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Collection only- buyer wants to use courier

8 replies

sparkle101 · 16/02/2015 18:36

So I sold an item of furniture as collection only, the winning buyer lives ages away. He has just emailed to say he won it on behalf of his mum who owns a courier company and she'll phone me.

I'm annoyed as he didn't even check I would be fine to do a courier and it just doesn't feel like it's going to go well.

Any advice or potential issues anyone can see coming from this? (Item only went for 20)

OP posts:

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Petallic · 16/02/2015 18:39

If they arrange courier, you have no proof of delivery and when/if the buyer files an item not received claim with eBay, eBay will refund the money. If his mum owns the courier firm as he suggests tell him you will accept cash on collection only as then the buyer can't file a claim which would leave you out of pocket

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Tutt · 16/02/2015 18:52

We sold a car and the buyer sent a company to collect it!
The chap that came had loads of paperwork to ensure that both ourselves and the buyer were covered so ask your buyer for documents and also when you talk back it up by email.
Create your own paper trail.

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Auburnsparkle · 16/02/2015 18:55

You also have no comeback if the item gets damaged. Only let them arrange a courier if it is cash or bank transfer. Never, ever paypal.

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SistersOfPercy · 17/02/2015 00:07

No no no and no.
Terms of sale are actually 'collection in person', their courier isn't collection in person.

Tutt, you could have a signed copy of the sales on a prayer book by the Pope and you'd still lose a PayPal charge back if the courier wasn't one if their recognized ones.

The only way I'd consider this is if courier paid me cash or as auburn says the buyer did a bank transfer, courier did the packaging AND could give me a collection window of an hour because I'll be damned if I'm waiting in all day.

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Bluepants · 17/02/2015 00:17

I always put on the collection in person items that I will not allow the item to be picked up by a courier. So do this next time. I think this time I'd let it go as it's not too much money to potentially lose and it's more likely that you won't lose it. Plus you need the transaction to go smoothly so as not to damage your feedback.

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Lucked · 17/02/2015 00:19

Oops we did this but I think it was gumtree and we did ask. I can see how it could be dodgy as the courier was a bit of a joke as they were meant to send two guys and sent one for a really heavy bit of furniture. He got a surprise when he arrived at our house to find heavily pregnant me and no DH. My husband still can't believe he got it into the house on his own. We are very honest people and would never have blamed the seller if something had happened but I appreciate now how risky it could be for the seller.

If the mum owns a courier company she would hopefully trust her men with cash and be able to give you a decent time window.

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changeychangechangeychange · 17/02/2015 00:56

My only negative feedback in 11 years is for this. I sold a big item. They called at 11am wanting to send a courier that day. It was a Thursday- we were both at work over 200 miles away. Apparently we were being unreasonable to say no. ebay wouldnt remove it.

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sparkle101 · 17/02/2015 17:01

Thanks everyone. I normally put in my posts I won't accept couriers but forgot this time.

Probably hormonal but I'm annoyed he didn't even check first and could do without the hassle of telling him courier needs to bring the cash and organising what will probably have to be a stay in in the middle of half term.