Time wasters on Shpock.

rosie383

I'm starting to get a bit pee'd off with this. Some people buy on Shpock and turn up and pay for and collect the item. Great.
However, I have 'sold' so many items over the past few months where people just don't bother turning up. When I have offered on something, I always get a message saying that once an offer has been agreed, it then becomes legally binding. However, I can't find any info on what happens should time wasters just not bother to appear as agreed.

Does anyone have any answer for this please?

LindaMary

I just report them and get their account banned! I suppose they will just open another one though. So annoying

mightymole

you get them everywhere sadly

karen_wyatt

I'm peed off with it as well

rosie383

So really, it's not legally binding at all? What is the point then?
And don't get me started on the chancers who offer £0 for sometimes quite expensive things, like a washing machine!
Or the sarcastic message that I got from one lady who repeatedly offered me £40 for my washing machine which I kept rejecting. 'I got the same one from someone else for £30 so you can keep it!'. Erm, I will thanks.

mossstitchmama

I thought the whole purpose of Shpock was that it was local. I am repeatedly accepting offers and then the buyer expects me to deliver. One lady got very shirty when I wouldn't deliver to Birmingham city centre because "her son work there". My refusal was met with "I'm just trying to save money".

pulliptears

I've sold about 30 things via Shpock now without any non collectors, I'm guessing I've been lucky. DH is in the process of emptying his late Dads garage and he's had similar sales without issue.
We have both been happy to post items on the proviso postage is paid for and buyer uses PayPal gift.
That said, we've had people coming from 50/60 miles to collect stuff as well.

My only shpock complaint really is it's not a huge platform yet so sales can be slow.

hollydays

rosie383 wrote: »

So really, it's not legally binding at all? What is the point then?
And don't get me started on the chancers who offer £0 for sometimes quite expensive things, like a washing machine!
Or the sarcastic message that I got from one lady who repeatedly offered me £40 for my washing machine which I kept rejecting. 'I got the same one from someone else for £30 so you can keep it!'. Erm, I will thanks.

Shpock do tell you that if you want to message someone privately , you do this by making an offer of £0

rosie383

I wasn't aware of that. Thank you. No idea why people would offer £0 without putting a message with the offer if that was the case. Otherwise I just don't even bother to respond.

trickytrev1960

I've recently found this is a major problem with Shpock. Sadly you need to get savvy and know how to spot them in advance. Here are my tips:
1) Check their reviews i.e. have they been a time waster to others
2) Check where they are, if not local they'll ask for postage cost, if they don't ask for postage cost, no doubt they'll change there mind about collecting once they realize it's out of their way.
3) Sadly there's a generation gap on Shpock, I find the older the buyer, the more chance they'll act decently and accept they've entered into a morally abiding contract - sorry if anyone is offended, I'm just stating what I've experienced.
4) Don't be desperate to sell, trust me, if it's priced sensibly - it will sell.
5) Make sure you leave negative feed back for them.
6) Block them before they 'snipe' back.
7) Politely tell people they have 48 hours to collect or at least make firm arrangements, if they don't you should re-list and block them.
It's a jungle out there

bail-in

Thanks for your info trickytrev1960. Note if repeatedly block shpockers cust service may well block you. Generally i get very good results, much much better than gumtree and preloved. Only takes a minute or so to post a pic and text. Wish they upped their text character limit in the description. I dont know why the agreement is legally binding. Its not an auction, and a deal is not legally binding on gum tree or preloved until the basic requirement of consideration applies. A nice feature wud be to see how many views an ad gets, and sellers should be able to see the location of a bidder even if they are not selling any items. You can leave ads up for as long as you want and no fees unless you go for ad upgrades.