The business of couriers, and payment by Paypal

[dotnet]

The winning bidder wants to pay by Paypal for something which is going to be collected; she needs to use a courier.

I've read loads of times that Paypal isn't a great method for collection only items because the buyer can reverse the payment after collection; is that right?

My winning bidder says the courier won't touch cash (ie won't pass the £££ on to me on collection).

So - what should I do? Contact the underbidder and do a second chance offer (I've never done one of those before) -
Or ask the winning bidder to do an internet transfer into my bank account?

I've just looked at the ad I set up, and, stupidly, I omitted to say 'cash on collection please'.

I'm worried about bad feedback if I do a Second Chance Offer, as well.

Advice, please! x

Did you say collection only as method of delivery/postage?

Sorry, I mean, when you chose postage options (drop down options) did you choose "No delivery, Local collection only" type option?

No, stupidly I omitted to say 'cash on collection only' in my ad.

So what postage service did you offer? Royal Mail, Other courier? how can they arrange a courier if you already specified which courier service you would use?

(Still think you don't know what I mean...)

Oh -this is showing what a numpty I must be about this type of sale... I don't remember what I chose from a drop down menu... I'm going to take a look at the original ad again and see if I can work out what I must have chosen. Back in a mo. Thanks

like this, what did the buyer see?

gotcha :)

Basically, if you said local collection only they can't insist on their own courier. If you said you would arrange courier, then you can upload tracking to prove delivery which makes paypal reasonable to accept.

I've never been cheated by accepting Paypal on collection items, btw but obviously a risk worth avoiding if you can.

No way are you obliged to accept their courier unless you promised to before the auction finished, maybe.

That's interesting... about you having accepted Paypal without ever having had problems. I spoke to the winning bidder on the phone and she sounded OK, I think she would have been honest.
However, things have moved on since I turned to the ebay page... I saw she had sent me an irate message saying this was ridiculous and yes, I should contact the underbidder!
So I'll do that... I think I'll sort of have my hand held on how to do it once I click on 'more actions' on the 'sold' page?
By the way, thank you so much for being willing to help. Mumsnet is just great when you get stuck about something.

don't contact the underbidder just yet, well, you aren't supposed to. There's a particular procedure you are supposed to go thru but I've never done it myself (sorry).

I am not expert enough on this to know what to comment, I think I would try to tell the 1st bidder that I'm sorry that they can't collect but to break the contract between us I need to send a cancellation notice. Once they accept it then neither side is obliged any more.

And after that you can send a 2nd chance offer. You don't want to end up in situation where you are supposed to send same item to 2 buyers.

Read this.

Thanks very much! I'll ask the winning bidder for a cancellation, but I get the impression she is in a massive huff now, and maybe won't co-operate. If I don't get a reply from her (time is of the essence) I'll go ahead with the second chance offer anyway; there is no way she is going to buy from me now, she thinks I've messed her around unnecessarily. I'm dreading the feedback, but will just have to work out how to word a 'defence'. Just when I think I understand eBay quite well, I walk into a pit! I do appreciate your contact, Iljkk.

do not accept paypal for a collected item, and allowing a buyer to arrange their own courier is also fraught with difficulties.

Bank transfer is the only way I would allow them to send their own courier. And what about packaging and waiting for them to arrive.

If the buyer refuses the cancellation you will be stuck with final fees to pay.

Could OP get slapped with 2 sets of FVF? I think so if she doesn't cancel the first transaction. Plus no way to stop Neg f/b from Buyer1. I'd be taking advice from Ebay on this one, I think.

yes - needs to sort out cancellation with winner first before going down the second chance offer/relist route.