Buyer wanting to arrange own courier, when item listed as Collection Only

stormCat99

I opened the eBay case a few days ago, and have now received a quite nasty email back from the buyer (I know I shouldn't let these things bother me but I can't help it, I had hoped for a mutually agreeable outcome).

He has also now paid via Paypal, as I had dreaded. I don't want to let him collect in person having paid via Paypal (despite eBay forcing you to offer this option on collection-only items). So I'm going to do what someone suggested earlier on this thread. Refund the payment, and send a new invoice with the cost of a courier added.

Need to figure out how to do this as haven't ever had to before, but more concerning me at the moment is actually finding a courier that will take this item, as it is very long and unwieldy. And I can't think of any proper means of packing it securely, other than the plastic wrapper it is already in.

I'm really regretting having ever bothered now, I will never ever offer local collection again. It was the first time I've tried it - thought it would be a nice easy transaction but how wrong could I be

Thanks again for everyone help and suggestions.

soolin

If a courier wasn't shown on the original auction then you cannot impose it now. No one can force you to sell, but if you refund you must accept the possibility that you will have to write off this transaction and lose your FVFs and potentially get a neg.

custardy

boots_babe wrote: »

I opened the eBay case a few days ago, and have now received a quite nasty email back from the buyer (I know I shouldn't let these things bother me but I can't help it, I had hoped for a mutually agreeable outcome).

He has also now paid via Paypal, as I had dreaded. I don't want to let him collect in person having paid via Paypal (despite eBay forcing you to offer this option on collection-only items). So I'm going to do what someone suggested earlier on this thread. Refund the payment, and send a new invoice with the cost of a courier added.

Need to figure out how to do this as haven't ever had to before, but more concerning me at the moment is actually finding a courier that will take this item, as it is very long and unwieldy. And I can't think of any proper means of packing it securely, other than the plastic wrapper it is already in.

I'm really regretting having ever bothered now, I will never ever offer local collection again. It was the first time I've tried it - thought it would be a nice easy transaction but how wrong could I be

Thanks again for everyone help and suggestions.

how big/heavy?
you maybe looking at a pallet or man with a van type set up
then again,cost isnt your problem

stormCat99

soolin wrote: »

If a courier wasn't shown on the original auction then you cannot impose it now. No one can force you to sell, but if you refund you must accept the possibility that you will have to write off this transaction and lose your FVFs and potentially get a neg.

Hi soolin, thanks for your post. Trouble is, rightly or wrongly, I don't see it that I am the one imposing it. What has happened is that I listed an item for collection-only, and the buyer bid and won it, when he had no intention of collecting. He has wanted to send his own courier from the beginning which is not what my auction allowed

In all honesty right now I'd rather just cancel the transaction and get the item taken to the tip, as it really is not worth all this hassle. But I am perservering to try and find a way through so as to hopefully avoid my first negative. I only use eBay recreationally and have just over 200 positive feedbacks, so a single negative will be pretty obvious in amongst those :-(

stormCat99

custardy wrote: »

how big/heavy?
you maybe looking at a pallet or man with a van type set up
then again,cost isnt your problem

It isn't that heavy - although I don't have the facility to weigh it as it wouldn't fit on any scales you would have in a normal house. 5kg is prob enough to cover it, but I am putting 10kg in on the online quotes just to be on the safe side.

It is more the general size, it is also flexible and unwieldy. 210cm x 70cm on the main surface, but it is also curved. This curve makes the 3rd dimension around 30-40cm. Cheapest quote I have so far is £33.59 + VAT which is more than the item is worth!

custardy

boots_babe wrote: »

It isn't that heavy - although I don't have the facility to weigh it as it wouldn't fit on any scales you would have in a normal house. 5kg is prob enough to cover it, but I am putting 10kg in on the online quotes just to be on the safe side.

It is more the general size, it is also flexible and unwieldy. 210cm x 70cm on the main surface, but it is also curved. This curve makes the 3rd dimension around 30-40cm. Cheapest quote I have so far is £33.59 + VAT which is more than the item is worth!

thats not your problem
you offered collection
now you are offering the buyer a courier service at cost

Joto_2

Hi I'm sorry your having problems but I'm afraid I'm with the buyer and in his shoes I'd be miffed as well.

The item was listed as collection only, but surely it doesn't matter whether he picks it up or someone collects it on his behalf?
and secondly the auction was listed as pay by paypal it was only after the buyer had won the auction that you then asked that he didn't pay by paypal as per your listing but you wanted cash?

I've bought several items that have been collection only, some have asked for cash, some people prefer Paypal, some ask for half and half.

I have also sent a courier to collect items if they either won't fit into my car or the cost of a courier works out to be cost effective taken into account van hire, petrol and my time. I must admit I have always checked with the seller that this is an option but I probably wouldn't if it was my friend or employee doing the collecting

soolin

Joto wrote: »

Hi I'm sorry your having problems but I'm afraid I'm with the buyer and in his shoes I'd be miffed as well.

The item was listed as collection only, but surely it doesn't matter whether he picks it up or someone collects it on his behalf?

Are you suggesting then that someone who wants to send a courier is going to get a courier that will pick up an unboxed and unwrapped item with no address label and pay cash for it at the door, and collect at a time that the seller asks? If not then it isn't the same as collecting in person.

All the couriers i have ever come across expect you to wait in all day for them, and expect the item to be fully packed and boxed to their specifications

CouponWoman

Joto wrote: »

Hi I'm sorry your having problems but I'm afraid I'm with the buyer and in his shoes I'd be miffed as well.

The item was listed as collection only, but surely it doesn't matter whether he picks it up or someone collects it on his behalf?
and secondly the auction was listed as pay by paypal it was only after the buyer had won the auction that you then asked that he didn't pay by paypal as per your listing but you wanted cash?

I've bought several items that have been collection only, some have asked for cash, some people prefer Paypal, some ask for half and half.

I have also sent a courier to collect items if they either won't fit into my car or the cost of a courier works out to be cost effective taken into account van hire, petrol and my time. I must admit I have always checked with the seller that this is an option but I probably wouldn't if it was my friend or employee doing the collecting

It most certainly does matter.

If the seller prefers collection in person and payment on collection thats his right.

If the buyer wants to change the terms of sale he should ask before the auction ends.

If the buyer arranges a courier there are numerous problems for the seller.

1 - wrapping something that is probably very heavy and bulky.
2 - Finding the right packing materials for the item.
3 - waiting in for a courier who may or may not come
4 - having time off work during the day waiting for said courier
5 - buyer claiming item damaged in transit
6 - the buyer doing a chargeback once they receive the item

these are just a few of the problems.

Basically when I sold a collection only item I put Collection in person, no couriers allowed, and thats my choice.

So OP when and if you send an invoice for a courier price don't forget to factor in the huge cost of packing materials you will need, box, parcel tape, bubble wrap, labels etc as well as your day off work waiting in for the courier.

stormCat99

Hi Joto,

Sorry I might not have been clear in my earlier posts The auction was listed clearly as 'Collection only - cash on collection'. Which I know is a grey area because eBay force you to accept Paypal for all transactions regardless. But I'd hoped that by stating that, that anyone would use common sense when bidding, and if they wanted to use a courier instead, that they may have contacted me in advance of bidding. I know that I would have done if I were the buyer.

I guess we have slightly different views on the whole Paypal and collection thing. But putting those aside, despite my reluctance, I have tried my best to accommodate this buyer. I asked him on 3 occasions to provide the name of his courier company, and explained it was so that I could check they offered online tracking acceptable to Paypal (so that he didn't just think I was being nosy/awkward). He refused to provide it - that's up to him I guess, but seems fishy to me, why would he not just give me the courier's name?

Since purchasing over 2 weeks ago now, he has still not collected the item and hasn't tried all that hard tbh. The last contact I had from him (prior to opening this eBay dispute) was over a week ago. I had said I would be available on a certain day (this was with a few days' notice) and he just didn't bother to reply either way, or to suggest an alternative day.

I'm just not sure what else I can do in this situation? Even if I DID agree to collection now that he has paid via Paypal (which is strongly against my better judgment) I really have no faith that he'll bother to arrange this. So I'll probably be stuck indefinitely with this large unwieldy item cluttering up the place and really I thought it would be long gone by now.

Re custardy's last post : I think you might be right. I mean, even now after all this hassle, and after his rather rude and attacking email, here I am going out of my way to try and find the cheapest courier I can for him. I'm not sure why I am bothering though so thank you for making me think I have spent almost 2 hours now trying to find a cheaper courier but with no luck at all, so I think I have no choice now but to send a revised invoice with the courier costs on there.

I have been nothing but polite and friendly in my dealings with him, but I'll have to brace myself for a further email of abusive language when he receives the invoice I expect

I think after this experience I'll think long and hard about listing anything to sell on eBay again. And certainly will not consider a collection-only listing. I feel that I've worked really hard over the years to build up my 200+ positive feedbacks and yet they are probably now going to be blemished by this one person who bid on an item they knew they were unable to collect.