Buyer in Bulgaria wants to arrange courier collection

gillyjelly

I wonder if I can pick your brains please.

I listed a pushchair on eBay and after previous problems with posting such an item I stated 'local collection' only.

I had a message from a Bulgarian bidder after they had placed a bid saying "I want to arrange and pay transportation costs out UK if i win the auction."

I responded with "I will look into this as long as you are happy to pay the costs involved"

Last night they won the auction and today I have a message saying "Please, send me your adress to arrange the delivery, tommorow i will contact the logistic office and they will pick up the stroller from your home!"

Am I right in thinking that this is slightly strange and should I allow it?

Many thanks in advance for any advice you can give

pinkclouds

Unless it is a valuable stroller (like a Silvercross pram) then I think it is a bit odd - shipping to another country, any country, hardly seems economical. Can not you arrange a courier yourself? At least you would have proof of dispatch/delivery and be able to submit any claims if anything went wrong en route.

Orrin

It could be a scam where the buyer arranges collection and then reverses payment claiming non-delivery. If you haven't got proof of delivery then paypal will side with the buyer and you'll lose the item and the money.

If you accept the courier make sure it's a genuine firm and not some guy with a van and that they give you a tracking number.

gillyjelly

Orrin wrote: »

It could be a scam where the buyer arranges collection and then reverses payment claiming non-delivery. If you haven't got proof of delivery then paypal will side with the buyer and you'll lose the item and the money.

If you accept the courier make sure it's a genuine firm and not some guy with a van and that they give you a tracking number.

Thank you, this is pretty much what I was thinking.
I'm really not sure what to do now. Will a courier be able to track it to Bulgaria??!! This is soooo why I listed it as local collection:(

Orrin

A proper courier should provide a door to door trackable service, but for a large item like a pushchair I would think the costs would be prohibitive. How much did the item sell for and how much is it worth new? If the buyer has a real bargain I suppose it might be worth them having it shipped out, but I doubt it.

pinkshoes

Pushchairs are favourites for SCAM items!! This is also why so many are collection only. (plus they're a nightmare to package - I bought mine on ebay, and I think the buyer very much regretted offering postage!!).

I would insist on YOU organising a courier. Use someone like TNT, get a quote (you can do this on their webpage online), then send a new invoice to your buyer including this cost of postage. TNT will track it to the door of your buyer.

Does the buyer's profile look genuine?

gillyjelly

Orrin wrote: »

A proper courier should provide a door to door trackable service, but for a large item like a pushchair I would think the costs would be prohibitive. How much did the item sell for and how much is it worth new? If the buyer has a real bargain I suppose it might be worth them having it shipped out, but I doubt it.

It sold for £51 - could probably be bought for £200 new. Just tried to see what the postage costs would be and the cheapest I could find was in the region of £70.
I've just emailed them and said I'm not prepared to send it to Bulgaria which I'm assuming I'm within my rights to do as it was listed for local collection anyway(??)

gillyjelly

pinkshoes wrote: »

Does the buyer's profile look genuine?

No which is another reason why I was so hesitant! It only has a feedback of 2

gillyjelly

I've just had this response which in all honestly I don't understand!!

"I check postage cost in my country and i thing for me cheaper to arrange the delivery. But for the system in eBay i have to write some transport cost, i and i will pay 1 pound for it and pay the pushchair. Are you agree?
Please give me your adress, i need at for the delivery
Best regards"

I think I've made the right decision not to post it and will do a second chance offer.

kazwookie

I would also alter your preferences to which Countries you sell to.

ie block overseas bidders.

Hope it all works out ok

pinkshoes

gillyjelly wrote: »

I've just had this response which in all honestly I don't understand!!

"I check postage cost in my country and i thing for me cheaper to arrange the delivery. But for the system in eBay i have to write some transport cost, i and i will pay 1 pound for it and pay the pushchair. Are you agree?
Please give me your adress, i need at for the delivery
Best regards"

I think I've made the right decision not to post it and will do a second chance offer.

I'd still get a quote from a courier, then send them the revised invoice (including cost of courier and packaging it up), stating that as per paypal rules, YOU need to organise the courier, therefore can they now pay the revised invoice including courier.