eBay: Cash on Collection

CashBash

Being a relative eBay novice, who uses it only as a way of getting rid of un-wanted items and not as a source of income, I didn't realise there were so many potential pitfalls to selling an item as Cash on Collection (CoC) until I read this thread.

I have a couple of items I'd like to sell as CoC and wondered whether selling as follows would better protect me from unscrupulous buyers:

• List item on eBay and state buyer must call you prior to purchase and that payment is via CoC. I did this earlier this year for a couple of large items which I sold. The reason I stated buyer must call in advance was because I had also listed the items for sale in my local paper so potential eBay buyers needed to call in advance to confirm availability.
• Potential buyer enquires about item, you confirm availability and remind them not to pay via PayPal as you require CoC.
• Potential buyer visits, inspects and purchases item.
• As soon as the buyer leaves, you log onto eBay and terminate the listing giving the reason as item sold elsewhere (apologies, can't remember the exact wording of the option). I didn't do this in the example mentioned above but was perhaps, with hindsight, lucky that the buyer was genuine.
• In this way, any unscrupulous buyers are unable to 'game the system'. Any buyers who, after you have spoken to them on the phone and still pay via PayPal you can classify as potential scammers and cancel their bid. Any potential scammers who think they can make a fraudulent non-delivery claim once they get home can't as you have already ended the listing.
• If the buyer subsequently has an issue with the item purchased then they already have your direct contact details which they can use to contact you.

Wondered if this approach would work or is even allowed by eBay.

Obviously_the_best

Yes it would probably work but no, it would not be allowed by eBay as in the terms and conditions of your account it says that you must accept PayPal but you can also accept cash as well

CashBash

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

Yes it would probably work but no, it would not be allowed by eBay as in the terms and conditions of your account it says that you must accept PayPal but you can also accept cash as well

Yes, the listing would include PayPal as an accepted form of payment but when you speak to the potential buyer you make it clear that you want CoC in order to save on PayPal fees.

A genuine buyer would understand - a scammer wouldn't.

macfly

Nor would a genuine honest buyer wanting Paypal protection.

scheming_gypsy

Just refer to the section on eBay's help page http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/pay/accepted-payment-methods.html



Regardless of what people say, eBay quite clearly say that if you state 'payment on collection' the seller can choose what payment methods they accept. Although even though it's there in black and white, people will still argue.

soolin

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Just refer to the section on eBay's help page http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/pay/accepted-payment-methods.html



Regardless of what people say, eBay quite clearly say that if you state 'payment on collection' the seller can choose what payment methods they accept. Although even though it's there in black and white, people will still argue.

We argue because you quote only the bit you want to quote and don't follow the links.

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/accepted-payments-policy.html

Misleading & Discouraging Payments
Sellers who state in their listing that they accept certain payment methods must not selectively offer those payment methods to buyers or discourage buyers from using those payment methods.

So if paypal is offered (and of course it will be) then paypal must be accepted- it couldn't be simpler/

Also you forget the actualy technicalities of it. Buyer wins, buyer pays by paypal and seller declines the payment- then what? BUyer cannot be forced to repay, any attempt at an NPB can be denied as buyer did pay. Sellers loses listing fee and FVF and possibly gets negative feedback.

I think for the benefit of newer sellers we need to be quite clear what might happen if a buyer buys a collection only item and pays by paypal.

scheming_gypsy

soolin wrote: »

We argue because you quote only the bit you want to quote and don't follow the links.

errr, touche perhaps?
eBay contradict themselves on their help pages. On one page it says that you have to offer and accept Paypal but on another it says you can advertise as 'payment on collection' and that the seller can specify what payment they accept.
As i've linked to their page where they say it, i'm clearly not making it up and eBay DO authorise you to do it.

scheming_gypsy

soolin wrote: »

I think for the benefit of newer sellers we need to be quite clear what might happen if a buyer buys a collection only item and pays by paypal.

and whether we disagree on the payment on collection issue... we agree on that bit!

soolin

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

errr, touche perhaps?
eBay contradict themselves on their help pages. On one page it says that you have to offer and accept Paypal but on another it says you can advertise as 'payment on collection' and that the seller can specify what payment they accept.
As i've linked to their page where they say it, i'm clearly not making it up and eBay DO authorise you to do it.

Just recently I have noticed that ebay are leaving more and more out of date pieces of info in their help pages hence the bit that suggests paypal does not have to be accepted- when we all know it must be accepted if offered.

Therefore if you read this bit it is quite clear to me that any payment method offered in the listing- and that includes paypal must be accepted if offered:

Sellers who state in their listing that they accept certain payment methods must not selectively offer those payment methods to buyers or discourage buyers from using those payment methods.

I sell quite a lot of collection only items and have only had one buyer use paypal in the past three months- but i understand the risks so I let the item be collected and just hoped for the best. For high end goods though I would not sell on ebay unless I could offer a postage method.

I think as long as we are clear on here what is allowed and what is potentially likely to be an issue I think sellers can make their own mind up what level of risk they are prepared to take.