When a new member signs up on Listia.com, they automatically receive 400 credits. Once the Listia member’s account is activated then the member can receive more credits by completing the tutorial and listing his/her first auction. The auctions work somewhat like Ebay. All Listia members have a certain amount of credits. The credits then in turn can be used to bid on items that he/she wants. The bidder with the highest number of credits wins the auction. All of the items are free on Listia with the only exception of having to pay shipping and handling on some, which is usually not more than a couple of dollars. The credits from the winner of the auction are then transferred to the lister, and in turn the lister stacks up his/her credits until he/she wins an auction of his/her own.