The Merchant Bridge knowledge centre
A clear next step.
Comprehensive guides for finding gifts, growing your merchant profile, joining conversations and building with Merchant Bridge.
213 guides across accounts, community, sourcing, products and developer tools.
213 guides
Getting started
What Merchant Bridge does
Use the community to discover people and discuss corporate gifting.
1 min read
Getting started
Your first visit
You can explore the community before creating an account.
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Getting started
Choose your account
Choose the role that matches your main activity.
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Getting started
Join as a buyer
A buyer account helps you participate in sourcing conversations.
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Getting started
Find your workspace
The saved account role determines the workspace you can access.
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Getting started
Understand the community
Posts are public conversations, while direct messages have their own access controls.
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Getting started
Explore the shop
Shop cards introduce products rather than guarantee availability.
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Getting started
Meet merchants
The merchant directory includes members who are still preparing their business information.
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Getting started
Meet buyers
Connect includes buyers as well as merchants.
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Getting started
Make your first post
A useful introduction explains your purpose and invites a specific response.
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Getting started
Your first sourcing brief
A short brief helps merchants answer with suitable options.
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Getting started
Your first product listing
Prepare enough information for a buyer to understand the offer.
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Getting started
Read member profiles
A visible account is not the same thing as an approved product.
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Getting started
Public and private information
Decide what belongs in a public conversation before sharing.
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Getting started
Use Merchant Bridge on a phone
The community navigation adapts to smaller screens.
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Getting started
Return to a conversation
Use a clear reference when continuing an earlier discussion.
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Getting started
Get help getting started
A precise description makes a problem easier to investigate.
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Accounts
Sign in
Sign in using the email attached to your existing account.
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Accounts
Switch the sign-in choice
The Change control lets you return to the role choices.
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Accounts
Show your password
The password visibility control can help you check typing mistakes.
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Accounts
Confirm your email
Some registrations require verification before a session is available.
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Accounts
Missing confirmation email
A missing message does not mean you should create several accounts.
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Accounts
Forgotten password
Use the reset flow for the registered email.
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Accounts
Choose a password
Use a password unique to Merchant Bridge.
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Accounts
Sign out
End your session when you finish on a shared device.
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Accounts
Use a shared device
Keep another person's browser session separate from yours.
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Accounts
Wrong workspace
The account record determines which dashboard opens.
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Accounts
Buyer versus merchant access
Buyer and merchant tools serve different workflows.
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Accounts
Team sign-in
Merchant Bridge team and developer accounts have a separate entry to the same authentication form.
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Accounts
Account visibility
Active registered members appear in the community directory.
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Accounts
Protect account email
Your login email should not become your public introduction.
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Accounts
Account loading errors
A failed workspace load can happen after authentication succeeds.
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Accounts
Expired session
An expired session can interrupt a like, comment, or upload.
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Accounts
Account changes and support
Some account changes require assistance rather than a public profile edit.
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Profiles
Edit your introduction
Tell people what you offer or what you are looking for.
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Profiles
Choose a display name
Use a recognisable name that does not expose your login address.
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Profiles
Add a profile photo
A clear picture helps people recognise your account.
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Profiles
Choose a country
Location helps start a practical sourcing conversation.
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Profiles
Merchant identity
Your merchant role remains visible even before your business profile is complete.
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Profiles
Buyer introduction
Explain your sourcing interests without exposing recipient information.
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Profiles
Business name
Use the name buyers will recognise in conversations.
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Profiles
Business description
Describe the offer in practical terms.
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Profiles
Business category
Choose the closest category for your business.
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Profiles
Business website
A website can give buyers more context.
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Profiles
Public profile link
Share the member page when introducing yourself.
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Profiles
Preview public information
Review your profile from a visitor's perspective.
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Profiles
Missing business details
An incomplete merchant profile still appears in the directory.
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Profiles
Trade-deck status on a profile
Merchant pages explain when no deck has been uploaded.
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Profiles
Approval labels
A label should be read alongside the underlying product information.
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Profiles
Profile contact details
Public business information and private account details serve different purposes.
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Profiles
Update an outdated profile
Keep the introduction aligned with your current offer.
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Profiles
Find your profile in Connect
Search uses visible member information.
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Community
Read the feed
The feed brings together merchant updates and buyer requests.
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Community
Write a useful post
Make the purpose clear in the first sentence.
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Community
Choose a post topic
A relevant topic gives readers useful context.
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Community
Add a post photo
Use a photo that supports the text.
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Community
Like a post
A like records your own interest or appreciation.
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Community
Remove your like
You can reverse your own reaction.
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Community
Read like counts
Counts describe saved reactions rather than orders or endorsements.
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Community
Likes while signed out
Visitors can see counts but need an account to react.
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Community
Read comments
Comments add public context to a post.
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Community
Write a comment
Keep your reply relevant and within the comment limit.
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Community
Comments while signed out
Visitors may read published comments.
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Community
Ask for product details
A precise question is easier to answer.
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Community
Reply as a merchant
Give buyers facts they can use to compare options.
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Community
Post a buyer request
Explain the project without publishing sensitive recipient details.
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Community
Post a product update
A community update should match what you can actually supply.
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Community
Share a post
The Share action provides a link to the conversation.
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Community
Public conversation etiquette
Useful discussion is relevant, respectful, and factual.
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Community
Avoid duplicate submissions
Repeated taps can create confusion when a request is slow.
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Community
Report a community problem
Give support enough context to investigate a specific item.
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Community
Refresh stale activity
Counts may change as other members interact.
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Member directory
Discover people
Connect shows active community accounts.
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Member directory
Search members
Search works best with visible profile details.
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Member directory
Review a member profile
Member profiles provide public context about a person or merchant.
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Member directory
Understand member visibility
The directory lists active accounts independently of merchant deck status.
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Member directory
Browse all members
The directory shows active community accounts.
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Member directory
Read member details
Public profile details introduce a community member.
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Member directory
Review a post author
A public post can introduce you to its author.
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Member directory
Use public community discussion
Community posts and comments are the available shared discussion space.
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Member directory
Find public conversations
Community posts and their comments are visible discussion threads.
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Member directory
Introduce a gifting project publicly
A concise public post can explain a sourcing need to the community.
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Member directory
Update a public request
A useful comment adds new information to an existing public request.
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Member directory
Keep public posts appropriate
Public posts and comments can be read by other community members.
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Member directory
Check a public profile
A profile can help distinguish members with similar names.
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Member directory
No public answer yet
A public post does not guarantee an immediate reply.
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Member directory
Browse without ordering
Reading a profile or product page does not create a purchase.
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Member directory
Member directory problems
A directory loading error may be temporary.
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Merchant products
Prepare a listing
Gather product facts before opening the listing form.
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Merchant products
Product titles
Use a title that identifies the actual item.
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Merchant products
Short descriptions
The short description should explain the offer quickly.
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Merchant products
Full descriptions
Give buyers enough context to ask an informed question.
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Merchant products
Choose a product category
The category helps buyers browse relevant offers.
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Merchant products
Minimum order quantity
State the smallest order you can support for the offer.
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Merchant products
Product photos
Show the item buyers will actually receive.
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Merchant products
Packaging information
Packaging can materially change a gifting proposal.
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Merchant products
Product dimensions
Dimensions help buyers assess suitability and shipping.
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Merchant products
Material information
Material details support informed product selection.
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Merchant products
Colour options
Help buyers understand which colours are actually available.
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Merchant products
Branding options
Customisation should have a clearly defined scope.
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Merchant products
Sample requests
Samples help resolve questions before a bulk order.
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Merchant products
Lead times
Separate preparation, production, and shipping time.
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Merchant products
Stock availability
Avoid implying stock is reserved by a listing.
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Merchant products
Save a product draft
A saved product may still need review before appearing in the shop.
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Merchant products
Listing review
Review status is separate from your community profile.
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Merchant products
Published but missing
A published status alone may not satisfy every visibility condition.
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Merchant products
Edit product information
Keep saved product details aligned with your current offer.
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Merchant products
Retire an unavailable offer
Do not continue promoting something you cannot supply.
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Merchant products
Product price discussions
A quote should identify what its price includes.
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Merchant products
Merchant versus supplier products
External supplier cards do not belong to your merchant account.
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Merchant products
Product and profile consistency
Matching information builds a clearer buying conversation.
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Merchant products
Listing troubleshooting
Collect evidence before asking support about a product.
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Buyer sourcing
Define a gifting brief
Write down the decision you need suppliers to help you make.
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Buyer sourcing
Choose a gifting purpose
The purpose should guide the product choice.
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Buyer sourcing
Estimate recipient numbers
Quantity affects pricing, minimum orders, and fulfilment.
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Buyer sourcing
Set a budget basis
A number is useful only when its inclusions are clear.
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Buyer sourcing
Build a realistic timeline
Work backwards from the date gifts must arrive.
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Buyer sourcing
Choose destination regions
Destination details affect availability and landed cost.
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Buyer sourcing
Employee welcome gifts
Choose practical items that suit new starters.
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Buyer sourcing
Client appreciation gifts
Match the gift to the relationship and recipient context.
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Buyer sourcing
Event gifting
Event deadlines require a clear delivery plan.
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Buyer sourcing
Seasonal gifting
Seasonal projects need early availability checks.
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Buyer sourcing
Recognition gifts
Recognition should connect the gift to the achievement.
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Buyer sourcing
Remote team gifts
Distributed teams may need several fulfilment approaches.
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Buyer sourcing
Inclusive gifting choices
Recipient suitability matters more than a generic popular choice.
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Buyer sourcing
Food and drink gifts
Food gifts need accurate ingredient and handling information.
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Buyer sourcing
Wellbeing gifts
Avoid unsupported health claims when selecting gifts.
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Buyer sourcing
Branded merchandise
Branding should support a useful recipient experience.
1 min read
Buyer sourcing
Compare quotations
Compare offers using the same quantity and specification.
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Buyer sourcing
Shortlist merchants
Use evidence relevant to your project.
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Buyer sourcing
Review a sample
A sample review should test the proposed specification.
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Buyer sourcing
Agree final specifications
Resolve ambiguity before committing to production.
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Buyer sourcing
Recipient data handling
Keep recipient information out of public sourcing conversations.
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Buyer sourcing
Close a sourcing conversation
Give suppliers a clear outcome when your decision is made.
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Market
Browse categories
Categories help narrow a broad catalog.
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Market
Open a product
The product page gives more context than its card.
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Market
Understand product sources
Merchant listings and external offers have different next steps.
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Market
Request a merchant quote
A quote request needs enough information to price the project.
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Market
Visit an external supplier
External supplier links take you away from Merchant Bridge.
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Market
AliExpress products
AliExpress entries are shown only when genuine product data has been added.
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Market
Faire products
Faire entries refer to the named external product source.
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Market
Unknown product prices
An unavailable price should not be treated as free.
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Market
Read price currencies
A displayed price must be interpreted with its currency.
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Market
Minimum quantities in the shop
Minimum quantities may differ between standard and customised offers.
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Market
Unknown availability
A visible product does not guarantee immediate stock.
1 min read
Market
Supplier data freshness
External product information can change after it is imported.
1 min read
Market
Out-of-stock supplier items
Known out-of-stock supplier entries are excluded from the current catalog.
1 min read
Market
Stale supplier entries
Old imported entries are hidden rather than presented as current.
1 min read
Market
Product images and variants
One image may not represent every option.
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Market
Shipping is separate
A product listing is not a delivery promise.
1 min read
Market
Supplier purchase terms
External purchases are governed by the seller and platform used.
1 min read
Market
Empty shop results
An empty result can reflect a filter or unavailable eligible products.
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Market
Unavailable product links
A removed or invalid product may return a not-found page.
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Market
Report inaccurate product details
Specific corrections help keep discovery useful.
1 min read
Merchant workflow
Open your workflow
Use the workflow view to see current merchant tasks.
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Merchant workflow
Complete business setup
An incomplete business profile can leave an onboarding task open.
1 min read
Merchant workflow
Improve incomplete listings
Missing product information can create a listing task.
1 min read
Merchant workflow
Respond to enquiries
A useful response answers the buyer's actual brief.
1 min read
Merchant workflow
Mark work in progress
Use the task status to reflect work you are actually doing.
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Merchant workflow
Understand resolved tasks
A task can stop appearing after its underlying issue is fixed.
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Merchant workflow
Prioritise a deadline
Handle tasks according to real project needs.
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Merchant workflow
Keep task context
Use the linked business record when deciding what to change.
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Merchant workflow
Workflow access
Merchant workflow tools belong to the signed-in merchant.
1 min read
Merchant workflow
Tasks after an edit
A task list can lag behind an edit while it refreshes.
1 min read
Merchant workflow
Workflow is not publication
Completing a task does not override product review or deck requirements.
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Merchant workflow
Workflow troubleshooting
A reproducible example makes task problems easier to diagnose.
1 min read
Developer reference
Developer console overview
Use the console to manage supported integration records.
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Developer reference
App records
An app record identifies an integration you manage.
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Developer reference
Create an API key
A key grants the scopes selected when it is created.
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Developer reference
API key authentication
Protected developer requests accept a bearer key.
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Developer reference
Choose key scopes
A key should have only the permissions its job requires.
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Developer reference
Key expiry
Expired keys cannot continue to authorise requests.
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Developer reference
Revoke an API key
Revocation stops future use of a key.
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Developer reference
Rotate a secret
Rotation should avoid leaving old credentials active indefinitely.
1 min read
Developer reference
Read app records
The app API returns records for the authenticated owner.
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Developer reference
Register a webhook
Registration stores an endpoint configuration; delivery is not active.
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Developer reference
Check service health
The health endpoint is a public connectivity check.
1 min read
Developer reference
Read the shop API
The public shop endpoint exposes the current visible catalog.
1 min read
Developer reference
Read community posts
Published community content is available through the public feed route.
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Developer reference
Handle API errors
Use status codes and the returned error message to guide recovery.
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Developer reference
Retry reads carefully
Temporary failures do not justify unlimited retry loops.
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Developer reference
Protect integration secrets
Client bundles and repositories are not secret stores.
1 min read
Developer reference
Integration release checks
Verify the actual routes your integration uses.
1 min read
Developer reference
Current capability boundaries
Documentation should distinguish implemented controls from planned services.
1 min read
CLI
Run the CLI
Start with a public health request to check connectivity.
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CLI
Read the catalog from the CLI
Use the shop command to inspect visible catalog data.
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CLI
Read the feed from the CLI
The community list command reads published posts.
1 min read
CLI
Authenticate CLI app management
Protected app commands need a developer key in the environment.
1 min read
Images and files
Prepare a product image
Use an image that accurately represents the product.
1 min read
Images and files
Image reuse permission
Finding an image online does not establish permission to reuse it.
1 min read
Images and files
Photograph packaging
Packaging images should show what the offer includes.
1 min read
Images and files
Photograph a variant
Make differences between variants understandable.
1 min read
Images and files
Avoid personal data in photos
Photos can reveal information beyond the product.
1 min read
Images and files
Choose a profile image
A profile picture should be recognisable at small sizes.
1 min read
Images and files
Upload a community photo
Attach a relevant image to support a post.
1 min read
Images and files
PDF readability
A deck should remain readable on a phone.
1 min read
Images and files
Reduce a PDF size
Keep the deck within the 10 MB upload limit.
1 min read
Images and files
File upload connection errors
A network interruption can leave an upload unfinished.
1 min read
Images and files
Check the public file
A successful upload should be verified at its destination.
1 min read
Images and files
Replace a wrong image
Correct an inaccurate image where the relevant edit control is available.
1 min read
Help
A page will not load
Separate a local connection problem from a repeatable site error.
1 min read
Help
A button appears disabled
Disabled controls often indicate missing input or an action in progress.
1 min read
Help
A like did not save
The saved server result determines your reaction.
1 min read
Help
A comment did not appear
A slow or failed request should be checked before resending.
1 min read
Help
A follow did not save
Check the saved following list rather than repeatedly tapping.
1 min read
Help
A message failed
Keep private message content out of public troubleshooting posts.
1 min read
Help
A profile seems missing
Active community accounts should appear independently of deck status.
1 min read
Help
A product seems missing
Product eligibility differs from member visibility.
1 min read
Help
A deck will not open
PDF display varies between browsers and devices.
1 min read
Help
An external supplier link changed
External product pages are controlled by their source platform.
1 min read
Help
Report a misleading offer
Describe the discrepancy with enough detail to investigate.
1 min read
Help
Contact support effectively
A concise reproducible report saves follow-up questions.
1 min read
Help
Check whether a change is live
A local edit or announcement is not proof of a production update.
1 min read