Adding postage to a 'Collection Only' item

swingaloo

Im selling an item for a friend which is extremely large and was down for collection only.
Ive had someone want to buy but they are 250 miles away and have offered to pay postage if I will send it. The thing is that the auction ends tomorrow morning at 10 am and I will need to take the item up to the post office before that time to find out what the cost will be as I cant weigh it at home.


If Im remembering correctly you cannot make a change to an item cost in the last 24 hours of an auction or when it has already got a bid on it.


What I need to know (Before I promise him that I will post the item) is - If I agree to post and the buyer agrees the cost will I be able to add the postage cost at the point of invoicing when the auction ends?

I don't want to agree postage and then find Im unable to add the cost to his invoice.

ballisticbrian

Had you offered postage originally the item would have had a much greater audience and possibly got a higher price. You effectively have just one bidder outside of your local area but are going to spend, not the same, but extra effort in getting it to them.


In answer to your question, I know that it allows you to add on a postage price to a buy-it-now that has been purchased but not paid, so perhaps someone can confirm if it the same for an auction.

swingaloo

I understand that I have limited the bidders by doing collection only but as I said I am selling the item on behalf of a friend, too be honest I don't want the hassle of messing about packing and sending it but at the same time a sale is a sale and I will be rid of it.

It may need relisting 2 or 3 times holding out for a local buyers an its in my way.

I just don't want to fall into the trap of getting a price and then finding I cant add it too the selling price.

ballisticbrian

OK, two things: firstly remember both the eBay fees and Paypal fees apply to the postage you add to that invoice and it does add a lot onto the postage cost.

Secondly, it's mainly the size first that affects the cost and then the weight, so if you tell us what the dimensions are we can give you a ball park figure of the cost now without you taking it to the post office, and also, the cheapest option will most likely be a courier collection.

POPPYOSCAR

If it is extremely large it is going to cost a fortune to send through the post.

As said above a courier would be the cheapest option.

You may find they do not want it when they find out the cost.


I think you can send an invoice with postage added.

soolin

swingaloo wrote: »

Im selling an item for a friend which is extremely large and was down for collection only.
Ive had someone want to buy but they are 250 miles away and have offered to pay postage if I will send it. The thing is that the auction ends tomorrow morning at 10 am and I will need to take the item up to the post office before that time to find out what the cost will be as I cant weigh it at home.


If Im remembering correctly you cannot make a change to an item cost in the last 24 hours of an auction or when it has already got a bid on it.


What I need to know (Before I promise him that I will post the item) is - If I agree to post and the buyer agrees the cost will I be able to add the postage cost at the point of invoicing when the auction ends?

I don't want to agree postage and then find Im unable to add the cost to his invoice.

If the item is large or heavy it is unlikely that RM will be the best postage option. If you are sure you want to bother wrapping this securely and posting it then you will need the outer box dimensions and weight and the courier experts in here will be able to,suggests the best option.

If you don't want to post it then insist on collection only, personally I would return the item to my friend and insist they sell it themselves, or explain how a chargeback is possible up to 180 days if postage and PayPal is allowed.

There is a sticky thread about the problems of a collection only item that you might find useful.