Potential buyer wants to organise a courier to collect the item - any thoughts?

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

I'm selling a large 3 wheeler pushchair and a potential buyer is happy to pay a good price for it but wants to organise a courier.

Has anyone got experience of doing this, or any thoughts about it?

My reservation about this (I sold a Bugaboo and a Phil and teds on eBay in the past) is that I would need to pack it, it would take a load of bubble wrap and lots of cardboard which I don't have.
If the courier damages it will the buyer come back to you? eBay seems to always side with the buyer.

If you feel you can pack it securely do it but I would stress that the item is collected by their courier and therefore at the buyers risk.

I think you can insist that buyer pays for transport insurance(?)

no - only arrange courier yourself - you need tracking info to prove delivery otherwise they can claim not received and get a refund.

If collection ensure cash only and no paypal

No.

I sold a pushchair last week and told everyone who asked that it was collection in person only. I couldn't be bothered to wait for a courier and pack it up.

Ok thanks.

Packing stuff isn't a problem thought I think I'd add on a few extra pounds to cover it.

They are happy to pay a good price for it so I'm keen to go ahead - can you recommend a courier?

You are more likely to get a good price if you offer a courier, because your potential buying pool is much bigger than only your local area. You could always offer to arrange a courier yourself, and explain you will have to charge a healthy whack for packaging and waiting. If they really want it they will pay.

There are several very good door to door couriers that specialise in ebay and advertise on there. Much better rates and easier than parcel force or whatever.

I've always had best price & service from RM parcel force, only resort to other couriers in extremis. Definitely more than a few pounds over usual Royal Mail price, and half the couriers seem to own each other or just be front agents for others, so you may not know who is actually going to pick up your package. Leaving aside getting convenient times you'll need to be in. It's a maze, worse than figuring out which heating oil company is really who.

You need to weigh & measure & package the item carefully (measure with packaging), make sure you get those details right to use the courier price quoting websites.

This review looks very useful, and also recommends ParcelForce.

Oh Blimey - it's a bit of a minefield eh?!

Try parceltogo dot com - DH uses it for landrover parts all the time

Thanks.

If you are going to the effort of packing it up then I find it's not much more effort to arrange the courier.

I use 'you sell, we deliver' who have an account with PF. I can take the parcel to the depot to save waiting in all day for it to be picked up. It costs £11 or £12 I think, for up to 30kg and delivery within 24hrs.

take fergooses warning
i recently sold a desk
the winner said he was arranging a collection by courier and would pay bby paypal despite my saying cash on collection only

I agreed on the proviso that the courier would give written confirmation on the condition of the desk

he pulled out of the sale then and i have had to relist