The start of the year is always the best time to go (online) shopping because that is where the deals are. It could be that someone is trying to recoup some money for the remainder of January, and is willing to let new or used items go for very cheap.
If you made it through December financially unscathed, that means you have a bit of extra cash for yourself to spend on something cheap.
It's all about patience and looking for the right deal. Even if something is a bit pricey, the seller is always willing to negotiate simply just to make the sale happen. Put those WhatsApp fast fingers to good use and strike a deal as quickly as possible because many people scour the online classifieds, and it's often first come, first served.
If you're unsure on how to find these deals, trying using search terms like 'Urgent sale', 'Free' or 'Unwanted' on Gumtree. Also, categories like Antiques, Electronics and Home & Garden are some of the most popular and tend to have plenty of low-priced items for sale. There might even be something rare for sale for ridiculously cheap and the owner might not know, which you can always resell for a profit.
Shop safe
While you are searching Gumtree's vast online classifieds, be sure to keep safe and know how to spot a potential scammer by following some of the tips below, provided by Gumtree's Head of Customer Service, Louis Bosman.
Now that you’ve got the knowledge, it’s time to shop! Head to gumtree.co.za or your Gumtree app (click for Apple & Android), and don’t forget to use your location settings to find local service information close to home.
If you made it through December financially unscathed, that means you have a bit of extra cash for yourself to spend on something cheap.
It's all about patience and looking for the right deal. Even if something is a bit pricey, the seller is always willing to negotiate simply just to make the sale happen. Put those WhatsApp fast fingers to good use and strike a deal as quickly as possible because many people scour the online classifieds, and it's often first come, first served.
If you're unsure on how to find these deals, trying using search terms like 'Urgent sale', 'Free' or 'Unwanted' on Gumtree. Also, categories like Antiques, Electronics and Home & Garden are some of the most popular and tend to have plenty of low-priced items for sale. There might even be something rare for sale for ridiculously cheap and the owner might not know, which you can always resell for a profit.
Shop safe
While you are searching Gumtree's vast online classifieds, be sure to keep safe and know how to spot a potential scammer by following some of the tips below, provided by Gumtree's Head of Customer Service, Louis Bosman.
- The golden rule is: don’t hand over the item(s) unless you see the money reflect in your account. This can be verified by contacting your financial institution.
- Use the Gumtree communication platform on the app where you (as the seller) can see if the buyer and seller are ID verified and know who you are dealing with. Scammers move to where people are, so social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are also becoming targets.
- If you see an item (like a TV set, for example) being sold for a ridiculously low price, that should definitely serve as a significant red flag to the buyer.
- Stay away from transacting via alternate payment services like E-Wallet, PayPal, MoneyGram, or Western Union.
- Scammers will create a sense of urgency and will generally use phrases like ‘I don’t live where you are’ or ‘I need it for a birthday’ – basically any excuse not to pick the item up themselves.
Now that you’ve got the knowledge, it’s time to shop! Head to gumtree.co.za or your Gumtree app (click for Apple & Android), and don’t forget to use your location settings to find local service information close to home.
