Sold collection item only on eBay - buyer lives 200 miles away

[whichwaytohome]

I did start a thread in the eBay topic, but it's quiet and I need to know what to do next.

I listed a large item on eBay (after it never sold on FB). I clearly pointed out it was collection only and having just checked, there is no postage options on the listing.

I got notified that someone has bought it and paid (and I need to link to my bank, I'd hoped for cash on collection as I've bought that way 100s of times).

There is no address for this person, because I'd chosen collection only, eBay don't give you the address.

I've messaged the buyer asking when they can collect, but not had a reply yet.

I will not post this item, as it's in very good condition and those in worse condition have sold on there for far more, I put it cheaply so someone local would be tempted.

If I did post I'd lose even more as I never factored that in, so the buyer hasn't paid for a postal service.

I don't know what to do. 15 years of buying, but never having sold, and I've sold to someone who is likely to be awkward and want it posting or courier.

note from MNHQ - please read OP's updates before posting.

You can't get the listing fees back regardless.

If she refuses to withdraw you can't get the sold item fees back or the listing fees.

She has entered into a contract to pay for and collect an item. I'd hold her to it, myself. Legally all you need to do now is make the item available for collection. That's it.

By her bidding (if she's doesn't collect) you've lost a potential sale to someone else, as well as losing the listing fee. She can arrange her own courier (I wouldn't accept one of those dodgy sounding man-with-a-van, not-really-a-legitimate-business types mentioned above). You'd be doing her a favour allowing collection by courier, so she doesn't get to dictate using some idiot because they're cheaper.

Video it in good condition being put into the box, that being taped shut and the courier collecting it (and her address label). Should be enough evidence if she tries to claim "not collected".

What does the eBay email say is evidence of collection?

If she books the courier, their contract is with her not you. If the item is listed as collection only, you're not liable for delivery. If she's unhappy with the state the item arrives in, she takes it up with her courier and regardless of the outcome it's got nothing to do with you.

Edited for clarity

You are worrying about worrying. It's collection only, you advertised that. She collects, full stop!

I won an item on eBay about 150 miles away ... I just drove up and collected it!

I’ve sold a few large toy things on eBay, clearly marked as collection only. A couple of times buyers have paid with the clear intention of arguing me into submission on posting (only gave in with 1 very specific reason).
Yes you can refund payment (or could).o

Sorry if I'm missing the point, but you say in your title the buyer lives 200 miles away, yet in your post you say you have no address?

Either way, I'd give her 48 hrs to respond and then contact eBay for advice.

I don't know why you're assuming the buyer can't read/will ask for it to be posted. It's a waste of energy to be stressing about this when no problem has presented itself yet.

I had a guy organise a courier to collect a massive Tetrad sofa from me in Suffolk and take it to his holiday home in Cornwall. Took a while for him to organise, but worked out OK in the end.

Agree.. OP, you seem to be getting in a tizz over nothing. Just because the buyer is 200 miles away doesn't mean they have no intention of not coming to pick it up. I've driven further than that to collect something.

Ask her when she is collecting and give her a chance to respond. She might have family locally or be coming for Christmas, etc. If she asks for postage say no and process a refund.

Honestly calm down. Your stress levels aren't proportional to the situation.

I do this all the time. I bought a pram 200miles from London. My aunt lived down the road and would collect for me.

Calm down
Let them respond
See what they say

Ultimately You can just cancel the transaction as you aren't legally obligyto ferry it to her doorstep.... Although honestly yodel is so cheap these days you can post almost anything for a tenner

As PP have said, at least let them respond before worrying. But if you do end up relisting, I think you're better off using a local FB selling page or Nextdoor if you want to sell to someone definitely local.

She could be planning on collecting. I sold a king size mattress on EBay and a couple drove for four hours to collect it in a tiny old car. They rolled it up, squeezed it in and set off for a return journey. Eight hours drive for a mattress!

Stop stressing for goodness sake. DP often buys things which are hundreds of miles away then collects when he's at a football match, visiting friends in a different area, driving past on his way to a work meeting, etc.

Buyer might collect. Wait and see if you hear from them. They could be visiting your part of the country on holiday, seeing family etc.

Don't worry just yet OP, the buyer is probably happy to collect or knows someone nearer to you who'll collect for them. My daughter occasionally buys items nearer me and I get the "Muuum..... " text about picking it up.

Having said that, I once sold a huge rug, listed as collection only, clearly stated in the description that item too big and heavy for me to post so collection only. Item sold and buyer asked me to post. I said this rug is far too big and heavy for me to package up. They sent me a link to a video of how to fold and wrap a rug! I was so annoyed. They sent a courier to collect but I still had to fold and wrap the bloody thing. It weighed a tonne and I had nowhere to lay it out to fold it as my furniture was all back in place on my new rug. I wish I'd just given it to charity instead.

I do love a disgruntled eBay thread though - I can usually relate 😄

I just collected an item I'd paid for with PayPal. EBay now do a QR code scan so that the seller can confirm you've collected, so there is a safe way of doing it now.

Driving 200 miles for collection isn’t unheard of. They might really want the item, they might be visiting someone nearby anyway, they might just have not changed their location. I no on gumtree my address is still set to my uni town 300 miles away and I left 12 years ago!

However if it as high value item I’d be careful and get evidence of collection. I new someone years ago who sold an expensive watch on eBay, buyer paid PayPal and the collected, and then claimed they didn’t receive the item and managed to get a refund from PayPal! But this was high value so I assume the money was held by PayPal until item was received which would have made it easier for the scammer to get their money back.

Give the buyer time to reply. I thought this post was going to say the buyer was insisting you send it to them, but sounds like you haven’t even given the a chance to reply.

We sold a table and chairs on eBay. The buyer was at the other end of the country. They sent a man with a van and cash to collect it from us. When he turned up he had the cash and a van full of similar furniture. It was going to a container at the docks to be exported to the Middle East apparently.

Most of my eBay sales are collection only for various reasons. I would say 70% of the time people buy and then seem surprised when I message asking for a date and time, resulting in lots of cancelled sales and resisting. A few pay me anyway for my inconvenience!
Currently waiting on a man to collect some lead flashing he 'bought' three days ago. Ignoring my messages. How he thought that would be posted I don't know.
People don't read properly. Or are a bit thick.

*relisting

I’ve had buyers collect from all over the country- chill.
They drive miles, or have family in the area, or arrange couriers. It’s normal.

I had this happen to me years ago. The buyer made arrangements to collect only to cancel. I asked if she wanted to cancel which she agreed to. I then contacted the next bidder who jumped at the chance and collected the item the same day.
Did you have any other bidders?

So much out of date eBay information has been shared on here!

If they do not pay depending on your settings it will either automatically cancel within 4-5 days and you will get your “final value” fee back. Or after 4-5 days you can choose the option “buyer has not paid”. This will cancel with no affect to you.

If they say they want it posted, you explain sorry can’t do that as per the listing then if they you cancel it under the option “agreed with buyer” and you get your “final value” fee back and no “ding” on your account.

Listing fees are never refundable but did you even pay one as many people have free listings? With any sort of cancellation you get your “final value” fee back. I think they might keep the VAT on it or something like 20p I can’t remember off the top of my head.

If they do collect it then you are absolutely allowed to accept cash. If they pay eBay by card payment then they need to bring the collection code from their eBay app/email before you hand it over for you to enter into eBay to confirm collection. This prevents a non delivered claim.

eBay no longer own PayPal. It’s managed payments now and you can pay by card/Apple Pay etc.

Under no circumstances do you allow a “man with a van” type or third party courier to collect or allow them to send you a prepaid Postage label. If you do this and it goes “missing” you have no way to claim on that service as you are not the customer. So you will lose your money and your item.

For my collection items I write this in bold in the description:

Cash on collection preferred from (rough location). Please contact me to arrange suitable time for collection. Collection by buyer only. Absolutely no “man with van”/courier services. If payment is via eBay the collection code must be provided before item is handed over.

I have been on eBay for 26 years and also have an eBay business. I do have heavy items occasionally for collection but I much prefer to post items.

Once I sold a small double bed to a landlord 300 miles away. He sent a man with a van who turned up with no cash (this was before collection codes). I made the guy get cash and come back. Few days later the buyer complains it wasn’t a double bed and was too small. Yes because it was a SMALL double as advertised! Then complained it cost him £165 for the man with a van. When he realised it was his problem he went away.

A relative also sold an expensive heavy piece of furniture that was damaged by a “man with a van” collecting it. No proof that it happened on the van so buyer claimed it was damaged prior and my relative ended up refunding them in full and they kept the item as my relative would have had to pay to have a broken item returned.

If you do end up cancelling make sure the buyer requests the cancellation that way you won't get charged the fees

Cancel it.
they've either presumably done PayPal and that’s a classic scam to collect and the claim not received. You need cash on collection only ….