Seller appears on doorstep...

Arlandria606

I recently made a purchase on eBay. The seller contacted me yesterday to ask if her husband could drop off the item today, since he'd be in the area. (They're not local.)

I'm not comfortable with a random stranger appearing on my doorstep (as I'm usually at home and receive a lot of deliveries I know my usual delivery guys) and had an appointment today anyway, so said no, please could she post it as usual.

Of course, the guy shows up on my doorstep this morning anyway.

When I pointed out that I hadn't agreed to this, he proceeded to argue with me, shout at me, and start making threats about negating the transaction, reporting me, etc.

I know that for most people this sort of arrangement would be fine, but it wasn't for me, and I did say so. Given how quickly the husband got angry, I now can't help but worry that these people have my address, and are clearly prepared to misuse that information.

Can anyone offer any advice on dealing with this? Negative feedback is a given at this point, but I do feel that this seller needs to have it explained to them that this (by which I mean, showing up at a buyer's house without it being agreed in advance) isn't appropriate behaviour, and somehow I suspect that me saying it isn't going to have the necessary effect.

retiredin2011

Oh my God!
Are you for real?
Seller personally delivers item and you do nothing but moan.

sarahg1969

Arlandria606 wrote: »

I recently made a purchase on eBay. The seller contacted me yesterday to ask if her husband could drop off the item today, since he'd be in the area. (They're not local.)

I'm not comfortable with a random stranger appearing on my doorstep (as I'm usually at home and receive a lot of deliveries I know my usual delivery guys) and had an appointment today anyway, so said no, please could she post it as usual.

Of course, the guy shows up on my doorstep this morning anyway.

When I pointed out that I hadn't agreed to this, he proceeded to argue with me, shout at me, and start making threats about negating the transaction, reporting me, etc.

I know that for most people this sort of arrangement would be fine, but it wasn't for me, and I did say so. Given how quickly the husband got angry, I now can't help but worry that these people have my address, and are clearly prepared to misuse that information.

Can anyone offer any advice on dealing with this? Negative feedback is a given at this point, but I do feel that this seller needs to have it explained to them that this (by which I mean, showing up at a buyer's house without it being agreed in advance) isn't appropriate behaviour, and somehow I suspect that me saying it isn't going to have the necessary effect.

You'd have been happy enough if he said he was a courier, wouldn't you? I don't see the problem.

skivenov

Exactly. I've been known to drop items off in person if I'm in the area so people get their purchase quicker. I'd have put it down as customer refused delivery, kept the item and your money.

Flyonthewall

I'm surprised at the replies on here. Why would you be happy at a stranger arriving on your doorstep after you said no and, worse still, them threatening you?

It's up to the buyer if they wish to agree to that arrangement and you didn't agree. Plus why ask if you're going to turn up anyway?

As for the courier argument, if it had been sent by courier OP may well have known the person delivering it. It also wouldn't have been delivered the next morning as it obviously wouldn't have been sent in time and so considering part of the reason in saying no was due to an appointment there would have been no problem there. As it was the guy could have turned up and found no one in.

From a sellers point of view, I assume you paid by Paypal in which case there is no tracking or proof of postage which means an item not received case would be won by you.

There's certainly no excuse for the guy to get angry and start threatening.

If the ebay messages were through the wife perhaps it might be an idea to send a polite message about the situation. She may not realise how her husband reacted and it's quite possible the husband wasn't happy about being told he had to hand deliver the item.

Dunroamin

School holidays anyone?

Flyonthewall

skivenov wrote: »

Exactly. I've been known to drop items off in person if I'm in the area so people get their purchase quicker. I'd have put it down as customer refused delivery, kept the item and your money.

How is it refusing delivery? They clearly asked the seller to post the item as they should have done in the first place. If you tried keeping the item and money the buyer could easily open up a case and get a refund and you'd most certainly get negative feedback and low stars.

Even if you weren't happy as a seller you could at least do the decent thing and refund them their money. Attempting to keeping it isn't right, the buyer didn't do anything wrong.

likelyfran

I agree with the OP! She was asked, she said no and a stranger turned up on doorstep anyway. Rather annoying and possibly disturbing behaviour, particularly as presumably the listing actually stated item would be posted!
What's so hard to get about that?!

steveo3002

the parcel delivery guy would be any random stranger , and most likley knocked the package around on the way

vs hand delivered ...dont see a problem , open the door and say thank you bye , job done

Flyonthewall

steveo3002 wrote: »

the parcel delivery guy would be any random stranger , and most likley knocked the package around on the way

vs hand delivered ...dont see a problem , open the door and say thank you bye , job done

Quite possibly, but it could have also been someone she knew due to having lots of deliveries. Either way, it would have been delivered on a different day (one where they didn't have an appointment) and not by some guy who's threatening them for no reason.

The problem is they said no. There reason is not important, no should mean no. It was meant to be posted (buyer I assume paid for postage) and the seller should have done that.

FinanciallyUnsavvy

I'm also a bit shocked at the responses on this thread!

OP, I'm with you. I am very wary about buyers who want to collect items and the same would apply for sellers who want to deliver the items themselves. Especially when you've already stipulated no, you don't agree to that!

I can see the point of the argument of a courier coming to the door no different - but couriers are employed/licensed to do that. A courier wouldn't start throwing abuse at you when you answer the door!

With regards to the ebay transaction, I wouldn't contact the Seller directly at this point. I'd email eBay and explain the situation to them. I'd say a stranger turning up at your house when you've clearly said NO is cause for concern.