Why cash, not paypal for collection? Help please.

[roonilwazlib]

We are selling our car on ebay and it ends tomorrow. It is an old car and only want a few hundred, to cover cost on repair of another banger that we are keeping.
I haven't sold anything on ebay before (DH has sold a couple of guitar bits) and I was reading a few threads that mentioned no paypal for collection.
Why? What could happen?
I have also noticed that the highest bidder has 10 positive comments but 3 have neg statements saying time waster and doesn't reply or turn up.
What have I got myself into?
Any advice before tomorrow? I read someone photocopied a driving licence and gave a receipt. Should I do this?
Any help is gratefully appreciated.

In theory the buyer could claim they paid by Paypal but never collected, and then claim back the Paypal payment (don't know how, somehow possible).

Also Paypal charges seller 2-4%, something like that, it costs you more money to be paid that way. Cash should be better.

There is a procedure for you to get final value & listing fees back from Ebay if they never turn up & pay, so I wouldn't worry about that.

Always always take cash for collection. If they pay with PayPal and collect you have no proof that they have received the item and they could claim their money back through PayPal by saying they haven't received the item.

buyers don't get buyer protection with paypal for a car do they - anyway the fees would also be ridiculous, and as everyone else has said never take paypal for a collection item.

A receipt and photocopied driving licence is worthless in the face of a paypal chargeback.

reviews.ebay.co.uk/Cash-on-Collection-and-Paypal?ugid=10000000020747561

What can I do now that it has been listed as pay pal?
Whoever wins, shall I message them to say they can pay cash on collection? I heard that you could refund the paypal payment and then accept cash on collection.
Or can I add something somewhere on the listing?

Thank you for the answers by the way.

Just leave it I reckon - send them invoice when item ends, and yes if they do pay by paypal just refund from the original payment in paypal (log into paypal, find pymt, click on it, scroll down and then hit refund) and then ask them to pay cash.

Cars have never been protected with PayPal. Cash is your best bet, or take a bank transfer. You however cant expect someone to pay for a car in advance they want to see it first.

buyers cannot do any kind of dispute with a payment made for a vehicle.

fergoose you sound like the expert on such matters :)

I've just sold an item - £400. Will defo not take paypal now, for the reasons stated. (it is collection only)

However, am I better off making them give me a bank transfer rather than cash? Bit worried that they might give me dodgy cash!!! What do you think about the safety of that?

£400 cash should be fine just be careful if 50 or 100 pound notes, if worried when they come go to bank with them,

just make sure you send off your portion of V5 to DVla if new owners details, it is not important to you whether this is correct or not or who they register car with you justt send away asap so if any speeding parking tickets its not you,
it reasonable for them to ask and get rest of V5 manuals if around last MOT any receipts for major stuff you still have

Blue moon - i used to work in a bank and never came accross a single forged £50 as they know people are wary of them. Be just as careful with £20's and smaller, but to be honest you can feel the difference easier than seeing it so run them all through your hands and you will notice if one feels different.

People wont be expecting to pay by paypal for a car as they will be wanting to check it over first (my understanding is that the legality of bids is slightly different with cars) so you should be fine. just send them a message asap to confirm. If they are really prompt and have already paid, you could message them and ask if it would be ok to refund the ammount and have cash on the day for fee and security reasons, then when you key the refund you get your fees back (certainly do on non car items, but i have never sold a car)

thanks both. It's not actually a car - it's some sports equipment! Buyer has just messaged saying he's fine to pay direct into my account, but now wants me to quote him for postage!!! Apparently he lives 300 miles away from me (for gods sake, it said collection only on the bloody listing!!!) Ebay is never easy is it!

Blue you could say thanks but no thanks and offer it to next highest bidder, if its collection I assume you said that for a reason maybe size. Don't forget to ensure its insured for that amount. Why do people do this and not ask first, that said he will have boosted the price so not all bad.

Yeah, i've said it's definitely collection only. And yes, for size/weight issues!
And good thinking...like you say, I can always offer it to the next highest bidder if he falls through!

bank transfer is fine - plus it is free.

but don't let them paypal you the money then arrange their own courier - another big no no. But If they did bank transfer or cash then they could send anyone to collect and you will be covered.