Large item needing courier pick-up - but 'Cash on collection please'

edgex

Large item of furniture, ~100 miles away. It's been on ebay for a while now.
It would need a courier to collect it. (there location means pretty much any purchaser would be using a courier)

However, in the item description the seller has put "Cash on collection please"
The listing has the usual 'pay by paypal' bit.
Can the seller reject a 'buy it now' or an offer if you can't pay on collection, but would be paying via paypal?

askmeaboutsofas

Can the seller reject a 'buy it now' or an offer if you can't pay on collection, but would be paying via paypal?

They can refund any paypal payment you make, and refuse to supply the item. EBay can't force the seller to sell to you.

If you were the seller posting here, saying "a buyer wants to pay via PayPal and arrange their own courier", people would advise you not to accept it. Sellers accepting PayPal on collection only items have no protection if the buyer later on makes a claim against them saying they didn't receive the item or it wasn't as described. What if the courier you send to pick it up breaks the item? How will you know what condition the item was when it was picked up? Better to collect it yourself if you can, or if you can't see if the seller will arrange delivery for you.

cattie

Another thing that doesn't work as far as asking a courier to collect is that the seller is actually expected to suitably wrap the item prior to collection & very few if any would want to take responsibility for that, especially for a large item.

POPPYOSCAR

How much do you think you would be charged to have something so large picked up and delivered to you, presumably it would need more than one person?

We have sold a few collection only items with cash on collection.

One time we had someone bid on an item and wanted to pay by pay pal.

We refused and he said he would be in touch when he had organised a van but we never heard from him again.

soolin

edgex wrote: »

Large item of furniture, ~100 miles away. It's been on ebay for a while now.
It would need a courier to collect it. (there location means pretty much any purchaser would be using a courier)

However, in the item description the seller has put "Cash on collection please"
The listing has the usual 'pay by paypal' bit.
Can the seller reject a 'buy it now' or an offer if you can't pay on collection, but would be paying via paypal?

This is the advice for the seller that is posted as a sticky thread on this forum

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

Technically seller cannot refuse PayPal , but they can refuse your courier request and can refuse to pack it or be available for your courier to collect, so it amounts to the same thing.

With the problem of contacting sellers now without raising flags to eBay about off eBay sales it is difficult to make any Sensible arrangements. You could try making an official offer on the basis that you will pay by bank transfer and send a courier, that leaves you with no protection of course but the only alternative would be to hire a van, go and inspect item and then pay cash.

edgex

So, if it's not a business seller who can arrange/offers delivery, there's no point at looking at large items on ebay, unless you have/have access to a van.

forgotmyname

Even if its a business seller, collection only items are for collection unless the seller is willing to assist further.

But there are some sellers who will block you for asking.

If its something you really want you will find a way of getting it.

Man and a van or a friend of a friend, someone will have a suitable vehicle.

mrcol1000

https://www.shiply.com is a good place to look for someone to collect. They often have people who are looking for a load so they aren't returning empty. They will do a good deal if they can go out of their way a few miles to make some money on the home trip.

askmeaboutsofas

Just a heads up, sites like shipley and anyvan are both incredibly hit and miss as to the quality of the service. If you're buying big lumps of timber, topsoil, or other unlikely to be damaged items, go for it. If it's delicate, difficult to clean, awkward to handle, not well packaged, or time sensitive, be wary and do your research on the courier before you agree to anything.
You're better off looking online for a reputable man with a van type firm, that way you can see their reviews and use your own judgement as to whether you can trust them with your stuff.


But honestly, if it's only 100 miles away you'd be better off hiring a van for about £50 - £60 and doing it yourself. At least that way you know what you're buying!