EBAY - CASH ON COLLECTION - SHOULD I AGREED

Bluebell_Mel

Hi, sold my oven on ebay and the buyer has asked if they can pay cash on collection. Any risks/word of warning.  Should I agree

Ebay policy is they removed the cash on collection option and if you collect the seller has to scan a code from the buyer to say collected.

From the rules if the buyer then decides something wrong (I was up front in my listing ie electrical cut cable to remove and the screw holding the element drops out occasionally but if re-screwed). They could get 50% back even though nothing wrong with it (I used it that morning to bake)

Research says most people think this is just another way for Ebay ensures money goes through them.

I only sold it because I was bored on holiday and found a bargain top of the range model for £100 on Ebay (from a very prestigous area that was immaculate)

SaverRate

When I had someone collect via eBay they had to pay via card which went into my ebay account before collection happened.

I personally wouldn't accept cash and insist they pay via eBay 

400ixl

Bypassing the ebay processes is not a good idea.

As above, payment through ebay at point of collection could be an option, but not cash outside of ebay.

daddyelf

The rules are now that the buyer must pay (with exception to motor vehicles) via ebay. When they come to collect they need to bring the 6 digit code that ebay would have supplied via email. Without this you cannot mark the item as collected from your sold page in the hub.

soolin

As daddyelf  says as cash on collection is no longer supported buyer won’t get a QR code to exchange with you. However as you will have cash it makes no difference to you as the seller as they cannhard
y do any sort of claim against you.

The main issue though would be that you would technically be selling outside of eBay which potentially could get your account restricted.

Newbie_John

Cash on collection has lots of downsides:
- people haggle, point out some random scratch and ask for 30% off
- you can get fake money
- you can get less cash - imagine paying £100 in £5 notes
- someone can just take the oven, put to a car and drive off before paying cash
- no change and rounding £97 becomes £90
- probably so scam possible.. can't think of how but you never know
- once they paid upfront you have more guarantee they will show up, otherwise just time wasters

I wouldn't agree to it, there are no fees now so there's nothing to gain for you - it will be like making the sale again on your door step and some people can be pushy for a discount.

GadgetGuru

Other marketplaces, like FaceBook, Gumtree etc, are all cash on collection - how would this be any different?
I personally would go ahead, although let the buyer see, and test (if possible) before taking. It's only taken out of the house once payment has been made - checking the cash is on you of course. 
If the buyer takes it and later raises a claim on eBay, nothing can be done as you have cash that eBay can hardly take from you.......

@soolin is correct with selling outside of eBay though - if they suspect you have been they could restrict, or suspend your account.....

mikrt

I'm not sure the buyer would be able to get your address. I don't think they get it till they've paid. Happy to be corrected though. 

soolin

mikrt said:

I'm not sure the buyer would be able to get your address. I don't think they get it till they've paid. Happy to be corrected though. 

That does sound like something I'd heard mentioned on here before - didn't we have a thread where someone wanted to pay cash but the seller couldn't get their address to them as it just showed as an unpaid item?

rollingmoon

Newbie_John said:

I wouldn't agree to it, there are no fees now so there's nothing to gain for you - it will be like making the sale again on your door step and some people can be pushy for a discount.

I agree, there's nothing to be gained by not sticking to the rules here - just tell him no. 

Cash on collection was a PITA... example: I had one clown drive an hour and a half to pick up a collection only item I was selling; he'd already asked for discount and been told no before he set off. He arrives and says it's smaller than he thought (measurements in the listing!) and so he wants to pay less, then spends the next 10 minutes giving it the full Mike Brewer before realising he's wasting (even more of) his time and driving home empty handed.

dinosaur66

Newbie_John said:

Cash on collection has lots of downsides:
- people haggle, point out some random scratch and ask for 30% off
- you can get fake money
- you can get less cash - imagine paying £100 in £5 notes
- someone can just take the oven, put to a car and drive off before paying cash
- no change and rounding £97 becomes £90
- probably so scam possible.. can't think of how but you never know
- once they paid upfront you have more guarantee they will show up, otherwise just time wasters

I wouldn't agree to it, there are no fees now so there's nothing to gain for you - it will be like making the sale again on your door step and some people can be pushy for a discount.

in 1997 i bought a house in stratford east london

cycled up to stratford broadway /went into my solicitor

put an old carrier bag of cash containing £63k on floor next to him

i was buying the property outright

solicitor an old boy did not even count it.

times have changed.