Free help is an arrangement without a price, a budget, or a deposit. Interest uses Send an offer and creates a zero-price proposal. It does not assign the helper and it does not open a charge. A paid request uses Budget or an offer with a price. Free item on a listing means you are giving an item away. It is not a request for labor.
Where to go
Free item on the posting form is a giveaway listing. Its hint is Something you’re giving away. Free help is a request arrangement. Post request does not send that arrangement. It stores a work request.
What to do
- If you want unpaid help, do not enter a budget, a deposit, or a paid counteroffer.
- On a free-help request, the helper completes scope and a message and chooses Send an offer.
- If you want paid work, post a separate request or listing with a price.
- Do not rewrite a free-help thread into a paid obligation by editing the old request.
What you should see
The posting button is Publish listing. After that, Pause listing is on the listing you own. A type includes Service, Product, Rental, and Free item, among the choices the form shows. Free item means a giveaway, not unpaid labor.
What this does not mean
- Expressing interest does not assign anyone.
- The product rejects free help that carries money.
- A free item listing is a giveaway, not free labor.