Before You Start
A well-prepared listing gets approved faster and attracts more competitive bids. Before opening the listing wizard, spend 10 minutes doing the following:
- Sort your scrap by material type. Mixed lots are harder to price and less attractive to specialist buyers.
- Weigh or estimate the quantity accurately. Buyers will hold you to the stated weight.
- Take 6–10 photos in good natural light before you open the app.
- Know your nearest sea port if you intend to offer FOB or CIF incoterms.
- Have your location details ready — city, country, and postcode.
Step 1: Category & Details
The first step collects the fundamental details of what you are selling.
Category
Select the primary material group — ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, e-waste, plastic, etc. Choose the most specific category available.
Material Type
Within the category, specify the exact material — e.g., HMS 1&2 (Heavy Melting Steel), Bare Bright Copper, HDPE drums.
Condition
New, Used, Mixed, or Scrap. Be honest — buyers will compare your video against this field.
Incoterm
EXW, FOB, or CIF. See the Incoterms Guide if you are unsure which applies to you.
Quantity & Unit
Enter weight in MT (metric tonnes), kg, or units as appropriate. Buyers negotiate based on quantity — be accurate.
Step 2: Pricing
You have two pricing options:
Fixed Price
Set a price per unit (e.g., $420/MT). Buyers can purchase immediately at this price or, if you enable it, submit lower offers for you to accept or counter.
Auction
Set a starting bid, reserve price (optional), and auction duration (1–14 days). Buyers compete — you get the highest price the market will pay. Great for large lots with uncertain market price.
AI Price Suggestion: Click "Suggest Price" to use our Gemini AI feature. It analyses current market data and comparable listings to recommend a competitive price range for your material, quantity, and country.
Step 3: Upload Photos
Photos are often the first thing an international buyer looks at. Good photos increase bids and reduce disputes.
- Upload 6–10 photos minimum. More is better for high-value lots.
- Include an overview shot showing the full quantity, close-ups of the material quality, and any notable features or defects.
- Shoot in natural daylight or bright artificial light. Avoid shadows and blurry images.
- Do not use stock photos or images from other listings — admin will reject the listing.
- First photo becomes the listing thumbnail — make it the clearest, most representative shot.
Step 4: Location & Ports
Accurate location data is essential for buyers to calculate shipping costs and logistics.
City & Country
Enter the city and country where the scrap is physically located. This must match your verification video GPS.
Port of Loading
Required for FOB and CIF listings. Enter the nearest sea port you can deliver to. For EXW listings this is optional but useful for buyers to calculate freight.
Pickup Instructions
Optional notes for EXW buyers — e.g., nearest highway, access hours, contact person for collection.
AI Features
ScrapTrade integrates Google Gemini AI to help sellers create compelling listings faster.
Generate Description with AI
After filling in the material details, click "Generate with AI". The AI reads your category, material type, condition, quantity, and incoterm, then writes a professional listing description optimised for international buyers. Review and edit before submitting.
AI Price Suggestion
The AI suggests a competitive price range for your material. It accounts for current global scrap prices, your country, material condition, and quantity. Always verify against recent comparable listings.
After Submission
After submitting your listing, you will be prompted to record a verification video. Here is what happens next:
- 1You receive a confirmation email with your listing ID.
- 2Our admin team reviews the listing details, photos, video, and GPS coordinates.
- 3If approved: listing goes live within 24 hours and buyers can start bidding.
- 4If rejected: you receive an email explaining why with a link to resubmit.
Common rejection reasons
- - Video does not show the full stated quantity
- - GPS coordinates do not match the stated city or country
- - Photos appear to be taken at a different location from the video
- - Material type in the video does not match the listing description
- - Poor video quality — too dark or too brief
Tips for Faster Approval
- Record your video outdoors in good light, panning slowly across the full lot.
- Ensure your GPS is enabled and accurate before recording — check it shows the right city.
- Make sure your photos and video were taken at the same location.
- Weigh the material before listing and include the scale reading in the video if possible.
- Keep the video between 30 seconds and 2 minutes — long enough to show everything, short enough to upload quickly.
- If listing multiple material types, record and photograph them separately.
Next steps