Frequently asked questions
The short answers to what most people ask us in the first week. Something missing? Write to hello@wantie.app and we'll add it.
What does the $0.99 fee cover?
It buys you thirty days on the public wants board. During that window sellers, resellers, and hobbyists browsing your category can see your post and message you directly. Once the thirty days are up, the listing closes automatically unless you renew.
Full fee policy: /legal/fees.
Is the fee refundable?
No. The $0.99 is non-refundable — even if you posted by mistake, changed your mind, closed the want early, found the item elsewhere, or got zero replies. That's stated up front on the checkout screen and again at /legal/fees.
How does payment for the actual item work?
Off-platform. You and the seller pick a payment method that works for both of you — cash on pickup, Venmo, Zelle, PayPal Goods & Services, wire, whatever you're comfortable with. Want never touches the money. We don't hold escrow, don't process credit cards for the sale, and don't take a cut.
What about scams?
Want is a conduit, not a guarantee. We don't verify that a seller actually owns what they're offering. Trust signals we do surface:
- verified email address on the account
- Sign-in-with-Apple or Sign-in-with-Google badge
- member-since date
- response rate and average reply time
- rating history from previous deals
For in-person deals, meet in a public place — a bank lobby, a busy coffee shop, a police-station parking lot. Report anything suspicious from the listing or message.
How long does a want stay up?
Thirty days from the moment it's published. You can close it early or renew it for another thirty days from the “My Wants” page. Renewal is another $0.99.
Can I edit a want after posting?
Not in the current version. If the details are wrong, close the listing and post a new one. This is a deliberate choice — it prevents bait-and-switch, where a want gets a lot of replies for one item and then quietly gets rewritten to describe a different one.
What if a seller flakes?
Rate them one star and leave a short note. Repeat low ratings drop a seller off the platform. If the flake pattern crosses into fraud (taking a deposit and vanishing, sending a fake item), report the thread — we act on those quickly and cooperate with law enforcement when there's a valid request. See /legal/law-enforcement.
Do I have to use my real name?
You pick a display name — first name, initials, a handle. What we're strict about is the underlying account: verified email plus Sign-in-with-Apple or Sign-in-with-Google is the trust floor. That gives everyone on the platform a real, single, reachable identity behind the display name.
Can I post anonymously?
No. Every want is tied to a signed-in profile. If you can't be messaged, sellers can't offer. Anonymous listings also make abuse cheap, and that's not the neighborhood we want to run.
Which countries can use Want?
United States only at launch. wantie.app blocks non-US traffic based on IP geolocation, and account signup requires a US phone number for verification. Expansion to Canada and the UK is on the roadmap once the US operation is stable.
What can't I post?
Firearms, ammunition, and weapon components; drugs and drug paraphernalia; counterfeit goods and knockoffs; stolen property; adult content; live animals; human remains; hacked accounts; alcohol and tobacco; anything requiring a license the buyer doesn't hold. The submission form filters obvious cases and moderators remove the rest on report.
Complete list at /legal/prohibited.
How do I contact Want?
General questions: hello@wantie.app or the form at /contact.
Copyright takedown notices: /legal/dmca.
Law enforcement and legal process: /legal/law-enforcement.
What's next on the roadmap?
Version 2 adds optional in-app payments and escrow for buyers who want that safety net on higher-ticket deals, photo-tagging so sellers can match reference images faster, and saved-search alerts that push a notification the moment a matching want is posted in your category. Off-platform sales stay free and stay supported.
Does posting a want obligate me to buy?
No. Posting is an invitation for offers, not a contract. You can turn every offer down, negotiate, or close the want without doing a deal. The one thing that's locked in is the $0.99 publishing fee.
Can businesses use Want to source inventory?
Yes — pickers, resellers, and small shops are a healthy part of the buyer side. Post what you're sourcing, mark it as a business account in your profile so sellers know they're dealing with a pro, and rate the sellers you work with. The same $0.99 flat fee applies; there are no business tiers.