gumtree

larry_lurex

Howdy,

Gumtree used to be useful and I sold the odd item I no longer need every now and then. Recently things changed and whether I can or cannot post appears to up to the moon cycle. Flower pots have been removed because the new software they have (no doubt to drive business towards eBay who owns the site) reckons flower pots are offensive.

Is there a thread about this or has anyone had similar experiences?

Thanks.

soolin

There isn't a dedicated thread as I don't think it is a widely used site any more. I used to have a very limited success on there, but more recently can't sell anything at all.

I now use Facebook selling pages for my non eBay stuff

larry_lurex

soolin wrote: »

There isn't a dedicated thread as I don't think it is a widely used site any more. I used to have a very limited success on there, but more recently can't sell anything at all.

I now use Facebook selling pages for my non eBay stuff

Thanks for the response. It is almost exclusively time wasters who respond to Gumtree now but I used to sell a few small things to locals.

How do you sell on Facebook? Is there a link somewhere?

soolin

larry_lurex wrote: »

Thanks for the response. It is almost exclusively time wasters who respond to Gumtree now but I used to sell a few small things to locals.

How do you sell on Facebook? Is there a link somewhere?

OK- my explanations tend to be over complicated, but I'll give it a try.

Search for groups locally using the words selling, sell, buy swap etc and send a join request. Basically then you can load your own stuff onto your own page but also upload photo albums of things for sale on these other selling groups. It is best to stick to collection only for cash, watch the usual scammers (and there are many of them) and read the rules of each individual group you join.

The pages are full of fake goods and dodgy pirated films, but there are also people buying and selling ordinary goods .

Once you join a few you often get invites to join others

larry_lurex

I took your advice and posted over fifty times on FB. Frankly, it was a sensational flop. Is there really no alternative to feeBay? Why do they have such a monopoly?

soolin

larry_lurex wrote: »

I took your advice and posted over fifty times on FB. Frankly, it was a sensational flop. Is there really no alternative to feeBay? Why do they have such a monopoly?

There is no monopoly, it is just that ebay is the preferred selling and buying venue for most people. There are alternatives and you appear to have tried 2, but may have to accept that ebay is a more popular venue.

It is also worth remembering that not everything sells, so if you have been unsuccessful on both Gumtree and Facebook (and they are both venues with a limited audience) why not try ebay? You can check out completed listings before you waste a listing fee, and if your items don't look like they sell then just charity shop them.

larry_lurex

A few years ago I tried eBay once. I advertised a brand new jacket worth £25 and someone won it for £5. I was just trying things out but never returned ...

Amazon was very similar. I used it once and the nearly new book I bought for about £30 went for £11. Amazon got the postage wrong because it was heavy so I was left with £8 and a bit. A complete joke.

I have sold quite regularly (never made a fortune, just the odd thing once a fortnight) on Gumtree but since their revamp they stopped accepting any of my ads. (That site is dying anyway.) They are owned by eBay so that is where the traffic is eventually headed.

FB appears to be full of people wanting to sell and nobody wanting to buy.

soolin

larry_lurex wrote: »

A few years ago I tried eBay once. I advertised a brand new jacket worth £25 and someone won it for £5. I was just trying things out but never returned ...
Your jacket wasn't worth £25 then it was worth £5. If you want a certain amount for something on ebay you can increase the price you list it at. By listing at a lower price you were obvioously happy to have got that, or thought it worth a gamble. I never gamble, if I want £25 I start my listing at £25.

Amazon was very similar. I used it once and the nearly new book I bought for about £30 went for £11. Amazon got the postage wrong because it was heavy so I was left with £8 and a bit. A complete joke.
Amazon didn't get the post wrong, you did. Amazon use a fixed postage fee, it is clearly explained in the conditions when you sell and you are warned on the final listing page that the net funds they show you are the total you will receive.

I have sold quite regularly (never made a fortune, just the odd thing once a fortnight) on Gumtree but since their revamp they stopped accepting any of my ads. (That site is dying anyway.) They are owned by eBay so that is where the traffic is eventually headed.

FB appears to be full of people wanting to sell and nobody wanting to buy.

A quick read does rather suggest you are over valuing your items. Market value is all that matters, not what you paid for something or what you would hope to get. Many of us would hope for more profit from goods, but have to accept there is a ceiling price and that is all we are likely to achieve.

Also what do you mean by Gumtree not accepting your ads? The only thing I had refused was a blooming Gurka military short dagger that I risked and they told me was against policy (I suspected as much but thought I might sneak in under the radar especially as there are a lot worse items on there for sale)

kurgon

I'm surprised - Gumtree has always been brilliant for me and I have regularly sold on there. 2 items in 2 weeks most recently. Not sure if it is areas dependant (I'm Manchester) but have also not had problems with listing.

larry_lurex

Gumtree remove my items as soon as I post them. I do not consider flowerpots as offensive ... Like I said - before the revamp and new rules I posted and got rid of stuff slowly but regularly but now there is no free outlet any more.

Many thanks for your attention.

soolin

larry_lurex wrote: »

Gumtree remove my items as soon as I post them. I do not consider flowerpots as offensive ... Like I said - before the revamp and new rules I posted and got rid of stuff slowly but regularly but now there is no free outlet any more.

Many thanks for your attention.

That's odd, I would certainly be contacting gumtree to ask why your posts are not being accepted.

I assume you are not listing in 2 areas (that appears to be a no no even though some of us are on the border of two gum tree areas) .

Certainly worth asking I would have thought