Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does it work?
   Many construction companies accumulate building materials surplus as a result of daily operations. It cost to throw away and it cost even more money to keep . We provide an on-line market for such products. Building materials may be mis-measurements, salvage, overstock; it may be old equipment, tools or anything else construction. People whom are interested in reusable goods may find such items on our site. Thousands of people visit our site keeping thousands of perfectly good building materials from being wasted every day. Our site gives people a chance to find what they want and save money.
   We employ standard construction divisions codes to index all listings making it easier for professionals to find what they are looking for.
   Listings run for a set number of days and than may be restarted.
   
   Companies that are not interested in selling their product, but rather would like to advertise their services or work, may post listings to the "Service List". Business and contact information of these companies will be available to all visitors of our site at all times while the listing is running. We provide considerable discount for companies which offer volunteering or donating services to non-profit organizations. If you would like to become one of the partner organizations and have us collect volunteering information for you, contact us at information@americanbuildersurplus.com.
   
   This is it in a nutshell, see more detailed explanations on how to sell or advertise below.



2. What are Product List and Service List?
   "Product List" displays usable building materials available for sale by different companies throughout the world. You can search for a specific product or browse through all available items.
   
   "Service List" displays building services advertisements. There are almost no limitations to what can be posted, as long as it is construction industry pertinent. It can be announcements of a company professional services, availability of a company workforce, special programs or initiatives of non-profit organizations and more.



3. How do I add or edit my listings?
   We have "My Listings" and "My Account" links to help you navigate to your postings and account information:
   
   Use "My Account" to add or change your profile information, such as company information, pickup location for items sold by your company.
   
   Use "My Listings" to navigate through postings you have made on our site: We have three categories of listings to help you navigate through our site's modules.
   • "Sell List" - shows all the items you have posted for sale on our site. (This category only available to companies.)
   • "Service List" - shows all of your service announcements.
   You can click on any of the these lists to proceed to the selection or, if you would like "My Listings" link to bypass the list selection screen in the future, press "Make Default" link located underneath each selection. The website will take you straight to that page when you press "My Listings" next time. You will be able to remove your default selection at later time as well.



4. How do I add new Service Listing?
   After registering on our site, click "My Listings" link on top of the page and than click on "Services List". Once there click on "Create New Service Listing.." link and follow the instructions on the screen.
   "New Service Listing " wizard consists of five pages where you may add:
   • Your advertisement title and text, you can add your website URL, email address, phone, address or any other communication information.
   • Applicable BOL Occupation Codes.
   • Images.
   • Volunteer information, if you would like to volunteer your services.
   • Listing duration.
   Cost of the service advertisement is based on the listing's duration, however, to promote advertisement of services on our site all the listings created before September 1 2007 are FREE. After this promotional period, only partner organizations will have an ability to create postings at no cost. If you would like to become our partner send us email to information@americanbuildersurplus.com



5. How do I sell?
   You can sell your surplus building materials any way you want to:
   • Create new building product listing on our site. Interested people will see you contact information on the listing screen.
   Create Item Listing
   Only items that can be bought over the internet may be posted. Such items should have technical specifications, determined quantities and pricing. More detailed information leads to more interested potential buyers. Tell people about the product you are selling. You have to have a Company Account to sell an item on this site. After registering as a company, click "My Listings" link on top of the page and than click on "Sell List". Once there click on "Create New Listing.." link.
   "New Item Listing" wizard consists of four pages where you may add:
   • Basic item info - division and subdivision codes, title, description, item price and quantity.
   • If you would like to give item away for free, check "FREE Item" checkbox.
   • Item images, if you have any.
   • Pickup address and pickup instructions.
   • Listing duration.
   The post will be activated within a few minutes after you click "Start Listing" button. Your post will be running until sold, unless you disable "auto-retstart" option, in this case the listing will run for a specified period of days only.


What does it cost to put item for sale? What are the fees?

Nothing. It is free to advertise reusable building materials on our site.


6. How do I make my posting more attractive to potential buyers?
   
   • Create detailed title and description for your item. Things that are obvious to you may not be so clear for others. The more information you provide, the better chance you have to sell it.
   • Establish clear selling lot size. Potential buyers may be turned away by the large quantity and price as well as low price and insufficient amounts. For example if you have five hundered items and you do not mind selling in lots of one hundred, set the price based on lots of one hundred.
   • Set reasonable prices. There are many ways to buy. As a seller think about what would you do as a buyer. Make people an offer they can't refuse! Remember how much money you might spend keeping this product and how long you can store it before it falls apart. Be reasonable.
   • Upload pictures for your product. "A picture is worth a thousand words."



7. What are divisions and subdivision on the Advanced Search screen?
   In the construction industry, materials are normally classified into divisions and subdivisions. For example, Division 04 - Masonry can be further subdivided into 04720 - Cast stone. Consumers can search for items by name. You don't have to know the industry codes to search for and bid on items at AmericanBuilderSuplus.com.



8. How do I log-in?
   Enter the email you registered with us into "Email" box. Enter your password into "Password" box. If you check "Remember me on this computer" box, we will store your log-in information for two months (after two months we will ask you to log-in again). Press "Submit" button.
   
   If you do not remember your password, click "Forgot Password" button. You will be prompted with the screen where you can enter the email you registered on AmericanBuilderSurplus.com. The password will be emailed to you.



9. Can I contact the seller to ask a question?
   Seller contact information is displayed on the screen. Registered users may use "Send Email" feature as well.



10. What are salvaged items?
    Salvaged items were removed from another structure. Some items are salvaged when a business closes, such as a restaurant that goes out of business. The restaurant equipment (stoves, exhausts, sinks, etc) can be salvaged and sold. Other salvaged items could be rare or hard to find items such as door knobs from 1904, or hardwood floors lifted from an old house.



11. Is everything sold on the site new?
    No. You can find both unused and salvaged items for sale at AmericanBuilderSurplus.com.



12. What time zone are the times listed in?
    All listing times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST).