Locked
Discussion interactions are currently paused.
Handling Non-Collecting Buyers for Collection-Only eBay Sales
Summary: anglian2012 is facing an issue where a buyer has paid for a guitar listed as "collection only" on eBay but has missed three collection attempts. **peaseblossom** and 4_bathrooms suggest that anglian2012 cannot keep the payment unless the buyer agrees, and they recommend canceling the transaction if the buyer fails to collect by a set date. Both responders emphasize that the buyer is protected under eBay's Money Back Guarantee and can file a chargeback if the issue is not resolved. They advise sending a polite message to the buyer with a collection deadline and suggest canceling the order with a full refund if the buyer does not respond. Additionally, they recommend adding the buyer's ID to a blocked bidder list to prevent future issues.
Has anyone encountered a scenario where a buyer has paid for an eBay item listed as "collection only" but fails to collect it? I've faced this during my recent sale of a guitar. The buyer has scheduled and missed three collection attempts, leaving me stuck with the item and uncertain about the next steps.
I'm curious to know how others have managed similar situations:
Is it possible to keep the payment and relist the item? What are the legal or eBay-specific implications?
How should I communicate with the buyer effectively to resolve this issue?
What options have you pursued to clear your obligations while still complying with eBay's policies?
Feel free to share your experiences, solutions, or even pitfalls to avoid. Let's help each other navigate this tricky aspect of selling on eBay!
5216elisabeth
·1 month agoI don't do many collection only items but I have had a particular item recently which repeatedly sold to buyers who had somehow missed the word COLLECTION at the beginning of the title. And repeated statements within the listing that it was collection only. Also sometimes a buyer does intend to collect when they make the purchase but then life happens.
Sometimes buyers don't like to say that they made a mistake or that they can't now collect it. Often because they don't know how to handle it or because they feel bad for going back on their word, so to speak. This may be the case with your buyer.
If I think a buyer, for whatever reason, is having problems collecting I send them a polite message asking them if they still want the item or if they would prefer to cancel it and be refunded. I usually wait a couple of weeks before doing this. It allows the buyer to say they don't want it and the seller to resell it. As the buyer has asked to cancel the order at this point there is no defect on the sellers account for cancelling, providing you select the buyer asked to cancel reason.
In your situation of repeatedly missed collections I would definitely be sending that message.
4_bathrooms
·1 month agoI have no idea why you would think that would be an OK thing to do.
Legally the guitar is your buyer's property as long as you have their money. Where eBay is concerned your buyer is protected by the Money Back Guarantee; if your buyer opens a request/dispute inside the MBG window eBay will side with the buyer and refund them at your expense. Your buyer can also file a chargeback/dispute with their payment provider up to 120 days following the date of the sale which eBay will decide in the buyer's favour as you will not have the requisite proof of delivery or collection that eBay would require from you to defend such a claim.
If the buyer has stopped communicating via eBay you need to cancel the sale by selecting the most appropriate reason. You haven't mentioned how long it has been since the buyer purchased the item but if they are repeatedly arranging collection windows and missing them you should send them a (polite) message informing them that if they don't collect by a given date - typically two weeks from when you send the message - their order will be treated as cancelled.
If a buyer hasn't collected within a reasonable timescale I cancel their order with a full refund - I believe there is a specific "Failed to collect" reason or something similar after a certain period of time following the sale. If I feel the buyer has been intentionally wasting my time I add their eBay user ID to my blocked buyer list to ensure they can't do it again.
**peaseblossom**
·1 month agoYou can't keep the payment unless the buyer agrees to that. You can tell them to collect by a certain date. If they don't reply or don't collect by then you can cancel the transaction. Or you can do that right away if you prefer.
Go to the dropdown arrow alongside the item on your orders page > Cancel order > Issue with buyer's delivery address, which is the nearest one to this situation as it's possible they are too far away to collect easily. The refund will be issued in the process.
And put their ID on your blocked bidder list:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/bmgt/BuyerBlock