A Preston entrepreneur has launched an app to rival Shpock and Gumtree.

Justin Hodnett’s app Buuy offers free, local, peer-to-peer buying and selling.

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The app launched on Google Play for the UK Android market in late November. The iOS/Apple version is due to be available in early 2019, and users can also sell via www.buuy.app.

After taking on eBay with the Buuy website in recent years, CEO and Founder Justin and his New York-based friend James Weiss recently decided to change the direction of their company by launching the app.

Read more: Preston buy and sell site wants to take on eBay

Justin said: “We came up with the idea in early 2018 and decided to relaunch the entire company, and take as long as it took to get the app right for the UK market.

“With the growing need for people to sell unwanted items locally without paying the fees for delivery, and of course delivery times, etc., it was obvious which way Buuy was meant to go.

“Having a UK company taking on Shpock, which is Austrian, and Gumtree, owned by eBay, is important to people using the app, as well as top level customer service and an easy-to-use website and app.”

Once the iOS version of Buuy is live in the UK, a global roll out of the app will start in New York before working its way across America and other countries around the world.

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Justin continued: “By the end of 2019 the Buuy app will be available in more countries than Uber, and in all native languages and currencies to allow people globally to sell locally.

“Adding a new location and currency to the app is quick and easy. We can launch a new location and currency daily without users having to update the app.”

There are no plans to allow full transactions to take place on the app, keeping everything face-to-face. Sellers can pay to bump or feature their listings, and an unlimited package will also be available.

Justin said: “We looked at review of apps like Gumtree and Shpock and saw what users were most likely to give a bad review on. Those problems became our top priority for Buuy, and then we worked on the rest.

“We are hoping that we have created an ideal fun and secure app for selling locally.”

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To download the app visit www.buuy.app and click on App at the top of the screen. Alternatively join via the website to list items for sale, and they will also appear on the app.

Do you use selling apps? Will you be downloading Buuy? Let us know in the comments below.