What would you do? buyer wants to send their own courier to collect item

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Would be buyer wants a bulky , heavy item of mine and offers a good price
We've exchanged a few messages and he tells me that he is a tour guide near Tanzania (he's actually english)
He wants the item as a present for his brother who is in England
Unless I can arrange postage (it's meant to be collection only), he wants to send a courier to collect it
Would you do this? Am I right in saying, that if he pays Paypal then I won't be covered? (if he claims it wasn't collected). Should I say I'll only sell if the courier gives me cash? (would a courier even do that?)
I really need the money , not sure what to do
If I re list I could get less money from someone else (or he'd still bid,unless I blocked him)
I should point out that the item isn't currently listed, I was going to re list it as the highest bidder couldn't complete the sale but this guy got in touch and said he wants it and named a price

[alltoomuchrightnow]

or should i let him pay by paypal and arrange a courier myself ? I've never used one and wouldn't know where to start. it's a gramophone, not easy item to send

[mercibucket]

arrange a courier yourself?

or take it off ebay and ask him to pay via bank transfer?(sorry, i would do this but possibly fraught and obv against ebay rules)

[mercibucket]

will it break if not well wrapped? if not, myhermes is really easy to get the hang of, or parcelforce (more expensive)

[LavenderGreen14]

never let a buyer arrange a courier themselves unless they pay by cash or bank transfer. Not just the fact you don't have tracking, but if it gets damaged you can't claim for the loss as you don't have the contract with the courier yourself.

It would need to be adequately insured, packed v well and also make sure not on a prohibited list with that courier.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

does myhermes include insurance?
And I still wouldn't be able to get the cash off him
How does a bank transfer work
does that definitely have to be away from eBay?
So, i could arrange a courier myself and get him to pay by paypal. But if he wanted a refund, i'd lose out by having to pay tons to have it returned wouldn't i. and they would refund him by paypal before it was returned. and the dilemma of him not being able to return it… it's a present for his brother…his brother probably wouldn't want the bother…(as the bidder is in Africa)
argghh not sure what to do…

[alltoomuchrightnow]

should i tell him i'll do it if the courier brings me cash?

[alltoomuchrightnow]

i wonder if any courier would be willing to do that. not just to collect item but to pay cash for their client

[LavenderGreen14]

no - the buyer would be responsible for any return costs. No the item would need to be returned before a refund was made.

Buyer in Africa? That sets off alarm bells.

[chipsandpeas]

sounds like a scam to me id be wary

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

This is just like "normal" selling ie cost of item plus p&p fee (in this case, courier)? That's always paid upfront. List it again with a buy it now price plus courier costs (get a quote first) and tell him to bid. Then only send it after you get the paypal. Don't forget to include packaging materials if required.

Alternatively if you only want cash on collection, decline his offer and relist.

[CautionaryNameChange]

Do NOT accept paypal for collections, only cash. He needs to arrange for the courrier to bring cash on his behalf when collecting the item.

There's a scam at the moment where the buyer spins a story as to why they can't collect in person, and asks to send a courrier. They pay by paypal, collect the item, then claim it was never collected and get a refund, whilst keeping the item.

[LavenderGreen14]

but if you are not going ahead with the sale then you need to cancel it or you will have 10% fees to pay.

The other issue is even if they send a courier you still need to pack it and wait for them. But if they do bank transfer and extra for packing then they can send a courier and there is no risk of a chargeback plus no paypal fees.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

i've told him i'd either do a 'buy it now' for the price he said.. (but for him to NOT then pay it by Paypal) as i'd want the courier to pay by cash if he can arrange that.
or I re list, but put in the listing that it's cash only on collection
Is there an option for listing where i can put that i don't accept paypal?