Courier collection

[lady-bruche]

Hi, I’m selling a heavy and fragile item as collection in person. Someone has bought it and wants to send a courier to collect. They only mentioned this a week after purchasing, and only after asking for my email address (which I was unwilling to supply). I can’t see how I can protect myself as a seller if the item is lost or damaged. If I cancel the sale it looks like I may have to pay a fine and receive poor feedback. Does anyone have any advice for me please?

[tressygirl]

Advice your buyer that the courier must bring along the 6 digit QR code they,  the buyer,  received when they bought and paid for your item.  Without this code, you cannot release the item.

The code  when scanned or the numbers manually entered tin the order details, is your only proof that the item has been collected.

If the buyer does send a courier,  then they relinquish any buyer protection under the rules of eBay's 30 day MBG,  Money Back Guarantee policy.

@lady-bruche 

[red_magpie]

as tressygirl has pointed out, when buyers arrange for collection by their own courier collection they disqualify the transaction from eBay’s money back guarantee. This was introduced precisely because some buyers were claiming a refund from their seller when their own courier had damaged their item.

The only point of caution is that, if the buyer paid eBay by credit or debit card, they may still be able to claim through their card issuer. This is beyond anyone's control, even eBay.

The fact is that there is no entirely safe way to sell (or buy) through eBay. It's up to the seller or buyer to judge for themselves whether the risks are worth taking. You may, as you say, risk bad feedback and even an account defect for refusing to complete the sale, but this no longer includes a "fine".