eBay/shpock/ gumtree

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  • Hzl
    Hzl Posts: 1 Newbie
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    Hi forum folks.

    Does anyone know if a verbal agreement means anything regarding Gumtree Freebies?

    I was given first refusal on a freebie, well, a large old garden building to be precise, which I accepted and set about organising the logistics of having it lifted and transported to me 100 miles away.

    For a number of unavoidable reasons, it's taken a lot longer than initially anticipated to organise collection with an appropriate haulage company who's able to tackle suchsl a delicate specialist load with all its restricted accesses etc.

    Being totally inexperienced in haulage matters, trying to juggle all the different information, restrictions, costs and contacts whilst battling s disability made worse by my stress, it has taken me 3 weeks to get to this point of actually booking the collection for next week.

    I've been absolutely committed to honouring my word, working flat out to ensure collection would be as soon as possible and have kept the 'seller' informed of my progress, primarily by email/messaging as i have difficulties speaking on the telephone due to my condition, which I informed him about early on.

    Anyway long story short, this week he did not respond to my messaging since wednesday, though i continued to send him updates. Today I sent him confirmation of the company i was booking with and to inform him that collection would definitely be next week, however he has replied to say he has offered the item to somone else now who's collecting it tonight. This made me throw up :-(

    I'm guessing there's nothing I can really do about this as i cannot find any consumer act advice or gumtree terms relating to free/£0 items, I just thought - hoped - there might at least be something around verbal contracts or virtual agreements in writing?

    My last hope would be to send him a final personal appeal but I haven't a clue how best to approach this or find the right tone and wording... so any advice or suggestions would be gratefully received.


    --
    Thank you.
  • hollydays
    hollydays Posts: 19,812 Forumite
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    edited 13 October 2018 at 9:18AM
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    Hzl wrote: »
    Hi forum folks.

    Does anyone know if a verbal agreement means anything regarding Gumtree Freebies?

    I was given first refusal on a freebie, well, a large old garden building to be precise, which I accepted and set about organising the logistics of having it lifted and transported to me 100 miles away.

    For a number of unavoidable reasons, it's taken a lot longer than initially anticipated to organise collection with an appropriate haulage company who's able to tackle suchsl a delicate specialist load with all its restricted accesses etc.

    Being totally inexperienced in haulage matters, trying to juggle all the different information, restrictions, costs and contacts whilst battling s disability made worse by my stress, it has taken me 3 weeks to get to this point of actually booking the collection for next week.

    I've been absolutely committed to honouring my word, working flat out to ensure collection would be as soon as possible and have kept the 'seller' informed of my progress, primarily by email/messaging as i have difficulties speaking on the telephone due to my condition, which I informed him about early on.

    Anyway long story short, this week he did not respond to my messaging since wednesday, though i continued to send him updates. Today I sent him confirmation of the company i was booking with and to inform him that collection would definitely be next week, however he has replied to say he has offered the item to somone else now who's collecting it tonight. This made me throw up :-(

    I'm guessing there's nothing I can really do about this as i cannot find any consumer act advice or gumtree terms relating to free/£0 items, I just thought - hoped - there might at least be something around verbal contracts or virtual agreements in writing?

    My last hope would be to send him a final personal appeal but I haven't a clue how best to approach this or find the right tone and wording... so any advice or suggestions would be gratefully received.


    --
    Thank you.

    Three weeks?
    It's no wonder the seller got fed up.
    All the seller wants is to get rid of something quickly, I'd suggest therefore you weren't the right customer for this transaction
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,552 Forumite
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    I would rather pay for a skip and be out of pocket than wait weeks for someone that makes excuses.

    You had first refusal but did not collect in a timely manner so they may have assumed you no longer wanted it.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • crustycob
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    Shpock and Gumtree are mainly for face to face, local, cash deals. If the buyer is genuine to leave their contact number in their opening email reply. Never put your own number in your ad as you will be bombarded with spam calls / texts and marketing rubbish.
    eBay is more for long distance selling / buying. The buyer is 90% of the time protected by eBays protection scheme. However when selling, make sure your honest about your item for sale. Buyers are quick to complain. Which results in poor feedback and you having to pay for return postage etc.
    I'd personally prefer a buyer to actually see the item visually first and deal that way.
    But I'm sure you know all this.
  • bris
    bris Posts: 10,548 Forumite
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    I never sell on Ebay anymore, haven't for a few years now, it's expensive and risky.


    Never used Shpock but Gumtree I use. Never had a problem, cash on collection works well and never had anything to sell that local people didn't want.


    I have listed a few expensive items and had all the usual scammers phoning and emailing from far away with their stories but as long as you know what to look for you can tell a scammer in the first few seconds.
  • Btamizi
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    Hi
    I bought a fridge freezer on a gumtree. Agreed that it will be delivered to the address of the property I am letting out. The seller agreed to deliver. My friend was present on delivery to pay cash.
    The fridge arrived, taped and packed. We were told that it needs to stand unplugged for 24 hrs.
    The next day when the tenants plugged it and unwrapped it and it was a broken inside. The tenants emailed me the day after the delivery, to tell me that the fridge is in terrible condition. However I didn’t see the email until Wednesday. As soon as I read the email I contacted the seller, who was rude to me and said if I contacted him the same day he would give me refund but not after 5 days! He stopped replying to my calls and messages. I only have his phone number. What can I do to get my money back? Thank you
  • theonlywayisup
    theonlywayisup Posts: 16,031 Forumite
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    Btamizi wrote: »
    Hi
    I bought a fridge freezer on a gumtree. Agreed that it will be delivered to the address of the property I am letting out. The seller agreed to deliver. My friend was present on delivery to pay cash.
    The fridge arrived, taped and packed. We were told that it needs to stand unplugged for 24 hrs.
    The next day when the tenants plugged it and unwrapped it and it was a broken inside. The tenants emailed me the day after the delivery, to tell me that the fridge is in terrible condition. However I didn’t see the email until Wednesday. As soon as I read the email I contacted the seller, who was rude to me and said if I contacted him the same day he would give me refund but not after 5 days! He stopped replying to my calls and messages. I only have his phone number. What can I do to get my money back? Thank you

    You have already posted a thread on this, don't clutter other threads with the same question.
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