FAQ
Here are some commonly asked questions about this site:
What type of swaps can we place?
Anything that can be regarded as a service, skill or a general help to others can be listed on this site. Voluntary organisations are also able to post requests for support in the form of volunteers – as long as this is stated clearly in your ‘Swap Request’.
What kind of swaps can we NOT place?
No items or goods – mobiles phones, cars, computers, lawn mowers, iPods etc. If you want to do something like that, try eBay. We also do not allow anything to do with Drugs, Alcohol, or any other controlled substances. Swaps that are deemed of ‘adult content’ or ‘spam’ are simply not allowed. Try and keep this a clean, ‘Work Safe’ site please.
How long will my Swap Request be listed for?
Each Swap Request will be listed for 30 days.
What happens if we place something that is not accepted on this site?
Your ‘Swap Request’ and your username will be deleted without a refund. Also in extreme circumstances your IP will be blocked from using this site.
How do people respond to ‘Swap Requests’? Are my contact details safe?
Yes, your contact details are safe. People respond to your ‘Swap Request’ via a contact form at the bottom of each post. When the form is complete, and the responder has clicked ’submit’, the information entered will be forwarded to your email address via our systems. There is no why for anyone to contact you directly.
Why do you charge $1 to post a Swap Request?
Originally we were hoping to be able to allow people to use our site for free; however within the first few days in to our first launch, the site was misused by many spammers and unsociable people from all over the web. Applying a $1 charge, we are hoping to be able to stop most of the misuse that happened before – but obviously from time to time, some might slip through. We are also aware that as soon as you place a price on something on the web, most of the time only seriously interested parties use the service – this is our hope.
Where does the money go?
All the profits from The Swap Shop are split equally between Cancer Research, Oxfam, and The Scouts Association. We have chossen these worthwhile causes because:
Cancer Research - 1 in 3 people are affected by Cancer each year, and with 26 types of Cancer affecting millions every single day.
Oxfam - One of the largest charities supporting the poorest people in the world. They focus their efforts on a wide selection of issues including educatation, emergency support in disasters, and HIV/AIDs and Human rights to name a few.
The Scouts Association - The best extracurricular education a young person can receive. The Scouts Association never receives any funding from the goverment, and are run by volunteers from the local community.
Can I help promote your site?
Of course your can! We busy designing a selection of buttons and banners that you can place on your website, which will be up and running soon. Also, please feel free to post an honest review about the site on your own blog / site. Don’t forget to tell us if you do review us, so we can read it, and hopefully gain an understanding about where we need to improve.
Do you have any control over making sure that the other person keeps up their end of the bargain?
At present, not much. However, by law, anyone who posts a ‘Swap Request’ is opening up a contract to up hold their side of the deal. Anyone who replies to a ‘Swap Request’ the is excepted by the original party is also entering a contract excepting the terms stated in the post, as well as any additional information found in email correspondence between the parties.
Who runs this site?
This is a personal site run by Leigh Brown, based near Cambridge in the UK.
