Viewing an item

[russelli16]

I want to view a piano before I make any commitment to buy. As ebay block all direct communication how is it possible to set up a viewing. I would not commit to spending over £1,000 without viewing the item.

Many thanks

[red_magpie · Accepted solution]

I would not commit to spending over £1,000 without viewing the item.

Technically, eBay is asking you to do just that. They could have made bids for items for collection non-binding, but they didn't. This means that you have to bid for and win the item, and under the user agreement are required to pay for.

If you decide not to buy the item after inspection, you have to ask the seller to cancel the sale - you can't do so yourself. The seller can make a mutual agreement cancellation, or they could treat it as an unpaid item cancellation. EBay would then give you four days to pay, or receive a non-payment strike for causing the sale to be cancelled. You would then have to appeal this strike to eBay, explaining the reason for non-payment.

It is a very unsatisfactory situation. It was introduced for eBay's benefit, to prevent members evading payment of eBay's fees by making private, off-eBay deals. Typically, having secured eBay's interests they did nothing to address the problems it has caused for buyers and sellers.

[russelli16 · Accepted solution]

Many thanks for the response. As highlighted this is an unsatisfactory situation for both purchaser and seller alike. The seller may lose an alternative sales and the buyer has a negative recorded for not completing the purchase. Nobody in their right mind would spend a serious amount of money on an item they have not physically seen.

I won’t be taking the purchase any further - potentially both me and the seller have lost out.

Regards

[tobiasd4 · Accepted solution]

As long as seller sends cancellation & agree, no impact on you or seller.

[tressygirl]

You do not have to commit to paying ,  but you do have to commit to buying,  as this is when eBay get their fees ,  and not when a buyer pays.

So make sure the seller does not have an immediate payment selected on that listing,  message and ask them.  Then this is the procedure.

You buy the item,  but do not go along with payment.

Then all contact details can be exchanged,  as fees have been paid to eBay.  You go,  inspect  the item,  and if you like the item you pay cash / bank ttansfer.  If you don't like it,  you walk away,  do not pay,  and seller sends you a cancellation request,  you need to accept this,  as it refunds that seller fee.