Collection only - reasonable time limit?

NameUnavailable

Beenie said:

We're set up as collection only. I don't think the bidder is a scammer, just a bit thoughtless and hadn't thought the purchase through properly.

Sorry I think you are the thoughtless one. Why sell anything at the moment as collection only if you're not willing to wait until it's LEGAL to travel to collect stuff?

Anyone collecting now is breaking the law, unless it's a defined essential item, which is unlikely as a private ebay sale.

soolin

NameUnavailable said:

Beenie said:

We're set up as collection only. I don't think the bidder is a scammer, just a bit thoughtless and hadn't thought the purchase through properly.

Sorry I think you are the thoughtless one. Why sell anything at the moment as collection only if you're not willing to wait until it's LEGAL to travel to collect stuff?

Anyone collecting now is breaking the law, unless it's a defined essential item, which is unlikely as a private ebay sale.

Collection would also have been possible for someone who buys and sells as part of their trade, and there is actually a lot of dealers who base a lot of their trade on buying from private sellers, updating or restoring items and selling on.

Incidentally most of my auction houses have continued to trade throughout - but offer viewing by appointment only, online bidding only and then times collection spots to collect safely. It is supposed to be limited to those who trade only, not private buyers, but I'm not sure how you would police that. I chose not to continue buying via auction during proper lockdown purely because most of my better auction houses that have an internet presence are some considerable distance away , but I'm registered with HMRC, I have business insurance on my car and would have been legally able to collect if I had wished.

However in this instance as buyer says they cannot collect they are almost certainly buying as a private individual, so as you say, cannot legally travel any distance to collect, it might have been polite though for the buyer to have warned the seller in advance that there would be a delay in collecting, and personally I wouldn't have offered a collection only item on ebay at the moment anyway . 

UpstartRaven

Thing is, the lockdown regulations are there to curb certain things like large gatherings that spread Covid while as much as possible allowing people to go about earning a living. We're more used to it now than we were a year ago (! a year ago I just got back from a last minute winter holiday and the whole country was in meltdown 🤕) and I have listed items for collection on Shpock in anticipation of the end of lockdown, for immediately local collection, and while I had the time and energy on my week off to do so. (I still have to go in and out of work every day so am pretty much knackered even on the weekends.) Everyone has different priorities and needs and the whole thing is designed to manage Covid by stopping unnecessary things rather than stopping everything.

I don't blame the seller for listing, and tbh it's the only way a lot of people can make money on decluttering, but the buyer is doing the right thing in the wrong way. Chances are the item would still have been there at the end of March or one like it would have come up then anyway. They were foolish to buy something now and make you wait.

Beenie

This has at least caused some lively discussion. 

As a previous buyer via Ebay, I have always considered the distance when bidding (or not) on a 'collection only' item. I suppose I am naive in that I expected all other Ebayers to think this way too, but apparently not. 
After reflection, I think I will follow the advice of a poster upthread who suggests cancelling the sale and using 'problem with buyers address'.
Having never done this before, I might have to come back here for further help!

Beenie

Need some help please!
I went into 'Cancelling a Transaction' and it says select item. Then it says 'You have sold this item' for more information select 'View Cancel Details'.

When I do that, it says in red letters 'This listing has been removed or item no longer available'.  There is no offer of a re -listing or approaching the next highest bidder.

'My eBay' summary  page shows 'Sold'
Buyer hasn't paid yet. You can contact buyer directly.

None of this tallies with being able to cancel a transaction. What am I doing incorrectly?

Rantband

Assuming you have the same seller hub - go to Orders, Manage Orders awaiting payment,find transaction click on down arrow then on cancel order,select a reason, then something wrong with buyers address,then SUBMIT.Job done,Ebay take over from there.
Would suggest a short polite message to buyer saying what you have done.

Korkyb

NameUnavailable said:

Beenie said:

We're set up as collection only. I don't think the bidder is a scammer, just a bit thoughtless and hadn't thought the purchase through properly.

Sorry I think you are the thoughtless one. Why sell anything at the moment as collection only if you're not willing to wait until it's LEGAL to travel to collect stuff?

Anyone collecting now is breaking the law, unless it's a defined essential item, which is unlikely as a private ebay sale.

Perhaps someone mention this to all the takeaway restaurants that are continuing to trade.
Unless of course a doner kebab is considered essential.

(& yes I know that as its food it probably is.....).

soolin

Korkyb said:

NameUnavailable said:

Beenie said:

We're set up as collection only. I don't think the bidder is a scammer, just a bit thoughtless and hadn't thought the purchase through properly.

Sorry I think you are the thoughtless one. Why sell anything at the moment as collection only if you're not willing to wait until it's LEGAL to travel to collect stuff?

Anyone collecting now is breaking the law, unless it's a defined essential item, which is unlikely as a private ebay sale.

Perhaps someone mention this to all the takeaway restaurants that are continuing to trade.
Unless of course a doner kebab is considered essential.

(& yes I know that as its food it probably is.....).

As above, it is perfectly legal to travel, deliver and collect in the course of a business. Even facebook and ebay sales are allowed for collection if it is as part of a business. 

NameUnavailable

Korkyb said:

NameUnavailable said:

Beenie said:

We're set up as collection only. I don't think the bidder is a scammer, just a bit thoughtless and hadn't thought the purchase through properly.

Sorry I think you are the thoughtless one. Why sell anything at the moment as collection only if you're not willing to wait until it's LEGAL to travel to collect stuff?

Anyone collecting now is breaking the law, unless it's a defined essential item, which is unlikely as a private ebay sale.

Perhaps someone mention this to all the takeaway restaurants that are continuing to trade.
Unless of course a doner kebab is considered essential.

(& yes I know that as its food it probably is.....).

If you live in London and travel to Glasgow to collect a kebab I think that might be a problem............

NameUnavailable

soolin said:

Korkyb said:

NameUnavailable said:

Beenie said:

We're set up as collection only. I don't think the bidder is a scammer, just a bit thoughtless and hadn't thought the purchase through properly.

Sorry I think you are the thoughtless one. Why sell anything at the moment as collection only if you're not willing to wait until it's LEGAL to travel to collect stuff?

Anyone collecting now is breaking the law, unless it's a defined essential item, which is unlikely as a private ebay sale.

Perhaps someone mention this to all the takeaway restaurants that are continuing to trade.
Unless of course a doner kebab is considered essential.

(& yes I know that as its food it probably is.....).

As above, it is perfectly legal to travel, deliver and collect in the course of a business. Even facebook and ebay sales are allowed for collection if it is as part of a business. 

Sorry, I missed where the OP said they were a business.

Govt. rules for people buying goods is to only buy locally where at all possible. I needed a part for my car which I couldn't find locally so bought from someone about 100 miles away and arranged a courier to collect it.

The reason we're in lockdown and that so many people have died in the UK is that too many think the rules don't apply to them.