What is a Swapit?
Swapits are what you get every time you swap something. You can also earn extra Swapits from particular brands, doing stuff online, competitions and more. Once you have some lovely Swapits, you can spend them on cool new stuff and things that other people want to swap.
What can I get?
In the Swap Zones on the left (Books, Cards, Collectables, Gadgets etc) you will find new shiny swaps added by Swapit.co.uk and cool second-hand swaps added by fellow swappers.
In the Frenzies, you’ll find new stuff given to Swapit by brands who want to promote something, such as a new movie or game. Often it’s stuff that’s so blinkin’ new, you can’t even get in the shops!
How do I earn Swapits?
You get lovely Swapits every time you do a swap, plus a bonus 15 Swapits if we receive your swap within five days of the ‘Swap won date’ – woohoo!
There are also lots of other ways you can fill your pockets full of Swapits, such as competitions, surveys and treasure hunts!
How can I trust other Swappers?
You can check out how many successful swaps a Swapper has made by looking at their rating. Each of their swaps shows the coloured star for that swapper and if you click on the Swapper’s nickname, you can also see their rating points score. Every time you improve your rating, you get a new coloured star.
What is ‘Following’?
Following is a cool new feature on Swapit that lets you keep an eye on your favourite swappers! So if you’re crazy about computer games, and there’s a Swapper that regularly swaps cool ones, you should click ‘Follow’ on their profile; then every time they post a new item, you get an alert! Cool huh? Other Swappers can Follow you too.
What is ‘Haggle’?
A ‘Haggle’ swap allows you to set the swapits amount you want for an item. Other Swappers can then either win the item immediately at the swapits amount you set, or send you an alternative swapits offer for it. You can keep making offers back and forth (haggle) with Swappers until you are both happy with the price and accept the swapits offer. You can create a Haggle on the ‘Add a Swap’ page, or if you are looking for Haggle items to make an offer on simply choose a category and use the ‘Haggles only’ tab to find any live Haggle Swaps.
What are ‘Swap Reminders’?
Swapit Reminders alert you before a swap auction ends.
To set a reminder simply click on the blue ‘Remind me before end’ button on the swap page. Choose to receive either an email or SMS using the blue tabs and then set a time between 60 and 5 minutes 'before auction ends' you'd like to receive your reminder. Easy!
You can keep track of all the reminders you have set on your Dashboard. Email reminders are unlimited but SMS are limited to 5. For now SMS reminders are free but we may charge in the long run - don't worry, we'll let you know if this changes!
What are the frequently asked questions (FAQs)?
Getting Swapits
1. How do I get more Swapits?
Swap your stuff for Swapits and spend them in the Swap Zones and Frenzies! Find out how to get bonus Swapits on our Earn page. You can also sign up to our Swapits offer emails. Sign in and go to your My User Details on from your dashboard. Tick the ‘Find out about Swapits offers’ box in the Swapits Newsletters & Offers section at the bottom, and we’ll keep you posted.
2. When do I get my Swapits from stuff I swap?
Your Swapits are automatically credited to your account within one hour of Swapit receiving and processing your swap. Sign in and go to your Statement page to see how many lovely Swapits you have earned and spent.
Joining, Signing-in and Updating Details
4. How do I join Swapit?
To get your very own Swapit account, just click on Sign Up and fill in your details. Your nickname is the name you will be known as on Swapit.co.uk (so pick a good one!). Don’t use your real name – it's good to use letters and numbers too. And make sure your password is completely different to your nickname, so that no one can guess it.
5. What do I do if I forget my password?
Don’t panic! Just go to the Sign in page and enter the email address you used when you joined Swapit in the 'Forgotten your nickname or password' box. Your password will be emailed to you straight away. Phew!
6. I'm entering my nickname and password correctly, why can't I get into my account?
Hmm, it might be because of your browser. The best browsers to use are Internet Explorer, version 6 or 7, Firefox 1.5 and above, or Safari. Or maybe your security settings are set too high. To check, open Internet Explorer, go to 'Tools', 'Internet Options' and then click on the 'Privacy' tab. Your settings need to be at ‘Low’.
7. How do I change my details?
Easy! Sign in and click on ‘Details'. You can change details, such as your address and email address, on this page with no fuss. Plus you can sign up to the Swapits newsletters - woohoo!
Swaps and Bids
8. What kind of stuff CAN’T I swap?
There are loads of things you can swap on Swapit, but the following are not allowed:
• Anything rude or offensive, including attached images.
• Any rude words/swearwords in your description.
• Copied/fake items (it is illegal to copy and sell copied CDs, DVDs etc).
• Items that may be dangerous.
• Items that are damaged or in bad condition.
• Items too large/heavy to be sent by normal post.
• Anything containing personal messages, links to websites, email addresses or any other personal information.
• 'Lucky dip' or 'mystery' swaps that do not explain EXACTLY what the bidder will receive.
• Used make-up.
• Aerosol sprays.
• Used pierced jewellery.
• Dirty clothing.
• Any kind of weapon.
• Internal PC components.
* Swapit may also remove other items if we think they shouldn’t be traded on Swapit.co.uk.
9. When do my swaps go on the site?
Most swaps go lives on the site right away. Certain swaps will be queued for manual review by out member service team before they go live on Swapit.co.uk (we will remove or edit swaps that aren’t allowed on swap on Swapit.co.uk – see above!)
10. What if I change my mind after adding a swap?
You can delete swaps you have added as long as a bid hasn’t been placed. Just Sign-in and go to your dashboard. If a bid has already been placed, then you will have to go through with the swap.
If you are really unable to complete the swap, then email us at info@swapit.co.uk straight away. But be warned - you will lose 3 rating points for cancelling a swap.
11. What if I change my mind after someone has won my swap?
You must be 100% sure that you want to swap your stuff BEFORE you add it to Swapit.co.uk. If another swapper wins it, then you have to send it to us. If you don't, you will lose 3 rating points and disappoint the poor winner!
12. Can I cancel a bid or a swap I have won?
Swapit are not able to cancel bids once they have been made, so you must be 100% sure that you want to bid on an item BEFORE you make a bid.
13. Why is the swap I won still on the site and not in my 'Completed, Won' page?
Don’t panic! As soon as you have won a swap, no one else will be able to bid and the swap will end. Your swap will move across to your Completed, Won page in the next of our regular site updates.
Posting Swaps
1. Email Alert
We’ll email you to tell you that your swap has been won and how to send it to Swapit. You have 14 days to get your swap to us, but if we receive it within 5 days we’ll give you 15 bonus Swapits!)
2. Wrapping
Wrap your swap carefully so it doesn’t get damaged in the post.
3. Swap numbers & your member number
Write these on the front of the letter or parcel so we know who you are and what swap you have posted.
Your membership number is included in the mail we sent you when your swap was won. If you have deleted that email and don't know your membership number, please put Swap number and Swapit nickname on the parcel.
4. Stamps
Check the 'How many stamps to use' guide below (or take your parcel to the Post Office to be weighed and measured).
5. Forwarding stamps
Every swap item needs to be sent to Swapit with an extra set of stamps that you stick on the back of the package, the same price as the ones used to post the package. We use these to send your package to the winning swapper.
6. Multiple Swaps
If you have lots of swaps to send in at the same time, put them in one big parcel but make sure you write MULTIPLE SWAPS on the front of the parcel, wrap up every swap in a separate envelope. Stick the forwarding stamps and write the swap number on each one.
7. Post your swaps to:
Swapit Postroom
PO Box 6386
London
W1A 1NF
What if we haven’t received your swap?
If it has been longer than 7 days since you posted your swap, ask your local Post Office if there have been any problems.
If your swap have been lost by the post, you can click here to get more information on how to get compensation from Royal Mail for lost post.
Then email us at info@swapit.co.uk with your nickname, swap number, swap title and date when you posted it.
How many stamps do I use?
It can be a bit tricky figuring out how many stamps you need. We have created this little guide here below to help you out. Firstly you need to measure and weigh the parcel or letter. Next, try to see where it fits in, and you can then see how many stamps are needed.
What are the Rules at Swapit?
Please follow these rules and guidelines to make sure that Swapit.co.uk remains a lovely place for Swappers to swap!
Joining
1: Check that your mum, dad or guardian is happy for you to join Swapit.co.uk.
2. Only open one Swapit account.
3. Enter your correct details when you join.
Swapping
4. Only swap stuff that belongs to you.
5. Only swap stuff that you can send in within 14 days.
6. Don’t swap stuff that is damaged or in bad condition.
7. Don’t trade any items on our ‘Swaps you can’t trade’ list (see below).
8. Always include enough forwarding stamps.
9. Always send your swaps in as quickly as possible.
10. Always explain EXACTLY what you are swapping in your swap title.
Swaps You Can’t Trade
• Anything rude or offensive, including attached images.
• Any rude words/swearwords in your description.
• Copied/fake items (it is illegal to copy and sell copied CDs, DVDs etc).
• Items that may be dangerous.
• Items that are damaged or in bad condition.
• Items too large/heavy to be sent by normal post.
• Anything containing personal messages, links to websites, email addresses or any other personal information.
• 'Lucky dip' or 'mystery' swaps that do not explain EXACTLY what the bidder will receive.
• Used make-up.
• Aerosol sprays.
• Used pierced jewellery.
• Dirty clothing.
• Any kind of weapon.
• Internal PC components.
* Swapit may also remove other items if we think they shouldn’t be traded on Swapit.co.uk
