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Why don't people read the listings?!

I have listed several large collection-only items recently, a full drum kit and a fish tank, the first sold two months ago and was paid for by paypal when the auction stated cash on collection and never collected despite requesting collection within a fortnight so had to be re-listed. Argh!

Now I have both auctions running and people asking me to deliver to them, for both items. One lives over five hours away! Why can't people accept cash on collection means exactly that?! I know I will get less for them but my time is worth more to me than an extra £30 on a fish tank I really just want out of the wway! And why do people get so stroppy when you politely say no and quote the listing, and why do they then feel the need to point out that you will make less money on them?!

Baffling!

Comments

  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 74,391 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Collection only items on ebay can be a real hassle. You ask why people don't read the listings, but perhaps you should read the ebay requirements that say paypal cannot be refused.

    So the first buyer, paid by paypal, you refunded (I hope) and that's the end of it, if he didn't want to pay cash you can't make him. Have you tried a mutual to reclaim your fees on it to at least save you that money?

    It really might be worth lookig to sell on a place like Gumtree where you can insist on cash and set time limits for colelction without fear of poor feedback or paypal payments.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • sham63
    sham63 Posts: 1,096 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    I think some people make the mistake of just ticking the "collection only" box and then not mentioning again in the description. I've aslo seen a few where the item description says 'collection only' but there is a postage value listed.

    I always make sure that my listings for collection-only items start the description with;

    Please note this is a collection-only item - please do not bid unless you are able to collect in person, thanks!

    I also repeat this at the bottom of the description, with the addition of a statement saying somthing along the lines of "I also do not accept third-party courier collections - buyer must collect and pay in person - thanks"
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 74,391 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Yes, the third party courier 'thing' seems to be getting quite common, we never used to get any threads about it and now we get lots.

    The last thing I sold collection only I did say I would like cash on Collection (it was my private account I wouldn't rik that on my business account) and also said I would not allow couriers.

    Just remember though that in bold letters at top of page above the description it will still clearly show 'paypal accepted' or even 'paypal preferred' and if buyer geos through checkout or if seller sends an invoice it defaults to paypal for payment.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • techspec
    techspec Posts: 4,464 Forumite
    edited 15 January 2013 at 11:00AM
    Soolin, you keep telling people not to put cash on collection - but i've been putting it 14 years without trouble.

    Have Ebay actually threatened you about this - or are you just expecting everyone to follow Ebays terms cos you do - even though it puts THEIR money at risk - not Ebays and not yours.

    Superfran - don't reply to the messages asking for delivery etc. It really does make life easier to ignore them - and even block them in some cases. I had one ask me to post to Singapore - it stated UK only. I politely declined - only to gat a load of vile abuse pointing out it was the same effing distance to the Post Office wherever i sent it to.
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 74,391 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    techspec wrote: »
    Soolin, you keep telling people not to put cash on collection - but i've been putting it 14 years without trouble.

    Have Ebay actually threatened you about this - or are you just expecting everyone to follow Ebays terms cos you do - even though it puts THEIR money at risk - not Ebays and not yours.

    I don't tend to say anything other than I will accept cash. I am aware , and we've had threads on here and on the community boards where sellers have had their listings pulled for saying 'strictly cash only' or such like. That's why i wouldn't risk it on my business account.

    It is all immaterial anyway as if a buyer pays by paypal and gets refunded there is nothing the seller can then do, as has happened in the OP here. I just hope that buyer agreed a mutual to get the OP their FVFs back.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • sham63 wrote: »
    I think some people make the mistake of just ticking the "collection only" box and then not mentioning again in the description. I've aslo seen a few where the item description says 'collection only' but there is a postage value listed.

    I always make sure that my listings for collection-only items start the description with;

    Please note this is a collection-only item - please do not bid unless you are able to collect in person, thanks!

    I also repeat this at the bottom of the description, with the addition of a statement saying somthing along the lines of "I also do not accept third-party courier collections - buyer must collect and pay in person - thanks"

    I have done exactly as you describe! Maybe people think it is worth a try...

    Just had one asking 'hi wd u deliver 2 *place 2 hrs drive away* 4 *low starting price* & 10 petrol?

    Er, how about no?!
  • soolin wrote: »
    I don't tend to say anything other than I will accept cash. I am aware , and we've had threads on here and on the community boards where sellers have had their listings pulled for saying 'strictly cash only' or such like. That's why i wouldn't risk it on my business account.

    It is all immaterial anyway as if a buyer pays by paypal and gets refunded there is nothing the seller can then do, as has happened in the OP here. I just hope that buyer agreed a mutual to get the OP their FVFs back.

    I did, and the buyer didn't respond. We received a call about a week later, after I and he had been refunded, from their courier to arrange pick up, so they clearly had not logged in to ebay for two weeks but more likely over a month!

    If ebay pull a listing for not taking paypal, so be it. However I will categorically not get myself into a situation where I have the money and have to therefore store the goods indefinitely.
  • I had the other way round where I clearly stated PayPal and posting only (i.e. no cash on collection) and the buyer waited until they had won the item to message saying they lived nearby and wanted to come and collect it and pay me in cash. We had messages going back and forth and I was v insistent that the terms of the listing would have to be followed and if he wanted cash on collection he should have at least checked with me beforehand - I don't like randomers coming to my home!

    Anyway I got a whole sob story about how he didn't have PayPal and his brother had lent him the account and I explained it's very easy to open a PayPal account and then ignored his other messages. I was worried about a neg but was confident that as he was so clearly in the wrong (i.e. he hadn't even checked with me before bidding whether I would consider cash on collection) eBay would remove a neg. I opened an Payment Not Received case and within a week he magically managed to pay me via PayPal. This was last month and still haven't received any feedback (which is fine) but am keeping an eye on it in case he still comes back with a neg!
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