General/Miscellaneous
RSS
My Privacy
Browsers, Cookies and Security
Functionality
Rules and Self-monitoring
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Gigo it ('gi-gO it) is a two-word phrase comprised of the words "gigo" and "it". "Gigo" is pronounced "Gi" as in gift, "go" as in the word go.
Gigo, or "GIGO", is an acronym that stands for "Garbage In, Garbage Out". Since many useful items may be on their way in to the local landfill to become garbage, we provide a method to distribute these items out to the local community.
We hope that when you are faced with the options of what to do with an item you no longer want, you'll GIGO-IT.
We update our postal code database monthly based off the latest census data available nationwide. We periodically check the failed postal codes that were entered on our site to see whether they are valid and update our database when one is found.
To cancel your account please login and click on the me tab on the top of the page. Once there you will see a close link that will allow you to close your account. If you are logged in, here is a direct link.
- Enter the reason you're closing your account
- Answer your security Question
- Enter your Password
- Click the "Close My Account" button
- You will automatically be logged out and all active transactions will be removed
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RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. If a page has RSS-enabled content, this means that you can use a news aggregator or feed reader to view the updates without having to log into the site. To learn more about RSS or aggregators,
click here.
You'll need to get your hands on a news aggregator. Many are free. Our favorite is
Google Reader.
Here's a list of several others. Whenever you see the
icon, click on it to get the URL for that feed. That URL is what you'll use to subscribe to the feed with your aggregator.
Gigoit.org contains several different RSS feeds. The following are a few examples of the different RSS feed we offer:
- Any User's Gives: to add this feed, go to the user's profile and click on the .
- Recent items posted in a postal code: to create your own customized feed, fill out the info below and click "Create". The resulting URL is the RSS feed you may put in your aggregator:
- The last 10 items posted in the USA: to add this feed, click here .
By using the Gigoit.org RSS feeds, which are part of the Gigoit.org site, you agree to be bound by the site's
Terms of Service. Individuals may use the Gigoit.org RSS feeds free of charge for their personal, non-commercial use only.
When using the Gigoit.org RSS feeds on a public forum (like a personal web site), we ask that you provide attribution to Gigoit.org. If you provide this attribution in text, please use "Gigoit.org." If you provide this attribution with an image, please use the Gigoit.org logo that we have included in the feed itself.
Gigoit.org reserves the right to disable, to change, or to cease distribution of Gigoit.org RSS feeds at any time, and reserves the right to require individuals to cease any and all use of these feeds at any time for any reason.
To request permission to make commercial use of the Gigoit.org RSS feeds, please
contact us.
By clicking on the "me" tab and navigating to your account preferences, you may indicate as an option that you do not want users to be able to subscribe to your RSS feed.
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Gigoit collects a limited amount of personal information in order to enhance your user experience. For example, by submitting your postal code we are able to show you items nearby you.
All information you submit to us is optional and is used only for your direct benefit. Personal information disclosed through Gigoit's messaging system between users is strictly between those two parties and cannot be viewed by anyone else. We take your privacy seriously - we hate spam too! We will never sell or give your personal information to third parties.
You must register for an account to give an item or to call dibs on an item.
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If you are logged in we keep track of your postal code so you do not have to type it in on every page. If you to type in a new postal code on any page in our site, we store this information into a temporary cookie so that you do not need to retype this new zip code in on any other pages. This is done just to make it easier for you to navigate our site. Every login will reset the zip code to your default.
A cookie is a name for a piece of data that is stored on your computer. It functions to remember information you submitted previously on a web site so that you do not have to re-enter it every time you visit.
Gigoit utilizes cookies when you choose to check the "remember my password" box. If you don't want Gigoit to use cookies, adjust the settings in your browser options accordingly. To learn more about cookies,
click here.
To recover a lost password,
click here.
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Note that Gigoit is currently only available to users with a zip code residing in the United States of America. We update our zip code database monthly based off the latest census data available nationwide. We periodically check the failed zip codes that were entered on our site to see whether they are valid and update our database when one is found, so if yours is a new zip code chances are we will input it within a week or two.
To report a bug, gather as much info as you can about how and where it occurred, and post it on the
Gigoit Forums under topic
"Bugs". Our staff review the forums daily and will investigate the issue.
To suggest a feature for consideration in a future Gigoit site update, post it on the
Gigoit Forums under topic
"Feature Requests".
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Gigoit strictly prohibits the submission of items that are illegal anywhere in the United States of America. In addition, since this site is intended to be safe as a family oriented and a community service, we do not permit items that would be deemed offensive or dangerous to the general public. The list of prohibited items includes but is not limited to: illegal and medicinal drugs of any kind, alcohol, firearms, fireworks, pornography, sex toys and hazardous waste.
In addition Gigoit does not allow (and happens to hate) spam. Posts that imply the chose dibber must take any action besides meet with the giver to pick up the item are not allowed (such as charging money).
Posts for non-material items such as services, use of skill, or personal time are not allowed. There are other web sites meant for these purposes, so if you want to give something away that is not a material item don't do it on Gigoit. We remind you that the primary purpose of Gigoit is to keep useable items out of landfills, so consider this as a rule of thumb to whether or not your item is appropriate.
Gigoit relies heavily on its users to take action when they come across an inappropriate or illegal listing. Next to every listing is a flag icon
. If you see an offending post, click on the flag icon and select the appropriate offense designation (Spam, Illegal, Offensive or Misuse).
- SPAM: This flag is used if an item or message is trying to sell you a product or service.
- ILLEGAL: This flag is used if an item or message is offering to provide something listed as illegal such as firearms or alcohol.
- OFFENSIVE: This flag is used if an item or message is personally offensive to you.
- MISUSE: This flag is used if an item or message is violates our terms of use. Such as a fake offer, or one that asks for trade/money.
Note you cannot flag your own item (why would you want to?).
If you receive an inappropriate message, solicitation, or spam, flag it immediately and cease contact with the user.
Gigoit uses a super-secret algorithm which evaluates the weight a user's vote carries, both in flagging and feedback impact. This is impacted by factors such as the user's tenure, experience, and rating.
We like to give the benefit of the doubt to givers since an item may be questionable in its offensiveness, or it could have been accidentally flagged. In most cases it will take at least two or more flags to remove it from the site.
You will be notified if your item has been removed from the site due to flagging. Review Gigoit's rules on what may be posted on the site. If you still think your item qualifies to be submitted after some edits, you may re-submit it via the give page.
If you have multiple items taken down due to flagging you will be banned from the site. Please be considerate when using Gigoit - this is a public service and it's no fun when someone ruins a good thing for everyone else.
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A give is a listing for an item which is posted on the site.
Only FREE items can be posted. No trades or sales. If you have multiple items that can be picked up separately, please list separately so that each user can manage their items individually.
To give an item, click on the "give" tab at the top. You must be logged in to give an item. Please complete the submission as thoroughly as you can.
Gigoit strictly prohibits the submission of items that are illegal anywhere in the United States of America. In addition, since this site is intended to be safe as a family oriented and a community service, we do not permit items that would be deemed offensive or dangerous to the general public. The list of prohibited items includes but is not limited to: illegal and medicinal drugs of any kind, alcohol, firearms, fireworks, pornography, sex toys and hazardous waste.
In addition Gigoit does not allow (and happens to hate) spam. Posts that imply the chose dibber must take any action besides meet with the giver to pick up the item are not allowed (such as charging money).
Posts for non-material items such as services, use of skill, or personal time are not allowed. There are other web sites meant for these purposes, so if you want to give something away that is not a material item don't do it on Gigoit. We remind you that the primary purpose of Gigoit is to keep useable items out of landfills, so consider this as a rule of thumb to whether or not your item is appropriate.
No further action is necessary right away. The item will immediately be visible in the listings for users to dib on if they wish. You will be notified via e-mail when your item receives a dib.
At any time you can click on the "me" tab at the top of the page and then select the subsection "my gives". This section displays information on your current and past gives as well as the messages exchanged regarding them.
There are two ways to get to your item editing panel:
- Visit the actual item listing page. If you are logged in a message should appear at the top notifying you that you are viewing your own item and offering the opportunity to edit it.
- Click on the "me" tab at the top of the page and then select the subsection "my gives". Beneath every item name is an edit link.
To cancel your give, click on the "me" tab at the top of the page and then select the subsection "my gives". Next to every listing is a red "REMOVE" button. Clicking this will remove the item from the site.
If your listing has any dibber's at the time of removal, those users will be notified the give has been removed.
This is up to you! Some people hold the "first come first served" philosophy, while others prefer to give to someone they deem will give the item the best home. It's up to you.
Similar to the above question, this is up to you. Item listings expire after 28 days of no activity, so select a dibber before then!
In the Me section, within the My Gives panel, select a user from the drop down menu and then press "give item."
After you select a dibber, the following takes place:
- Chosen dibber receives an e-mail notifying them
- The status of the give is now changed to "pending pickup"
- The item is no longer visible in public listings
- You and the dibber are able to message each other to arrange pick-up
Don't be sad. First, re-evaluate your listing to decide if maybe editing it would help. Did you post photos to accompany your give? Having a photo vastly increases the chances of your listing being read. Does your description make sense and accurately describe what you are giving away? Being descriptive will make your post come up in more phrase searches.
Second, wait on it. Unless you're in a huge hurry, keep your post up for a few weeks so that more users have time to call dibs.
If all else fails you can re-list the item or submit to your local
Goodwill,
Salvation Army or similar organization.
If you do not hear from a dibber after you've selected to give them the item, you can:
- Continue waiting
- Give the item to someone else
- Re-list the item back into the public listings
In the Me section, within the My Gives subsection, locate the item and change the status to "give to new user".
In the Me section, within the My Gives subsection, locate the item and change the status to "give to new user".
In the Me section, within the My Gives subsection, locate the item and change the status to "item taken".
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Click on the "get" tab at the top of the page. Here you are presented with the option to search all items near your zip code. However if you want to browse by category or have an specific item in mind, click on the "advanced search" link.
Once you find an item listing you are interested in, click the "CALL DIBS" button. This will send a message to the giver letting them know you are interested.
A dib is your means to express interest in receiving an item someone has posted to give away.
This is your spot to plead your case. Are you a college kid who needs that old sofa to furnish your studio apartment? Would that box of fabric scraps be perfect for the quilt you've been working on? Let the giver know your intent with the item.
No. The giver may evaluate the dibs and decide who to give the item to based on whatever criteria they choose.
No further action is necessary. If the giver decides to give you the item, you'll be notified via e-mail. If they give it to someone else or remove the item, the status on the item will be updated in the "My Dibs" section.
At any time you can click on the "me" tab at the top of the page and then select the subsection "my dibs". This section displays information on your current and past dibs as well as the messages exchanged regarding them.
It happens! Don't take it personally. Rejoice that the item isn't going to a landfill.
If the giver is taking an awful long time to make a decision or to send a message, you can either keep playing the waiting game or remove your dib.
To cancel your dib, click on the "me" tab at the top of the page and then select the subsection "my dibs". Next to every listing is a blue "Withdraw" button. Clicking this will withdraw your dib.
The item giver will be notified that you no longer wish to receive the item.
After the giver chooses to give an item to you, the following takes place:
- You will receive an e-mail notifying you
- The status of the dib is now changed to "pending pickup"
- The give is no longer visible in public listings
- You and the giver are able to message each other to arrange pick-up
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When logged in, click on the
Me tab. The first page you view here is your profile page. You can navigate subsections beneath to update your profile, change your password, or change your security question.
On the "View Profile" page, Information with a * (asterisk) symbol is hidden from public view.
You are not obligated to include any publicly visible personal information on your profile page except for your zip code. You must provide your e-mail address so that Gigoit can notify you regarding your dibs and gives status, however you may select to hide this from your public profile by indicating such within your account preferences.
As displaying contact information is optional, please consider that by doing so you may be contacted by strangers. Gigoit is not responsible for any issues this may cause.
Please
contact us if you wish to cancel your account.
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Your text message username is usually formatted similar to an e-mail address. To view typical formatting for your carrier, select your carrier from the drop down menu. If you are unsure of what your username is, contact your provider.
Note Gigoit only supports text message usernames in the United States of America. Gigoit does not charge a fee for text messaging, however your provider may if it is not included in your phone plan. Check with your provider to find out.
Skype is VoIP software that offers both free and paid accounts which allow its users to talk in real-time. To learn more or sign up, visit
www.skype.com.
AIM is AOL Instant Messenger, free software that allows users to chat online in real-time. To learn more or sign up, visit
www.aim.com.
ICQ is free software that allows users to chat online. To learn more or sign up, visit
www.icq.com.
MSN is Microsoft's free software that allows users to chat online. MSN comes pre-loaded on many windows operating systems. To learn more or sign up, visit
messenger.msn.com.
Yahoo is free chat software. Note that inputting your username here will also indicate your yahoo e-mail address, since the handles on both are the same. To learn more or sign up, visit
messenger.yahoo.com.
Link to a web site or blog.
This will be your user avatar which will be visible on your user profile. Browse to input your photo and then click "update" at the bottom of the page. Pictures will be resized to 48px by 48px.
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Your primary zip code will be used as a beginning reference for searches when you are logged in. This zip code will be visible on your profile.
This distance will be your default radius in item searches.
Checked categories will be the only ones displayed in item searches. If you check none, all categories will be displayed in searches.
This allows users to bookmark your profile so that they may easily access it and view your gives. To learn more about neighbors,
click here.
Gigoit creates RSS feeds for various listings in the site, one of which is your current gives. Allowing users to subscribe allows them to view your gives in a news aggregator without having to come to the site. To learn more about RSS feeds on Gigoit,
click here.
Opt whether or not your e-mail address is visible on your profile. Allowing it to be visible could possibly make your address susceptible to spam bots.
If you choose yes, this will show the following only if you have specified usernames for them: Skype, AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo.
This would allow users to change formatting in messages by using HTML. This could include font changes, colors, or inserting photos.
This will change all emoticons into graphic smilies. For example: :) would become
.
This is where notification messages from Gigoit go. Gigoit only notifies you:
- When an item you are giving has been dibbed on
- When an item you have dibbed on has been given to you
This pertains to the messages in the "my dibs" and "my gives" section. Selecting "yes" for this answer will hide messages you've written by default.
This pertains to the messages in the "my dibs" and "my gives" section. Selecting "yes" for this answer will hide messages from the system by default. Seasoned Gigoit users who are familiar with the system messages may wish to select yes here.
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This is an optional area to tell a little about yourself.
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A neighbor is the term Gigoit uses for a user which is bookmarked for easy reference later. Adding someone as your neighbor allows you to view their profile and gives in one click from your neighbors page.
To add someone as your neighbor, you will need to visit their profile page which by clicking on their username anywhere on the site. At the top of the user's profile will be a
symbol which you can click to add them. If this symbol is not visible, this user has chosen to not allow others to add him or her as a neighbor.
To remove someone as your neighbor, click on the
Me tab at the top of the site and navigate to your neighbors page using the submenu. Next to your neighbors is a
symbol. Clicking this will remove the user from your neighbors.
To view neighbor relationships, click on the
Me tab at the top of the site and navigate to your neighbors page using the submenu.
This means that this user wants to easily find your profile or gives again. This may be because you have consistently given items they are interested in (for example, you give away outgrown children's clothes which fit their child perfectly).
By clicking on the
Me tab and navigating to your account preferences, you may indicate as an option that you do not want users to add you as their neighbor.
Any user on Gigoit can be added as your neighbor, regardless of distance or relationship.
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Feedback is Gigoit's way to keep the site self-monitored. Users are asked for feedback:
- After giving an item
- After receiving an item
- After withdrawing a give or dib
You are not obligated to leave feedback, but it is helpful to other users in determining whether they want to deal with a particular user.
Users are asked to rate another user on a 5 point scale ranging from 0.5 stars to 5 stars. This rating should reflect how well the user completed the give/dib as they should. Questions to consider that should affect feedback score:
- Did the dibber show up on time?
- Was the giver available when the dibber showed up?
- Did the giver try to charge money?
- Did the giver/dibber communicate in a timely manner?
When an item is marked status: item taken, the giver and dibber will be prompted to give feedback. The left column will indicate feedback requests, or you can go to your feedback tab to leave it.
Gigoit uses a super-secret algorithm which evaluates the weight a user's vote carries, for feedback impact. This is influenced by factors such as the user's tenure, experience, and rating.
Your rating is influenced not only by feedback but also by longevity and activity in the site. So if you have a bad experience, just keep using Gigoit and your rating will level out!
It is not possible to see what exact feedback rating someone gave you.
No, your rating is private.
If you accidentally gave the wrong feedback score, unfortunately this cannot be changed. Please be careful when leaving feedback! If a user's rating goes down as a result it is not permanent; a rating is influenced not only by feedback but also by longevity and activity in the site. So if a user continues using Gigoit and the rating will level out!
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