Google Trader Help

What is Trader?

Trader is a service that allows people to post/find jobs and buy/sell goods and services. Use it to buy and sell electronics, agricultural products, tools, cars, property, or anything else that you need or have.

How can I access Trader?

You can access Trader in two ways

1. From your computer or mobile phone by visiting the Trader Home Page
2. Via SMS. Text START to 6007 to get started.

How much does it cost to post a listing on Trader?

Trader is free! However, your carrier may charge you for the SMSes that you send.

Do I need a Google account to use Trader?

You do not need a Google account to search for listings in Trader. If you are posting listings via the Trader web site, you will need a Google account. Google accounts are free and easy to set up, all you will need is an email address. Click here to set up your own account.

You do not need a Google account to post or search using SMS.

How do I look for a listing?

You can search for listings on your computer, on your phone and via SMS. You can search for listings in two ways. If you know the broad category of listing that you are interested in, for example, electronics, then simply click on the Electronics link to see all listings posted under that category. You can also enter in words in the search box at the top of the screen and press Search Trader to search for listings that contain those words.

If you are only interested in listings near you, enter the name of your city or town as part of the query. For example, BUY toyota Kampala will only display listings that are available within 50 kilometers of Kampala.

You can also search for listings by sending a text message to the number 6007. This message must start with the word BUY, followed by the words that you would like to search for. For example, to search for electronics, you would send BUY electronics to 6007. To search for used Toyotas for sale, you might send BUY toyota to 6007.

How do I post a listing?

To post a listing on the Trader web site:

1. Click on the link Post a listing on the Trader homepage
2. If you have not logged in, Trader will ask you to do so. If you don't already have a Google account, click on the Create an account now link. Once you have logged in, you will proceed to the Trader page where you can enter information about your listing.
3. Enter the most important information about your listing in the boxes labeled Title, Price and Contact. What you write in these boxes will be available to users searching both on the web and via SMS. Don't forget to include a way to contact you, like a phone number or email address.
4. Choose a category from the dropdown labeled Category.
5. Enter the location of your listing, for example the city you live in.
6. Add additional content to the Details section. This will only be visible to those looking at your listing from the web.
7. Upload photos for the listing.
8. After you've entered and reviewed your listing's information, click Save. Within a few hours, your listing will be visible.

To post a listing via SMS, you must first register with Trader. To do this send the word REGISTER to 6007. Once registered you can post as many listings as you like. Post your listings by sending a message describing the listing to the number 6007. This message must start with the word SELL, followed by a description of the listing, the price, your location, and a way to contact you. If you don't include a phone number or email address in your post, Trader will automatically add this information to the end of your post. For example, you might send SELL Huawei IDEOS UGX.200,000 Kampala call Joe at 0781234567 to 6007.

How do I see my current listings?

To see your current listings on the Trader web site:

1. Click on the link My listings on the Trader homepage.
2. If you have not logged in, Trader will ask you to do so. Once you have logged in, you will proceed to the Trader page where you can see your listings.

To see your listings on your phone, SMS the word LIST to 6007.

How do I delete a listing?

To delete a listing that you have previously posted on the Trader web site, first click on My listings link, then click on the Delete link. You will be given a chance to undo your deletion if you deleted something by accident.

To delete a listing via SMS, text the word LIST to 6007 to receive your current listings. Note the number in front of the listing that you wish to delete, then SMS the word DELETE followed by that number. For example, to delete the first listing in your list, you would send DELETE 1 to 6007.

How do I change a listing?

To change the description of a listing that you have previously posted on the Trader web site, first click on My listings link, then click on the Edit link. If you change your mind, you can always click on the Cancel button, which will keep the listing as it is.

There is no way to edit a listing using SMS. If you need to change a listing, you need to delete it and then post it again.

I posted a listing via SMS but I do not see it when I log on the Trader web site

Currently listings posted via SMS can only be deleted via SMS. Listings posted via the web (from a computer of a phone) can only by edited and deleted via the web.

Policy requirements and legal inquiries

Useful links

Trader Home Page
Trader Program Policies
Google Terms of Service

What can I post to Trader?

You can post almost anything as long as your listings are consistent with our Program Policies. Your post must comply with all applicable laws and regulations of your target country.

How to report a policy violation

When you find a listing that is violating Trader Program Policies please click on the Report bad listing link at the bottom of the listing.

To report a bad listing via SMS, text the word REPORT, followed by the letter in front of the listing, to 6007. For example, if you wanted to report the first listing from my search results as inappropriate, you would SMS REPORT A to 6007.

How we protect your privacy

The Google Privacy Policy (www.google.com/privacy) describes how we treat personal information when you use Google's products and services, including Google Trader. Please note the following information about your use of Google Trader: If you post to Google Trader via SMS and do not add a contact phone number, we automatically append your phone number to the post. If you post via our website, we will not append any contact information to your posts, even if you forget to add any. All SMS messages are sent through your mobile carrier's network. You can choose to delete your posts at any time. All posts are publicly accessible, so please consider carefully before posting any personal information.

In which countries is Trader available?

Trader is available in the following countries: Uganda Ghana Kenya Nigeria

Which languages does Trader support?

All posts must be in English.