new seller - buyer wants to send courier

claire07

I've listed recently inherited items of large furniture as cash on collection as it seemed obvious only people locally or with means of transport would be interested.

Now the winning bidder for one item lives over 200 miles away and has said they want me to invoice them and they'll pay through paypal and send a courier to collect.

I've done a search on this on this site and am now worried about doing this as it seems fraught with problems. But as the item is not particularly expensive (less than £35) might it be safe to go ahead or should I contact them and reiterate that it was listed cash on collection only.

I don't want negative feedback but also don't want to do the wrong thing.

daveeeeed

We're seeing quite a few of these lately.
Check their feedback - any history of non-payment/non-collection (look for false positives)?
If you ended up cancelling the sale (preferably mutual if the winning bidder won't do cash on collection) has your second highest bidder bid an acceptable amount and are they close by?

starrybee

Your other alternative is offer to arrange the courier yourself (and add it to their invoice, obviously.) That way all the tracking info is in your hands.

soolin

claire07 wrote: »

I've listed recently inherited items of large furniture as cash on collection as it seemed obvious only people locally or with means of transport would be interested.

Now the winning bidder for one item lives over 200 miles away and has said they want me to invoice them and they'll pay through paypal and send a courier to collect.

I've done a search on this on this site and am now worried about doing this as it seems fraught with problems. But as the item is not particularly expensive (less than £35) might it be safe to go ahead or should I contact them and reiterate that it was listed cash on collection only.

I don't want negative feedback but also don't want to do the wrong thing.

Have a read of this thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4560195

Contains_Mild_Peril

If your buyer actually knows an affordable courier for one-off large items like furniture, please share the secret!

RFW

claire07 wrote: »

Now the winning bidder for one item lives over 200 miles away and has said they want me to invoice them and they'll pay through paypal and send a courier to collect.

I've done a search on this on this site and am now worried about doing this as it seems fraught with problems. But as the item is not particularly expensive (less than £35) might it be safe to go ahead or should I contact them and reiterate that it was listed cash on collection only.

It does sound 'iffy'. I'd ask for them to either send cash with a courier (some will do that) or pay in some other way, bank transfer or postal order sent by post.

claire07

Many thanks for your help. I've sent a polite email saying it was specifically cash on collection and the only possibility is the courier bringing cash or sending bank transfer beforehand. I just hope that sorts things out.

As I've only just started listing some inherited items I feel a bit vulnerable to tricks others would suss out more quickly but also I don't want to offend a genuine buyer and get bad feedback.

retiredandskint

I've got the same problem and after explaining to the buyer (and giving a link to this post) he's just sent a message saying he's paid by Paypal and will arrange to send a courier on Wednesday not even checking that I'd be available (which so happens I won't be)

pinkshoes

Will the courier be specifying a 2 hour pick up slot, or are you expected to wait in all day??

If they insist on Paypal, then you may as well book your own courier and send a new invoice!!

jumpedtheshark

If you want to sell it that way, I would book your own courier. You could let the buyer do the research for you, if they're keen on sourcing an affordable courier, but you need to make sure it's a company that will pay you compensation if the item is damaged, etc. whilst en route.

I admit, I was once one of these buyers and I sent my own courier. We were moving across the country (in Canada) and the moving company smashed my desk to pieces. It was a newish 'executive' desk, which wasn't very good quality but was expensive - I'd bought it used on Craigslist. Anyway, we agreed on an amount it was worth and that I could have any used desk I wanted for a different, lesser amount and they would deliver it free from anywhere in Canada. I found the perfect desk on eBay. Thanks to the seller trusting my story, I ended up with a very nice solid walnut desk shipped most of the way across the country by the same moving company that had smashed the first desk.

techspec

retiredandskint wrote: »

I've got the same problem and after explaining to the buyer (and giving a link to this post) he's just sent a message saying he's paid by Paypal and will arrange to send a courier on Wednesday not even checking that I'd be available (which so happens I won't be)

Id let them waste their time.