Bought item collection only - no response from seller to request for address

Jenniefour

Eight days ago I won an auction for a collection only item.  I paid immediately and ebay sent me the collection code to give to seller on collection. I sent a courtesy message to the seller a couple of hours later re arranging collection and giving a rough idea of the huge chunks of time (whole days) in the past week when I would be able to collect. The seller lives 50 miles away and I am fine with driving there and back. Relatively high value item.  

Communication from seller has been extremely slow, and we did have one phone conversation - when seller said they had not used ebay for many years and was not familiar with present collection in person process. They thought I had complained to ebay and got payment blocked. They didn't know ebay hold onto payment until item has been checked and handed over. Explained it. They said they would check their diary re collection and text me about a date/time.

Two days later we agreed day/time with a couple of texts - but my (immediate) text response agreeing the day/time offered and asking for the address was not answered. Neither was a text I sent the next day asking for address again. So yesterday I sent another request by ebay message and, as yet, no response. I also explained in text and message that ebay do not give out addresses to buyers. Throughout I have remained courteous. Collection arranged for tomorrow am.

I very much have the impression (from the one phone conversation) that this is someone who does not understand present ebay processes - and also aware I might be dealing with someone who thought they would get paid immediately from ebay and maybe without having to hand over the item.

I am not willing to keep collection tomorrow open as an option any longer because I haven't received the address and I would like to do something else tomorrow now. So I am going to send a text cancelling tomorrow and letting the seller know I am willing to re-arrange collection but am now going to get help directly from ebay (put in a complaint) to see if we can complete this transaction. 

Any other way of dealing with this apart from asking ebay to refund my money? 

Many thanks.

HampshireH

Doesn't sound like they are committed to selling. I would definitely be requesting a refund.

I would send your message through ebay so your audit trail is all on there

Jenniefour

Thanks - that sounds like the wisest course of action. 

PocketWatchMan

Are you sure they haven't responded, and overzealous ebay have blocked the messages?

Happened to me some time ago... took weeks to arrange a simple collection. one time apparently the seller had re-arranged their schedule to meet me, only I had no idea I was supposed to be meeting them, as the message the seller had sent communicating this never reached me. 
We got there in the end, had a brief chat and compared message history, and ebay had blocked over 50% of our messages as they were trying to clearly restrict communications between parties.

Jenniefour

• Yes, 100% certain. I sent two requests for the address by text - seller has already texted me with possible day/time collection time after I provided my mobile number, at their request. My text requests were ignored with no acknowledgement, as was a message sent through Ebay.  I got a message response from the seller after I messaged cancelling the collection and it is obvious from their response that the seller is not up to date with current ebay policies and guidance - it looks like they expected me to drive 50 miles

Jenniefour

.... before being given the address!  Ebay is going to send links to seller re policies etc and I will get refund.