Sold an item of furniture, Buyer wants to use Shiply

[MoreRainbowsPlease]

I've sold a large item of furniture, collection only, but someone has bought it and they live miles away and want to use Shiply. They were the only bidder. But I wanted whoever bought it to come see it, check they were happy with it, and then take it away. I didn't want it being couriered to someone who might not be happy with it once they get it.

Has anyone any advice on whether I should go through with the sale? Or should I just explain that it is collection in person only and that I will be cancelling the sale?

I've used Shiply a couple of times for furniture purchases on eBay, I wouldn't automatically assume it's a scam. Good advice to check their feedback though, two mins looking at my eBay history would show that I'm a legit buyer

People use shiply all the time and I can;t collect things so need to use some sort of courier or delivery service. I don't know how people who sell online think everyone is able to collect, its annoying not to have a packaging and postage cost to be honest. But I would always contact the seller to confirm this kind of pick up. Depending how often you sell, you should organise a courier service IMO. If you said collection only, you might want to ask for a packaging cost which is reasonable.

I guess what I'm really worried about is if the item arrived damaged or the buyer said it wasn't as described who is responsible for that? I know that in the past people who have let ebay buyers arrange their own courier have run into problems if it is damaged as ebay have said that the buyer is responsible to make sure the buyer receives the item, but this is years ago and maybe things have moved on.

I have looked up Shiply and can see how it works and is a good idea, but I can't package up the furniture as it is massive and I have nothing to package it in. I will get back to the buyer and explain this.

She has said she will take responsibility for any problems if it is damaged in transit, but does anyone know on ebay if this is binding? Also another issue is how long I would have to wait in for a courier. Can probably sort it out the wait an hour or so, but I can't do a long time window.

I guess I'm just surprised that they've bid on my item as it's not rare and there must be loads of them much nearer to their house.

If it's furniture it doesn't need packaging, unless it has particularly delicate features, in which case just protect those bits with bubble wrap or something.

Take photos of the item from all angles when the man with the van arrives, to show the condition when picked up.

Thanks, I've got lots of photos I took for the ebay posting. It's a very sturdy item, so it shouldn't need anything special. If I were moving it in a car I would possibly just put a blanket over it just to cushion it in case it moves.

They're hiring the courier (via Shiply) so you're only liable up to the point that you hand it over to their courier. Take photos ahead of that but if anything happens, they should go to the courier not you. I've used Shiply loads (both as buyer and seller and for aninternational house move!) and never had issues.

Thank you everyone who has commented on this. I wasn't aware of shiply before and didn't realise that it was a common way to collect things.

When I listed the item, I expected the buyer would be someone who would collect the item themselves and live within a distance of my house that they were happy to travel. I live in a big city so hundreds of thousands of people within a small radius and nearby motorway for people a bit further away and I was very specific in the listing about where I am. Like I said before it's not anything rare, it's an everyday item of furniture which comes up for sale all the time on ebay, facebook market place and gumtree. If I buy a large item 2nd hand then I buy it from somewhere I am happy to collect from.

However it seems like things have moved on and if it is the buyer who will sort out any problems with Shiply and Ebay will not hold me responsible for anything once the item has been collected then I think I am happy to do it that way if it is no extra trouble for me than someone collecting it themselves.

Even so, do take photos while the courier is there, so that they're date and time stamped to show the item's condition at pick up.

Yes and take a photo when the delivery guys have it on the truck too, this is what delivery people do when they deliver to us too, take a photo of it on the doorstep with door open to show it was collected. To transport furniture sellers wrap it in a blanket or one of those packing blankets around it and you could ask for money to cover the cost if you need to. Sometimes people can't find what they want locally so they get it when they see it, or they don't have a suitable vehicle anyway.

The thing is that eBay are soooo geared towards the buyer that even if they collected, inspected and then took it home, if they decided to say afterwards that actually it wasn't up to scratch then ebay would side with them anyway!

So it's no riskier to have it collected by courier than it is to have the buyer themselves collect it.

If you've advertised your item as "collection only" and the buyer has organised collection via Shiply then they have done what you asked. If you're only willing to sell to someone who can drive to you in their own van then you are severely limiting your selling options.

There is a lot of worrying about nothing in this thread.

The couriers take their own pictures before they move the item so the seller can't claim any defects happened in transit.

This is because the couriers take liability for the items they transport.

Op doesn't have to wrap anything. People picking up large items is usually a pain in the arse. When a courier does it I don't have to help lift and watch them try to wrangle it into their car, or answer inane questions. Or have them try and barter money off.

Couriers are much better.

Does shiply have to send a delivered notification to prove delivery of item? I paid for an item to be returned to a bathroom depot and the courier isn't providing any proof of delivery.

They can use a courier if they first courier you the cash, and give you time to check it's not counterfeit, before despatch. At that point the furniture becomes their property and if there's any damage during transit that will be a claim between them and the courier company, none of your concern.

Anything other than this will definitely be a scam. Most especially do not allow them to pay by paypal.

Definitely won't be using shiply again. There's no standardised way to show proof of delivery. Only the courier's word! Had nothing but abuse from the courier and shiply were useless in uncovering the whereabouts of the item.

Absolutely avoid at all costs.

It’s a scam. The scammers are using Shipley or shiply not for shipping purposes but to get your card details. They tell you that they transfer the amount on that website and that you will receive money from them. Then they make you give your card details away.

don’t do it

shiply is very reputable and widely used. I use it frequently for work and in my eBay purchases

I bought a large bit of furniture myself and used shiply, I don't have the time or money to go view the item in person, and it's up to the photos to decide if I want it or not.

No indication at all that this would be a scam, as shiply would give you a txt or something for collection time and is absolute proof that the item has been collected.

Where as if you are collecting in person, it's their word against yours.

Where as if you are collecting in person, it's their word against yours.
Which is why you'd only accept cash on collection and not any other means.

Bye and bye this is a zombie thread, and unless the courier was walking the furniture from Lands end to John O'Groats it has hopefully been sorted over the last 14months!