Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

eBay buyer wants to do cash on collection...

100 replies

chockaholic72 · 05/03/2020 21:53

... and I don’t!

Just sold an item on eBay - I don’t do many, it’s all gone well previously, PayPal does the money, I stick it in the post, and everyone is happy.

I’ve sold an expensive item of mountaineering equipment - small enough to go in the post. Before the auction ended he emailed me asking if I’d do a Buy It Now for a stupidly low amount and he’d pay cash on collection. I said no, I’d rather it was sorted by auction. Auction has just finished, and he’s straight on email asking if he can pay cash on collection.

Yes, I’m one of those people who doesn’t always answer the door. I live on my own, on a single track road, and don’t feel comfortable with some random guy turning up. Add to that his pushyness for cash on collection and I just feel a bit suspicious. The item sold for over £200 and I don’t want to get scammed. Before I email back am I being unreasonable to insist he pay by PayPal and wait for the item? Any scams going on that I don’t know about?

OP posts:
DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 05/03/2020 22:23

Honestly, after 10 years selling on eBay as part of my business, I'd cancel the sale, citing problem with the buyer's address (to avoid a defect on my account). The buyer no longer has to agree to the cancellation and a calm, factual reply will deal with any adverse feedback if necessary.

Even if you insist on sending by mail (with tracking obviously) and he actually pays, the likelihood of a SNAD claim and/or return of item other than the one you sold is high. My experience is that once this sort of nonsense starts, there will be no happy ever after for the sale!

Wotsitsarecheesy · 05/03/2020 22:27

To reiterate what others have said - either do cash on collection or paypal and post. Never ever do paypal and collection, or they can get paypal to refund them the money and keep the item.

BarbaraofSeville · 05/03/2020 22:27

Arrange to do the handover (cash not PayPal) somewhere like a petrol station that will be well covered by cctv and it should be fairly safe.

AdobeWanKenobi · 05/03/2020 22:28

My dada had this the other day. He said only if I can take a photo of you with the item - they agreed was fine!

You could take a photo of you with your buyer, item and chief of police and you'd still lose a PayPal claim.
Its as simple as this. No proof of delivery by trackable means and you'll lose.

The photo comes up a lot, along with getting the buyer to sign something. Neither would work.

Cash on collection or tracked via PayPal. Never deviate.

TheLette · 05/03/2020 22:29

On a separate note, if you are posting an expensive item check that Royal Mail insures up to the value of the item. They won't cover £200 of value by default

SentimentalKiller · 05/03/2020 22:29

Cash on collection isn't a scam. The scam is to pay by PayPal then collect, then claim not received
Can't you get a friend to be present when they collect

Waxonwaxoff0 · 05/03/2020 22:30

I know someone that did this with an expensive item (iphone) and they were paid with forged notes.

malmi · 05/03/2020 22:33

Meet them at your bank and have them pay the notes into your account. Then they can have the item.

ainsisoisje · 05/03/2020 22:33

I accepted cash on arrival for a small item, she ended up paying less as she had to go to a cash machine and i could not be bothered with the hassle of arguing with a stranger for the additional few quid. So I do think people can try it on when they are there in person. I’d avoid if you don’t feel comfortable - no need to explain yourself. Ebay is really not a pleasant platform for sellers anymore sadly.

Twofurrycatsagain · 05/03/2020 22:39

Never ever ever allow a PayPal payment for collection.
Cash on collection or pay Pal and tracked post.
For an expensive item I'd actually rather have cash on collection.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 05/03/2020 22:41

He could turn up at your door and then start haggling over the price, saying it has blemishes, etc. He might be planning to browbeat you into accepting less than the agreed price

Given that he originally wanted it for a "stupidly low amount", he almost certainly will. Worse still, OP could hand it to him "to inspect", only to see him walk away with it without paying

Unfortunately all these things have happened to me in the past, and they're yet more reasons I won't use ebay any more

BlankTimes · 05/03/2020 22:43

@BuckingFrolics

a degree not concern that I gave this stranger my address

Isn't your address on your ebay listing anyway?

chockaholic72 you do not have to invite him to your home, you can arrange to meet him somewhere public like a cafe and as stated above, photograph him with the item.
However, I believe that transaction could be outside ebay's T+C's so it's better if you check.

AuntieMarys · 05/03/2020 22:45

Watch for fake notes

Isthistrueor · 05/03/2020 22:48

I don’t accept cash on collection because I have had total time wasters before. Waited in for a couple who turned up late, walked into my home and looked at the time then declared they didn’t actually want it Shock. I was so bloody furious! They’re less inclined to be a twat if they’ve already paid for it. I’d also worry about someone trying to offer less in person.

Pentium85 · 05/03/2020 22:48

Jesus, some of you are real worriers on here!

I would guess 99% not a scam, he probably just wants to collect. If someone wants to collect, you really simply scribble a quick receipt and get them to sign it to say all received/or take a picture of them with said item. Then on the off chance they open a claim, you have proof.

Don’t let all the people on here spouting crap put you off eBay.

If you didn’t offer collection, just tell him you post.

Icecreamdiva · 05/03/2020 22:52

Just say no. Your terms were clear in your original posting. If he doesn’t like them he shouldn’t have bid.

StarUtopia · 05/03/2020 22:55

Christ. So much misinformation on here!

The scam is using PayPal to pay, and then turning up and collecting it. That's when they can claim they didn't receive it, and PayPal will refund them.

There is absolutely NO problem with someone paying cash on collection.

Indeed, as a buyer, I would much rather do this. I can check the item over myself and know there's no issues.

As the seller, once the money is in your hands, all done and dusted.

Meet somewhere public if you don't want them to know where you live.

AdobeWanKenobi · 05/03/2020 22:56

If someone wants to collect, you really simply scribble a quick receipt and get them to sign it to say all received/or take a picture of them with said item. Then on the off chance they open a claim, you have proof

Dangerous and potentially costly advice. Please do not do this OP

As per paypal terms and conditions the only proof accepted is p r of of delivery via trackable means via a legitimate company. Not a signed receipt, not cctv, not a photo.

People are not paranoid here, they are aware of the risks. perhaps you should spend an hour familiarising yourself with how paypal disputes work and the eBay seller central boards where every one of the scams listed above are posted with alarming regularity.

SandyY2K · 05/03/2020 23:04

It could be counterfeit notes. I had a seller request cash on collection...I said no.

I said he could pay by PayPal minus postage and collect. He agreed... I gave my address...he turns up without PayPal payment and no communication to collect the item.

It's a scam.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 05/03/2020 23:07

Jesus, some of you are real worriers on here

It's called experience, pentium - once it's happened to them a few times folk are likely to be more cautious

And as the PP said, a "scribbled receipt" counts for precisely nothing

AdobeWanKenobi · 05/03/2020 23:09

It's a scam

The chances are it probably isn't. Id be ok with can on collection and have done that a few times. If it was for £200 as in this case I'd probably check the notes with a uv pen. on the occasion someone had paid paypal for a collection item I've refunded and explained why. I've not yet had anyone have a problem with this.

That said, ultimately OP has advertised an item with postage and if that's what she prefers to do she is not obliged to facilitate a collection. Simply say collection isn't possible and no more than that.

BritneyPeedOnALadybug · 05/03/2020 23:09

I would prefer cash on collection, in a public place, with a friend or two. At the first sign of any talk about offering a lower price than agreed, I'd get up and walk away. I would also not hand over the item first until the buyer handed over the money. I would also make plans afterwards with my friends so I wouldn't be going straight back home in case I was being followed.

Levatrice · 05/03/2020 23:10

A photo of a person with the item?! Is this a thing now! I would never agree to someone taking my photo if I collected something 😂

Purpleartichoke · 05/03/2020 23:11

I only do that for meeting in person. For that amount of money, I meet somewhere like the on-camera exchange spot our local police operate.

Noconceptofnormal · 05/03/2020 23:12

Interesting, useful to know the PayPal and then collect scam.

Inadvertently I did this to someone the other day, not to scam! I bought some clothes but seller was local so I paid via PayPal but said I could collect as postage was almost as much as the clothes which seller agreed to.

Obviously I'm not scamming her, but I had no idea that is what people do. I wasn't insisting on collection or paying via PayPal though, I would have paid cash if she'd preferred.

If its cash on collection, how do ebay make their money?