Courier collection

[Nanny0gg]

I'm selling something on FB marketplace and someone wants to know if I'd do courier collection for it (that they'd arrange)

If I did, what's the best way to arrange payment and is it a good idea?

Depends what it is really. I wont do it for anything that is breakable or worth more than about £30. Mostly because if an item is lost/ damaged in transit it's then a faff to try and sort out with the expectation that the buyer will get their money back.

When someone sees it in person first you also don't have the worry that they are going to claim the item isn't as described when it's received.

If it is something breakable, firstly make sure they take out insurance that will cover the cost of the item and secondly make sure the courier they're using actually covers the type of item being sent. Some couriers for example clearly state they wont transport glass, with others it's hidden in small print. I always prefer to sort a courier myself so I can make sure these things are taken into account.

I'd also insist on payment via bank transfer so they can't claim lost/damaged and apply for a Paypal refund or anything like that.

That rings a scam alarm bell for me. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be more help, but I'm sure I read somewhere that it's dodgy.

That's what was worrying me.

It's not breakable but it's big and worth more than £50. And if it was Hermes for example, I'd be worried it wouldn't get there and then there'd be all sorts of hassle which shouldn't be my problem but would end up involving me anyway.

I found this online. I think this is how the scam works...

It's not so much ebay's rules at stake as YOUR safety. If he has paid by paypal and then sends a courier you will have absolutely no proof that he has the item. If he is dishonest he could claim that the item is not recieved and ebay will refund him from your account. A reciept from the courier will mean nothing to ebay. They always take the buyers side in cases like this.

Of course, your buyer is probably not a dishonest person. Most ebay buyers are perfectly trustworthy, but this is a well known scam that the dishonest ones know the can get away with. Also, what if it gets genuinely lost or damaged by the courier. YOU will not be able to claim from HIS courier.

Collection items should be cash on collection only, because even if he pays by paypal and then comes himself, the same applies. You have no proof, and he could do a charge back to his bank card.

I would politely explain this to your buyer and hope he understands. Alternatively you could offer to send yourelf by your own courier and ammend his invoice to cover the cost.