AssistList Health & Safety Guidelines Browse Here

Resources

AssistList fosters relationships with local organizations to fuel our mission of helping simplify the exchange of home health equipment for our community. We've listed a collection of resources below for you to learn about the services in our community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Popular Questions
How do I sign up for AssistList?

To ensure the security of AssistList users, you must sign up for an AssistList account before creating an equipment listing or contacting a seller.

To create an AssistList account, please follow the steps below:

1. Click the Log in/Sign up button in the Menu at the top right of your screen, and then click the Sign up tab (https://www.assistlist.ca/auth#signup).
2. You can sign up using your Facebook or Google account, or enter your email address and a password.
3. We'll send you an email - click the link in the email to verify your AssistList account. Try also checking your junk mail folder to ensure that the email didn't get redirected there. 
4. Head back to AssistList.ca to log in, and then you will be able to create a listing or contact a Seller!

If you are still having issues with verifying your account after doing this, please also try this again after clearing your browser cache and re-logging into the website.

How do I post my equipment for sale or donation?

To start, go to our website AssistList.ca, click "Create Listing", and follow the steps to create a free account and list your item.

A video describing the steps involved is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onf7qLvQgPo

Members of the community who are searching for your equipment will contact you directly via email with questions or to coordinate an exchange in person.

A list of equipment that we accept, do not accept, and their categories is available here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YTQubUnhOFs6djc_ON3InWNdgZA-NkEYdMwWCDkzq9w/edit#gid=0

What kind of items does AssistList accept? What category should I use for my item?

A list of equipment that we accept, do not accept, and their categories is available here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YTQubUnhOFs6djc_ON3InWNdgZA-NkEYdMwWCDkzq9w/edit#gid=0

If you don't see your equipment on this list, contact us here


AssistList accepts home health medical equipment which fall under 6 categories:

  • Bathroom safety equipment

  • Bedroom equipment

  • Daily living aids

  • Mobility aids

  • Transfer aids

  • Vision aids

We do not accept any personal hygiene products or biomedical equipment.


If your equipment is not accepted and you would still like to donate it:

  • Our Community Partner, Langley Pos-Abilities Society, accepts a variety of donated equipment and is often willing to pick up these items, offering tax receipts in exchange. You can learn more about them at: https://pos-abilities.org/

  • The ALS Society of British Columbia accepts equipment donations as well, providing a tax receipt. More information about their donation service can be found at the bottom of this page: https://www.alsbc.ca/programs-services/equipment-loan-program/

How do I buy an item or contact a seller?

To search for an item and contact a seller, please try the following steps:

1. Visit our assistlist.ca and browse our listings for the items you are looking for. You may find it helpful to type what you are looking for in the search bar up top.

2. When you find an item that you are interested in, click into that listing for more details to ensure that the item meets your needs.

3. There is a contact form for you to email the Seller to inquire about the item and co-ordinate an exchange in person:
- On mobile, it is found by clicking the blue “Contact Seller” button on the bottom of the screen
- On desktop, it is the contact seller form on the right side of the page of the listing

4. Type your message then check the box agreeing to the Terms of Use and click "Send Message". Then look out for an email from the seller in your inbox!

After you have sent this original message, check the email that you used to sign up for your account to see if the seller has replied, all further communication will be done using your email.

If you are unable to find what you are searching for, you can sign up to receive email notifications on the main page of AssistList.ca, and we will send you an email when the specific item you are searching for has been listed.

How do I edit, renew, or delete my listing?

Please follow the below steps to edit, renew, or delete your listing:

1. Visit http://www.AssistList.ca and log into your AssistList account.
2. In the menu, go to "My Listings" under "Account".
3. On the top right corner of every listing you have, there is a drop down menu that provides you with the option to "Edit Listing", "Renew Listing", "Mark as Sold" or "Delete Listing".
4. Please select the option you are looking for.

General Questions
How does AssistList work?

AssistList.ca is a registered charity and online marketplace -- it enables individuals in the local community to list the equipment they would like to sell or donate, and allows those searching for the equipment to directly contact the Seller via email with questions or to coordinate an exchange in person.

To learn how to sell, donate, or buy an item, check out this page here: https://www.assistlist.ca/resources/howitworks

Check out our story here: https://www.assistlist.ca/aboutus/ourstory

Why should I use AssistList over other online classifieds?

AssistList is a registered charity, and our website is designed and built specifically for our community. We strive to give you the best possible experience in selling your equipment. When creating equipment listings, we suggest that you fill in additional details about your item. This allows buyers to better gauge whether the item meets their needs and sellers won't get as many inquiries resulting in no sale.

Our Community Partners offer resources and services to support the equipment exchange process. For example, we have Community Partners that offer their public space as a location for making exchanges and offer services in equipment repair, moving and sanitization. You can learn more about our Community Partners here: https://www.assistlist.ca/partners 

Is there a cost to use AssistList?

Nothing! We don’t charge commission or service fees to use AssistList, using AssistList is completely free! You can post as many listings as you want on our platform and set the price that you are looking for. Our primary goal is to connect people like yourself who no longer need home health medical equipment with Sign up for an account, browse our equipment listings and connect with sellers at any time with no overhead cost. We are a Non-Profit Organization and Registered Charity based in Vancouver, and we operate with the generous support of our grant funders, donors, Community Partners and volunteers.

Does AssistList provide tax receipts?

As we are a registered charity, we can provide tax receipts only for monetary donations above $3. We are not involved in the monetary exchange between individual buyers and sellers, so we are unable to provide tax receipts for the sale of your equipment. We are a platform that allows individuals to list the equipment they would like to sell or donate.

Our Community Partner, Langley Pos-Abilities Society, accepts a variety of donated equipment and is often willing to pick up these items, offering tax receipts in exchange. You can learn more about them at: https://pos-abilities.org/

The ALS Society of British Columbia accepts equipment donations as well, providing a tax receipt. More information about their donation service can be found at the bottom of this page: https://www.alsbc.ca/programs-services/equipment-loan-program/

Does AssistList offer phone support?

As a web-based platform intended to empower individuals to connect online, AssistList does not offer phone support.

How can I volunteer with AssistList?

Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering with AssistList!

Volunteer postings are posted on our Indeed page here: https://ca.indeed.com/cmp/Assistlist

How do I unsubcribe from emails from AssistList?

To unsubscribe from email notifications when specific items are listed, please follow the steps below:
1. Visit https://www.assistlist.ca and log into your AssistList account.
2. In the top right menu, go to Account > Notifications, if you are on mobile it will be under Notification Settings.
3. This page will show you all of the items that you are subscribed to notifications for. To stop receiving notifications for these items, click on the trash can icon to the right of each item.
 
To unsubscribe from all other email notifications from us (things like listing expiry reminders, buyer messages, etc.) there is a link at the bottom of the notification email that once clicked, will opt you out from receiving notifications. The link should say "Click here to unsubscribe from our automated emails".

Will you pick up or provide storage for the equipment that I want to sell or donate?

Unfortunately, we don't pick up items or accept drop-offs because we don’t store equipment on behalf of our users. 

Our service is to provide a platform to connect those who are looking for equipment with those who no longer need it. We are an online marketplace, members of the community who are searching for your equipment will contact you directly via email with questions or to coordinate an exchange in person. It is the responsibility of the individual buyer and seller to coordinate the sale and exchange of the equipment. 

How can I share AssistList with others?

We sincerely appreciate your interest and support.

Please click here for a downloadable flyer.

Selling & Donating Equipment
How do I post my equipment for sale or donation?

To start, go to our website AssistList.ca, click "Create Listing", and follow the steps to create a free account and list your item.

A video describing the steps involved is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onf7qLvQgPo

Members of the community who are searching for your equipment will contact you directly via email with questions or to coordinate an exchange in person.

A list of equipment that we accept, do not accept, and their categories is available here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YTQubUnhOFs6djc_ON3InWNdgZA-NkEYdMwWCDkzq9w/edit#gid=0

What kind of items does AssistList accept? What category should I use for my item?

A list of equipment that we accept, do not accept, and their categories is available here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YTQubUnhOFs6djc_ON3InWNdgZA-NkEYdMwWCDkzq9w/edit#gid=0

If you don't see your equipment on this list, contact us here


AssistList accepts home health medical equipment which fall under 6 categories:

  • Bathroom safety equipment

  • Bedroom equipment

  • Daily living aids

  • Mobility aids

  • Transfer aids

  • Vision aids

We do not accept any personal hygiene products or biomedical equipment.


If your equipment is not accepted and you would still like to donate it:

  • Our Community Partner, Langley Pos-Abilities Society, accepts a variety of donated equipment and is often willing to pick up these items, offering tax receipts in exchange. You can learn more about them at: https://pos-abilities.org/

  • The ALS Society of British Columbia accepts equipment donations as well, providing a tax receipt. More information about their donation service can be found at the bottom of this page: https://www.alsbc.ca/programs-services/equipment-loan-program/

How do I edit, renew, or delete my listing?

Please follow the below steps to edit, renew, or delete your listing:

1. Visit http://www.AssistList.ca and log into your AssistList account.
2. In the menu, go to "My Listings" under "Account".
3. On the top right corner of every listing you have, there is a drop down menu that provides you with the option to "Edit Listing", "Renew Listing", "Mark as Sold" or "Delete Listing".
4. Please select the option you are looking for.

How long will my listing be active on AssistList for?

Listings are active for 180 days. You can renew your listing for another 180 days by either clicking the link in the email we send you a week before the listing expires or managing your listing through the AssistList website.

How do I schedule and select a location for the exchange?

Ensure that all transactions take place locally and in-person. We suggest that you:

Set up the exchange in a public location during the daytime. View our list of Community Exchange Zones, safe, public locations offered by our Community Partners for making exchanges.

Consider choosing an outdoor location when possible and avoid private homes and enclosed or crowded spaces. Inform someone of where you will be going, who you are meeting, and when you expect to return. When possible, also try to bring along a companion.

How will I be notified about a potential exchange?

All communication is done through your email. When a buyer contacts you through the AssistList website, you will receive an email in your personal email inbox from AssistList that includes their email address and their message. It is your responsibility to respond to the interested individual to provide more information or to coordinate a meeting. Once your item is sold, don’t forget to remove your listing, or you may continue to get emails from interested individuals.

Can I post a listing on AssistList if I am outside of BC?

Unfortunately, our resource is currently only available to local Buyers and Sellers in British Columbia. We may expand to other provinces in the future. Please feel free to follow our social media pages to receive updates.

Buying Equipment
How do I buy an item or contact a seller?

To search for an item and contact a seller, please try the following steps:

1. Visit our assistlist.ca and browse our listings for the items you are looking for. You may find it helpful to type what you are looking for in the search bar up top.

2. When you find an item that you are interested in, click into that listing for more details to ensure that the item meets your needs.

3. There is a contact form for you to email the Seller to inquire about the item and co-ordinate an exchange in person:
- On mobile, it is found by clicking the blue “Contact Seller” button on the bottom of the screen
- On desktop, it is the contact seller form on the right side of the page of the listing

4. Type your message then check the box agreeing to the Terms of Use and click "Send Message". Then look out for an email from the seller in your inbox!

After you have sent this original message, check the email that you used to sign up for your account to see if the seller has replied, all further communication will be done using your email.

If you are unable to find what you are searching for, you can sign up to receive email notifications on the main page of AssistList.ca, and we will send you an email when the specific item you are searching for has been listed.

What kind of items can I find on AssistList?

A list of equipment that we accept, do not accept, and their categories is available here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YTQubUnhOFs6djc_ON3InWNdgZA-NkEYdMwWCDkzq9w/edit#gid=0

AssistList accepts home health medical equipment which fall under 6 categories: 

  • Bathroom safety equipment

  • Bedroom equipment

  • Daily living aids

  • Mobility aids

  • Transfer aids

  • Vision aids

We do not accept any personal hygiene products or biomedical equipment.

How do I schedule and select a location for the exchange?

Ensure that all transactions take place locally and in-person. We suggest that you:

Set up the exchange in a public location during the daytime. View our list of Community Exchange Zones, safe, public locations offered by our Community Partners for making exchanges.

Consider choosing an outdoor location when possible and avoid private homes and enclosed or crowded spaces. Inform someone of where you will be going, who you are meeting, and when you expect to return. When possible, also try to bring along a companion.

What will I use to pay?

Try to complete transactions through cash or e-transfers, and make sure equipment is carried out through contactless pickup/exchange. Prior to meeting, discuss the means of payment in exchange for the item. We recommend that you accept cash in exchange for your item and to meet in a public location. Do not accept cheques, wire transfers or deferred payment. Other alternatives, such as PayPal, can protect your personal information by acting as a 3rd party barrier to your bank account, credit cards or other financial accounts; however, we caution you to understand the risks involved there as well. 

Avoid services like Amazon Payments, Google Wallet, Android Pay, Canada Post, Western Union or MoneyGram as scammers often use these services.

I have not received a response from the seller of an item I am interested in.

We are unable to determine if the item is still available as it is the seller's decision on whether to respond to the email you sent them. The item will remain listed on AssistList.ca unless the seller marks their item as sold, the seller has removed their listing, or their listing expires 3 months after it is first posted.

Alternatively, on the right side of the main page of AssistList.ca, you can click the “Subscribe to Notifications” button to receive a notification via email when another item has been listed!

Account
How do I sign up for AssistList?

To ensure the security of AssistList users, you must sign up for an AssistList account before creating an equipment listing or contacting a seller.

To create an AssistList account, please follow the steps below:

1. Click the Log in/Sign up button in the Menu at the top right of your screen, and then click the Sign up tab (https://www.assistlist.ca/auth#signup).
2. You can sign up using your Facebook or Google account, or enter your email address and a password.
3. We'll send you an email - click the link in the email to verify your AssistList account. Try also checking your junk mail folder to ensure that the email didn't get redirected there. 
4. Head back to AssistList.ca to log in, and then you will be able to create a listing or contact a Seller!

If you are still having issues with verifying your account after doing this, please also try this again after clearing your browser cache and re-logging into the website.

How do I verify my account?

In order to validate your account, please try the following:
a) If you are already logged into your account, go to the "My Account" page (top right of the menu bar), then select the "Resend confirmation email" button.
b) If you are not logged in, go to the "Login" page (top right of the menu bar), then select the "Didn't receive a confirmation email? Resend" link.

Within a few minutes, you should receive an email from AssistList advising you to click a link to activate your account. Try also checking your junk mail folder to ensure that the email didn't get redirected there. 

If you are still having issues with verifying your account after doing this, please also try this again again after clearing your browser cache and re-logging into the website.

If none of these steps work, please let us know and we can help you further. 

How do I reset my password?

In order to reset your password, please follow the below steps:

  1. Visit our Reset Password page and submit your email address.

  2. You will receive an email from us with the subject "Your AssistList account: Reset your password". If you don't receive this email, please also check your spam folder.

  3. Click the "Reset my password" link in the email, and you will be directed to a page that allows you to enter a new email address. If you are instead directed to the main AssistList page, it may mean that you are already logged in -- please log out first by going to Account > Logout in the menu bar, then retry the "Reset my password" link we emailed you.

How do I delete my AssistList account?

If you would like your AssistList account and any data associated with your account to be removed from our website, please send us a message on our Contact Us page and we can delete it for you. 

Safety
What does AssistList do to promote the safety of Buyers and Sellers?

The safety of our community is of paramount importance to us, and our team of dedicated volunteers is constantly looking at new ways to promote the safety of our AssistList users. 

Below are some of the measures we take:
The AssistList website is blocked for countries outside North America to deter overseas scams.

We monitor for inappropriate listings, including prohibited items, misleading or offensive content, and commercial listings.

We allow users to report problem listings, and our Support Team investigates and addresses these listings immediately.

If we notice that a Buyer's website behavior seems suspicious, we send an alert to any Sellers they have contacted

We are currently designing a new resource page dedicated to health & safety guidelines and look forward to sharing this with you soon.

Our Support Team, comprised of customer support, security and healthcare volunteers, is happy to answer any questions you may have on safety through our Contact Form.

How do I know if the equipment is right for me and meets my medical needs?

If you are unsure of what your equipment needs are or if the equipment is right for you, consult with your family physician or contact community health services in your local health authority to seek a referral to see an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to help determine your needs.

The below are public community programs and resources that are available from Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health:

Vancouver Coastal Health Fall Prevention Initiative: Fall Prevention - Vancouver Coastal Health (vch.ca)

Vancouver Coastal Health Home & Community Care: Home & community care - Vancouver Coastal Health (vch.ca)

Fraser Health Authority Home & Community Care: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/home-and-community-care

Central Intake for Home & Community Care
North Shore: (604) 986-7111
Richmond: (604) 278-3361
Vancouver: (604) 263-7377
Fraser Health Authority: 1-855-412-2121

Not all listings are reviewed before being posted to the site. It is your responsibility to confirm that the equipment is as described, meets your medical needs, and is in an adequately usable condition. Be advised that AssistList is in no way responsible or liable for equipment that does not fit your needs.

Thoroughly inspect the product in person before exchanging funds.
Consider doing research online, discuss with other individuals who have equipment, and/or visit a medical supplier store to see what new equipment should look like.
View our list of Additional Services as we have partnerships with organizations that offer equipment assessment and repair services for a fee.

If you are experiencing any health difficulties, do consult with a healthcare practitioner such as a physician. They may help you with your current health situation or direct you to community health services. If it's a non-emergency, you can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 for support, or if you're experiencing an emergency please call 9-1-1.

What is a suspicious email and what do I do if I receive one?

Please forward any suspicious emails to support@assistlist.ca and then immediately delete the email.

Be wary of any email asking you to confirm your account or change your password that was not requested. This could be a fraudulent email by scammers trying to gain access to your account. Any emails we send requiring you to log in will bring you directly to AssistList.

AssistList does not offer any paid services such as protection programs and we will never ask for a credit card number. If you receive any emails promoting these services, it is not from AssistList.

Unfortunately, some scammers may attempt to contact users claiming to be from AssistList. Please be aware that AssistList will only contact you from the following email addresses: support@assistlist.ca and no-reply@assistlist.ca

If you receive any emails claiming to be from AssistList that is not from an email listed above, let us know immediately by contacting us through our Contact Form or call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center at 1-888-495-8501. 

How do I contact AssistList about suspicious activity?

Please contact us through our Contact Form if you have any questions or concerns about scams. The safety and security of our users and of the website are of utmost importance to us, and as such, we will do everything we can to assist you, and to deal with any transgressions on the site swiftly.

Our Support Team, comprised of customer support, security and healthcare volunteers, is happy to answer any questions you may have on safety through our Contact Form. We can help you if you’re uncomfortable or unsure about your transaction.

A reminder to please follow our essential safety checklist:
Do not share any personal information.
Conduct transactions in person in one of our Community Exchange Zones with cash.
Do not respond to suspicious-looking emails. 

Where can I find more information about scams?

Here is our short video on Safety Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXBeQA-wG1s

Our list of recommended resources online: www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/fraud-scams.html
Canada Revenue Agency: Mail fraud and spam (canada.ca)


Someone is insisting on paying me with Bitcoin, PayPal, a cheque or wire-transfer only. Is this normal?

For the safety of our users, we highly recommend that all AssistList transactions be conducted in person, with cash. This is because deferred payment methods, such as cheques or wire transfers can be cancelled fairly easily by the payer. It is also good practice to meet for any transaction in person in one of our recommended Community Exchange Zones.

Please watch our Safety video here on YouTube.