Bidder asking if they can collect item

Sweet_Pea_2

I had someone ask if they could collect an item of childs clothing I sold as they lived nearby. I was a bit wary to be honest, but it was a bank holiday weekend and OH was at home, so I sent him to the door and had no problems. It saved them the postage costs and me having to package it up, and they did live fairly local. If I lived on my own I would say no though, I wasnt really comfortable with it.

shelly

chinagirl wrote:

Also, I would want to collect goods I had won if the seller lived nearby! Can't see why anyone would object to this at all?

Seller living alone, doesn't like strangers at their door.
Seller works long or un sociable hours.
Seller is a single parent with small children and doesn't like strangers at their door.
Seller needs the pennies (or pounds) made on the postage.

Just a few reasons sellers might not allow collection.

syanide

to be honest. if you dont feel comfortable with people collecting. then dont let them.. simple as that

Lantik

If you don't feel comfortable with people collecting then state it clearly in the auction description... or change your location to UK then that way no potential buyers will know your location and therefore won't ask to collect.

Sometimes I encourage collection when selling large, bulky items as they're a pain to wrap and post...


Hope this helps

pin

As others have said it is really up to you re collecting. I used to be fine with it, it would save the person some p&p and the hassle for me dealing with packaging the item, taking it down to the PO, etc and would also save me on PayPal fees.

However I've recently had one bad experience re someone collecting an item. As a result I no longer offer collection and specifically say so in my auctions (although you don't have to).

Contains_Mild_Peril

Personally, I don't have a problem with collection, though I've only had customers collect twice. Once was for a piece of furniture which was advertised as collection only, and the other one was a hat which would have been awkward to pack for posting, so I was quite happy for the local customer to collect it and pay cash on collection (and she handed over a £10 note for a £9.50 hat and told me to keep the change, which wouldn't happen with Paypal!) I would always expect cash on collection, and would be suspicious of any customer expecting to pay by Paypal then collect in person.

John_T_5

I can appreciate the various reasons why people do not like having a stranger come to collect in person. Personally I find that buyers collecting in person are usually far more nervous than I am and like to make the transaction as quickly as possible and be off.

I really must remember to stop leaving my baseball bat lying in the hall in plain sight

Some advice I would give to anyone selling on their doorstep.

1) Cash is always best but ensure you have change, you will get the odd chancer who will offer you large notes in the hope you will round the cost of the item down.

2) When arranging for them to come to pick it up it is advisable to state in your message that you would prefer the denomination of cash to be no higher than £10 notes, it is a good way to avoid being passed counterfeit money, always make sure you check the notes, any decent person will understand, make light of it to ease the tension but do it.

3) Never bring someone in to your house, you don't want them casing your house for items that could be stolen at a later date, if it is electrical and needs to be demonstrated set it up in your hallway in advance of them coming.

4) If for any reason in the course of your communication with the buyer you get any uneasy feeling about them trust your instincts and try an politely make alternative arrangements, if you can't then ensure you have someone with you, even if it is just a neighbour.

4) Try and arrange for a time when there are other people about in your neighbourhood, if someone says they can't make it until 10pm make your excuses and say no, during the day or early evening is the only time you should agree to conduct the transaction.

5) NEVER agree to meet someone elsewhere to conclude the transaction, the possibilites of what could happen are endless, one example of this recently was a guy who went to buy a car, when he arrived he was mugged by the would be car seller and friends.

All of the above apply to buyers as well, as I have said if you stay safe you have nothing to worry about.

soolin

John_T wrote:

I
All of the above apply to buyers as well, as I have said if you stay safe you have nothing to worry about.

Definitely easier just to post the darn thing!

:eek:

tonyivb

When I've sold items I've always offered 'collection in person' as an option and about 6 people have done so without any problems.

I have bought numerous items that I've collected in person (mostly large & bulky) and over the weekend I will be collected three seperate items... a cooker, ladder and a climbing frame.

I can appreciate that for the professional seller CiP is not really worthwhile as they a shipping numerous items anyway, but for the casual seller I see it as something that may well encourage people to bid.

One further point, newspaper classified ads, Freeads, Loot, supermarket ad boards, Freecycle.... all of these require collection in person so why should people be more fearful of eBay buyers?

tomstickland

It must be a far scarier world that most people live in than me. Buyer collects is fine by me. If you have an issue then agree to meet at a local place. It saves packaging and you can have cash in hand.