This week's "Quick Tip" covers how to close out an item after you've given it away (or a need that has been filled by someone else). I've had lots of questions about assigning giveaways to the right person, so let's clear that up, shall we?

It's very important to be sure close out your items for several reasons.

• You don't want items remaining in the listings after they've been given away, otherwise you'll continue to get requests for them.

  Proper credit needs to be given to everyone who received and gave in order for the twoshirts system to work. This is how everyone knows who's using the system properly and who's abusing the system.

So let's get started.

1. Once someone has claimed an item and picked it up from you, go into the item's editing panel by clicking "Edit Item" towards the top of the page.

2. Once you're in the editing panel, notice the "Item Status" drop-down menu. Click this and you see three options: a) "Active" which is what should currently be selected, b) "Inactive" which is a great way to put an item on hold while you're waiting for someone to pick it up, and c) "Item successfully received or given away." In this example, choose this option.

3. Once you do, a new box will appear (along with a popup reminder) called "Transaction Completion." This new box has a drop down menu labeled "Who Claimed This Item?" You need to select the user name of the person who took your item from the drop-down list.

NOTE: This list only contains user names, which is often different than the profile name (or the real name) of the person you met. The original e-mail you received from them contains a sentence that says, "Someone with the user name ________ has claimed this item..." Get into the habit of saving the e-mail or making a note of the user name so you can complete this step.

4. Once you've selected the user name form the drop-down list, you can scroll to the bottom and click the "submit" button. The item will be taken off the listings and assigned to your "Items Given" list in your profile and the other person's "Items Received" list in their profile.

That's It!