Cash on Collection Problem

Hugmuppet

Hi,

I've recently won an auction which stated that the item was for collection only and located in Bath. As we're in South Wales, its not too far to travel for something we really wanted.

I've contacted the seller via ebay messages and he's asked me to give him a call to arrange pickup of the item. As he didn't include his phone number in his response, I requested his contact details and they're showing that he's actually located somewhere near Reading, which is lot further away than we were expecting.

I've sent him another message to find out exactly where he is, as there's a discrepency somewhere, but I'm wondering what rights I have if he responds, telling me that the item is in fact in Reading.

Any help offered would be gratefully received - and yes, before anyone says anything, maybe I should have clarified before I bid to begin with, but I was bidding via a (not so) smartphone in the middle of a field and just didn't think to question something stated in a listing!

Thanks a lot

NeverEnough

Did the auction details specifically state that the item was located in Bath or did you assume that from the seller's stated location? In hindsight clarifying where exactly the item was, would have been a good idea, but its a fair assumption if a seller states an item is for collection only, to take their home location as being the place where the item is located unless they specify otherwise.

Best to try to ascertain exactly where it is at this stage, and decide if you can collect or not - if its too far and location was misleading or not correctly stated in the auction details as being different to sellers home location, ask for a mutual cancellation or perhaps make arrangements for a courier collection if seller agrees and you really want to proceed.

Hugmuppet

Thanks for your reply!

The listing itself shows the item location as Bath - it wasn't until I requested the sellers details to call him, that I realised the home location was different.

Ah well, will give him a call tomorrow if I haven't heard from him by on ebay by then. Fingers crossed it really is in Bath!!!

Mindless_Clone

He could well be selling it on behalf of someone (a relative perhaps) or he might have moved and not updated his account details.
I wouldn't worry overly until you speak to him about collection. If it turns out it isn't in Bath, then I think you can reasonably request to cancel given the misleading information in the listing.