buyer arranges courier, whos liable in event of lost package

meercatsunited

I have sold an item that the buyer wants to arrange their own courier and I don't think any insurance is being arranged.
So obviously a bit concerne should anything untoward happens.

have you experienced this or know of anyone having encountered problems in these circumstances. thanks

shaun_from_Africa

Provided that the buyer agrees, it is them who would be legally responsible.

However, this doesn't make any difference to ebay or paypal as in the event of the goods getting lost during the delivery, they will find in the buyers favour.

Unless the buyer is willing to pay you by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or cash, you should refuse this request and insist that you must arrange and invoice them for it.

If they agree to this and have already paid, you should refund them and reinvoice them for the complete amount inclusive of the courier costs.

j.e.j.

There have been a few threads on this board about the subject of allowing the buyer to arrange their own courier.

The trouble is, by allowing the buyer to arrange their own courier you are leaving yourself open to the possibility of the buyer saying they did not receive the item, and scamming you for a refund. (that's if they've paid via Paypal?)

If you arrange the courier yourself you would have proof of delivery and/or a signature.

soolin

I agree, this seems to be the 'question of the month' at the moment as it has cropped up a lot recently.

OP, as has been said, on ebay you are responsible for both loss or damage but if you haven't arranged a courier yoruself then making any claim for said loss or damage may prove impossible.

sham63

Have a look at the replies here;

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4278259

theonlywayisup

As has been said.

If the item is lost or damaged, eBay and PayPal will give the purchase price back to the buyer. How will you be reimbursed?

If you are going to let someone book a courier, then presumably you are packing it? If that is the case, why don't you book the courier, thus saving any hassle should it not arrive in perfect condition.

RFW

theonlywayisup wrote: »

As has been said.

If the item is lost or damaged, eBay and PayPal will give the purchase price back to the buyer. How will you be reimbursed?

If you are going to let someone book a courier, then presumably you are packing it? If that is the case, why don't you book the courier, thus saving any hassle should it not arrive in perfect condition.

I'd agree with that. I will say that if the buyer is giving the seller the courier details and they are ok (ie parcel is insured sufficiently, tracking available online) then that would be acceptable to Ebay/Paypal. Ebay/Paypal won't know who paid the courier so in that respect it makes no difference.

If that does happen check the online details match the details obtained from the courier.

When I've ever had a customer ask to send their own courier I've asked that it be done within a one hour timeframe to suit me and that I get all the tracking details or I receive cash on collection, otherwise it goes by my courier. On one occasion that did happen, the courier brought cash in an envelope and collected by appointment, everyone was happy.

meercatsunited

thank you for all the replies and advice, I now know how to protect myself