Help needed with collection in person and cash payment

[clunkandrattle]

Today I sold a heavy item, so I listed it for collection only. My buyer was local, so came to collect and offered to pay cash. No problem, I said, and he drove away with the item. He paid my auction price plus the Buyer Protection percentage. I assumed I would be prompted to refund the Buyer Protection but there is no obvious place in the listing to advise you that the item had been collected and I had been paid. Consequently I think I owe eBay approx £9 and would like to pay, and get the record straight. Frustratingly, there seems to be no way to write to eBay and correct my error, and I am now concerned that the buyer will be penalised for paying cash. How do I break out of this algorithm loop? Mark

[jonatjonatjonat · Accepted solution]

Cash on collection shouldn't be possible anymore.

The buyer is supposed to make the purchase on ebay and you can then provide the collection details. The buyer is supposed to bring a collection code and you enter this on ebay which confirms the collection and releases your funds.

I take it its the PA system?

[plpmr]

adding to the advice already given -

"there is no obvious place in the listing to advise you that the item had been collected and I had been paid."

Unless the buyer has purchased through the listing you have indulged in an off eBay deal and that could cause you serious problems.

the other question is how did they get your address?

[papso22]

You have done an off ebay deal that is contrary to current policies, that's why you are stuck.

You can't correct it and you owe your buyer a £9 refund.  I don't understand why he paid it in the first place.

Even when cash was acceptable it came with no access to the money back guarantee. 

[clunkandrattle]

Any indulgence was purely accidental and non-malicious. Buyer was local so I was able to wait outside for his arrival. 

I wil refund the cash and he will pay through eBay. 

All this would have been a lot simpler if eBay had the common sense to reply to messages... (sigh)

[clunkandrattle]

I never intended to indulge in an off eBay deal. There are serious problems with eBay's site navigation that made it difficult for an occasional seller to understand what was required. I stand ready to repay the Buyer Protection to eBay, or arrange for my buyer to pay it. 

We live and learn!

[paulo.seth]

What if you get there to collect an used item and the item is not according to description? As you have paid for it already, you'd have to go through all the faf of opening a dispute and everything until (and if) you get your money back. In the meantime eBay retains the money and profits from it unethically. Absolutely disgraceful. Cash is legal tender and should be accepted everywhere. Although I am not a lawyer I wonder how lawful it is to prevent people from paying for their items in cash.

[jckl1957]

If the item is not what you expected, you don't give the seller the collection code.

That way, they won't get your payment.

You can ask them to cancel the sale - depending how you paid, you will get your money back instantly or a few days later, although credit card payments are slower to be refunded.

If they won't cancel, 7 days after the sale you open an 'item not received' case and get a refund.

Previously, if you paid a seller cash on collection, you had no protection from the Money Back Guarantee.

So, if after a week, your item ground to a halt or you discovered a poor repair, or damage not described in the listing, Ebay would not help you.  When you pay through Ebay checkout, you have 30 days to start a return if you discover the item is faulty, not as described. has missing parts etc.