Buyer not collected item

BriNylon

I have sold something on EBay and the buyer has paid the money via ebay.  However, I do not think they will collect it as they live more than 200 miles away.  I clearly said collection only on the description.  Do I have to refund the monies if he does not want to collect?

DE_612183

Probably not - think this will fall under the ebay rule of "buyer changed their mind" if and when they decide to ask.

Of course it's up to you if you do refund or not, depends on the item value, whether you can sell easily again for the same price etc ( and how nice you are feeling! ).

BriNylon

Many thanks for this.  I was concerned that they could open up a INR claim because of course, they have not received it.

MalMonroe

Have you sent them an email via your eBay account? You could ask them if they still want the item as it's still awaiting collection. If they don't want it, the right thing to do, of course, is refund their money because if you don't that's just theft. Not sure why you even have to ask that question!

The buyer could always open a claim but they'd be silly to do that when they haven't even let you know what they intend to do. And of course eBay would intervene if they did raise a claim. As long as all your correspondence is carried out via your eBay emailing system.

Why not just contact them? Only takes a few minutes. If they don't respond you could contact eBay and let them know what's happening, just so the buyer doesn't try to collect a refund twice, or something. 

My cousin once bought an item that specified collection only and he lived 300 miles away but was planning a visit to a town near where the collection address was - so don't let that put you off. People do, and will, travel for items - especially of they are visiting somewhere or someone nearby. Your buyer just needs a nudge.

soolin

DE_612183 said:

Probably not - think this will fall under the ebay rule of "buyer changed their mind" if and when they decide to ask.

Of course it's up to you if you do refund or not, depends on the item value, whether you can sell easily again for the same price etc ( and how nice you are feeling! ).

I disagree, an INR claim will work if buyer asks for a refund and seller refuses. There's no law or ebay rule that says sellers can keep the money if a buyer doesn't collect.

OP, how long have you waited for buyer to collect, what is the current state or communication, have they responded to you at all?

If it's been more than say 4 days I would message them again and give them a strict time frame, stay polite obviously but something like 'further to my previous message about collection I would like to have a confirmed day and time within the next 2 weeks (or before xx date whatever), could you please get back to me by tomorrow with some suggested dates so we can arrange colelction at a mutually agreeable time. If they don't respond to that then email again with ' I don't appear to have a response regarding collection, can you please confirm as per my previous email or let me know if you have changed your mind'

Ideally you need to get some sort of response within 30 days from sale (so if you are nearing that keep the deadlines tight) as after that it will cost you your FVFs to refund.

If they mess you about you message to say you assume therefore that they have changed their mind and will cancel the sale. Choose the option 'problems with buyers address' refund in full and block bidder from bidding on anything else from you.

BriNylon

It has been three days now and they have not responded to my emails.  So if I refund them now I will not pay any FVFs?

Pollycat

BriNylon said:

It has been three days now and they have not responded to my emails.  So if I refund them now I will not pay any FVFs?

But it has been a 4 day Bank holiday.

BriNylon

Pollycat said:

BriNylon said:

It has been three days now and they have not responded to my emails.  So if I refund them now I will not pay any FVFs?

But it has been a 4 day Bank holiday.

Very true.  I will give it a couple of more days.  I thought they could respond to an email though.

soolin

BriNylon said:

It has been three days now and they have not responded to my emails.  So if I refund them now I will not pay any FVFs?

3 days is a bit prompt , personally I'd send a time limited request (as above) to make collection details rather than rush into cancelling- it all depends whether you think it will re sell easily or not. I would also worry a bit that if you cancel too quickly and you have a savvy buyer they could raise a complaint against you that you haven't given them sufficient time to arrange collection, personally I would wait the 4 days that ebay 'allow' for normal payment and then cancel, but I assume you want to get this relisted today whilst there is a FVF offer on. 

However, you can cancel a sale whenever you want and get back your FVFs all apart from 30p which ebay retain.

BriNylon

I didn’t know anything about the FVF offer.  But they have actually paid for the item. They just have not collected.  

soolin

BriNylon said:

I didn’t know anything about the FVF offer.  But they have actually paid for the item. They just have not collected.  

I know they have paid and that means you have already paid the FVFs , personally I think cancelling on day 3 over a long bank holiday is a bit prompt, but ultimately it is up to you.

I mentioned the FVF offer as I assumed that was why you were in a rush to cancel, so you can relist and take advantage of the offer that many/most?  sellers have received that ends today.