I'm I liable for buyers collection costs?

[Lamu]

I sold a rather expensive sofa earlier in the week. I insisted it was collection only as i didn't want the responsibility of it after it had been collected.

Now the guy who won the auction knew it was a large sofa before bidding as I'd given the description in the listing. I also mentioned that it was heavy and couldn't assist with loading and unloading. Anyway the guy struggled with getting a large enough van to collect the item.

We couldn't agree on a mutually convenient time for him to collect it. And I also got fed up of him not being straight with me. I also had the issue that I don't have the space to store the sofa past next week as I'm having a new one delivered. I finally got annoyed with him and cancelled the sale. He then went and paid via paypal, which i immediately refunded.

He's got all my details from ebay and is now claiming that i am liable for the cost of the van rental to collect the sofa. He's taking me to small claims court to recover his costs. So I'm i liable?

I think you are yes. I think that as the seller you need to put yourself out to be around when the buyer can make it for collection.

If he has already paid to hire a van and you have now cancelled the sale, then I think he has a point. What was the problem with agreeing a collection time?

Yes, I think you are liable.

Did you know that he had arranged and paid for the collection when you cancelled the sale?

aack, you haven't run this by the books, sorry, it's a bit of a mess, now.

The problem with agreeing a collection time was at his end not mine. After the sale I sent him a list of dates and times over 9 days that i was available. Five days later he still hadn't decided what he was going to do re. collecting. He kept saying i"ll get back to you etc.

I told him I would be available this weekend for collection providing he confirmed with me by thursday at the latest first as I had plans that would need cancelling in order to be in. I heard nothing from him till Friday at 10pm saying he'd let me know in the morning if he was coming at 10 am. This is after he'd asked to collect on Thursday eve. when i'd specifically said that it wasn't convenient and only the babysitter would be in, which i didn't feel comfortable with.

I think I've gone out of my way to make it possible for him to collect, i gave him a list of dates and times i was available. I canceled the sale on Friday night after he told me he'd let me know in the morning if he was coming. He mentioned he'd got a van sorted but waiting to see if his mate was free to help him load it.

I think he is talking rubbish tbh. Have you had your ebay fees refunded?

Was this on Ebay?
Ebay seller can only ask to cancel the sale; if buyer refuses then the contract still stands. Ebay sellers have to be more flexible than you wanted to be, Lamu.

I think maybe stick to free-ad sales in future.

This was on eBay.

The thing is I seriously can't see how else I could have been more accomodating short of delivering the sofa there myself.

He was aware of my time constraints. I needed the sofa gone by a certain date as a) I'm having new furniture delivered and b) I'm heading away on holiday. He knew this before he bid!

I sold another similarly large item the other week. The buyer contacted me and arranged to collect the following day. No issues whatsoever.

I haven't even looked at having my fees refunded, I was just going to pay them.

ok - well you need to send a cancellation request to get your fees back. They are a considerable 10% - how much was the item?

Why can't he still arrange to collect it now, surely that is better that it is just gone?

If he hired a van without 100% confirmation of a collection time then that's his look out.

Personally I don't believe for a second he hired a van. Ignore, add him to your blocked bidder list and if he Serbs any abusive messages report to eBay.

No you're not liable, BUT if you needed it collected by a certain date, you should have made this clear in your listing.