Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know it’s safe to act on info provided by another user?
What if I don't get a tip and I think I should have?
How do I give a tip?
How will TipaTipa use my information?
Why should I give a tip?
What happens at the end of my listing?
What if I don't get a bid on my listing?
Does my bid need to match the listing exactly?
How do I add a bid?
How do I calculate my bid price?
How long does a listing last?
What if there is a particular supplier that I am unhappy to use?
What is the manufacturer and/or model reference number?
What is the target price?
How do I make a listing?
How do I register for TipaTipa?
What are User Ratings?
How much does it cost to use TipaTipa?
What if I don't know exactly what I want?
Is TipaTipa independent?
How is TipaTipa different from comparison shopping sites?

1. How do I know it’s safe to act on info provided by another user?

Using TipaTipa saves you time and money by doing a lot of the bargain hunting legwork for you. However, you still need to make a little time to check that info provided is accurate and that it is safe to buy from the recommend retailer/supplier. See our [Link,dxf4n2,Safe Shopping Online,_self] section for more help.

2. What if I don't get a tip and I think I should have?

It is important to remember that what is useful information to one person isn't useful to another. This is why we leaving tipping to the discretion of the individual.

3. How do I give a tip?

When you rate the quality of a bid, we will ask you whether you want to leave the bidder a tip. We recommend paying tips via Paypal, which allows anyone with an email address to securely, conveniently and cost-effectively send and receive payments online. To find out more, or sign up for a Paypal account (it is free), please click here. If you do not wish to pay via Paypal then use the messaging option to discuss an alternative payment method with your Tipa.

4. How will TipaTipa use my information?

TipaTipa is committed to respecting and protecting the privacy of visitors to our web site and to demonstrate our commitment to privacy we have developed a Privacy Policy. The Policy outlines the information we collect and how we use that information and constitutes an agreement between the User and TipaTipa.

5. Why should I give a tip?

Tipping is completely voluntary, but if someone has spent their time and effort working to get you a great deal we think it's only fair that you leave them a tip as a thank you. You should also remember that the community can see your tipping history and may decide not to help you if you never tip!

6. What happens at the end of my listing?

If you are the lister you will receive an email notifying you that your listing has ended and a summary of the bids received. You will then be able to log-in and view your bids.

7. What if I don't get a bid on my listing?

Strange as it may sound... be pleased! It probably means you found a great deal yourself. What's more you might even be able to pass on your information on to someone else looking for the same thing and get a tip from them!

8. Does my bid need to match the listing exactly?

Yes, unless the lister has requested alternatives your bid must match the listing exactly. Remember, manufacturers often have different versions of the same item and this is normally reflected in the model/reference number they give it. Always check that you have found the right item and cross-reference this against the listers description. If the lister has requested alternative suggestions, these must be comparable and in accordance with the description in the listing.

9. How do I add a bid?

Adding a bid on TipaTipa is really simple. The effort is in the researching, searching and haggling of deals for the lister! But if you want to earn a tip, you have to provide a great service... so getting your bid right is a must!

10. How do I calculate my bid price?

The bid price must be the total cost of purchasing the item, including; delivery, taxes and any other additional charges associated with the purchase.

11. How long does a listing last?

It's up to you! You can choose to list for as little as an hour or for as long as a week. You'll be able to see your bids as soon as they're made and can end your listing at any time, so you're always in complete control.

12. What if there is a particular supplier that I am unhappy to use?

If for whatever reason you will not shop from a particular supplier or type of site (e.g. an auction site), then you should make this clear in your listing.

13. What is the manufacturer and/or model reference number?

These numbers refer to a specific product. If you know exactly what you want, you should add them to your listing as it will help bidders to source the precise model you're looking for, or, if you've chosen to receive bids for alternatives, to find one with a comparable specification.

14. What is the target price?

The target price is either the best price you've seen the item you're listing available for (including any delivery charges, taxes and fees), or if you've not found the item you want or haven't yet made your mind up, the maximum amount that you're looking to spend.

15. How do I make a listing?

Making a listing is really simple. Just fill in the form detailing what it is you're after, choose how long you want your listing to run (you can look at your bids as they are made!) and your target price and let our community do the rest!

16. How do I register for TipaTipa?

Registration is FREE and so easy it takes less than a minute! [Link,/Member/Register,Register now].

17. What are User Ratings?

For our community to work we need to know a bit about each other, which is why we have a User Rating. Find out more about how user ratings are calculated [Link,ankdzs,here,_self].

18. How much does it cost to use TipaTipa?

Joining TipaTipa and listing will always be completely free. In the future we will charge a small annual membership fee to users who earn tips by submitting bids but for now that level of membership is also completely free! See the Annual Memberships section for more detail.

19. What if I don't know exactly what I want?

We can help! If for example you know that you want a new 42" TV but don't know whether to go for plasma or LCD, Sony or Philips, just list your requirements and let the community tell you about the best deals available that meet your requirements. You can look at all the best options without doing all the legwork!

20. Is TipaTipa independent?

Yes, completely! Unlike some comparison sites that only direct you to suppliers that pay them commission in sales, our leads are all provided by fellow users and we do not check, veto or delete bids*. *With the exception of bids reported by a user through the Report Abuse feature that are deemed inappropriate i.e. in breach of our user agreement.

21. How is TipaTipa different from comparison shopping sites?

TipaTipa is a community of real people pooling their knowledge, skills and time to save each other time and money. Unlike comparison shopping sites, our community can search for and test discount codes, haggle over prices with suppliers and offer alternative deals. It's like having your own network of personal shoppers all competing to get you the best deal!