How Marks Work
Marks are the community currency that powers every exchange on FreemarKit. Here is everything you need to know.
◆ What is a Mark?
A Mark is FreemarKit’s internal currency. It is not money — you cannot buy Marks or cash them in. Instead, Marks represent the value you give back to the community every time you successfully donate an item to another member.
The system keeps things fair: to receive something, you need to have given something first. Marks make sure everyone contributes, not just collects.
🆕 Getting Your First Marks
When you first join FreemarKit and complete your profile, you will receive at least one free Welcome Marks as a gift from the community. This lets you make your very first request straight away, even before you have donated anything.
➕ Earning Marks
You earn Marks when a complete exchange happens — meaning you listed an item, another member requested it, and the item was successfully handed over. The Mark award happens automatically. You do not need to do anything extra.
- 1
You list an item (Listing)Add your item to the marketplace with photos and a description.
- 2
A member requests it (Requests)Another member sends a request for your item.
- 3
You award the itemIf you have more than one request, you choose who receives it and confirm the award. As a rule of thumb, first-come-first-serve, but you are not obligated
- 4
Marks are credited to your accountThe platform automatically adds Marks to your balance. They appear in your Mark history on your dashboard.
➖ Spending Marks
Marks are spent when you successfully receive an item from another Member. The deduction happens at the same moment the donor awards the item to you.
You must have at least 1 Mark to place a request. If your balance is zero, you will need to donate an item first before you can request again.
📋 Example: A Typical Mark Journey
Here is what a Changer’s Mark history might look like over their first few weeks on FreemarKit:
| Event | Change | Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome gift on joining | +1 | 1 |
| Requested a pair of shoes — award confirmed | −1 | 0 |
| Donated a bookshelf — exchange completed | +1 | 1 |
| Donated a kitchen mixer — exchange completed | +1 | 2 |
| Requested a bicycle — award confirmed | −1 | 1 |
📄 Checking Your Balance
Your current Mark balance is shown at the top of your My Dashboard page. You can also see a full history of every Mark earned and spent by scrolling down to the My Marks section.
Each entry in your history shows:
- Type — Earned, Spent, Gifted, or Adjusted
- Amount — How many Marks changed
- Balance — Your balance after that transaction
- Note — What the transaction was for
- Date — When it happened
✅ Rules at a Glance
- 1
You need at least 1 Mark to make a requestIf your balance is zero, you cannot place new requests until you donate an item.
- 2
Marks are deducted only when an item is awarded to youPlacing a request does not cost a Mark — the deduction only happens if you actually receive the item.
- 3
Reaching zero cancels your pending requestsIf your balance hits zero because another exchange completed at the same time, any requests still in the queue are automatically cancelled.
- 4
Marks cannot be bought, sold, or transferredThey can only be earned by donating, or gifted by a site administrator in special circumstances.
- 5
Marks do not expireAny Marks in your balance stay there until you spend them by receiving an item.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my request is not chosen by the donor?
No problem — your Mark is not deducted. Marks are only spent when an item is actually awarded to you and the exchange is confirmed. A declined or cancelled request costs you nothing.
Can I have a negative Mark balance?
No. The system prevents your balance from going below zero. If you are awarded an item that brings your balance to zero, any remaining pending requests are automatically cancelled at the same time.
What if I list an item but then withdraw it before it is collected?
Withdrawing an item before collection does not affect your Marks. You only earn Marks when an exchange is fully completed — meaning the item was awarded to a requester.
Can I donate multiple items to build up a larger balance?
Absolutely! Each completed donation earns you a Mark. The more you give to the community, the more you can receive. There is no upper limit on your balance.
What does “Adjusted” mean in my transaction history?
An “Adjusted” entry means a site administrator manually added or removed Marks on your account. This might happen to correct an error or as part of a special community promotion. You will usually be notified if this occurs.
I just joined and have zero Marks — how do I get started?
You receive Welcome Marks automatically when you complete your profile for the first time. These let you make your very first request straight away. After that, donate an item to earn more Marks and keep the cycle going!
FreemarKit — Community Exchange Platform — Privacy Policy · Terms & Conditions
Questions? Contact the site team via your member dashboard.