Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to The Franklin Shopper’s Classified Marketplace. You can now place online and print advertising through our online marketplace. After review and acceptance, online ads will be available to view on our website. After choosing your category, read through each package to see what is included and make your selection. All ads include 1 free photo online, and you may choose to add enhancements to your ad.

Placing An Ad

How do I place an ad?

It is as simple and easy to place your ad online. Simply:

  1. Pick a Category and choose your Package
  2. Create Your Ad. Online Ads are created first, then you will continue to place your ad that will appear in print.
  3. Choose any enhancements you would like to add for print or online ads.
  4. Choose the week your print ad will run.
  5. Review & Pay
  6. You will receive an e-mail and receipt once your ad is reviewed and payment is accepted.

By submitting your ad, you agree to the following Terms of Agreement:

I agree that the Publisher reserves the right to revise, edit, classify, reject or reschedule any advertisement. It is agreed by any classified advertiser that the liability of in the event of failure to publish an advertisement shall be limited to the amount paid by advertisers for that portion of advertising space, and that there shall be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. It is agreed that once the advertisement has been published, no refunds or credit will be extended for cancellation before the expiration of the advertisement under any circumstances. No typographical mistake by the advertiser will be considered for adjustment and no credit is made for errors that do not materially affect the value of advertisement.

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What are the deadlines for placing an ad?

The classified deadline for print is Thursday at 4 pm. Ads placed after the deadline may not appear online until the following Monday.

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Top Tips for Writing an Effective Ad

Below are 5 simple tips to keep in mind when writing your ad.

  1. Be Descriptive: Highlight all the appropriate details and selling points in a concise manner. Buyers are interested in learning about your item’s condition, make, and any other extras such as warranties and accessories included.
  2. Give out your number: Always remember to include the best way buyers can contact you, such as a phone number or email address.
  3. Price it right: Is your asking price in line with the current market? Do your research on what others are asking for the same or similar item. This will help you set a price that is competitive with others. Know the market you are in for a better response. If you have room to negotiate, remember to include “OBO” (or best offer) after your asking price in the ad.
  4. Take a photo: Adding a photo is the most effective way to communicate what you are selling. A high-quality photo is recommended. Web ads have up to 1free photo included to further highlight your ad.

Want to give your ad more exposure? Check out our ad enhancements to help your ad stand out!

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I don’t have an account. Can I place an ad?

Yes! You do not need an account to place an ad. Simply select the classification, package, and begin to create your online and print ad.

Upon your first ad placement, we automatically create your account and send you an email with a temporary password. We recommend that you change your password immediately and store it in a safe place for future reference. Your account allows you to easily access, manage, and edit your ads anywhere, anytime. Use your account to cancel, rerun, or create new ads.

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I’ve submitted an ad. What happens next?

Our team will review your ad and approve it according to our Advertising Content and Guidelines. Once approved, you will receive an email with a receipt.

If your ad is rejected, please refer to our Advertising Content and Guidelines before you re-submit. If you are a business, please refer to Information for Businesses.

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How do I make changes to my ad after I have submitted it?

Simply login to your account and click “Edit Ad” to make any ad changes. You can edit the text and photo, or purchase ad enhancements. Note that you cannot make modifications to ad dates after it has been submitted.

For Web Ads: Any changes will be reflected within the day.

For Print Ads: Any ad revisions need to be approved by our team and changes will not be reflected in print until the next issue after approval.

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How do I change or add photos to my ad?

Simply log in to your account to make changes to your ad anywhere, anytime.

  1. Select “Edit Ad”
  2. Click on “Web Ad” to edit your online ad; Click “Print Ad” to edit your print ad
  3. Upload your desired photo (or delete any photos by clicking the trash can button)
  4. Use the crop button to focus on a specific item and improve framing

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How do I cancel my ad?

Simply log in to your account and click “Cancel Ad” for the ad you would like to cancel. No refunds are given for cancelled ads.

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What enhancements can I make to my ad?

We offer a selection of Print and Web Ad Enhancements to help your ad stand out in the paper and online!

Web Ad Enhancements:

Featured Ad: Guarantee your ad gets more attention with a great look and premium placement on the classifieds home page. This is the best way to ensure your ad is seen by everyone browsing the classified marketplace.

Featured Ad Enhancement

Sponsored Ad: Keep your ad at the top of the standard ad listing for as long as it appears on the classified marketplace. This is a great enhancement for long-running ads.

Sponsored Ad Enhancement

Highlight Ad: Help your ad get noticed first by highlighting it with a distinctive color background.

Highlight Ad Enhancement

Additional Web Days: Extend the number of days online, available in certain packages. Click on the orange button to add additional days.

Additional Web Days Enhancement

Print Ad Enhancements:

Border: Frame your ad with an attractive border.

Border Enhancement

Graphic: Our most popular enhancement. Add an attention-getting graphic or message.

Graphic Enhancement

Photo/Logo: This is the best way to showcase your ad.

PHoto/Logo Enhancement

Additional Print Days: Extend the number of days in print, available in certain packages. Click on the orange button to add additional days.

Additional Print Days Enhancement

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What are Free Ads?

Personal or Household items under $1,000 may be placed online and in print at no charge. In print these ads are run on a space available basis and may not appear in the paper, however they will run online. In order to guarantee that your ad appears in print, please choose a category and a package.

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I want to extend my ad. How do I do this?

You may extend and rerun your ad when your ad is about to expire. You will receive an email notification when you are able to extend your ad, which is typically 3 days before the ad expires. The email will direct you to log in to your account with your password.

Click “Rerun Ad” to extend your ad online and in print. You may also edit and make modifications necessary to your ad. We will send you an email with a receipt once your ad has been approved.

If you want to add additional web or print days while your ad is still running, you may duplicate the ad. Login to your account, click “Duplicate Ad”, and resubmit the ad.

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Posting Problems

Why was my ad rejected?

Your ad did not meet our Advertising Content and Guidelines. Please review our guidelines and package restrictions before resubmitting your ad.

Your ad may have also been rejected because we were unable to verify your credit card information. Please ensure that the billing address matches EXACTLY the mailing address of the credit card.

If you are a business, your ad may have been rejected because it was placed in a personal or household only package.

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I can’t find my ad in the paper. Where is my ad?

Your ad may have been rejected due to violations of our Advertising Content and Guidelines. In this instance, you would have received an email notification. If this isn’t the case, please contact our office at 1-717-263-0359 ext. 0 or email classifieds@franklinshopper.com with your reference number and a customer service rep will assist you.

If you placed a FREE classified it is not guaranteed to run in print and is placed in the paper on a space available basis

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Why does my text disappear when I am writing my ad?

Your text may be disappearing because you are using the back button on the browser. Make sure to use the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen so go back or forward during ad placement. If the issue persists, please give us a call at 1-717-263-0359 ext. 0 or email classifieds@franklinshopper.com

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I can’t proceed to the next step. What should I do?

Double check that all required fields (indicated by an asterisk*) are filled out correctly. If you encounter warning messages in red, always scroll down the page to find the indicated fields to fill out. Make sure to always use the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen to go back or forward during ad placement. If the issue persists, please give us a call at 1-717-263-0359 ext. 0 or email classifieds@franklinshopper.com.

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Account Questions

I’ve lost or forgot my password. How do I locate it?

  1. Go to Account Login
  2. Click “Forgot Your Password”
  3. Enter your email address

An email will be automatically sent to you with a link to reset your password. Click on the link and create a new password. Store the password in a safe place so you can refer to it when you need to enter your account to manage existing ads, rerun ads, create new ads, and cancel ads.

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How do I change my password?

  1. Log in to your account
  2. Click “Change Password”

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How do I access my account?

Go to the Classified Marketplace homepage at http://classifieds.franklinshopper.com and click on “Account Login” in the top right hand corner. Enter your email address and password to access your account.

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Why do I have an account?

We create an account for you with a temporary password the first time you place an ad. The account allows you to manage, edit, and cancel existing ads as well as create new ads. All your ads are stored in one place, making it easy for you to manage.

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Payment Questions

How do I pay for my classified ad?

You must pay for your classified ad online. After you enter your ad details, there is a Billing section to input your credit card information. We accept VISA, Mastercard, Discover and AMEX. We do not accept any other form of payment online. For payments with cash or check, please visit our office or contact a customer service rep to place your ad at 1-717-263-0359 ext. 0 or email classifieds@franklinshopper.com

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Why is my credit card declined?

There are a few reasons why your credit card may have been declined. Verify that:

  1. The Billing Address, including the Postal Code, matches EXACTLY the mailing address of your credit card. If you are not sure, check the address on your credit card billing statement.
  2. The security code on the back of your card is entered correctly into “Card Security Code” field.
  3. The Billing Name is correct. Note that the system only accepts letters; make sure it does not contain any other characters.
  4. The credit card number is entered in without any spaces in between the numbers.
  5. If your credit card continues to be declined, please check with your bank before giving us a call.

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What payment methods are accepted?

We accept credit cards online (VISA, Mastercard, Disover and AMEX). We do not accept prepaid or debit credit cards.

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Can you send me an invoice?

No, we are unable to send invoices. All classified ads placed online are prepaid and therefore must be paid for with a credit card at time of ad placement. Your card is not charged until your ad is approved.

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Why do I have to re-enter my credit card information each time I place an ad?

To protect your privacy and security, we do not save any credit card information. Therefore, you will need to enter in the credit card information each time you order an ad.

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What is your refund/credit policy?

Our classifieds self-serve system gives you control of your ad and access to make sure that your ad information is complete and accurate. Because of this, we do not issue refunds for ads placed online. Once your ad is placed, it goes online on the web date selected and immediately generates exposure to our web visitors.

We do not issue refunds or credits for the following:

  • Typographical mistakes made by the advertiser or errors that do not materially affect the value of advertisement
  • Ads cancelled after the first publication
  • Ad enhancements, web or print, that are cancelled by the advertiser after the first publication
  • Any advertisement that has already been published

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Information for Businesses

I want to advertise my business. What packages are available for me?

Please contact our office at 717-263-0359 ext. 133 or e-mail jackswisher@franklinshopper.com for business contract rates and to set-up an online business classified account.

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Advertising Guidelines

All advertising published in this newspaper is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to buyers at the advertised prices. Advertisers are aware of these conditions. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading, is never knowingly accepted. If any reader encounters noncompliance with these standards we ask that you inform the Publisher of this newspaper at mbehle@franklinshopper.com and The Better Business Bureau.

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