Is there something I’m not thinking of!?

[MaxwellCat]

Desperate for a new sofa, finally found one I like second hand on eBay but it’s cash on collection only, if I go there to pay I don’t want to leave them with the money and sofa, but if I arrange to go at the same time as the van then it would get to my house before me (I don’t drive) can’t go with them as have my daughter, there is no one who can wait in my house for it, what am I not thinking of 😕? Or Should I just save up and buy new?

How long do you think it'll take to get back home?

If it's not too long, could you not just ask the person with the van if it's ok?

They'll probably start unloading while waiting for you anyway.

It’s 10 miles away and I would be getting the train so they would probably be quicker but I need to check the location to be sure as they haven’t listed it

Ahh ok well I'd check the location properly, then speak to the van people.

It's worth a try as I'm sure they'll have seen people in your position before.

Would they take a bank transfer at the point the van is being loaded?

Is it a man and van type of arrangement? Just explain they will need to wait outside your house for a short while.

Or do it when your DD is at school (if she is school age)

Or ask a friend to have her for an hour or two.

There is no one to have her, listing is cash on collection only

Cash on collection just means they don't want you to pay using the eBay payments system to protect themselves from scammers getting a refund because collection can't be proven in eBay land.

You don't have to pay with actual cash, you could do a bank transfer. Although I think eBay payments have now changed, a few months ago I sold a bike that the buyer collected and they paid through ebay. I was all set to refund it and tell them to bring cash or do a bank transfer but when I looked into it I'm sure I found that they couldn't get their money back by falsely claiming non delivery any more.

I would go and look at the sofa to make sure I was happy with it and, if it's a fairly trivial amount just pay for it and send the van.

Or if it's more than say £100, leave a deposit then bank transfer the rest when the van has got there and they've told me the sofa is still there and not mysteriously disappeared in the meantime.

You don’t need to go with the man and van, unless you’re planning on inspecting the sofa and not buying it if there’s something wrong etc? On which case you’d be wasting money on the van, so I assume you’re planning on taking the sofa in any case. So just find a man and van who can collect on your behalf.

Give the cash to the men in the van to give them?

I've done this before and the van driver agreed to pay for me when I transferred that amount with payment for delivery. Worth asking. They might even make a detour to pick the cash up from you.

I wouldn’t give a random man the money? I will be finding someone on Facebook to collect it, would people really hand over cash to someone they’ve just met to collect something? I’m going to just buy new as I’ve checked and it’s an hour away from me.

Use man with a van website, the payment is made when the job is complete. In your delivery instructions you could explain your situation about needing to get the train but I would set off you can travel with them upon collection that way there's no delay at the other end (when they get to yours) and they can help take to room of your choice 😁