Ebay newbie - safest payment method for courier collection

squeakerton

Selling a v nice antique desk on behalf of computer-illiterate elderly parents (to make room for hospital-bed for father who has severe mobility issues and dementia...). Collection only.

Have one bid already at the starting price, but potential buyer wants to collect by courier and is suggesting payment by bank transfer or Paypal. My limited understanding is that Paypal is high risk for collection - what is the best approach ?

Also, for courier collection, are my parents expected to pack the (v large and heavy) desk ? I live over 2 hours away so won't be able to be present when the courier turns up and am feeling nervous about the whole thing.

All advice very welcome !

lindens

yes they would be expected to pack it. i would stick to your collection only rule in this case. cash on collection

charlies_mum

Contact the bidder and explain that due to circumstances, the item is collection only with payment by cash. You might also need to be there when it's collected.

If they are unable to do this, you will need them to cancel their bid

Do not give out any contact or address details until after the item has sold.

soolin

Added to the excellent advice above I would suggest that perhaps a collection only item is not best sold on eBay, although I realise it already is and cancelling now will almost certainly cause a restriction on the selling account.

There is a dedicated thread here

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

However it does post date the new draconian rules on exchanging addresses and other information .

squeakerton

The buyer has emailed to say he is a restorer of desks (eBay account confirms this, with good feedback) and that courier is trusted so we don't need to pack the desk. Still suggesting payment via PayPal, which I appreciate is a no-go. What are the risks if he pays by bank transfer directly to my account post auction and before courier comes to collect desk ?


I don't want to go against the excellent advice to date, but equally need to sell desk and very local market is likely to be limited in reality.

squeakerton

Further to my earlier post, just had following response from buyer. Advice pls ! Many thanks

Fiona... I own the largest antique and vintage furniture company in the UK, I buy and sell hundreds of thousands of pounds a month on ebay in antiques and have done for around 11 years now, I know everything about ebay and paypal period full stop end of story

Feel free to call paypal, if you stipulate collection and I collect the responsibility is on me to make sure the item is perfect and as described at the time of collection as I’m not allowed to return the item should there be a fault after

You don’t have to wrap the item, I would send my scotland based furniture courier who blanket wraps and packs

A sale should be two emails, one me asking for the details two you give them to me and then the courier will call you to arrange a collection day and time

With respect you are making this way to complicated and my patience will run out as of your next email if it isn’t providing me with the collection information

Look at what I have listed on ebay, nearly £3 million in stock

bigisi

It might help if you give a bit of back story and your version of things rather than just stating "advice pls[sic] !"

squeakerton

Sorry - I'll try and link to earlier thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6015939/ebay-newbie-safest-payment-method-for-courier-collection
Also copied here. Was clearly advised not to accept Paypal by members. Very happy to cancel bid - not bothered about my ratings as not really a seller on Ebay.

Selling a v nice antique desk on behalf of computer-illiterate elderly parents (to make room for hospital-bed for father who has severe mobility issues and dementia...). Collection only.

Have one bid already at the starting price, but potential buyer wants to collect by courier and is suggesting payment by bank transfer or Paypal. My limited understanding is that Paypal is high risk for collection - what is the best approach ?

Also, for courier collection, are my parents expected to pack the (v large and heavy) desk ? I live over 2 hours away so won't be able to be present when the courier turns up and am feeling nervous about the whole thing.

All advice very welcome !

KatrinaWaves

You're earlier post suggested bank transfer was an option. This should solve any paypal chargeback issues.

If you want his money, I'd probably let him crack on

Paul_DNAP

If you won't accept payments then why are you selling stuff?

soolin

Firstly please stick to one thread, I've merged this now for clarity.

I suspect the buyer might be correct in his understanding of PayPal seller protection as it currently stands , but as I hope I was clear in my earlier advice it does go against PayPal's stated rules for seller protection and I would be reluctant to risk it if any great value is involved.

I also don't like the tone of the email, the slightly bullying 'I'm an expert and you need to do as I say' concerns me, I would argue that he is not correct and if he had any history with PayPal he would know that any new rulings about collection are just that, new, and go against everything that has happened previously.

I also suspect that buyer knows he is probably your only hope of a sale, brown furniture, even good bits, tend not to sell at all and to have a buyer who knows that means he can perhaps press this matter quite firmly.

If you are desperate for the money from this sale then try once more and see if he will use a bank transfer, if not, prepare to walk away and possibly not find another buyer.