eBay selling collection in person - buyer delays?

ANNA

I am a private seller of household surplus. I list my items for collection in person. In the description I specify collect within 7 days.

I sold an item which was immediately paid for. I have offered many collection times. Today is day 8. I've had countless messages from the buyer. How can I get her to commit to collect?

I keep getting reminders from eBay to dispatch, as though I am late and at fault, but I didn't add a postal option. Will this affect my late delivery rate and/or how I rank in searches?

bluelad1927

I'd offer one last chance to collect then cancel and refund 

ANNA

This morning my buyer messaged to ask if I would be in today. I replied "Yes. Specifically for you." My buyer thinks that's "great". No timeframe given. It's sunny. I want to walk the dogs before the rain comes. Arghhhh!!!

soolin

ANNA said:

This morning my buyer messaged to ask if I would be in today. I replied "Yes. Specifically for you." My buyer thinks that's "great". No timeframe given. It's sunny. I want to walk the dogs before the rain comes. Arghhhh!!!

If you are only going to do collection items on eBay then you need to be firmer. There’s no point saying all items must be collected within 7 days if you don’t follow that through, why is the comment there if you allow them to go over 7 days?

Today for instance, a better response might have been along the lines of ‘I can be in if you give me an idea of timing’ , don’t give them the chance to dictate terms. in future if you say 7 days, then on day 5 send a single reminder that this needs to be collected by xx otherwise you will assume they changed their mind. Then if it isn’t collected, cancel sale using the agreed with buyer option, and re list, but block original buyer. 

It also might be worth seeing if any of your items could be posted - it’s much easier. I sold several things yesterday, all paid for and sent this morning. My house is clear of the things and I’m not wasting time chasing people . 

rollingmoon

ANNA said:

This morning my buyer messaged to ask if I would be in today. I replied "Yes. Specifically for you." My buyer thinks that's "great". No timeframe given. It's sunny. I want to walk the dogs before the rain comes. Arghhhh!!!

You're too nice... make them commit to a time frame of two hours, then when they don't turn up refund and block.

GDB2222

When I advertise stuff for nothing on the local FB group, half the time people don’t turn up. At least, you are getting some money for this stuff.

GrubbyGirl_2

GDB2222 said:

When I advertise stuff for nothing on the local FB group, half the time people don’t turn up. At least, you are getting some money for this stuff.

I always ask for a telephone number and say I will text the address.  Those that have no intention of showing will not give a telephone number

rollingmoon

GDB2222 said:

When I advertise stuff for nothing on the local FB group, half the time people don’t turn up. At least, you are getting some money for this stuff.

Been there... giving stuff away for free is far too much like hard work. I won't have anything to do with Freecycle etc. anymore, nowadays it's the charity shop or the tip.

HampshireH

ANNA said:

This morning my buyer messaged to ask if I would be in today. I replied "Yes. Specifically for you." My buyer thinks that's "great". No timeframe given. It's sunny. I want to walk the dogs before the rain comes. Arghhhh!!!

Did they turn up?

ANNA

Thanks for all the useful tips. Getting firm got my buyer to send a van that afternoon:) Twenty messages is an unnecessary waste of time for just one item.

These are all large household items, furniture, etc. so I can't send. I have some items on Freecycle too, where my time has been endlessly wasted! By arrangement, I put items outside, which then weren't collected, and got rained on. I'll stop the Freecycle nonsense now. I'll continue selling my household surplus on eBay, but most items are too bulky to send. I do offer post where I can. Is 7 days for pick-up too long and should I put a shorter timeframe in my listings?

I really appreciate all your advice. I'm overwhelmed by my household "hoard" and must clear it to make some headway in my life.....

apw81

Just sounds like you had an annoying buyer.

I don’t think 7 days is too much when it’s for collecting bulky furniture. I like it to be as soon as possible, once sold, but I’m accepting that people have their own life to navigate. Someone could buy on a Monday but not be free until the weekend. I always ask for a rough estimate of when they think they’ll arrive. If somebody tells me they can come on a particular day but doesn’t specify a time, I’ll tell them I’ll be free after this time, or available between these times, etc. I do all I can to accommodate buyers collecting, but not at the expense of getting the doggo exercised.