Just sold something quite expensive on eBay - is there anything I can do to protect myself before sending?

[sizeofalentil]

Hello,

I just sold an expensive household appliance for £250 on eBay. The buyer had paid by Paypal and I need to post it.

I've heard some horror stories about buyers cancelling payment after receiving the item or claiming back money from Paypal (who always side with buyers).

Is there anything I can do to protect myself before sending it? Was going to take photos with the a newspaper bearing the date to prove that it's in brand new condition.

The buyer has 400+ 100% feedback btw. So I might just be being paranoid…

I assume you're going to send it via a tracked courier service. Which one? Do you plan to take out insurance.

Make sure the item is very well packed.

send it fully insured - not just royal mail standard signed for. You will prob find a courier is sbest. Add the tracking to the transaction once sent.

Thank you both. I e actually just panicked and offered to drop it off at his house now. It's on 30mins by train and I'd rather that than the stress.

.....which is entirely the wrong move.

No tracking details so buyer claims item not recieved and gets a full refund.

Post it.

Do not do that unless you are paid in cash, you have no proof you delivered it (even if they sign something) so they can just say it never turned up and when you have no postal tracking details they will instantly be refunded

Hmm, what if I got him to sign something or met at my work where you have to sign in and we have cameras?

If I send it which courier service is best?

Thank god I asked you guys!

Wouldn't make any difference ebay seller protection only applies if delivered by tracked recorded courier where the item has to be signed for and proof is obtained

I have won 2 cases of item not received filed against me as I always upload tracking details to ebay when despatching items, ebay check this against the couriers website and if the tracking shows delivered and signed for you are fine

Yep. To remove the risk of an item not received case you either deliver using a tracked service or you get cash from the buyer and then it doesn't really matter how the buyer gets the item.

I recommend Hermes

no amount of signed bits of paper or cameras would be sufficient. You always send tracked, no exceptions.

If I ever sell anything over £100 I send it tracked...even if I end up a little out of pocket on postage. I have to know it is tracked all the way and that it is signed for...that's my proof it's been sent and received. I also keep the tracking number for a good couple of months afterwards just in case.

So if you sell something for £75 Alfie how would you claim for that loss when it isn't adequately insured? The rules of paypal are that you send everything tracked regardless of the value.

If you're going to drop it off you need to cancel the PayPal transaction and refund it and tell the buyer you want payment in cash. Never do PayPal if you're doing collection/delivery, only cash.

I'm just glad we responded in time and you took the advice

Most will be absolutely fine but there are plenty of people out there who take advantage. From what you have said about the feedback and it being your idea to drop off, it's not someone who purposely targets auctions like this and it would probably be OK, but there are plenty of opportunists and its just not worth the risk