eBay cash on collection

BaconandEggs

Hi,
There is something we would like to bid on on eBay but it is cash on collection. They don't accept PayPal. Is this normal? Reluctant to bid in case anything wrong and less protection.

My other question is, what if we win and go to collect but for some reason do not want to purchase e.g. condition of item. Is it bad form to effectively cancel the purchase? I ask as this sort of happened to me before when selling a camera lens. Had some chap in Nigeria win but not pay. Meant losing serious sellers and relisting.

Confused

JethroUK

I sold few things collect only if they simply too heavy to post viably (old lawn mover worth £20) - If they are collecting anyway I prefer they pay me cash on collection so I dont lose 5% to paypal, but you cant insist they pay cash due to Ebay trading rule

I always invite the potential buyers to come and take a look where possible, but just like any other sale, you should not bid if you're at all unsure you want it. I want people to be happy they bought my stuff and open an honest as I can be, and equally dont want people bidding that are at all 'unsure'

Your agreement to buy when you bid is the same whether they post it or you collect it - Just because you have the advantage of seeing it before you pay 'collecting', doesn't mean you can use this as an advantage to beat the seller over the head

TBH - I think you would be better off ignoring this sale and stick to one that uses the postage route until you're more confident in the item

fuzzybear01

I didn't think people were allowed to refuse Paypal anymore?

metoyoubear

I ask for cash on collection when an item is collection only,it saves on fees plus I don't want the buyer paying Paypal,collecting the item then claiming item not received.

BaconandEggs

The item is large and collection only.

So ideally - I could pay via PayPal and they can't refuse this?

However, if I would like to save the seller 5% and taking into account some sellers won't want to accept PayPal (I can see why) - so I pay cash - but the condition is not very good - e.g. scratched not on pictures:
Can I say that I don't want the item? If I do, would it lead to negative feedback?

JethroUK

fuzzybear01 wrote: »

I didn't think people were allowed to refuse Paypal anymore?

They're not - but it's not compulsory - they can still ask' for cash - they just cant 'insist'

JethroUK

BaconandEggs wrote: »

..but the condition is not very good - e.g. scratched not on pictures:
Can I say that I don't want the item? If I do, would it lead to negative feedback?

Yes it would - I've just said - you can't use 'collecting' the item as an extra stick to beat the seller with

If it is 'not as described' then dont buy it - EXACTLY as you would if it had been delivered and 'not as described'

You seem to want to differentiate between collecting and have it delivered as to whether you pay for it or not - there is zero difference - the agreement to buy/terms is the same

It's easy to see that you are simply not sure about the item - in which case dont buy it - irrespective of whether it's collect or posted

BaconandEggs

JethroUK wrote: »

Yes it would - I've just said - you can't use 'collecting' the item as an extra stick to beat the seller with

If it is 'not as described' then dont buy it - EXACTLY as you would if it had been delivered and 'not as described'

You seem to want to differentiate between collecting and have it delivered as to whether you pay for it or not - there is zero difference - the agreement to buy/terms is the same

It's easy to see that you are simply not sure about the item - in which case dont buy it - irrespective of whether it's collect or posted

I can definitely see your point - and we may indeed decide to buy from a shop instead. Certainly don't want to mess anyone around.

I understand when you say "If it is 'not as described' then dont buy it - EXACTLY as you would if it had been delivered and 'not as described" - but we would have bought it (agreed to the sale on eBay). We should therefore pay, and take the item. If it is not as described we would then need to raise a complaint via the eBay website? This would be analogous to the situation of receiving it in the post. Is that right?

That would then make it difficult for you to get your money back then though - if paid for by cash, without the protection of PayPal.

So from a buyer's point of view, it's in their interests to pay via PayPal, and if paying in cash, not pay if the item it not as described.

I realise some of this is a bit hypothetical, but good to know before any problems. We've only used eBay to buy new stuff, which you can't get easily here in the past.

The things we're looking at are bulky, relatively cheap (baby nursery stuff) and second hand.

VoucherMan

Last time I bought something for collection only I offered the seller cash thinking it might save them a bit.
They said they prefer PayPal.