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Original poster

Poss.bidder asked to meet me in person? Advice needed?

17 replies

rascals · 25/08/2007 13:20

Hi,
Maybe i'm being paranoid here,but I have an item for sale which ends tomorrow.I have rec. a question from poss. bidder saying that noticed they live in same town as me & if they bid & win auction could they meet me outside local supermarket to hand over cash for item.They haven't actually said but I'm assuming they want to save postage.
The item listed is one girl's dress,aged 5.
I live in small rural town so this situation has never arisen before(i.e.poss. bidder coming from same town) & also I have never sold anything big/bulky in which someone might want to collect.I only really sell clothes my kids have outgrown,or adult clothes I don't need.
Am I being silly & there's no reason not to meet them if they win,or am I right to be wary.The other thing is if I decline to meet them & they go ahead & bid/win anyway,they'll see my address on checkout won't they?( as pay by chq is a paymt.option i have)so my address comes up automatically in invoice,incase winning buyer wishes to mail chq.So whats t stop them turning up @ my door? As I said they'd find it easy enough cos small town.
The bidding on my item is at £5 just now but could go up to £10/£15 maybe as is "designer label".
I have to admit I like the anonominity of ebay & would rather keep it that way!
Sorry this rambles on a bit,any advice on how to deal with this anyone who sells on ebay? Many thanks.

OP posts:
LadyVictoriaOfCake · 25/08/2007 13:22

tbh, i would go with the shop meet than home meet. i have had people collect from my house though with no problems

fruittea · 25/08/2007 13:27

Can you check from their ID if they really do live in your town? SOmetimes the best way is to look at any sales listings they have . At least then you'd have a bit more of a feel for if they're genuine. If they look dodgy, add them to your blocked bidders. They're probably just trying to save on the postage though, I once met up with a lady to pick up a jumper locally!

charliecat · 25/08/2007 13:29

Ive met people in car parks , had people come here, and went to others. Check feedback...you will never see them again.it will be a 2 sec handover

meandmy · 25/08/2007 13:31

if you are not happy with it tell her you are away can post it

nightowl · 25/08/2007 13:51

i probably wouldn't like it either. tell her you're away, friend is in charge of posting items and you can't ask her to go meeting people as its a bit cheeky. if she doesnt think your postage charges are reasonable then she doesn't have to bid. its prob fine, but im the same, like the anonymity. does your address come up automatically? if anyone has paid me by cheque they have always messaged me to ask for mine.

sparklygothkat · 25/08/2007 13:54

Tell them that you will meet them in the actual supermarket cafe, that way there is people about

littlerach · 25/08/2007 13:57

DH once met a man at the motorway service on route ot work to collect soemthing.
By mutual consent, BTW.

MatNanPlus · 25/08/2007 13:58

you could avoid it in the future by amending your ebay profile to be more general re: your location?

Original poster
rascals · 25/08/2007 14:02

Thanks for all answers,very helpful-have just noticed she is highest bidder at moment,so she has obviously put a bid on item anyway,wether I agree to meet her or not,as I haven't responded to her question yet!

OP posts:
fawkeoff · 25/08/2007 14:03

just tell them ur way too busy to meet so u will have to post

Original poster
rascals · 25/08/2007 14:05

Yes,matnanplus,I wish I could,I used to have it like that,but when I try to go in to location bit on selling format it doesn't let me amend it-have tried quite a few times,even before I got this question from bidder,so this scenario would not arise LOL.

OP posts:
MatNanPlus · 25/08/2007 14:11

i believe you can only amend it if you have no active biddibg or selling!

contact ebay they respond promptly in my experience.

nightowl · 25/08/2007 14:24

it will let you amend it. it could be something in what you "view".

bonkerz · 25/08/2007 14:48

i have picked things up from home addresses and met people outsde shops to pay and collect things. I think this is normal on ebay hence the option to only look for items 10 miles from your postcode. If you really dont want to meet i would email back and insist it is not an option.

tuppy · 26/08/2007 16:20

I handed over a large 3 wheeler pram for cash on an agreed street corner (turned out we were 1.5 miles from each other !) - admittedly dh came with me and waited in the car 20 feet away in case the lovely Spanish lady buyer had turned out to be a hairy trucker . Also a guy came to the house to buy a travel cot for an upcoming holiday, but again dh was around.

But these were bulky things - it saved the buyers a hefty courier charge, and saved me the time I'd have spent waiting in for a courier to collect.
It shouldn't cost much to put a child's dress in the post surely? I do like the anonymity of ebay generally, but was prepared to be flexible for these bigger items.

Rachmumoftwo · 26/08/2007 16:37

I have collected items locally to save postage, and had people collect from me, all with no probs. You can either state no collections on your listing, or just refuse, if you don't want to do it. She may bid higher if saving postage though, and you get more money to keep, so collection has its advantages.

BBBee · 26/08/2007 16:40

I have had people come to my house and goe to other peopls' houses - if you don'r feel comfortabnle can someone go with you?

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