Buyer wanting to send courier for collection only

claire07

I am advertising an awkwardly shaped piece of furniture as cash on collection only with a starting price. I have a potential bidder asking if I would send 200 miles away by courier (they will arrange courier).

I had the same situation a few months ago and following advice from here I requested payment by bank transfer and the courier collected a pair of chairs. However I was worried by how they threw them in the van but everything went OK.

So I know I would have to request bank transfer but am worried about this arriving in one piece as it is old and delicately made and would be awkward to wrap and protect sufficiently.

I'm tempted to just reject this and insist on cash on collection but would appreciate any suggestions.

campdave

As has been said on every other thread here about buyer arranging courier, don't do it.

CouponWoman

As campdave said.

Don't accept collection by courier. Tell the buyer cash on collection in person only.

That way if they break it in transit its the buyers own fault

xx

Flyonthewall

As campdave has said, don't do it. Courier for collection is never a good idea. Plus it's your item, you know how delicate it is and you listed it for collection only not courier for a reason so stick to that and only accept cash on collection.

claire07

Many thanks for replies. I think I knew in my heart that was the right thing to do but I find some buyers quite forceful when they try to insist on sending a courier.

However the advice I've been given here over the past few months has been invaluable in giving me the confidence to stick to what I've put in the listing.

molerat

As long as they do not pay with Paypal who cares who actually collects the items, if it gets broken in transit / stolen by the buyers agent surely it is down to them to sort it ? Just make it clear that their agent is responsible for packaging the item for transit.

Avoriaz

molerat wrote: »

As long as they do not pay with Paypal who cares who actually collects the items, if it gets broken in transit / stolen by the buyers agent surely it is down to them to sort it ? Just make it clear that their agent is responsible for packaging the item for transit.

True, but that doesn't avoid the significant risk of the seller getting a negative and trashed stars.

Buyers are not always reasonable people.

molerat

Negs and low stars are a risk no matter what delivery or collection method used. A chargeback is the only real concern.

forgotmyname

As long as the courier brings cash then no problem.

RFW

forgotmyname wrote: »

As long as the courier brings cash then no problem.

I thought that. It may well be that the buyer is sending a private courier that they know and who will check the goods and be bringing cash. If they're paying by Paypal and sending Yodel you'd be better off with a can of petrol and some matches.

hermum

I would be happy for the buyer to arrange a courier if they were happy to pay by bank transfer, other than Paypal, or the courier to pay cash on their behalf & as long as it didn't need wrapping.