Shpock: is the boot sale app really better than eBay and Gumtree?
Shpock boot sale app is an alternative to eBay which lets you shop and sell items in your local area. Is it any good?
Shpock, short for SHop in your POCKet, is an online car boot sale app available on iOS and Android that rivals eBay and Gumtree (head this way to see how the costs compare).
It was founded by Austrian entrepreneurs Armin Strbac and Katherina Klausberger who wanted to offer people a platform to buy, sell or give away unwanted "beautiful things" in their local area.
The app launched in the UK in March 2014 and has already become a fairly popular selling platform.
What is it that Shpock offers to make it stand up against well-established online marketplaces like eBay and classified listing websites like Craigslist and Gumtree?
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How it works
Shpock is very simple and quick to use.
To get started you just need to download the free app for your iOS or Android mobile device from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can also access Shpock online on a computer, rather than your phone, if you wish.
You can then list an item just by uploading a picture, writing a short description, picking a category and suggesting a price.
There are nine main categories you can choose from: Fashion and Accessories; Home and Garden; Electronics; Movies, Books and Music; Baby and Child; Sport, Leisure and Games; Services; Cars and Motor; and 'Other'.
Other Shpock users will then be able to see your listing. If they're interested, they can get in contact to either agree to pay the asking price or make a counteroffer.
Once a price is negotiated, it’s up to the buyer and seller to reach an agreement about item delivery and method of payment. Shpock doesn’t get involved.
At this point we should point out that, if you're specifically looking to buy or sell clothes, Depop is a far more targeted app. You can read our review of it here.
How does Shpock compare?
Shpock hasn’t reinvented the wheel, but it has made an online marketplace that's cheaper, easier to use and nicer to look at than its rivals.
For one thing, it's free to use and doesn’t charge any listing or transaction fees. The company only has optional charges for extra features that help to promote an item, which range from 69p to £13.99.
In addition, Shpock offers a more modern take on free classified listings that look dated, are built mainly on text and often feature a lot of distracting adverts.
Shpock is built on images to inspire those browsing and has useful features like being able to promote items through social media and the ability to set up alerts for items you are on the hunt for.
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Verdict
If you’re looking for a cheap alternative to selling with eBay, with some modern functionality to boot, it’s worth giving Shpock a go.
With over a million users now signed up in the UK you should find something you like or find people that want your stuff in your local area.
However, you should make sure you take precautions like using PayPal and using tracked delivery to ensure you have some protection when making an exchange.
Have you used Shpock? Let us know what you think in the Comments box below.
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More on selling second hand:
How to sell successfully on eBay
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