to think this ebay buyer seems iffy

[PrincessScrumpy]

I sold my pram on Ebay and it sold it in 50mins with a buy it now price. I put collection only but the woman has emailed that she plans to send a courier. Fine, but dh has said he is happy to discuss dates once she has paid, and let her know that I work from home so can be really flexible on collection as long as I know. So far she's sent 2 emails about it and stated she actually only bought it for the chassis but will take the lot anyway.

Dh thinks it's odd that 5 days later she still hasn't paid and hasn't emailed anything more with dates etc. He thinks that as we are a fairly new account she is trying to get a courier to collect and not pay hoping we're niaive enough to fall for it.

I guess, when we have bought in the past we always pay immediately. I just want the buggy gone as I am running out of space.

Is this normal ebay behaviour and I'm being impatient or is dh right to be suspicious?

Hmm, I would send her another email asking if she has sorted a courier

I would report to ebay for none payment and re-list

You are well within your rights to relist it after 5 days. Send her another email asking for a firm date if not put it back on.

You can't after only five days.

How is she paying? You should only take cash for collect only items.

It was paypal payment only

I always pay immediately and it is one of the things I think makes a 'good' ebayer. YANBU.

You really should just be collecting cash - there's nothing to stop her claiming a refund on paypal for some spurious reason. Also, who's going to pack the pram up and guarantee it's in perfect condition?

Re-list and definitely say no couriers in your advert. I think it is very rude that when someone says collection only to send a courier (we had someone do that too) and expect you to wait in all day for them. Bull shit.

I would send a message that if you don't pay by the end of today you will relist. I would then like you did do a buy it now but choose the immediate payment option so your paid immediately

If you send it by a courier that the buyer aranges, you have no proof if delivery and can be open to an item not received claim. as pay pal has been used, they can and will refund if they find in a buyers favour in case of a dispute.

Definitely take note of bestegg's point - if the buyer uses their own courier, how will you get proof of collection or ensure against damage in transit? The buyer could easily make all sorts of false claims and get their money back from Ebay/Paypal.

You need cash, anything else looks like you don't know what you're doing.

It will be her courier meaning that you won't have a claim against the courier company - if she pays by paypal she will get her money back.

If it is a 'buyer collects' then usually there is the option to arrange a courier and normal paying rules apply, Paypal and within a reasonable time period.

I have arranged my own courier for camping, car and dog items.

I have always paid by Paypal, first.

If you relist put in the stipulation that the item must be paid for within so many days via Paypal, if a courier is to be arranged, it protects both of you.

You can then relist once it has gone over what you have stated.

Be really strict with buyers. I'm an absolute nazi. First sign of messing I message them and give them 24 hours to sort it out. If they haven't read the listing properly and want to change the conditions of sale they have invalidated the contract. Couriers are almost always more hassle than its worth. I always stipulate cash on collection no PayPal( they take an additional 5% of the money) if someone wants an item held for a few days I request a down payment sent via paypal as a "send money to friends and family" transfer. There are a lot of messers about and the typical tactic is to buy the item online then stall until you are invested in selling to them then they turn up with less money than agreed hoping you will capitulate to save yourself the bother of relisting. Or they will try to pay with a bank transfer which can be cancelled. I've just spent all week being harassed by a nigerian exporter who arranged to collect a van on Sunday morning then didn't show because he absolutely couldn't miss church! Then expected us to work round his schedule although I told him many times we both work and needed proper notice. Sellers can't leave negative feedback only positive or none so dodgy buyers often have 100% positive . Read the comments carefully as the only way for other sellers to warn you is to click on positive but leave a negative comment.

Thanks for the advice. Not taking less money - I've held onto pushchair for 4 years so not a huge rush (planned 2nd pg ended up twins so single buggy is pointless!).

The message boards in eBay are helpful - put your scenario on these & you'll get replies from experienced Ebayers.

For big items, couriers are expensive & you'd have to arrange it yourself then invoice the buyer separately. ( if they've already paid by Paypal.

Cash on collection is best with this type of transaction - and say it loud & clear on your listing

I'm not arranging courier - the buyer wants to organise her own courier as she lives in Wales (I don't - about an hour south of Bath).

Items sold for collection only should be cash. Never Paypal, never anything but cash. You have to offer Paypal as a payment option but if something is collected you will never be able to prove it and so always leave yourself open to a non-receipt claim - which the buyer will always win.

You can file for non-payment after four days and after a further four days you get your FVF back and can relist. Do it all the ebay way and you'll be protected.

And what does she mean by 'her own courier'? Her mave Dave down the Pub who's going to be in your area on Monday? Same scenario - you can't prove receipt. Make it clear in your listings that you will send via Royal Mail for £200 or cash on collection will be fine!

I have done that when i bought a VW dog guard and another time, with bedroom furniture.

I paid after the auction ended though and we communicated regulary to find a time, for collection, that suited the seller.

I think she had a cheek in the first place by just buying it knowing she wasn't going to collect. Fair enough if she'd sent you a message before bidding (or buying it now in your case) to ask if a courier was ok, but she didn't.

I tend to get annoyed if people don't pay within 24 hours to be honest! You wouldn't go into a shop and ask them to put something behind the counter for a week while you sort your funds, so why do it on ebay!

I think you need to beware. I can see the next thing will be she'll say theirs something wrong with it. She'll get her money back, you'll have to pay for a courier to get the pram back (or loose it entirely), you'll get negative feedbavk, and theirs squat diddly you can do about it.

RELIST!

I dont sell on ebay (more hassle than its worth...lol), but I buy frequently and I never mess people about. I usually pay immediately after the auction has ended, or at least within a few hours. Why wait? If I have gone to the bother of bidding for something, it means I want it asap, so I need to pay for it.

If the auction said collect, then I would collect or not bid and expect to pay COD.

I have only given one seller neg feedback, only cos it took her about 2 weeks to post the items and didnt bother answering my very polite e mails.

Email the buyer back and say that they have to pay by X date or the product will be relisted.

We usually pay cash on collection for that type of sale though mainly as I don't always believe the 'like new' description and have been proven right not to several times