We finally got around to checking out an ebay drop shop near us in Glasgow. It’s part of the bidway group/franchise. We’d heard about it through Frances’ parents, but we’d not got around to popping in until this morning. Our problem, since our kitchen refit, has been we’ve had an AEG Designer Cooker Hood (HD8795M) sat in our front room. I’d been intending to sell it myself on ebay, but I have no feedback (I’ve not bought or sold a thing), and I’d expect just that if I was buying somethign that’s worth several hundred pounds.
Anyway, we popped in this morning (it’s on Cathcart Road near Mount Florida), and to our delight he (George) seemed interested in taking the item. So we’ve just dug out the extra packaging required, and have enlisted Frances’ fathers’ estate car to help us get it around there before they close today. The main thing is it’ll be out of our front room - any money we get for it will be a benefit of course, plus he takes care of managing the shipment process (another area of worry).
As we chatted, a few anecdotes about enquiries to ship a deep-sea diving helmet to “an island in the south pacific” (£150 postage or so, it seems), as well as somebody who drove up from south of London recently to collect a large satellite dish, only to strap it to the roof of his car (no roof rack, just rope!) in no time at all before heading off again. You’ve got to hand it to ebay, it’s enabled a vibrant surrounding economy, and the ease with which it enables us to get rid of the white elephant in the front room means I’m already thinking of things we can dispose of and make a bit of money with.
Watch this space for news (and links to) the auction!
Update: The auction was a success!
Further update. Whilst we were pleased to see that the item went for the sort of price we’d hoped for, I’m still without my money from the shop almost a month after the auction finished. I’m normally quite patient and happy to allow for a busy company, but a month is bordering on the ridiculous. I called today to be told “We’ve been snowed under“, “We’ve been short staffed“, and “last weeks [school] holidays*” as reasons, all of which I imagine are likely. But a one line e-mail would have put my frustrations at ease somewhat, and that didn’t happen. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying “don’t use them”. Quite the opposite in fact: It’s a great service. But bear in mind that this is a small outfit, and that you may need to chase a bit. I’m told I should expect my cheque this week, and they’ve been friendly - if not very communicative - throughout.
Update, Updated: OK, cheque received. Happy after all. We sold our item. We were happy with the price we got. Just wish we hadn’t had to have chased: It probably was busyness on their part. So, would I do it again? Probably. I’d certainly be very interested in hearing from others who’ve used the company to hear their thoughts. I’m sure my other readers would be too.
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November 14th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
Hiya,
I am looking into these guys selling undrwear signed by Helena Christensen, for me. I have phoned and spoken to a lovely wee man so far! As I have no idea about these things and after reading your review would you really recommend using their services.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Thanks
Morag
November 14th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
Yes, I would recommend them - it takes a lot of the hassle away from doing it yourself on ebay, but would caution it’s not going to be as cheap as doing it yourself, ie be aware of the costs and charges that will be brought to bear:
We sold our item, but weren’t expecting anything more than the 25% commission to be deducted. I’d presumed that covered all the costs of the transaction itself, but I was wrong.
So, in short, check what - for the price you hope to get - what you would receive from them in the form of a cheque. Ours was quite high-value, and there may be a tiered pricing structure.
A friendly service certainly, but check behind the smile for the small print, and be prepared to chase things along a bit. We suffered a few unexpected delays due to, they say, staff illness/holiday.
Be sure to post back your thoughts if you do go along to them. The more comments the better for others!
April 18th, 2007 at 7:14 am
thank you for this site i have been looking for an ebay drop shop in glasgow for ages now and now i have found two. i phoned both and dont see why bidway are charging 10% more comission than the auction stop. the auction stop pay my ebay and paypal fees where as bidway make me pay them. well i will be going to auction stop asap a great new service i found thanks to tour site
April 18th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
UPDATE:
I went in this afternoon good friendly service.Everything explained and values for my items given. Looking forward to cheque.
June 19th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
My experience with the Bidway shop in Cathcart Road is not too good. Sure they are good at selling your gear on Ebay but when it comes to them paying up, you had better be patient. I have used Bidway on 3 occasions and every time I have had to chase them for a cheque. Currently I am waiting for payment for goods sold by them way back on the 6th to 7th of May - that is over 6 weeks! I phoned them a week ago only to be told that George ( who writes the cheques ) was not available. The girl to whom I spoke told me that George would call me back - I am still waiting. The last time I had to chase them up, I was told my cheque had been sent on 2 occasions. Basically, they lied.
My patience with Bidway has run out!
September 16th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
hi i tried the one stop shop at dumbarton rd glasgow , i was greeted with a smile and all the usual carry on , my stuff was supposed to go on the following week . i was told 3 weeks later that one of my items werent put on as someone said that there was a £600 price tag on it , i was then told that my item would be put on . i have been looking for it to no success , my other items i havent been told what has happened with them .i was told the items would be on for 10 days this is now 15 days still nothing from them .
October 2nd, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Just a note from myself. There were two posts I’ve moderated away from view as, to me at least, they appear to be commercial spam for a rival company here in Glasgow. This site is being linked to by the company in question.
You can see the google cache, for a while at least and make up your own mind.
If people have views on this, they can raise them with me or comment here. Better yet, if people have direct experiences of ANY ebay merchants/commercial resellers in and around Glasgow, they can post their views.
But I won’t tolerate commercial spam. Contact me to buy an advert!
October 16th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Hi,
I dropped off some household items to the Auction Stop on Maryhill Rd at the end of July 07. After a few weeks of waiting to hear from them.I phoned to find out the progress of my items. I was told they had sold quite a few things for me and the others will be re posted. I was delighted with the price they achieved! I was told my cheque would be in the post that week. In Sep 07 I still had not recieved my cheque!! I called, again, and was told it would be posted to me. I went on holiday, assuming they would post it while I was on holiday. To give credit to them it was, but recorded delivery..so, was sent back to them. I called again only to be told it was being re posted..time passess..you guessed no cheque. I called again and advised if my cheque was not sent by the end of the following week I would be going to the trading standards. It is now Oct 16th 07 and I finally recieved my cheque yesterday. There have been lots of calls to this shop regarding my cheque all initiated by me..except (1) I recieved from the manageress on the 9th of Oct to say my cheque was ready to be sent that day. I asked her not to send it because of the postal strikes and arranged to pick it up on Friday 12th Oct. I arrived at the shop to find it closed at 4pm!! I called on the Sat to find an ansa message stating the shop was closed due to staff shortages. I called the othe shop on Old Dumbarton
Rd to find out when the Maryhill shop would be opened..I was told definitly on Mon. I called on Monday to ensure (1) my cheque was indeed there (2) If the shop would be open?? Eventually, I got my cheque!! The staff seem to be under a lot of pressure. The shop when I entered was overwhelmed with other peoples items climbing the walls!! How can they know what belongs to who?? I feel it is only a matter of time before they lose someones item(s)…could be wrong but the overall feel is disorganisation and an extreme phobia of communicating with their sellers..rant over
October 18th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
hi
I dropped off several items 8 infact with the old dumbarton road store 6 items sold. they all got good prices so i was pleased the two items not sold were returned to me. very pleased with service and very pleased with the shop. just reading over other reviews i saw one saying the maryhill road shop has a lot of items in surely that is a good thing? it seems to say to me that people are getting good service and taking their items. would i use the service again? yes of course no complaints here. a big thank you to barbara at old dumbarton road it is a pleasure dealing with her and i will see you again barbara.
October 27th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
went to the auction shop handed in a couple of my sons video game cnsoles received a call today to let me know they have sold and payment will be with me in 10 days. very fast good service would certainly recommend them
November 21st, 2007 at 1:11 pm
dealing with the drop of shop in partick both shops constantly closed gave them items to sell on 23rd july no even a reply back sorry i gave them the items now
cant even run a service my patience is runnig thin now
just hope the havent lost the items
emailed the owner few times not got the decency to contact you to explain whats the hold up never use them again would nt go near them at all
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:48 am
I left 2 bulky items with the auction stop drop shop in the old dumbarton road in august, as I was going away to New Zealand to work for a while. They told me they had sold the items for a good price, and would send the cheque to my parents’ home. I didn’t think much of it when I was away, and expected the cheque to be with my folks when I arrived home. But no, nothing. So, it’s now been 4 months!!! I’ve tried to ring them but there’s no answer. The items sold were worth several hundred pounds!
Definitely wouldn’t use them again.
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I left goods at the Maryhill shop to be told last october that they had been sold and my cheque was in the post needless to say nothing has turned up. Been to trading standards. Looks as if the have done a disappearing act. As noone can find them.managed to get access to the shop via the Glasgow housing Association. The shop is a tip with peoples goods scattered everywhere. unfortunately my goods were not there. Its absolutely disgusting that these people can get away with this, to me its theft .
August 11th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
The cathcart road store is NOTHING to do with the other shops mentioned, but you’ll be glad to hear it’s closed too - rubbish service and disorganised staff.
October 13th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
i am looking for a shop to sell my pram and a few other items for me can anyone recomend a reliable one please in glasgow