Arranging a Courier to collect an ebay purchase

BellaBargains

There's an item on eBay that I'd like to bid on but it is collection only and I live hundreds of miles away. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how you arrange a courier to collect a purchase - is it much the same as when you arrange for a courier to send something for you (haven't ever actually done that either mind you so I'm a bit clueless about how that works -do they pick up from your house?). I've contacted the seller to ask if they would be okay with this.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Dinosteveus

Here is a list of Couriers:
http://cgi3.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=yorkie_says_naff_off

I use P4D nearly every day and I've never had a problem.
You book a courier to pick up from the sellers address and have it delivered to you.
Is your seller packing it safety and securely?
How heavy is it and what are the dimensions?

BaileyB

I have done this, but ask the seller first if he allows this

doorstep

I had a similar situation recently (I was the seller ). My item was collection only.

The bidder contacted me to ask if I would arrange for a courier to take it to her. I was a bit wary (because of the hassle involved), but did it all the same.

I think it would be for the seller to arrange the courier, not you though

appleblossom

my hubby wanted a welder from Cornwall - some 300 odd miles away from us, i mailed the seller and asked if we could arrange a courier - all i would need him to do was box it for me and confirm if under/over 25kg, he didn't have a problem with this, i won the auction, arranged the courier myself that evening, it was collected the next day from seller and I rec'd it day after that - it is up to you to arrange and pay for it, not the seller if he doesn't offer that service and is just the same as ordering the collection from your house as if you were sending an item out. hth.

Mac_Sami

Usually collection only items are advertised as such because they may be a particularly large or fragile item, and as such expensive to post by courier. Alternatively, it could be too much hassle for a busy, occasional seller to post an item, hence the "collection only" bit.

You really should check with the seller first if it is acceptable for a courier to collect - don't forget that "collection only" auctions don't usually involve the seller packaging something, so there may be an additional cost you will need to pay to cover the seller's cost of packaging an item. Also couriers do not collect at an exact time, compared with "collection only" items where you usually agree a specific time to collect the item.

Tirian

I've done this recently. My tips:

1. Always check with the seller before you bid that they are OK with this, as they will still have to package the item up.
2. Assume that you will have to deal with arranging the courier
3. Check that the seller will be able to be in when the courier company you are using will collect ... some won't give a time, so there will need to be someone there all day!

Other than that, I used Parcelforce, booked it online - had no problem. The seller had to write the address and tracking no. on the parcel too. And Parcelforce collected nearly 2 hrs before the scheduled collection time, but fortunately the seller was in anyway