Urgent eBay question!

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

I watched an item which is being sold very locally to me and placed a Buy It Now offer with the comment "would like to collect". The delivery charge would more than double the total cost.

I've never done a BIN offer, and the buyer has now accepted my offer and the notification is "you are committed to buy, please pay now".

I have subsequently messaged Seller to arrange collection but what if they don't accept that? Am I honestly committed to buying?

Yes. Not everyone wants someone coming to their home.

But then wouldn't they just message and say that? Or decline my bid?

So can I just not pay? Will the item be re-listed after a certain time?

Relax. If they accepted the bid with that message, wait for them to arrange collection. Pay them cash when you arrive to collect and they’ll mark it as paid once you’ve gone. Simples.

And even if you’re committed to buy, the seller can cancel the sale if you tell them you’ve mucked up.

Oh gosh I hope so if they aren't happy to have me collect it.

It's an item worth 20, bid 20, deliver is 25!

You're committed to buying, ignore the payment page and just message them and say 'thanks for accepting my offer, would you like cash on collection or Paypal (they will almost always choose cash on collection) and when would be convenient to collect?'
Or something along those lines. Once you've been and bought the item they can mark it as paid.

I don't think you have done anything wrong. The please pay now message was most probably automaticly sent by eBay when they accepted your offer.
I would message them saying thank you for accepting my offer, when would be a suitable time for collection