eBay collection only items

[voxnihili]

I’ve recently been trying to sell some of my DD’s baby items. I’ve put some of the larger items as collection only - essentials such as crib, pram and car seat (please no comments about second hand car seats - I’d never buy one but I’m happy to sell our one as I know nothing untoward has happened to it and we would have happily used for a second child).

In my listing I state clearly that it will be collection from a mutually agreed place and give an area. I’m happy to be flexible but I don’t want to be giving out my address to people I’ve never met. For context, I work in an environment where I deal with people with criminal records (for various offences) on a daily basis so I may be more twitchy than most about this.

I also would like people to pre-arrange when they wish to collect the item, not just send me messages saying they’re in the area and want to collect in the next 10 minutes.

Am I being unreasonable to want people to arrange in advance where and when to collect? I’m feeling very frustrated at the moment as whenever I’ve bought something collection only, I’ve always pre-arranged and stuck to it unlike those who have bought my items recently who seem to go silent until 10 minutes before they want to collect.

I am another that would think there is something very dodgy if you wanted to meet up in a car park. I have sold a few things in gumtree and always do collection only from my house.

Another here saying I wouldn’t buy if I had to meet you at some random place such as a car park.

No problem though if you gave me your work address.

I buy a lot of large items in eBay (market place too). Often I will drive an hour away (pre covid) and I need to have full post code to know where I’m going and how to get there so I can know a time to give buyer. I once and only once went without the full post code and then had no service. I’m not repeating that instance as the person’s phone ran out of battery so when I had to drive a distance away to get service again, I still couldn”t reach them. So if I don’t get full address and contact number, I’d cancel purchasing the item.

As for collecting not giving you protection, buyer gets a code to show seller and seller scans it with their phone. There is your proof.

Op, I do know that in the states this is somewhat common to do for eBay but not here. I think it stems from the old thing about buying something down the pub being dodgy or stolen so it will put majority of people off

If your employer is ok with it, use your work address.

Delivery would be better if you don't want your address known. That way you can arrange the time

Perhaps you could try selling it as a bundle to avoid multiple trips?

Can understand people wanting a phone number in case of running late, or getting lost. The person who had agreed to meet me to collect an item at the weekend asked for my number and I gave it. I had sent an eBay message during the week as I didn’t have their number saying which days I was free but had no response. They then phoned me yesterday morning (which wasn’t a day I’d said I was free) saying they were in the area and wanted to meet in 10 minutes.

If I did say to people that they could collect from my home, is it usual for them to not arrange a time and just turn up with very little notice?

Argh was typing and it disappeared! Yes, in my experience you arrange a time in advance, the item isn't necessarily kept at the pickup address.

Did your message suggest 'im free Mon, Wed and Thurs, come anytime those days'? If not, maybe you could stipulate on the listing 'please contact me to arrange a pickup within 72 hours of purchase otherwise I will relist the item'. That should at least ensure buyers are a bit more communicative. Say it's in indoor storage if you want to ensure you're given a bit more notice.

[quote voxnihili]@Robstersgirl I did wonder if it put people off that I wouldn’t let them collect from my house for that reason, but it states on the listing that it will be a collection from a local public place not my home address so I would hope that it would only be people who are happy with that that would buy the items.

I’m not worried about someone recognising me and knowing where I live - just the concept of giving out my address to someone who has contacted me via the internet just goes against everything I’ve been trained to do.[/quote]
Yeah for most people that reads as "stolen stuff for sale"

My message about pick up said the days I was free for pick up, and then whether morning or afternoon. They then phoned on the morning of a day I’d stated afternoon and wouldn’t wait until the afternoon, they wanted it then.

I did do a collection only a couple of years ago and met the person at a motorway service station- was such an easy transaction I thought it would be the same with these items.

I’ve updated my listings anyway and if getting people to collect them from the house is the only way forward I’ll have to do that instead.

I did wonder if it put people off that I wouldn’t let them collect from my house for that reason, but it states on the listing that it will be a collection from a local public place not my home address

Yes, that would put me off; I totally get why it's appropriate in your case, but in general I'd assume dodginess and even that the items were stolen

I no longer sell on ebay - too many tossers - but if people aren't contacting you then suddenly declaring "I'm in the area" it sounds as if it's got even worse. Little point either in offering to deliver unless you fancy a hell of a lot of wasted time on folk who aren't in because they "had to rush their DC to hospital" or whose "grandma just died"

Personally I'd stick to FB marketplace and be done with it

For second hand baby stuff I wouldn't think you'd stolen it, but hands up, I don't have kids so maybe there is a market for second hand stolen stuff. If it was electronics or bikes I'd immediately assume they were stolen on the other hand.

You can accept paypal now for collection, the buyer will have a code - worth making sure they know this and will have it ready though.

If you're this paranoid, I'd wonder if it is all worth the hassle...

I've sold items as buyer collects - a bookcase. The guy turned up and I gave it to him and shut the door. I've also sold for my sister and my friend. Just make sure they pay before you give them your address.

And I wouldn't sell or pick up in a car park - sounds waaay more dodgy imo

YANBU, you're being clear in your listing, it's up to people to buy or not on those terms.

I wouldn't have an issue picking up from a car park, especially if the seller has feedback record.

You can probably socially distance better that way.

You're being clear in your listing, it's up to people to buy or not on those terms

If only With some - on ebay especially - I swear you could write the "terms" in six foot high dayglo capitals and there'd still be idiots who don't read, don't think it applies to them or just don't care anyway

There's a reason why private sellers have deserted it in droves, and this seems as good a one as any. I'm sure it can be grim for business sellers too, but at least the bigger turnover makes it easier to absorb the tossers

Puzzled I do still sell on eBay, but it is more fraught now, wondering who else will claim they haven't received the item I send them.

I started sending everything signed for, but I would worry about selling high value things on eBay, given the number of buyers who pretend to eBay that they didn't the item as described (i.e. they substituted their old grotty one when returning for a refund.)

Collection only and PayPal in advance. Then you know their address too through EBay

Or as pp says use a lical site like gumtree