Waiting in for courier?!

[badgerread]

I sold my son's bike on eBay today. I specifically put cash on collection and collection only on the ad, plus my account is set up so that no one can bid unless they've got more than a 10 purchase history (or something like that)
Anyway the person who bid for it (or got her sister to as she had a 0 purchase history) and won lives a 3 hour drive away and is expecting me to wait in for a courier? I work full time so am only available after 5:30 but she wants to send someone during the day as they live so far away.

Help! What's the etiquette with couriers?

Personally I would contact the buyer and say it's collection in person only and you are not prepared to send via courier. I would then cancel the transaction.

What beware said.

Even if you go along with this the buyer could receive the item and then claim their money back saying that they haven't received the item. In order to win an item not received case you would need to show an online notification of "Delivered". If you haven't arranged a courier yourself you could have problems here. Unless a courier is going to turn up with the cash but I doubt that would by the arrangement.

This means that you would have hassle and be exposed to risk of losing the item without getting any payment. In your shoes I'd refuse to hand over to a courier and reiterate "cash on collection and collection only". If they pay by email you should refund that since you're expecting cash.

That should be "If they pay by Paypal ..."

Thank you. I have just text her to say that it's cash on collection, as stated on the ad. I'll see what she comes back with!

YY....... Cash on collection only for "collection items", NEVER PayPal.

If the buyer complains you can always tell her she can pay by bank transfer before collection, if she can get a courier who can collect after 530?

We've now practically had a row on text as she said, 'she'll look at her calendar to see when she can come down'?! It says collection within two days?? Grrrrrrr.

Just keep reiterating

"I can only accept cash on collection, otherwise I void my sellers protection, leaving myself wide open to fraud"

It's up to you but I'd offer her 7 days to collect (that way she can't accuse you of BU). If she doesn't then open an unpaid item case, and once it's closed, relist.

However, would you not be better selling it on Gumtree? It's a lot easier IMO to sell large collection items on there than eBay and having to deal with dumb dumb buyers that don't get the "cash on collection" concept.
Just make sure you add £10 extra on to what you will take for it as Guntree buyers love to haggle and few they got a bargain.

Thank you everyone. Gumtree sounds a good plan if this doesn't work out.

From what I can gather she's now planning on driving down tomorrow and collecting, A 7 hour round trip. For a bike. Madness, but there you go!

and never ever let a buyer arrange their own courier either. Cash only or you arrange the courier. No exceptions.