Please Help- Not paying for postage

dutchconnection

I have just started my E-bay shop in Sci- FI collectables. Some Items are valuable and rather large. Now I am getting people contacting me saying they Dont want to pay the postage but want to go come and pick up the item at my house. Personaly I am not to hot on "Strangers" coming to my house. Can I refuse this? Has any one got any ideas on this?

Ta

mcwarre

Please do not cross-post

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=342945

honeyangel_2

u can meet them at a certain plce at a certain time

black-saturn

Yes you can refuse it. It's totally up to you if you want people to be able to collect but be warned that if that person can't collect you will probably lose their bid and it won't sell for as much as if you said yes to a collection in person. I have sold about 4 things where the buyer has collected in person and it's always a really quick hand the money over, get the item, thanks and go. It all takes place on the doorstep and they don't even go in your house. One of them bought an old photo of the local area off me and as a gift gave me a framed photo of the road I live in with my house on it in the Victorian times. So I wouldnt worry about it. If you are still worried you could make sure you have someone with you when they arrive or make out that you have.

birchy

dutchconnection wrote:

Now I am getting people contacting me saying they Dont want to pay the postage but want to go come and pick up the item at my house. Personaly I am not to hot on "Strangers" coming to my house. Can I refuse this? Has any one got any ideas on this?

Ta

Of course you can refuse , any buyer should understand its not always convenient for the seller to be at home waiting for buyer to collect

Collectors probably prefer to collect so they can inspect item before payment so maybe if you offer collection you may get a better price if up in auction

SmileBeHappy

If you are worried and dnt want them in ur home meet in a public area, outside a library, or a certain shop etc
tell people where ur going and make sure ur in a busy place. Cynical i know, best be safe though

jayok

If you are not comfortable selling in person, do not do it. May affect your sales though.

dutchconnection

thanks everyone.

niccy

you could always meet in town,library,work,cafe,woolies

powertron

Just inform them politely you do not offer collections.

I have had people in the past who want to collect items but part of my profit is based on them paying the shipping and handling fee.

i.e. my shipping and handling fee cover the paypal and ebay fees. There is nothing wrong with refusing collections.

jayok

Same here..