Trade Safely



Use recorded delivery

Bigwardrobe.com advises sending all items by Recorded Delivery or equivalent. This costs just an extra 75p per parcel in the UK, regardless of size or weight (similar services are available across Europe and the USA). Recorded Delivery means that your parcel can be tracked. If you do not use Recorded Delivery or equivalent, Bigwardrobe.com can not help you in the event that your parcel is lost or stolen. Bigwardrobe.com offers additional protection against Swaplifting through Address Verification.

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No swaplifting!

A dishonest participant might arrange a swap, and then never complete their end of the transaction, thus getting something for nothing. This practice is called swaplifting (a pun on shoplifting). A person who participates in swaplifting is called a swaplifter. View list of swaplifters.

Bigwardrobe.com operates a 'zero tolerance' policy to swaplifting. As such, we name and shame swaplifters in our forum, and we work with police forces internationally to prosecute thieves. We also share information with other swap sites and international fraud prevention agencies.

Please be vigilant. Always check feedback before dispatching your item(s), and try and obtain a postal address, even if it is a cash transaction. If in doubt, please consult the forum or do NOT trade. Together we can keep Bigwardrobe.com safe and enjoyable for everyone!

To view a list of known swaplifters click here.

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1. I've sent my money or item(s) but the other member hasn't sent theirs. What do I do?
Communication is key; there may be a completely reasonable explanation. Make contact with the member via Bigwardrobe.com as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we are unable to get involved in the private transactions between members. However, if you report a dispute to us, we will keep the details on permanent file. We will also deactivate or suspend any members suspected of inappropriate behaviour, pending further investigation. And, we will of course help you as far as practically possible. You may wish to contact your local citizen's advice bureau or the Police, who will be able to advise you on the best course of action to take. The number for your local office can be found in the phone book or on the Internet.

2. I've sent my item(s) but the other member says nothing has arrived. Now what?
Hopefully, you've sent the item(s) by recorded delivery, as recommended by Bigwardrobe.com. If so, simply contact the Post Office with your tracking number and they'll locate your parcel.

3. A member wants me to send my cash or item(s) up-front. Should I do this?
Don't do it unless your feedback is lower than theirs. Stick rigidly to this rule.

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Address Verification.
We strongly recommend that all our members become Address Verified. Click here to learn more

Always check feedback.
If and when a swap is proposed, whether it's an incoming swap invite, or maybe you've made contact after seeing something you like and requested a trade, you MUST check the other member's feedback as well as their listings. Feedback is made up of comments and ratings left by other members who they have traded with. These comments and ratings are valuable indicators of their reputation as a swapper, buyer or seller on Bigwardrobe.com. Always take the time to read a member's feedback and overall score. If the overall score is low, proceed with caution or do not trade.

Search member ID's.
If something doesn't feel right or you simply need a little reassurance, search for the member's ID to see when they joined, where they live and what they have listed. Look in their wardrobe to see their items; do they look genuine? What are their photos like? For example, a wardrobe full of stock images and library pictures taken from clothing websites should be avoided. In the words of one of our most active members, Bodkin; "These send me running to the local offy for a stiff gin!!!! I have discovered such wardrobes usually have doors out the back to NoChanceOfReceiving Land." Trust your instincts.

Outgrow the swaplifters.
These are people who agree a swap, send you emails, make promises and then go silent once they've fooled you into sending your item(s) or money. As well as doing your homework (reviewing feedback etc.), try to build up slowly, making swaps with genuine members who have good reputations. When you get to 10, 20 or 30 feedbacks your feedback score will outweigh any potential swaplifters - as they usually prey on people with single digit/low scores.

Read our list of swaplifters.
Who are named and shamed on Bigwardrobe.com. This information is published to protect you and is updated regularly. Do not post items to any of these addresses or send money to these people, who are all banned from Bigwardrobe.com (but who can potentially return under different usernames). It is very important to remember that there are thousands of successful swaps and trades every month on Bigwardrobe.com with very few problems.

Only use PayPal.
Never wire money to sellers or buyers. This includes never using payment services like Bidpay, Western Union or Money Gram to pay for items found on Bigwardrobe.com. It is our belief that these forms of funds transfer are favoured by fraudsters. PayPal is much more secure. And, take extra special care when trading expensive items! Most credit cards offer extra protection and insurance for goods bought online.

Lowest feedback score always posts first.
If a member has lower feedback than you, they should post their item first. If you have lower feedback than they do, then it's you who should post first. Don't let anyone with zero, 1, 2 or 3 feedbacks talk you into posting first. If you have earned 44 feedbacks, for example, let them know they too need to earn their trust-points. On the odd occasion where you both might be 'newbies' with zero, we suggest you enjoy the site for what it offers and jump in with both feet. You need to extend trust in order to receive it.

Always send recorded delivery.
That way, your parcel can be tracked if it doesn't turn up. Similar fixed rate and trackable postal services are available across Europe and the US.

Always leave feedback.
This is VERY important on a trust-based website where user confidence keeps Bigwardrobe.com running. When both parties have received their items, the person who posted first should leave feedback first. If you're happy with a swap/trade, always send the other person a message to let them know. And, if there was a problem, never be afraid to say so. But always be fair.

Only use our messaging system.
When it comes to swapping emails, only use the Bigwardrobe message service. This keeps all your conversations in just a few message threads; this is VERY important when resolving disputes. And, it prevents you from unwittingly giving away your personal information.

Use common sense.
Trust your instincts. And, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Report to us any attempted fraud.
Or suspicious emails, ads, or other activity by members. In case of fraud or illegal activity, we also recommend that you report it to the Police.

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Follow these 13 steps for a happy swapping/trading experience on Bigwardrobe.com:

  1. Is the member new or established with a good reputation?
  2. What's their feedback score and how many trades have they completed successfully?
  3. How many items do they have in their wardrobe? Remember, a thief is less likely to spend lots of time uploading and describing lots of items.
  4. What are their photos like? Do they look genuine? Are all the clothes hanging on the same white clothes rail with a lovely pink settee in the back and the TV in the corner? Hint: Such pictures let you know that the member is happily snapping at home and will hope to swap those items in good faith.
  5. Make a mental note of their actual feedback score. Is it higher or lower than yours?
  6. Check their feedback partners. Discovering you have both traded with the same members is a great relief to passing the test: 'Do they have swaplifter potential?'
  7. Make use of the free message service. Email to confirm swap or sale/purchase details and request their address.
  8. Let the member know who will be expected to post first and why, using the 'Lowest Feedback Posts First Rule.'
  9. Only send your details through Bigwardrobe.com: there is no excuse when the item doesn't arrive and they say they didn't have your address.
  10. Always remember to post Recorded Delivery or equivalent. It's worth the small extra cost as you then have proof of postage in case of any dispute.
  11. Keep in contact with your swap/trade partner at all times. Advise when you posted so they can look out for it. Tell them their item arrived safely and you will be posting their parcel on, say, Wednesday at lunchtime. Let them know if you missed the post or if you cannot find the item (it sometimes happens!). Being honest is THE most important thing and keeping the other member informed always helps.
  12. Leave feedback. This is vital and keeps Bigwardrobe.com running.
  13. Have fun... the most important thing of all!

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We don't tolerate harassment or abuse of our members and take reports of this nature very seriously. If you have experienced abuse or harassment in connection with an email received from a Bigwardrobe.com member, please report it to us.

In addition, if you have received an abusive email you might also want to forward the details of the email to the sender's email account provider (e.g. Yahoo!, Hotmail, AOL etc.).

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