Ebay bidders asking for my postcode

techguy81

I am selling an item on Ebay that is quite large, hence collection only.

I have had a couple of near-identical messages from potential bidders asking for my postcode so they can work out how far away they are from me.

However, to the best of my knowledge, distance is automatically displayed in the auction as well as the town/city, so surely the buyer already has a good idea of this?

Could something dodgy be going on or am I just being paranoid?

soolin

Ebay estimates are notoriously iffy, they are probably wanting to check for themselves before inconveniencing you by bidding and then finding you are not as convenient as they thought.

I live only a few miles from the London congestion zone so I often want to check exactly where a seller or shop is to see whether I am inside or outside the chargeable zone.

celestius

I would not rely on Ebay timings, sometimes when I search for something within a certain radius the items that come up are much further away - perhaps Ebay works it out 'as the crow flies'!

No harm in giving your postcode out? I always put mine in the listing

clumsy_cupcake

You don't have to give your whole postcode if you don't want to, you can just give the first half. The buyer can see the area but not the exact street

jetplane

Ebay distance estimator is rubbish, I always message a seller for collection and ebay might say within 20 miles but a route planner can double it. I would never buy a collection item if the seller did not give me their location first.

cootuk

I give the first part of my postcode so they know the general area.

...Time_for_a_brew_then..

I live in Flintshire, North Wales. If I do a search by distance, nearest first, it shows Liverpool as only ten miles away...great if you have a hovercraft - two large rivers between me and Liverpool.

The actual distance via road is actually 35.4 miles (to Kingsway as you emerge from the Mersey tunnel)

So, only use their distance estimates as just that - an estimate. And always check via a map or sat-nav if your not sure.

campdave

cootuk wrote: »

I give the first part of my postcode so they know the general area.

Where I live, that could cover miles! If you're concerned, look up a nearby street on google and give the postcode for that street.

harleq1962

ive often asked for postcodes when its pick up only and its listed as selling for someone else/friend/relative, difference has been up to 40 miles round trip, some stuff is just listed as say manchester which covers a big area. ive seen some stuff as liverpool and ive ended up in southport which is 20 +miles away, also had ebayers who have moved and not changed their location .

techguy81

Thanks for replies everybody, looks like I was just being paranoid then!

Goldiegirl

I live about 5 minutes drive from a motorway junction, so I put that location in my item description for a collection item, so people have an idea of where I am before bidding.