Advice on seller please!

bunty109

Hubby is watching some bikes on ebay for our eldest. We've found one we like and are interested in bidding and noticed the seller isn't too far away from us. He e-mailed to see if we could collect the item and we've received a curt e-mail saying "postage only".

I've checked their feedback (of around 5000) and it is 98.9% positive. There's a fair few mutual withdrawals and I'm just a bit concerned that they aren't keen to let us collect the item (I would think people would appreciate cash as it avoids paypal fees!).

Any thoughts? Am I just being hyper-cautious?

neilwoods

If you were selling something would you like a stranger to come to you.

Plus it is fee avoidance, and if anything were to go wrong with purchase, you may not be covered.

A lot of sellers wont accept collect in person, nothing wrong with it

frivolous_fay

Accepting cash on collection isn't fee avoidance.

Although I agree that you don't have to allow someone to collect an item, I believe in responding politely to fair questions, like the one OP asked about collection.

With a lot of feedback withdrawals, I would be playing it extremely cautiously. He sounds like the type to leave revenge negs and then bully people into retracting.

I'd stay well clear, personally.

bunty109

I didn't think cash on collection was fee avoidance either!

I think it was just the whole curt reply and - looking at the feedback - there's retaliatory negs when they haven't been mutually withdrawn.

I like the option of collecting a high-value item and would most certainly offer the option to anyone I sold something of value to.

I think I will avoid and see if other sellers have similar items.

Thanks.

Hintza

If you don't like the way they are talking to you just vote with your feet and look for the next deal.

Avoriaz

It is a sellers prerogative to refuse collection no matter how close to him you are. There could be many perfectly sensible and legitimate reasons for this. He may not hold stock at his registered location. He may use the services of a third party warehouse. He may even not handle the goods himself but arrange for you to receive the goods directly from the manufacturer, importer or whoever. He may simply be a cantankerous git who doesn’t like people calling on him.

His only “crimes” so far are to be a bit curt in his response to you and to have slightly worrying feedback. Maybe the negs are mostly about his rudeness. If the bike is a good deal who really cares about his manners?

If you want the bike decide how much it is worth to you and bid that maximum amount less the delivery charge. Pay via Paypal with funds drawn from a credit card if possible and you will be reasonably well protected.

And remember, bid once, bid your maximum and bid late. Sniping is the best way to get a good deal.

If you are worried about getting negative feedback, open a new account for this one purchase. If he rejects your bid because of zero feedback, email and explain what you have done. Just as it is his prerogative to set his buying and delivery terms, it is your right to bid and purchase the way you want.