Is this dodgy? Buyer wants ME to arrange courier?!

[titnomatani]

Please help. I'll contact eBay shortly too but thought I'd canvas MN eBay wisdom first. I've got a large item of furniture listed on eBay and although it's 'collection only' (I had a nightmare buyer who tried to scam me a few months ago), a potential buyer has been in touch and is willing to pay asking price but wants me to arrange courier. He states he's busy moving house and would appreciate me sorting getting the item to him. Is this dodgy? I've asked him straight out if he's a scammer (yes, I did) and he's reassured me he's not and has asked me to check his feedback (800+ positive). What should I do? I don't want to lose out on a high value item and money if he plays silly beggars afterwards. I could always ask him to make a direct bank transfer but even that's not 100% scam-proof nowadays.

I did this once, as the buyer, to bring a chair from London to Lancashire.

I found a courier & liaised between him & the seller; paid the seller by BACS, & courier in cash (iirc. There might have been a card deposit - it was arranged through Anyvan)

Using a courier & getting a signed receipt on delivery should protect you from a scammer? (Or would it...? Who knows these days...)

Could you offer to hold it until he’s finished moving house & then he can arrange it?

I think you arranging the courier is considered safer for you than the buyer organising it.

bonzo77
I think you arranging the courier is considered safer for you than the buyer organising it.

Is that because it might not be a legit courier if the buyer arranged it?

Is that because it might not be a legit courier if the buyer arranged it? Yes. And because if you’ve organised and paid for it then you have proof you handed it to a legit courier in good faith.

By arranging the courier yourself you have valid tracking details and so proof of postage and delivery more importantly, so you're protecting yourself from the 'it never arrived scam'

I think the question is more about whether you can be bothered? For example, taking time off to wait in for a courier? Packaging it up eg materials. Insurance if it's expensive.

If it's advertised as collection only, then he's not being reasonable. You can always cancel the transaction.

Using a courier & getting a signed receipt on delivery should protect you from a
scammer?

This won’t, unfortunately. You need to make sure you use a courier service with an online proof of delivery.

Have a looks at the Parcel Monkey website to get a quote from different courier companies.

Oh god, I hate these when you put collection only and they ask YOU to arrange a courier. No love, it’s collection only because I can’t be arsed to arrange a courier.

I would just say no.

I don't think I would do this.
If you go ahead make sure you get full insurance if the courier damages the item.
Also make sure with your bank that the money cannot be refunded to him. If he pays a cheque into your account it can be cancelled before your bank collects the money and you will lose out. Also PayPal can be refunded too.