How long to wait for buyer to reply (collection item)?

Upsidedownyouturnme

I've since read the sticky about collection,  but admit I'd listed my item before I even considered problems.

I had a listing for a collection only item. It's bulky, heavy, but fragile and not unique, although people tend to look for these second hand, as they are so expensive new. I'd seen this item be sold several times on eBay, collection only.

I made sure that collection in person was in bold and large letters.  The postage option at the bottom also said collection in person only (that eBay had put), and the postage tab also says "

Posts to: 

Will arrange for collection in person only (no postage)."

The item sold a couple of days ago.  I live in the far south of England, they live on the border with Scotland.

EBay told me to arrange collection with the buyer.  I sent them a message that night, asking when they would like to collect, and have had radio silence since.

I'm assuming they must have known it was collection only, it was very clear, so I imagine that they have relatives here they are visiting, or are going to get a friend to collect it.

How long should I wait before I message again?  I don't want to bug them, but I also don't want them (in the slim chance they didn't realise), open an item not received case against me.

Thank you

Newbie_John

I find eBay very messy with collection items. People from far away buy them and then realise later what they have done.

I had multiple cases where people:
a) asked for refund
b) asked for it to be sent over (impossible due to size)
c) opened cases and won them
d) paid and never showed up

I personally don't know what's the best thing to do, with the first few sales I happily cancelled but the more it happened (I clearly stated even in description COLLECTION ONLY) I refused cancellation and wanted them to come and collect (I need to relist it, lost sale, deal with clueless person etc.) - sadly it ends up with lost cases, but I really hope people will learn a lesson. Some people do think eBay is like Amazon..

Anyway, if they live far away - they won't show up, I would relist it straight away, give them two weeks max, if the item sells again - cancel the first buyer, if they pick up - cancel listing.

Green_hopeful

Some people make mistakes. Assuming they haven’t paid, you can get eBay to cancel the transaction after a period of time, I think a few days, and relist it. I once had a lady buy a single bed with mattress collection only and then ask me to post it. All for £20. You used to be able to cancel transactions automatically if they don’t pay but I don’t know if that still exists. Annoying but hopefully resolve able. 

XzavierWalnut

I would give them a week, then chase them up. Thing to remember is, not everyone buys or sells lots of items on eBay, so they are not checking for messages.

soolin

Personally I would give the buyer 2 firm dates, contact by day 4 and a collection date within 14 days for instance. Don’t threaten, just give the dates. I would send that one email, then no more at all, do not send an invoice as that seems to restart the 4 day clock for buyer.  Then on day 4 (exactly 4 days after auction ends) if buyer hasn’t contacted you or paid you can go into the sale and cancel on the basis that buyer hasn’t paid, sale will be cancelled and buyer gets a strike.  

Then block buyer and re list . 

Upsidedownyouturnme

Thank you all.  The buyer had paid for it already, unfortunately.

The buyer came back to me, saying they didn't realise it was so far away and I could I post it?  I replied that unfortunately I couldn't, so they asked for a refund.  I cancelled the order, choosing the buyer requested it option (I nearly chose the problem with buyer's address, but they did ask for a refund, so thought that was the right one).

The only thing I'm confused about, is eBay say I owe them money.  They've taken the fees off, but the rest is owed.  Not sure why as eBay told me my payments are on hold.  I did think I'd get my fees back, as it was requested by the buyer and I could have had a genuine seller if it hadn't been bought, but lesson learnt.