Collection only items

soolin

As promised this is my first draft which I will add to the list of sticky posts. I will work on it to correct any poor explanations and encourage others to add to the thread.

I am starting this thread due to the issues arising from collection only items and the clash with the paypal on collection scam.

Collection items on ebay can be a problem and it is best to understand fully the risks associated with them. If you list an item which cannot be posted and show it as collection only you CANNOT remove the option for the buyer to use paypal, in fact it will show as the preferred/default payment method. You can say that cash on collection is an alternative payment method, but be careful about stressing the fact that only cash will be accepted. Ebay do occasionally pull listings that appear to breach their payment policy.

If someone pays by paypal then be careful of the paypal on collection scam (see below) however not all people paying by paypal are going to be scammers, some may well have a genuine reason for using paypal.

If you want to refuse the payment then no one can force a seller to sell, but if you refund the buyer can at that point walk away and leave you poor feedback and stars and make a non performing complaint against you, since March 2020 all the paypal fees paid at the point of sale will be retained by paypal., so you lose those as well. . You have no mechanism to force a buyer to use cash- your best hope with this stalemate is to negotiate a mutual cancellation which will still leave buyer able to leave feedback.

Issues if buyer refuses to pay at all and/or collect

It is not unknown for a buyer to win and then change their mind when they see the distance they need to travel to collect. On a collection only item if you open an NPB you run the risk of them paying by paypal as it is the only way they can close the case without a strike. Your only other option is to risk a mutual which has its own problems

There is also a similar issue if buyer pays by PayPal and doesn't collect. My personal suggestion would be to phone them in the first instance and refund the PayPal payment if you feel uncomfortable with accepting it, and then try and negotiate a mutual cancellation. Remember though that the paypal fees will remain payable in full.

Other options

If an item can be couriered or posted then list it with a postal cost rather than collection only. Then in the body of your text add that collection is possible but cash payments only, if paypal is preferred then item will be posted at the stated cost. This means if buyer doesn't pay or mucks you around with collection you can open an NPB and they have to pay the item cost AND postage to close the case.

buyer sending own courier

this can also be an issue as most importantly seller might not be able to satisfy the PayPal requirements for seller protection as firstly they might not have tracking details and secondly they cannot confirm the address courier has for delivery. If PayPal is used then even though buyer arranges courier seller remains responsible for the item until buyer is happy, so seller needs to ensure safe tracking and packing.

PayPal on collection scam[/U]

For PayPal seller protection items must be sent to the PayPal address that they confirm is 'OK to send to' and to defend an INR proof of delivery must be available on online. Therefore a scammer can pay by PayPal, collect and then claim Item Not Received (INR) and they will win the case. There is no alternative to proof of delivery , photographs, signed receipts etc are no good. For more information see the sticky postage thread.
Even for a claim for fraudulent use of a card the seller protection only kicks in if seller can show proof of posting.

EDIT: For sellers on managed payments there is now a way to confirm delivery to satisfy an ebay claim for INR , ebay are issuing QR codes and as long as both buyer and seller are happy to scan the code at point of collection this appears to satisfy any need to prove delivery. This is on the ebay site only though, and does not cover any claim made on paypal for a seller who is not on managed payments.

RainbowDrops

Might be worth mentionin something about buyers who ask to arrange their own courrier and the associated risks?

Also, minor typo spotted.

soolin wrote: »

Issues if buyer refuses to pay at all and/or collect

It si not unknown for a buyer to win and then change their mind when they see the distance they need to travel to collect.

is

GabbaGabbaHey

1) If it's going to be a sticky, and aimed at new users, then I think that you need to explain (or at least link to) what the "paypal on collection scam" involves, rather than just mention it.

2) If you refuse to sell after the person has paid, not only do you risk negative feedback and low stars, but also a Non Performing Seller mark on your account.

3) It's "eBay" and "PayPal", not "ebay" and "paypal" :-)

4) Will a phrase like "risk a mutual" be understood by the target audience, or does it need to be fully explained?

soolin

I'll be back properly shortly to incorporate the suggestions.

martindow

Should there be something about how to deal with collection items where the buyer has paid by Paypal but then makes no further contact?

soolin

martindow wrote: »

Should there be something about how to deal with collection items where the buyer has paid by Paypal but then makes no further contact?

I've added a bit more to cover that now, thank you.

soolin

Link to a thread where a defect was given to an experienced seller (later removed) wherevpaypal was refunded for a collection only item

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5056992

soolin

I'm just bumping this as we have two threads running which have points covered in this thread.

lemontart

How long after auction closes should you wait to hear back from buyer to arrange a collection of a car.

soolin

lemontart wrote: »

How long after auction closes should you wait to hear back from buyer to arrange a collection of a car.

IT all depends on the seller, obviously it is always worth phoning the buyer when auction ends to discuss collection and take it from there.

lemontart

soolin wrote: »

IT all depends on the seller, obviously it is always worth phoning the buyer when auction ends to discuss collection and take it from there.

Tried calling the number on his profile and says incorrect number - No contact from him in 3 days and no reply either to my message - I am the seller not the buyer