FAQ — Expanded: Edge Cases, International Users & Agent Integration

Category: FAQ Last updated: 2026-07-15

This article answers 30 additional questions that go beyond the basics covered in the main FAQ. It focuses on three areas users and developers ask about most:

1. International users — availability, currencies, shipping, time zones
2. Agent integration — API keys, rate limits, MCP, discovery, automation
3. Edge cases — expired listings, flags, account deletion, multi-category
4. Platform & safety — commissions, privacy, reviews, disputes

Looking for the basics (Is Owning free? How do I contact a seller? How do I create a listing?)? See the main FAQ.

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Table of Contents

• International Users
• Agent Integration
• Edge Cases
• Platform & Safety

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International Users

Is Owning available in my country?

Yes. Owning is available worldwide — there are no country restrictions on who can register, browse, or list. The catalog already includes listings from over 19 European countries, and you can create a listing from anywhere. Use the country filter on the browse page to find items near you or in a specific region.

Can I search for listings in other countries?

Yes. The country filter (on the web and via the API) lets you narrow results to a specific country. You can also filter by city for local pickup. Via the API:

curl "https://api.owning.pro/api/listings?country=ES&city=Madrid"

You can combine country with any other filter — category, price, condition, or dynamic attributes.

How do international transactions work?

Owning connects buyers and sellers but does not process payments or handle escrow. Payment, shipping, and any customs duties are arranged directly between the two parties. For cross-border transactions we recommend:

• Tracked, insured shipping for anything sent internationally.
• A secure payment method with buyer protection (e.g., PayPal Goods & Services) rather than wire transfers or crypto to unknown parties.
• Clear agreement on who pays shipping and duties before the transaction closes.

See Safety Tips for full guidance on safe transactions.

What currencies are supported?

Each listing stores its own currency field (e.g., EUR, USD, GBP). When you create a listing you set the currency alongside the price. The search filters (min_price / max_price) compare within each listing's currency — there is no automatic currency conversion on the platform, so filter with the currency you're interested in. The Markdown and JSON formats expose the currency field so agents and integrations can handle conversion on their side.

Can I have listings in multiple languages?

Yes. The listing description is free text — you can write it in any language. The platform interface itself is currently available in English, Spanish, Korean, French, German, and Italian (with more locales on the roadmap). There is no per-listing language selector yet, so if you want to reach multiple audiences you can write a bilingual description or create separate listings.

Do prices include shipping?

Not by default. The price you set is for the item only. Each listing has a shipping flag indicating whether the seller is willing to ship; shipping costs, if any, are agreed between buyer and seller. If you want to include shipping in the price, state that clearly in the description.

How do you handle time zone differences?

All timestamps on the platform (listing creation, expiry, contact times) are stored in UTC and displayed in your browser's local time zone. The API returns ISO 8601 timestamps in UTC. For agent integrations, always parse timestamps as UTC and convert to the relevant local time on your side. Listing expiry is calculated in UTC — a listing published at 12:00 UTC stays active for 30 days from that moment.

Are there export or import restrictions I should know about?

Owning does not enforce export/import rules — that is the responsibility of the buyer and seller. Some items (e.g., certain electronics, vehicles, antiques, or regulated goods) may be subject to export controls, import duties, or local licensing requirements in the destination country. Always check your local customs regulations before arranging a cross-border shipment. Listings that violate our prohibited items policy are removed regardless of country.

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Agent Integration

What is an API key and how do I get one?

An API key is a long-lived token that lets scripts, bots, and AI agents access Owning programmatically. Keys use the own_ prefix and are passed in the Authorization header:

curl https://api.owning.pro/api/listings \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer own_your_api_key_here"

To get one: register an account, log in, and create a key via POST /api/api-keys with your JWT (or from Dashboard → API Keys on the web). The key is shown only once — save it securely. See Account & API Keys for the full process.

What are the API rate limits?

The API uses a two-layer system. Both layers apply simultaneously:

Layer 1 — per-minute sliding window:

Scope	Limit	Key
Unauthenticated reads	200 req/min	IP address
Authenticated reads	600 req/min	User ID or API key
Authenticated writes	30 req/min	User ID or API key

Layer 2 — per-action (DB-backed, persists across restarts and IP changes):

Action	Limit	Window
Create listing	10	per day
Upload image	50	per day
Contact seller	5	per hour
AI generate	5	per hour

Every response includes X-RateLimit-Limit, X-RateLimit-Remaining, and X-RateLimit-Reset headers. If you exceed a limit you get a 429 with a Retry-After header. See Account & API Keys and the Developer Onboarding Guide for details.

Can I create listings via the API?

Yes. The flow is create draft → upload images → publish:

# 1. Create a draft (not visible in search yet)
curl -X POST https://api.owning.pro/api/listings \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer own_..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"title":"Used MacBook Pro","price":1200,"currency":"EUR","category_id":"electronics","condition":"good"}'

# 2. Upload an image
curl -X POST https://api.owning.pro/api/upload \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer own_..." \
  -F "file=@photo.jpg"

# 3. Publish (goes live after moderation)
curl -X POST https://api.owning.pro/api/listings/{id}/publish \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer own_..."

The create limit is 10 listings per day per key. See How to Create a Listing and the Developer Onboarding Guide for the full field reference.

What formats does the API support (JSON, Markdown)?

Every listing endpoint returns JSON by default. Append .md to any listing URL to get the same data as Markdown with YAML frontmatter — ideal for AI agents and content pipelines:

# JSON
curl https://api.owning.pro/api/listings/canon-eos-rebel-t3i-dslr

# Markdown
curl https://api.owning.pro/api/listings/canon-eos-rebel-t3i-dslr.md

The Markdown response includes structured metadata (title, price, currency, condition, category, location) in the frontmatter, followed by the listing content. No authentication required for reads. See Markdown & JSON Formats.

How does agent discovery work (.well-known/ai.json)?

AI agents can self-discover Owning's capabilities by fetching the manifest:

curl https://owning.pro/.well-known/ai.json

This returns a machine-readable description — base URL, available endpoints, authentication method, supported formats, and the MCP server URL. An agent can read this file and immediately know how to search, read, and create listings without any manual documentation. See Owning for AI Agents for the full manifest structure.

What is the MCP server and how do I use it?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) server lets AI agents like Claude Desktop and Cursor interact with Owning through named tools instead of raw API calls. It exposes 10 tools (5 read + 5 write):

• Read (no auth): search_listings, get_listing, get_listing_markdown, list_categories, get_asset_type
• Write (API key): create_listing, upload_image, publish_listing, contact_seller, manage_listing

To connect Claude Desktop, add this to your config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "owning": {
      "url": "https://mcp.owning.pro/mcp",
      "transport": "streamable-http"
    }
  }
}

See How to Use the Owning MCP Server for full setup guides.

Can I automate periodic searches?

Yes. The search endpoint is public and returns pagination metadata (page, limit, total, pages), so you can poll it on a schedule from any script or cron job. For example, to get new boats under €100k every hour:

curl "https://api.owning.pro/api/listings?category=boats&max_price=100000&sort=newest&limit=20"

Respect the rate limits (200 req/min unauthenticated, 600 req/min with a key) and cache results when possible. There is no native webhook or push notification for new listings yet — periodic polling is the supported approach. If you need higher volume, contact hello@owning.pro.

Is there an official SDK?

Not yet. The API is standard REST with JSON responses, so any HTTP client works — curl, Python requests, JavaScript fetch, etc. The Developer Onboarding Guide and Integration Examples include copy-paste code in Python, JavaScript, and cURL. An official SDK is on the roadmap; until then, the MCP server provides a tool-based interface for agent frameworks.

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Edge Cases

What happens when my listing expires?

Listings stay active for 30 days from publication. When a listing expires it is archived — it disappears from search results and public browse pages, but it remains in your dashboard. Your photos, description, and all data are preserved. Expired listings are not deleted automatically.

Can I renew an expired listing?

Yes. Go to your dashboard, find the expired listing, and click "Renew". The listing is re-published and stays active for another 30 days. You can also renew a listing before it expires to extend its duration. Renewing is free. Via the API, use the listing status update endpoint to move it back to active.

What do I do if I see a fraudulent listing?

Use the "Flag" button on the listing page. Every flag is reviewed by our moderation system. You can also email hello@owning.pro with the listing URL and details. Do not attempt to contact a seller you suspect of fraud. See Safety Tips for what to watch for and what to do if you've already been defrauded.

Can I edit a listing after publishing it?

Yes. Go to your listing and click "Edit" — you can update the title, description, price, images, condition, location, and any other field at any time. Changes go through a quick moderation check before going live. Via the API, use PUT /api/listings/:id with the fields you want to change. See How to Sell on Owning for the web flow.

What if someone flags my listing unfairly?

Don't worry — a single flag does not take your listing down. Listings are auto-paused only after 3 unresolved flags, and every flag is reviewed by our moderation team before any action is taken. If your listing is paused, you'll be notified and can appeal by emailing hello@owning.pro. You cannot flag your own listing, and the same listing can't be flagged twice with the same reason by the same user — this prevents abuse of the flagging system.

Can I have listings in multiple categories?

Each listing belongs to one category. If you sell items in different categories (e.g., electronics and furniture), create a separate listing for each — there is no limit on the number of listings you can have (subject to the 10-per-day API creation limit; no limit via the web). This keeps search and filters accurate for buyers. Browse all categories at GET /api/categories or on the browse page.

How do I permanently delete my account?

You can delete your account from the web: go to Dashboard → Account settings → Delete account and confirm with your password. This permanently removes your profile, active listings, and API keys. Messages may be retained briefly for moderation purposes. The action is irreversible. You can also request deletion by emailing hello@owning.pro with "Account deletion" in the subject. See Account & API Keys for details.

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Platform & Safety

Does Owning charge commissions?

No. Owning is completely free — no listing fees, no commissions, no subscriptions. You keep 100% of whatever you sell your item for. Owning does not process payments, so there is no transaction cut. The core marketplace will always be free; potential future premium features (like promoted listings) would be optional add-ons. See Pricing & Fees for the full breakdown.

How does Owning protect my privacy?

• Your email and personal contact details are never shown publicly.
• Communication through "Contact seller" uses an email relay — the other party never sees your real email address.
• We use essential cookies for authentication only — no advertising tracking cookies.
• We do not sell your data to third parties.
• You can request a copy of your data or ask us to delete it at any time by emailing hello@owning.pro.

Are my personal details visible publicly?

No. Only your display name and profile page (/users/{your-id}) are public. Your email address, password, and API keys are never exposed. When a buyer contacts you, they send through the platform's relay — your email is hidden. Your listings are public (that's the point), but the account information behind them is not.

What information does the seller see when I contact them?

When you use "Contact seller," the seller receives your message and your display name — not your email address or any other personal details. The message is delivered via Owning's email relay. If you choose to share personal contact info in the message body, that's your decision, but the platform never reveals it automatically. See How to Contact a Seller for the full flow.

Does Owning have a review system?

A reviews and ratings system is part of the platform's roadmap for building trust between buyers and sellers. The API includes review and rating endpoints that are being rolled out. Until the full system is live, we encourage buyers to check the seller's profile, listing photos, and description carefully, and to use the "Contact seller" button to ask questions before committing. See the API Reference for the current endpoint status.

How do I report suspicious behavior?

Three ways, depending on the situation:

1. Flag a listing — use the "Flag" button on the listing page for fraudulent or inappropriate items.
2. Report a user — email hello@owning.pro with details and the user's profile URL.
3. Block a user — you can block users from messaging you in your account settings.

All reports are reviewed. For fraud in progress, stop communication with the other party and contact your payment provider to dispute the charge. See Safety Tips for the full reporting process.

Does Owning mediate disputes?

No. Owning is a platform that connects buyers and sellers — it is not a party to your transactions and does not process payments or hold escrow. We can remove fraudulent listings and ban bad actors, but we cannot recover funds or enforce transaction outcomes. Disputes should be resolved directly between the parties, through your payment provider's dispute process, or via local authorities if necessary. We recommend using secure payment methods with buyer protection for any transaction where you can't meet in person.

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Still need help?

If your question isn't answered here:

• Browse the full Help Center
• Check the main FAQ for basics
• Read the Developer Onboarding Guide for in-depth API usage
• Contact us at hello@owning.pro