Collection in person....

[andy_ash01]

So I want to buy a bulky item "collection in person".

It used to be that the easiest thing was to do "cash on collection". If the sale goes wrong, then you don't give the cash, and the seller tries again. There is the problem that maybe the seller sells before you arrive. I'd take that on the chin. Since its a cash sale, you don't get a right of return, I'd be happy with that too - it's a cash sale.

Now though, cash on collection seems to have gone. I suppose e-bay doesn't like losing the fee.

It seriously undermines my confidence though. Not do I lose right of return, but also if the seller is obtuse, what do I do? I get there, and the seller has my money and he won't give me the goods. Where does the balance of this deal lie. I justifiably want my money back, but that is dependent on a decision by e-bay.

I don't see anything on e-bay that says I have the right to get my money back, if I choose not to take the goods, for any reason. For me it wouldn't come to that, but I think you should get your money back even if you decide you can't be bothered to collect it. (Maybe my car broke down).

Can someone point to a policy statement that clarifies this issue?

Many thanks,

[**peaseblossom**]

See "Tip" on here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/postage-delivery/changing-delivery-address-method/collection-pers...

Items collected in person are still covered by eBay Money Back Guarantee as long as you use an online payment method.

[andy_ash01]

Yes, I saw that.

How about, this;

You arrive, meet the seller, like the item hand them the code.

They tell you to wait, and they disappear to check the code.

They then come back and say the code didn't work, and you can't take the goods.

How does that work?

[andy_ash01]

And for the avoidance of doubt, I am suggesting that the seller is acting fraudulently.

I'm assuming that the code is actually good, they used it and lied that it was bad.

They have my money, and I have no goods.

Where do I stand?

[andy_ash01]

With a postal transaction, e-bay has some ability to know where the goods went.

With collection in person, they have no visibility of where the goods are.

Nevertheless, they have responsibility for the money that they control and charge a fee for handling.

I'd like to know what the logic behind that process is, before I engage with it.

After all, I am potentially paying for the privilege of using that process.

[**peaseblossom**]

You would inspect the item before you hand over the code.   If the seller won't allow that then you know there's something fishy.   But even with the code and you've taken the item you can still file a "not as described" return.

[style_wise]

It's worth reading about the details so you have a clearer understanding. For example:

if I choose not to take the goods, for any reason

Here you answer your own main query, which is that you receive and inspect the item before handing over the Collection Code. Additionally you are still covered by eBay's MBG.

[andy_ash01]

So the code is as good as money for e-bay?

If I hand over the code, I hand over my money?

Because if that is true, then I need to understand that the seller knows that too.

No-one is in doubt of the meaning of cash, but if I phone the police, the goods still belong to the seller.

[andy_ash01]

The important factor to me is how I handle that if it goes wrong.

I want to have confidence in this but it feels too ambiguous.

I understand that I have a right of return, but if I don't actually have anything to return, then I'm at fault.

[andy_ash01]

e-bay is creating value tokens (money) that are similar to gift vouchers.

I checked with Which? They say;

What are my gift card or voucher rights?

The company that's issued the voucher should include any important terms at the point of purchase.

Always check the terms written on the voucher (or the packaging around it).

If the terms were not prominently brought to your attention when you purchased the gift voucher - for example, they were hidden on the reverse side of the card or voucher and this couldn’t have been seen because the card was stuck down or enclosed in packaging - then you may be able to argue that the terms are contrary to the requirements of good faith.

To meet the requirements of good faith, the terms must be designed, negotiated and entered into with you in a fair and open way.

[jonatjonatjonat]

You don’t let them have the item and the code.

you are inferring a very specific scenario that in all honesty, is unlikely. That isn’t to say it’s not impossible, but it sounds like you are trying to find an issue.

99% of collections will occur without incident. 

In this case if the code was accepted your account would indicate a collection had occurred once the code has been input.

so the solution is - don’t allow the seller to disappear with the goods as you’ve inferred.

[andy_ash01]

I just think there's a hole here, that there didn't used to be.

It's fine.

I've been looking at the money back guarantee in detail, and the information for collection in person is scant. It talks about voiuchers and non fungible tokens.

It explicitly excludes situations;

"The buyer was notified that the item was ready for collection, but did not collect it within the specified time frame"

I have no control over that, but the seller can claim it. If I withold the token because the seller won't show me the goods, how does e-bay know.

One could say 99% of transactions go fine, but then I know how many sellers are fraudulent. It's getting worse.

I'm looking for a reason to be confident, I'm just not finding it that's all.

[jonatjonatjonat · Accepted solution]

I'm looking for a reason to be confident, I'm just not finding it that's all.

I don’t think you will. Not to the level you want.

[andy_ash01]

That's fine.

Someone else can make the purchase.

Thanks for your help.

[van382896]

I want the purchase I have paid for it!

[van382896]

I want the purchase I have made and I have booked travel to collect it!

[tressygirl]

Are you asking a separate question here,  to the one in the opening post ?

@van382896 

[van382896]

Yes, I am wondering why the seller hasn’t got back to me as I will not be
able to get to the venue that we agreed upon for the collection of my goods
and so I have asked her if I can go back to the original point of
collection and I have booked travel tomorrow to the city she suggested
originally. Please can you get in touch with her and ask her to read my
last email and I still want the vintage child chair I have purchased
through her and yourselves eBay. Thank you, I am looking forward to
your reply to this, also.

[jonatjonatjonat]

this is just a forum of other ebay sellers. It is highly unlikely the seller you are in contact with will read this.

ebay, nor anyone here cannot make the seller read the messages you are sending them. You simply need to keep contacting the seller if you wish to change collection arrangements.

[tressygirl]

You are not talking to eBay here.  I am a member just like yourself,  so have no access to anyone's account or messages.

I'm afraid eBay cannot help you here either, because there is nothing to enforce someone to reply to a message.

As this was a collection item, did you by chance exchange telephone numbers or is one present on any order detail?  Perhaps a phone call might help ?

@van382896