, you cannot cancel it. By accepting an offer, you are agreeing to that trade and will immediately be prompted by the system to mail your game to the other subscriber. (So always remember to make sure your game is working and ready to mail before accepting a trade for it.) You can cancel any offer(s) you have made that haven't been accepted by another subscriber by going to your "Games I Have" page and putting that game on hold As soon as the game is put on hold, all outgoing offers you have made involving that game will be deleted from the system.

• How do I find potential trades?

  There are basically two kinds of potential trades on Mooch.

  1. Trade offers that others have sent to you, which you can find by clicking the "Accept Offers" button.
  2. Potential trades that the Mooch system has found for you that you can then offer to other subscribers. You can view these potential trades by either clicking the "Make Offers" button, or by going to either your Games I Have or Games I Want page and clicking the "Find Trade" button to see all available trades for that particular game.

• How do I make trade offers to other users?

  You can make trade offers to other users directly from your "Make Offers" page. When you click on Make Offers, you will see a list of all the games on your Games I Want list and the number of potential trades that Mooch has found for each game. Just click the Show Me button next to any game to see each possible trade for that game. Then click the Offer button to send that trade offer out to other Mooch subscribers.

• What exactly happens when I click "Offer" a trade on my Make Offers page?

  When you make an offer, Mooch will offer that trade to anyone who can make it. If there were 25 people who could make the trade, then all 25 people will see the offer on their Accept Offers page. The first person to accept that offer gets it. The other offers will then disappear from the system. Don't be afraid to make as many offers as you want. Games can be offered in any number of trades, until one of those offers is accepted.

• How do I see the trade offers others have made me?

  Just click on "Accept Offers" in the left hand navigation. There you will find a list of offers other subscribers have made to you, listed in order from oldest to newest.

• Is every trade one game for one game?

  Every trade on Mooch is either one game for one game (plus or minus a certain number of points) or one game for a certain number of points. We currently do not support multi-game trades because it greatly complicates the entire process, particularly when it comes to mailing the titles.

• What is a Points Only trade?

  A Points Only trade is one in which either subscriber is exchanging only Mooch Points for a game. You can only exchange points for a game if you have points equal to, or more than, the value of that game. (Remember, you can always buy more Mooch Points.)

• Can I trade a game if I don't have the box or manual?

  No. The Mooch community is made up gamers who take gaming very seriously and Mooch Game Values are based on the assumption that every game has the box and manual.

• How does Mooch order my Make Offers trades?

  The possible game trades listed on your Make Offers page are in the same order as the games on your Game I Want list.

• How does Mooch order my Accept Offers trades?

  These offers, which have been sent to you by other Mooch subscribers, are ordered chronologically from oldest offer, to newest offer. Remember that you can filter this list by individual game, or by Points Only trades.

• What is the purpose of the Trades In Progress page?

  The Trades In Progress page allows you to easily complete every step of the trading process. It shows all the trades you and another user have agreed to make (called "Active Trades") as well as all the outgoing offers you have made to other users (called "My Offers"). The page also displays exactly what action you need to take for each trade including: printing a mailing label; indicating that you have mailed your game; indicating that you have received your game; and rating the trade.

• What does a Guaranteed Trade mean?

  A Guaranteed Trade means that if anything goes wrong with your trade, Mooch will credit your account with the amount of Mooch Points equal to the game in question, plus an additional 20 points. In other words, if you agree to trade your game for a game worth 200 Mooch Points and you send your game to the other subscriber using the Mooch postage system (which guarantees the trade), but you never receive the new game or the game arrives damaged, Mooch will credit your account with 220 Mooch Points.

• How long do I have to mail my game?

  You should mail your game no later than 48 hours after you agree to the trade. Nobody wants to wait for his or her new game. Plus, the faster you mail your game, the more positive ratings you'll get.

• How long should I wait to get a game before reporting a problem?

  Your Trades In Progress page will show whether or not the other subscriber has sent the game your way. If the game has not been mailed and it has been 3 business days, you should report the problem. If the game has been mailed, the date it was mailed will appear in your Trades In Progress. If you do not receive the game within 7 days from the mailed date, then please report the problem. Keep in mind that there is no mail on holidays and Sundays, which could delay the delivery of your game.

• How do I report a problem with a trade?

  The easiest way to report a problem is to go to the customer service section of Mooch and follow the instructions on the page. You can also report a problem for a specific trade directly from the Trades In Progress page in the Next Step column. Remember that many problems can be resolved by reading these FAQs.

• I never got my game, what do I do?

  If the other subscriber indicated that he mailed the game and after 7 days you have not received it, you should report a problem with the trade. You can do so by going to the customer service section of Mooch, or directly from your Trades In Progress page in the Next Step area of that trade. If you used the Mooch postage system, then your trade will be guaranteed. This means that you will receive the amount of Mooch Points the game was worth at the time of the trade, plus an additional 20 Mooch Points for your trouble.

• What should make a trade rating thumbs up or thumbs down?

  If you received the game in a timely manner, it has the box and manual included and in fairly good condition, and the game is not scratched, pirated or damaged in any way as to make it unplayable, then you should rate the trade with a Thumbs Up. Otherwise, it's okay to rate it with a Thumbs Down.

• I disagree with my trade rating, what do I do?

  If you strongly disagree with the rating you received on a trade, simply go to the Customer Service section of the site and let us know. Although it is unlikely that the rating will change, we will do our best to look into the matter.

• Why do I need to rate a trade?

  By rating the trades you make you are helping reward Mooch members who make good trades and helping others identify members who should be avoided. As with many other popular sites, these ratings help you judge which subscribers you would rather trade with. For example, you might have to offers in your Accept Offers list that are exactly the same except one is from a person with a 95% Thumbs Up rating and another with a 75% positive rating. Obviously you are likely to make that trade with the person with the higher rating. In addition, the trade is not complete until it is rated, so you won't receive your Trade XP until you do.

• How does the mailing process work on Mooch?

  Mooch makes it easy to mail the games you are trading. In fact, you should never have to go farther than your own mailbox. Here's how you do it: Go to the Trades In Progress section then click on Active Trades. In this section all your active trades are grouped by their phase in the trading process. The trades at the top of this page are those that you might want to print a label for. Click the "Print Mailing Label" button. When you press "Print Mailing Label", Mooch will create a custom mailing label for you. The label will already have the mailing address of the other trader on it. You will then be given the choice to print the label with or without the necessary postage. Then just tape the label to an envelope and mail the game. If you choose not to use the Mooch mailing label, you can simply copy the address you see on the label directly onto your envelope.

• How much postage should I put on an envelope if I'm not using Mooch postage printing?

  Assuming you are using the envelopes that Mooch provides with one standard console video game inside, proper postage is $X.XX However, if you are not using a Mooch envelope, there are too many size and weight factors that determine postage price. While we cannot tell you how much to safely cover postage as a result, here is a link to the U.S. Postal Service website where you can probably figure it out.

• What happens if I don't use the Mooch postage system?

  Why? Do you hate convenience or something? If you would rather not use the Mooch postage system, here's the deal…since we cannot confirm and track mailing when you don't use the Mooch postage system, you will not be eligible for the Mooch Trade Guarantee. Additionally, you will be responsible for determining the proper postage as it varies by envelope size and weight

• Why aren't trades guaranteed if I use my own postage?

  Because with the Mooch system we can confirm and track deliveries to make sure the trades have been made. There is no way for us to accurately track games mailed without using the Mooch postage system.

• How do I get more of those cool Mooch envelopes?

  Click here.

• I paid for postage but can't print the label right now, what do I do?

  You can always reprint the label from the Next Step column of the Trades In Progress page. As long as you reprint the label within 3 days, you will not have to pay for the postage again.

• Can I just write the mailing address on an envelope?

  Yes you can. Go to the Trades In Progress page then click on Active Trades. In this section all your active trades are grouped by their phase in the trading process. The trades at the top of this page are those that you might want to print a label for. Click the "Print Mailing Label" button for the trade you want to make, choose the "Print Without Postage" option and copy the address you see onto your envelope.

• If I use the Mooch postage system, but the other trader doesn't, is the trade still guaranteed?

  Yes, it is guaranteed for you, but not the other trader. In other words, the game you sent is guaranteed and the game that is sent to you is guaranteed for you, but not the other trader.

• Why is Mooch postage a little bit more than using stamps?

  The price of Mooch postage is slightly higher than it would be if you went to the post office and got exact postage. This is because there are transaction fees associated with the back-end postage system as well as credit card transaction fees. We are nice guys, but not nice enough to eat thousands and thousands of dollars for so many transactions.

• Does Mooch have or need my credit card information?

  No. PayPal handles all of Mooch's transactions, so only they have your credit card information.

• I moved, what do I do?

  Start by unpacking and setting up your TV and console systems so you can play videogames again. After that, you're probably going to want to trade some more. However, you'll need to change some of your information on Mooch. Here's what you do: In the "People" section on the left navigation, click "My Profile" then the "Account" tab at the top of the page. There you can change any info you need such as you mailing/billing info and your email address if it changed.

• How do I change my profile image?

  In the "People" section on the left navigation, click "My Profile". Look under your current profile image on your profile page. Click the words "Change Image" and follow the prompts.

• I got a new game system (or got rid of one), what do I do?

  In the "People" section on the left navigation, click "My Profile". In the "Gaming Information/Game Systems You Own" section of this page you can easily edit the systems you own list.

• How do I change my address, email or password?

  In the "People" section on the left navigation, click "My Profile". There you can edit and update any of your account information.

• How do I manage my alert options?

  In the "People" section on the left navigation, click "My Profile". In the "Contact Information" section you will see a pull down for "Contact Frequency" where you will have several contact options to choose from. Remember, the more you allow us to contact you, the more trades you will probably make since whoever responds to an offer first gets that trade.

• WTF, I can't log in, what do I do?

  If you are having trouble logging in, please check to make sure that your username and password are accurate. If you forgot your password, just click the "Forgot Password?" link below the log in fields on the homepage.

• What is vacation mode?

  Vacation mode is a setting within your "My Profile" page that allows you to temporarily suspend all trading activity and trade alerts. Your Haves and Wants are hidden from the system while Vacation Mode is on and nobody will even see potential trades with you. If you're not going to be trading for a while, it is a really good idea to turn this on as a courtesy to other Moochers so they don't waste their time making offers to someone that isn't going to respond or can't accept offers.

• How do I resolve a charges dispute?

  If you have an billing issue, please contact PayPal as they handle all of Mooch's transactions.

• Do I lose my rating and Mooch Points if I leave Mooch?

  No. If you decide to leave Mooch for a while, but decide to come back later, everything will be the same as when you left it for up to 24 moths. However, when you come back, you may want to update your Have and Want lists to make sure they are accurate and up-to-date.