Mumsnet Talk

has anyone bought a buggy on ebay and used a courier service?

I wanted to get this buggy, but my husband reckons it may cost 80 to get it to London... that really changes the price I am willing to bid!

how can you estimate the costs? has anyone found a cheap one? thanks

I sold mine and the courier was about about £19 parcelforce 48 (so two to three days). I sent it from down south to the top of scotland.

If you look on ebay itself you can pay as little as 8.95 for up to 20 kilos iirc, using city link and similar. I've used them when selling. Only trouble is you depend on the seller packaging it and waiting for the courier all day, which is a lot to ask.

http://www.parcel2go.com are also quite good I have used them for collecting and delivering to me or just sending. You could get an estimate from their quick quote.

Also, just google the buggy make and model to get folded dimensions and weight for your cost estimates.

Is the seller not offering postsge already?

no seller is saying pick up only...as are lots of the buggys I am looking at. they all say pick up!

Definitely don't assume they will be happy to package it up for you and wait in for a courier!

Sounds like you will have to forget those then, they clearly don't want the hassle of a courier. I'm afraid you'll have to wait for one to come up for sale near you or find one with postage included.

I agree. It's not booking a courier or the price that is my issue. If I don't have a box then packing is a nightmare plus you have to stay in all day for the pick up - no good if you work.

Pick up only means personal collection, not that they'll allow you to arrange a courier. They probably don't have the packaging materials, worry about it becoming damaged in transit, want the cash without paying PayPal fees and/or don't want to sit at home all day (potentially taking a day off work) for a courier who may or may not turn up. You could also claim to have not received it and claim all your money back.

But if a seller does say you can arrange your own courier, you're unlikely to pay more than £15 with vat and insurance. I use Parcel Monkey and City Link is normally the cheapest on there.

If there is something I want and they say pick up only it doesn't hurt to email and ask if they would be happy for you to arrange a courier. I have never had anyone say no and vice versa I have done it for people. They are can only say no!

I did it - think the courier cost about £40-50. But still was far cheaper than buying a new one as went for Stokke xplory whihc is about £800 new ( and also heavy so smaller buggy might be cheaper). Think total cost was around £250 so worth it.