If selling something big, how best to ask for payment

[BessieBlount]

Hi,
We have an old car that doesn't run anymore. However, it's a relatively expensive model so still worth a bit even in its condition. We were advised to put it on eBay but don't really use eBay so unsure how to ask for payment. Must it be cash? Or is PayPal ok? How would you list the payment or expect to at if you were bidding.

Obviously we've made it very clear in 3 places that the car isn't running and what the issue is as its been to a specialist.
Thanks

Cash on collection.

Cash on collection for something you can't prove delivery of, otherwise a dishonest person could claim they didn't receive it and get a refund!

Ok thanks. We won't be delivering it. We've stated clearly that it needs to be collected and by a tow truck as it doesn't run.
So cash then. We expect it to go for about 3k so that just seemed a lot of cash to carry.

It's the only way you'll be protected. Ignore anyone who tries to persuade you to do payment another way no matter how sensible it sounds to you.

I wouldn't sell a big ticket item on ebay. IIRC you are forced to offer paypal and then you are open to a whole heap of problems. Try gumtree or eBay classified rather than normal eBay

Oh! Do you mean we must offer PayPal?

no never take paypal for a car - and no you don't have to offer it for vehicles. Dona is wrong.

Bank transfer may be better than cash.

I sold something for £3k a couple of weeks ago and my buyer (who turned up just to look - it was a classified ad) had already been to the bank and had £3k in his car.

I gave him a receipt for the cash and deleted my ad when he had gone. Not sure it is any more complicated than that is it?

Thanks everyone. We've put cash or bank transfer. Thanks for your help!

I wouldn't risk eBay for this. If the buyer complains eBay will side with them. Better to use a 'cash as seen' site like Gumtree with no potential for post-sale redress.

Really? Not sure what they could complain about. We've stated very clearly that it doesn't run. We're providing a copy of the report from the garage.
Do Gumtree cover rural areas?

I sold a car on eBay, guy came and paid 1800 cash. I had about 8 other offers to come and view too. It was straightforward and had no problems at all

No pear - that is not true. Cash or bank transfer eBay cannot and will not step in. They have no jurisdiction over cash or your own bank account. There is no redress to be had.

Thanks, that's good to know. We've listed it as cash or bank transfer. There's nothing dodgy and the advert states quite clearly that it doesn't run and will need to be towed. So hopefully things will run smoothly.

But why would they need to step in in the case of a used car (or horse trailer in my case sold as seen by classified ad).

Are you saying that the distance selling regs (or whatever they changed the name to in October) still apply to something seen and collected by the buyer?

You've all been really helpful, thank you.

As long as you are truthful and accurate in your description, as a private seller you should be ok.

And yes Lavender, they do. I took a business seller to court over a not as described car and won - a v hefty payout for all repair costs and expenses.