help re- buyer on ebay

mummym_3

i sold an item on ebay and it ended at 99p, after auction ended buyer sent me a message on a different item of mine saying they had just won the other item but just lived up the road and when is convienient to collect. Im asking for your advice as 1) i didnt state collection in listing as agreeable 2) its only a small item that can easily be posted and 3) it would have been polite to ask before bidding rather than assuming? 4) seems suspicious they are asking question on another item rather than the one they won?
any advice gratefully recieved

soolin

Tell them to turn up on a certain day at a certian time (at your convenience) with cash. I certainly wouldn't lose sleep over this as if they turn up with cash then fine, if they don't just start an NPB on day 4.

If you really really don't want them to collect then just refuse and send them an invoice with the full amount including postage.

mindbox

I never used to offer collection in person as an option as I never really fancied the idea of people coming round the house, but when times got hard it was much easier to get the cash direct, we always made sure we told people up front to bring the right money as we didn't have change, at least you've told them in advance and that always stops people trying it on. I have on occaision had people not turn up and then message me off ebay only to say they couldn't make it. Sometimes it is much simpler to post. Either which way you decide to go with this, make sure you update your terms in your ebay account and lay these thing out in black and white for them in advance.

As for sending you a message from another viewed item, well they probably were looking through your items and just press the contact seller button whatever item they happened to be on at the time.

serbask

I agree with mindbox re the messaging through another item - if I have won something I am going to collect i always look at what else they are selling. As I am going to pick up the first item anyway I might as well see if there are any other bargains to be had (especially when the sellers has a high p&p cost as it puts off other buyers).

With reagrds to collection, I think that if you have not listed collection as an option and the buyer has not asked you first, then you are quite within your right to refused. I have been refused collection a couple of times before I bid on things, by people who are hardly ever at home or are too busy. It is their right to say no and my right not to bid. I would never ask after bidding or winning.

However, be careful that the buyer does not assume that you will not let them collect because you want to make a profit on the postage. In categories such as kids clothes poeple were listing and selling for 99p and making the extra on the postage for years beofre the detailed ratings started. If you are hoping to cover some of your costs with the p&p charge you could risk neg feedback.

It may be best to let this buyer get away with it this time but add 'collection not possible' next time if you dont want buyers to collect. personally I love collection as it saves me packing all the stuff up and trapsing to the post office.