Quick question about an ebay deal gone bad

gazfocus

I advertised a high value item (£400) for collection on Gumtree and an interested buyer contacted me about it asking if I could post it. I agreed but said I would want payment by bank transfer.

After numerous days of emails, he decided he didn't feel comfortable so I decided to list it on ebay with local pickup as the only delivery option.

I emailed the gumtree buyer and told him I had listed the item on eBay and invited him to submit a best offer if he was interested. I also made it clear that payment was to be by bank transfer if he decided to put in an offer.

Last night the buyer put in a best offer and rang me to tell me. He seemed fine with the deal and so I logged on to ebay, accepted the offer and sent him my bank details.

He then emailed me this morning to say he will still not have any protection and has alluded to this being a scam, which it's not.

I've now incurred £42.75 of eBay fees for accepting this persons offer on eBay and don't seem to be any closer to getting payment so I'm just wondering what I should do now.

I don't have a problem with the buyer backing out if he's uncomfortable but I made the payment method clear before he placed an offer. I'm annoyed because I have a £650 limit as a new seller so I can't relist this with a buy it now price because that would go over my limit and now I'm out of pocket £42.75.

theonlywayisup

gazfocus wrote: »

I advertised a high value item (£400) for collection on Gumtree and an interested buyer contacted me about it asking if I could post it. I agreed but said I would want payment by bank transfer.

After numerous days of emails, he decided he didn't feel comfortable so I decided to list it on ebay with local pickup as the only delivery option.

I emailed the gumtree buyer and told him I had listed the item on eBay and invited him to submit a best offer if he was interested. I also made it clear that payment was to be by bank transfer if he decided to put in an offer.

Last night the buyer put in a best offer and rang me to tell me. He seemed fine with the deal and so I logged on to ebay, accepted the offer and sent him my bank details.

He then emailed me this morning to say he will still not have any protection and has alluded to this being a scam, which it's not.

I've now incurred £42.75 of eBay fees for accepting this persons offer on eBay and don't seem to be any closer to getting payment so I'm just wondering what I should do now.

I don't have a problem with the buyer backing out if he's uncomfortable but I made the payment method clear before he placed an offer. I'm annoyed because I have a £650 limit as a new seller so I can't relist this with a buy it now price because that would go over my limit and now I'm out of pocket £42.75.

Although you have been invoiced £42.75 FINAL VALUE FEES (FVF) they will be reimbursed if your buyer doesn't pay and you file a Non Paying Bidder Dispute.

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/unpaid-item.html

On day 2 after sale (to the minute) you can open a NPB dispute. 4 days later if he hasn't paid you can close it and your FVFs will be reimbursed.

Block them from bidding again.

soolin

gazfocus wrote: »

I advertised a high value item (£400) for collection on Gumtree and an interested buyer contacted me about it asking if I could post it. I agreed but said I would want payment by bank transfer.

After numerous days of emails, he decided he didn't feel comfortable so I decided to list it on ebay with local pickup as the only delivery option.

I emailed the gumtree buyer and told him I had listed the item on eBay and invited him to submit a best offer if he was interested. I also made it clear that payment was to be by bank transfer if he decided to put in an offer.

Last night the buyer put in a best offer and rang me to tell me. He seemed fine with the deal and so I logged on to ebay, accepted the offer and sent him my bank details.

He then emailed me this morning to say he will still not have any protection and has alluded to this being a scam, which it's not.

I've now incurred £42.75 of eBay fees for accepting this persons offer on eBay and don't seem to be any closer to getting payment so I'm just wondering what I should do now.

I don't have a problem with the buyer backing out if he's uncomfortable but I made the payment method clear before he placed an offer. I'm annoyed because I have a £650 limit as a new seller so I can't relist this with a buy it now price because that would go over my limit and now I'm out of pocket £42.75.

Unfortunately whilst buyer might have failed to read and / or agree to abide by your rules, you did the same to eBay rules. sellers cannot refuse to accept paypal, your own terms cannot over ride that. Collection only items can be a gamble, on this occasion you gambled and lost.

However, assuming buyer is not being difficult you can try for a mutual cancellation and get your FVFs back. Then wait until the start of December and list again.

However, only relist on eBay if you understand the risks, and accept that you cannot stop a buyer using PayPal.

soolin

theonlywayisup wrote: »

Although you have been invoiced £42.75 FINAL VALUE FEES (FVF) they will be reimbursed if your buyer doesn't pay and you file a Non Paying Bidder Dispute.

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/unpaid-item.html

On day 2 after sale (to the minute) you can open a NPB dispute. 4 days later if he hasn't paid you can close it and your FVFs will be reimbursed.

Block them from bidding again.

Then surely buyer wins as they then have to pay by PayPal to stop the NPB, which is exactly what they appeared to want to do.

theonlywayisup

soolin wrote: »

Unfortunately whilst buyer might have failed to read and / or agree to abide by your rules, you did the same to eBay rules. sellers cannot refuse to accept paypal, your own terms cannot over ride that. Collection only items can be a gamble, on this occasion you gambled and lost.

However, assuming buyer is not being difficult you can try for a mutual cancellation and get your FVFs back. Then wait until the start of December and list again.

However, only relist on eBay if you understand the risks, and accept that you cannot stop a buyer using PayPal.

I missed that in the OP. Will teach me to skim read.

If he hasn't paid I will still NPB.

soolin

OP This thread explains the issues around collection only items.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/65282064#Comment_65282064

theonlywayisup

soolin wrote: »

Then surely buyer wins as they then have to pay by PayPal to stop the NPB, which is exactly what they appeared to want to do.

Op, what is the item. Although it is 'high value' can it be posted with tracking to the buyer?

lovinituk

Why did you think they would be ok paying by bank transfer via eBay when they had already said they were not happy to previously? eBay doesn't give any protection for bank transfers. I'd be pretty annoyed if I was the buyer.

gazfocus

Thanks all. Yes, the item can be sent via courier which is what I had intended to do, and had already agreed to do this with the buyer.

As others have said, if I go down the NPB route, there is a chance he will pay via PayPal which I don't want. I need the money to pay for repairs to my wifes car following a bump, so need the money quick, which is why I requested collection only.

gazfocus

lovinituk wrote: »

Why did you think they would be ok paying by bank transfer via eBay when they had already said they were not happy to previously? eBay doesn't give any protection for bank transfers. I'd be pretty annoyed if I was the buyer.

They hadn't disagreed to paying by bank transfer. Why would you be pretty annoyed if you were the buyer? The buyer knew the payment method was bank trasnfer before he even placed an offer. We then discussed it on the phone before I accepted his offer. Now he's changed his mind. I don't see what he's got to be annoyed about!

theonlywayisup

gazfocus wrote: »

Thanks all. Yes, the item can be sent via courier which is what I had intended to do, and had already agreed to do this with the buyer.

As others have said, if I go down the NPB route, there is a chance he will pay via PayPal which I don't want. I need the money to pay for repairs to my wifes car following a bump, so need the money quick, which is why I requested collection only.

Well apologies for my reply to you initially, I am on a phone and didn't read the entire post well enough.

But, that aside, the buyer has no protection paying you by any means other than Paypal. Would you part with £400 with no protection? As soolin quite rightly says, if you wanted the 'cash' then you should not be advertising on Ebay.