Postage Paid But Decided to Collect

[kingledders]

My buyer paid for postage and then contacted me saying he wanted to collect.

We arranged the collection and all was fine and I refunded his postage in cash.

How do I now get to the money in EBay? I don't seem to be able to change the status to 'Collected'? 

[tressygirl]

You cannot change to collection now, and as there has been no collection code received,  and obviously no tracking,  you will have to wait a minimum of 14 days for your payout for this item.

If this happens again, best way forward would be to cancel the item, citing Buyer Requests to Cancel,   which refunds the buyer and to relist it again as a Collection Item only,  for the buyer to buy again from your eBay listing.

Let the buyer know what you are doing but be very,  very clear in your messages why you are delisting,  that is, it's to relist for the buyer to buy from your listing,   that this is Not an off eBay sale.

Buyer then buys and pays through eBay checkout,  cash is no longer allowed for a collection item, and here the buyer receives that important collection code.  You scan this code or enter the numbers manually to the left of Confirm Collection,  this shows the item was collected , and will release your payout sooner.

@kingledders 

[kingledders]

Thanks for your help. Once I have waited 14 days will the funds automatically be released? 

I've not sold anything on EBay for years but it's clear that everything has become super complicated! I understand that tracking helps protect buyer and seller but there are so many rules that as an infrequent seller it's impossible to know what you're doing and its not clear what you need to do. It's been a really poor experience 

[style_wise]

The experience will get better and easier with familiarity. As @tressygirl advises just follow eBay policies, which you know are there to protect you.

You should have the payment released in a fortnight but you have no Collection Code and no Tracking Number to protect you. This means that if an unscrupulous Buyer opens an Item Not Received case then eBay will refund them.