Click & Collect ...do I 'opt out'?

porto_bello

Hi all,

I am an occasional private seller on eBay and have just noticed the 'click & collect' notice on my eBay messages page, with a facility to opt out.

So far as I can tell, using 'click and collect' means...


1. The buyer does not receive an item at their address, but has to collect it from their nearest large Argos store.

2. The buyer has the item delivered for free.

3. But the seller has to pay for and the hassle of sending the item to Argos.

4. Sometimes I sell large items for collection, but the scheme has limits of 120 x 76 cm, so my larger items would not qualify.

As a private seller, it seems to me that this kind of arrangement is probably aimed at business sellers and I'd be wise to opt out.


Would I be correct?






And as an eBay buyer, my nearest Argos on this scheme is 8 miles away, through notoriously heavy traffic - and as a traffic nightmare, I'd never go there out of choice.


I'd rather pay the postage than go to Argos - I can't see any attraction in using this scheme from the perspective of buyer or seller... what kind of a buyer is this working for?

usefulmale

As a business seller, I will be opting out.

Grimbal

Can anyone explain how to check these settings please ?

mrcol1000

usefulmale wrote: »

As a business seller, I will be opting out.

Why? It just means being sent to a different address. You don't have to actually take it to Argos yourself. What does it really matter which address it is sent to, the buyer or their Argos store?

Personally I think this is a good thing. I am also looking forward to having yet another advantage over miserable sellers who hate anything Ebay does to make life better for buyers and refuse to take part.

lovinituk

As a buyer I've used it and really like it. An Argos branch is on my way in to the office so its perfect for me. And if I ever needed to send it back I can just drop it back off at Argos and its returned for free.

As a seller I will definitely take advantage of it. As mrcol1000 says above, it doesn't really matter where you're sending to. To opt out can only reduce the possibility of additional sales. Reduces the possibility of INRs too I guess.

jazabelle

I live really near to an Argos shop, so it could be quite handy. How do the sellers have to send it - is it still from a Post Office? Because then it would make no difference to them?

usefulmale

mrcol1000 wrote: »

Why? It just means being sent to a different address. You don't have to actually take it to Argos yourself. What does it really matter which address it is sent to, the buyer or their Argos store?

Personally I think this is a good thing. I am also looking forward to having yet another advantage over miserable sellers who hate anything Ebay does to make life better for buyers and refuse to take part.

I don't know about your local Argos but I have never received an item yet from mine where the package is not crushed and dented. If they don't look after their own stock, I dread to think how they will treat mine.

Also, say I send it to Argos, who subsequently loose it. Who pays for that? I have a sig from Argos to say they received it, so any INR you raise, you will loose. Would you be happy with that?

It matters because ebay are introducing a third, sorry, fourth party into the sale and I cannot see any protection for me, the seller.

So no. I will send it to any address that is on the paypal payment but the only way I will send it to an Argos store is if a worker there buys one.

lovinituk

usefulmale wrote: »

I don't know about your local Argos but I have never received an item yet from mine where the package is not crushed and dented. If they don't look after their own stock, I dread to think how they will treat mine.

I've never had a damaged or crushed package from Argos.

usefulmale wrote: »

Also, say I send it to Argos, who subsequently loose it. Who pays for that? I have a sig from Argos to say they received it, so any INR you raise, you will loose. Would you be happy with that?

It matters because ebay are introducing a third, sorry, fourth party into the sale and I cannot see any protection for me, the seller.

So no. I will send it to any address that is on the paypal payment but the only way I will send it to an Argos store is if a worker there buys one.

Perhaps there will be something in the agreement that covers that. Perhaps as long as you can prove delivery to Argos then maybe it will be covered and eBay or Argos will cover the loss. If the facts come out that say otherwise then its a good reason to opt out. I don't see the sense in making a final decision based on assumption and hearsay at this stage.

usefulmale

lovinituk wrote: »

I've never had a damaged or crushed package from Argos.


Perhaps there will be something in the agreement that covers that. Perhaps as long as you can prove delivery to Argos then maybe it will be covered and eBay or Argos will cover the loss. If the facts come out that say otherwise then its a good reason to opt out. I don't see the sense in making a final decision based on assumption and hearsay at this stage.

My decision is not final but 'perhaps' is not good enough for me. IF and only IF there are cast-iron safeguards for me as a seller, I would reconsider. Though, as usual with ebay, the nitty-gritty is deliberately vague so, for me, it's opt-out until I see some benefit and protection for me.

lovinituk

I guess it will eventually come down to the fact that sellers that offer all of the extras, such as sending to an Argos store, will do better than those that don't. It doesn't really matter to any of us whether the rest of us opt in or not. Personally, I will be much happier if my direct competition don't opt in when I do as it will be something else that helps me stand out and potentially win more sales.

mrcol1000

lovinituk wrote: »

I guess it will eventually come down to the fact that sellers that offer all of the extras, such as sending to an Argos store, will do better than those that don't. It doesn't really matter to any of us whether the rest of us opt in or not. Personally, I will be much happier if my direct competition don't opt in when I do as it will be something else that helps me stand out and potentially win more sales.

Sshhh. Don't tell them all that. They will be opting in to everything and the secret that providing good customer service attracts customers will be out in the open.