Collecting only Listing - Buyer wants to send Courier

Lovelyjoolz

Hi There
First time posting in this forum - I only occasionally sell bits and pieces on Ebay and until now, I've been lucky enough to not have a problem! I'm hoping all you eBay experts can advise me on this one:

I sold my old electric fire a week ago. The listing was for collection only as it's REALLY heavy and because I don't have the original box and it's just in a black bin bag.

Winning bidder lives literally the other end of the country. I received an email telling me that they would collect it this week as they are working near me, then they send payment through Paypal. So I've been waiting for them to arrange a time to collect but heard nothing from them since the weekend.

Last night I got an email saying that they want to arrange a courier to collect it now. Should I allow this? What would you do?

Reading weezypops thread has got me very worried now

theonlywayisup

No, no, no.

Do not do it for that very reason.

Do you really want to sit in all day and risk a courier not turning up, have to wrap the item....etc etc.

What if it gets there damaged, what if it's lost, what if???

vuvuzela

There's no way I would personally agree to this, as I have a life and that does not consist of staying at home potentially all day waiting for a courier. Also, the lack of proof for any ebay/paypal claim of not delivery etc...

No_Eye_Deer

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

then they send payment through Paypal. So I've been waiting for them to arrange a time to collect but heard nothing from them since the weekend.

Sorry, but you have left yourself open to the same thing here, allowing them to collect while accepting Paypal isn't any better.
The scam is, handing over the goods without being able to prove delivery, you then get an INR claim through Paypal.

For me, it depends on how much I want rid if it/the value of the item, as to whether I would take a risk on Paypal/Collection.

The pain in this case (if its a low value item), is packing up a large heavy item fit for a courier, on that basis alone, I would say no.


.

RFW

The only way I'd do this is with a private courier who can collect within a short time frame and who will pay you cash on collection (refund Paypal).

Those types of couriers do exist, so it is possible, albeit unlikely and probably costly for the buyer.

The only other way would be for you to have all the courier's tracking information. The problem with that is if they damage the item it would be the seller's responsibility and not the buyer's.

Lovelyjoolz

Thanks for the advice guys. You've confirmed what my gut instinct was telling me.

I didn't realise that I could prevent paypal payments on collection only listings (it was my first one), but I'll definitely remember it next time!!

So I guess my best course of action is to contact the buyer, tell them I'm refunding the payment and then what? Relist? Tell them cash on collection only?

And I guess I'm going to get some bad feedback here too - my first!

RFW

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys. You've confirmed what my gut instinct was telling me.

I didn't realise that I could prevent paypal payments on collection only listings (it was my first one), but I'll definitely remember it next time!!

So I guess my best course of action is to contact the buyer, tell them I'm refunding the payment and then what? Relist? Tell them cash on collection only?

And I guess I'm going to get some bad feedback here too - my first!

I'd ask if they could get a courier to arrange cash on collection, or collect themselves.

You may have a reasonable buyer. You can also suggest that paying by Paypal and collecting invalidates some of Paypal's protection and that should any courier damage the item then they could lose out.

You can't actually block Paypal, even for collection items on a listing. You can offer an overpriced courier rate that would include packing and also offer collection. If the buyer chooses collection you can tell them you require cash payment, if they pay by Paypal then you insist they opt for courier.

In times of instant transfers, there's only ignorant buyers or a scammer that would turn down paying cash on collection.

pulliptears

Technically you can't prevent Paypal payments for collection, you can request Cash on Collection and hope nobody reports the auction for it, but you can't insist on it sadly.

Personally when I've sold collection items I've always risked being reported and insisted on cash on collection. I wouldn't take the risk with Paypal.

In your case though the focus is probably more on the fact that your buyer can't collect as per the terms of your auction. If it were me I'd refund the payment, say sorry as stated this was collection in person only, no courier, and relist.
Obviously this won't stop him leaving you negative feedback if he wants to be awkward.

I guess a lot depends on the value of the item as well, if we are talking £10 it's probably worth the risk to avoid the hassle, but if we are talking £50 I'd rather wear the neg than lose the cash.

Contains_Mild_Peril

The other problem is that most couriers will only accept items which are adequately packed, e.g. in a box. If I were willing and able to pack an item suitably and have it collected by courier I'd probably have listed that option in the first place. I would generally consider packing an awkward "collection only" item too much hassle if it sold cheap.