Mooch

FAQ

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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) place it on an envelope with the game inside 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?

  Basic membership to Mooch is completely free of charge. Verified Membership, which offers traders many additional features, is still only $20 a Year! That's less that $1.67 a month! To see the difference between Basic and Verified Membership, click here.

• What is the difference between Basic and Verified membership?

  There are many important advantages to being a Verified member. To see the difference between Basic (Free) and Verified Membership, click here

• 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. So the more points you have, the more trades you will be able to make. Remember that when you upgrade to a Verified Membership, you automatically receive 100 Mooch Points.

• How do I get Mooch Points?

  You can buy Mooch Points by clicking on "Buy Points" here or in the left hand navigation. In addition, you can get 100 Mooch Points by upgrading or opening a Verified Membership account. 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. In addition, you can get 100 Mooch Points by becoming a Verified member. (Learn more)

• 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
  • Use the Mooch Postage System = +5 Trade XP
  • Buy Mooch Points = +10 Trade XP
  • Renew Your Account = +100 Trade XP
  • Become a Verified Member = +50 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
  • Use the Mooch Postage System = +5 Trade XP
  • Buy Mooch Points = +10 Trade XP
  • Renew Your Account = +100 Trade XP
  • Become a Verified Member = +50 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 game 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. 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 "Incoming Offers" pages, or someone else accepts an offer you posted. 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 Post My Own Offers link in the left nav, you can review the trade offers that you could post to the Mooch community. Its okay to post as many offers as you want. You can also review the offers other members have posted by clicking on the Incoming Offers link. 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 posted?

  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 you have posted by going to the Manage My Offers page and clicking the "Cancel" button for that trade.

• How do I review and accept offers others have posted?

  The trade offers that other members have posted appear on your Incoming Offers page. There are two types of incoming offers. Perfect Matches, which are offers other people have posted in which they want what you have and you want what they have - a "Perfect Match". These will be first on the list. You will also see offers in which the other person wants a game you have, but they are offering a game that isn't on your Want List. These offers allow you to see exactly what you can get for the games you have at any time. It's a great way to discover games you might enjoy, but might not have added to your Want list.

• How do I make trade offers to other users?

  You can post trade offers to the Mooch community from your Post My Own Offers page. On that page, you will see a list of all the games on your Games I Want list. Just click the Show Me button next to any game to see each possible trade for that game. Then choose the offers you would like to post and click the Post Offer button to post that trade offer to the Mooch community. Once you post an offer, anyone who could accept that offer will see it on their Incoming Offers page.

• What exactly happens when I click "Post Offer" on my Post My Own Offers page?

  When you post an offer, anyone who could accept that offer will receive an email and see it on their Incoming Offers page. For example, if there were 27 people who could complete that trade, then all 27 people would see the offer you posted on their "Incoming 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.

• 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 Incoming Offers?

  These offers, which have been posted 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 both agreed to make. 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.

• How does the Mooch trade guarantee work?

  To guarantee a trade, you must be a Verified member and use the Mooch postage printing system. Games mailed by Verified members with a postage paid label are automatically guaranteed. So if something goes wrong with that trade, Mooch will credit your account with the amount of Mooch Points equal to the game in question.

• 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.

• What should I do if I have a problem with a trade?

  It's best to start by contacting the person you are trading with via the Private Messaging system. To send a message, go to your Trades In Progress page and click on View Trade Details for that trade. Also, if you are a Verified member, you can report the issue to Mooch Customer Service.

• How do I contact a person I am trading with?

  You can contact anyone you are currently trading with by using the Private Message system. To send a message, go to your Trades In Progress page and click on "View Trade Details" for that trade. On that page, you will be able to enter and send a private email message to the other person. (They will not see your email address, nor will you be able to see theirs.) You will also receive an email when the other person responds.

• 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.

• 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, two different Mooch members may be offering the same exact trade. One member with a 95% positive 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 your Trades In Progress page to see all your active trades 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.

• 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 your Trades In Progress page to see all your active trades 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, as long as you are a Verified member and you used the Mooch postage system, the trade is guaranteed for you.

• 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 "My Stuff" section in the left navigation, click "My Profile & Settings". 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 "My Stuff" section in the left navigation, click "My Profile & Settings". Look under your current profile image, 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 "My Stuff" section in the left navigation, click "My Profile & Settings". 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 "My Stuff" section in the left navigation, click "My Profile & Settings". There you can edit and update any of your account information.

• How do I manage my alert options?

  In the "My Stuff" section in the left navigation, click "My Profile & Settings". You can then manage your alert options by selecting the alerts you wish to receive and the ones you do not.

• 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.