Buyer asking if they can have their courier pick up item

beckseven

Hi, i have a buggy on ebay at the moment collection only and have had a question from someone asking if they could send their courier to pick up. Not sure what to reply-has anyone done this before? The ebayer has 206 positive feedback and has bought quite a few models of this buggy before. Thanks in advance.

Hammyman

Only downside is you may end up waiting in all day. Other than that, the buyer will be paying the courier to collect so other than handing it over and getting proof of collection, there's not really any downside.

cyberbob

Don't do it. You will be responsible for packaging and if it gets damaged or lost who is responsible for a claim? Technically as the buyer has booked the courier they could claim of the courier for loss and then claim via paypal and you would end up with no item and no money. As far as Paypal are concerned you are still responsible for getting the item to the buyer so any problems will be yours. You will also need online proof of delivery if you want Paypal protection, Does the courier provide this?

Forwandert

My oh had this as a seller, buyer arranged delivery on a pick up only Pram, when their courier delivered it to them it was damaged they opened a dispute and refused to contact the courier about the damage, paypal found in our favor as the seller.

thepedestrian

I concur with Bob - also its a way of them getting the item on the cheap ,as if you had listed it as delivery possible ,you would attract more bids and sell for a bit more than you would on "collection only"

soolin

Hammyman wrote: »

Only downside is you may end up waiting in all day. Other than that, the buyer will be paying the courier to collect so other than handing it over and getting proof of collection, there's not really any downside.

You are forgetting the issue of proof of delivery.

OP, don't do it.

You will have to box item exactly as some unknown courier requires. Then wait in all day and you still get the chance of paypal chragebacks against you for iNR or SNAD. Collection is not the same as sending a courier.

fred7777

If the buyer uses their own courier it shouldn't be any different to a cash on collection sale they buyer takes responsibility for the item once their representative (the courier) collects it. At that point the courier is answerable to their customer, your buyer. Forwandert's post seems to confirm this. Instead of proof of postage you could issue a despatch note/receipt which the courier would have to sign for when they collect.

However as far as I can see the 2 big questions are:
1. When would the courier collect and would you have to wait in all day for them?
2. Do you want the hassle of packaging the item?

If the answers are yes then you're happy to use a courier why aren't you offering it to all buyers? Adding a courier to the listing would attract more buyers and a higher price? Just allowing one buyer to use a courier does them a favour with little benefit to you.

soolin

fred7777 wrote: »

If the buyer uses their own courier it shouldn't be any different to a cash on collection sale they buyer takes responsibility for the item once their representative (the courier) collects it. At that point the courier is answerable to their customer, your buyer. Forwandert's post seems to confirm this. Instead of proof of postage you could issue a despatch note/receipt which the courier would have to sign for when they collect.

However as far as I can see the 2 big questions are:
1. When would the courier collect and would you have to wait in all day for them?
2. Do you want the hassle of packaging the item?

If the answers are yes then you're happy to use a courier why aren't you offering it to all buyers? Adding a courier to the listing would attract more buyers and a higher price? Just allowing one buyer to use a courier does them a favour with little benefit to you.

I'm sorry but you are wrong unless you are assuming the courier will arrive and hand over cash?

Just think about it logically, if a buyer collects the most the seller has to do it help load the stuff in the car. If a courier comes it must be boxed and packed, labelled etc to the specifications of the courier. Then what happens if buyer pays paypal ? There is no mechanism on ebay or paypal at all to get the buyer to sign over repsonsibility for their item if they arrange their own courier, it just isn't there. Therefore seller remains entirely responsible for that item and if it gets damaged en route buyer still has a SNAD claim that can be made.

Forwandert

soolin wrote: »

I'm sorry but you are wrong

Then what happens if buyer pays paypal ? There is no mechanism on ebay or paypal at all to get the buyer to sign over repsonsibility for their item if they arrange their own courier, it just isn't there. Therefore seller remains entirely responsible for that item and if it gets damaged en route buyer still has a SNAD claim that can be made.

Sorry but you're wrong, for some reason you have ignored my post and i can only assume it's because it doesn't fit the advice you wanted to give, so i'll just repeat myself again in the hope the OP will see it and disregard the inaccurate advice you are currently posting, i'll make my post a little longer as quantity appears to be more important.

• Item was put on ebay pick up only,
• Buyer messages a request to send a courier,
• Seller agreed to buyers request,
• Buyer arranged courier, courier collected item 1x £270 pram in 2x black bin bag with address written on a A4 sheet of paper attached, no other packaging (buyer didn't ask us to package item nor pay for packaging, the only request was for a courier collection)
• Upon delivery of item buyer finds the frame has been damaged and wants a refund,
• Seller asks them to contact the courier to see what the policy in regards to damage in transit as pram was in good condition when sent, Seller can't contact courier as they are nothing to do with seller only the buyer has any sort of contract with courier company,
• Buyer refuses to contact courier stating the damage isn't possible from the courier, they just want a refund and go via paypal,
• Seller makes all points clear to paypal, pick up only item, not paid anything for packaging, not asked to package item to just be available for collection, messages available if requested etc, Buyer states item is damaged and not as described.
• Paypal claim denied

soolin

Forwandert wrote: »

Sorry but you're wrong, for some reason you have ignored my post and i can only assume it's because it doesn't fit the advice you wanted to give, so i'll just repeat myself again in the hope the OP will see it and disregard the inaccurate advice you are currently posting, i'll make my post a little longer as quantity appears to be more important.

• Item was put on ebay pick up only,
• Buyer messages a request to send a courier,
• Seller agreed to buyers request,
• Buyer arranged courier, courier collected item 1x £270 pram in 2x black bin bag with address written on a A4 sheet of paper attached, no other packaging (buyer didn't ask us to package item nor pay for packaging, the only request was for a courier collection)
• Upon delivery of item buyer finds the frame has been damaged and wants a refund,
• Seller asks them to contact the courier to see what the policy in regards to damage in transit as pram was in good condition when sent, Seller can't contact courier as they are nothing to do with seller only the buyer has any sort of contract with courier company,
• Buyer refuses to contact courier stating the damage isn't possible from the courier, they just want a refund and go via paypal,
• Seller makes all points clear to paypal, pick up only item, not paid anything for packaging, not asked to package item to just be available for collection, messages available if requested etc, Buyer states item is damaged and not as described.
• Paypal claim denied

I was not aware that paypal now ran a mediation servicer where things were decided logically. The paypal help pages still state quite clearly that for full seller protection seller needs proof of delivery to the address given by paypal as 'OK to send to'.

Do you have links to this new logical service please where paypal are now going to listen to what buyers and sellers both dispute and then mediate and make a rational decision? Otherwise buyer received faulty item, goes to paypal and asks for a refund, paypal say 'OK please return it to seller' buyer tracks it back to seller via same courier and paypal force the refund.

You do also realise of course that even forgetting the issue of the courier if buyer pays by paypal they still have the right to an INR or a SNAD claim as well?

TUS

I'm with Soolin on this.

However, I would only allow it if the buyer paid via a non-Paypal method. For example, Bank Transfer.

This would cover you against chargebacks and allow them to take full responsibility for their own courier by arranging it themselves. You can also ask for extra £ to cover packaging costs.

Obviously this also depends on it being convenient for you to stay in on collection day.