Cash on collection - what if buyer pays via eBay (and/or requests courier) before collecting?

[irt303]

Hi, I'm preparing to list a couple of vinyl record job lots for collection only.

I haven't done a 'collection in person' listing before, and feel rather nervous about how things could go (assuming a sale, of course). It seems a bit 'Wild West', with all manner of potential pitfalls!

My strong preference, after having read various posts on the subject, is for the buyer to pay cash upon collection. I have expressed this preference in the listing, but I know that sellers cannot insist on this, which is why eBay includes other payment methods in the listing. I've also made it clear that I will neither send the records via courier, nor accept the buyer arranging for a courier to collect.

Although the listings aren't even live yet, and I'm not in an awkward situation (as yet!), I do like to be forearmed with some information. So, what options would I have if a buyer ignores (or doesn't even read) my payment preference, and makes payment through eBay prior to collection? Message the buyer, and politely ask if they'd consider accepting a refund, then paying cash when they collect? Presumably, this would involve having to relist, too. I also believe that eBay would not allow me to cancel the sale without dishing out a defect or two. And what if the buyer refuses my request? Would I just have to accept the eBay payment, and cross my fingers and toes that the buyer won't open a claim once home with their purchase?

And what would happen if the buyer requested that I send via courier, or asked if they could arrange collection via courier? Would these be acceptable reasons (i.e. without me incurring defects) for me to cancel the sale?

If anyone has any tips, advice or answers, especially from recent experience, I'd be very grateful - I'm all ears!

As usual, I'm trying to anticipate problems that may not even arise, but if things were to go wobbly, I'd like to have at least a general idea of what I could do, rather than heading to these pages in an absolute panic!

Many thanks!

[tressygirl]

You are correct to try and clarify all those scenarios, I hope I can do that for you.

Cash is best for a collection item after purchase.  However,  it cannot be insisted o, , and buyers still have the option to pay by other means,  PayPal / card payments,  and therefore,  attribute those payment protection policies those do offer.

Yes,  you can if a buyer pays,  say by one of these methods,  inform them you do prefer cash on collection would they kindly accept a cancellation request,  so that this order can be cancelled full payment sent to buyer, and then relisted for a cash on collection. 

Only if the buyer agrees to this cancellation request from you,  will your seller fees be refunded and your seller performance not affected.

If a buyer sends a courier ( third party) they are not covered by eBay's 30 day MBg policy,  but could still affect a charge back if pament was made by card.  In these cases it's advisable to print off a copy of the order details,  date and have the couirer name and sign it ,  that it's being collected.

Hope the above helps.

[missdollydaydream]

If your buyers pays by card or Paypal and collects the item, they can still open a SNAD return and you would have to pay for the return carriage or loose the item AND refund. Cash on collection is best, but eBay will do their best to stop a buyer paying cash on collection.

[tressygirl]

eBay do not stop cash on collection,  but it cannot be insisted on. 

Buyers must be presented with other forms of payment when they buy items on eBay.

[fargvs]

The QR code is not essential for Cash on collection items ... for reference >>

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/local-collection?id=4181%3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/postage-delivery/changing-delivery-address-method/local-pickup?id...

[missdollydaydream]

eBay do not stop cash on collection

I beg to differ. I have personal experience of eBay refusing to accept a buyers purchase unless they paid immediately. I suspect there will be more sellers coming to the boards with this this problem.

[tressygirl]

That is correct ,  if you have immediate payment selected then a buyer has to pay by other means,  and is not given the opportunity to pay by cash.

Check you site preferences and your listings,  that you haven't selected Immediate Payment.

Also,  if a buyer accepts an offer they are asked for an immediate payment too,  here again the seller can deselect that option.

@missdollydaydream 

[fargvs]

Collection in person ... Buyer sees >
You can contact your seller to arrange to pay for and collect your item  https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/local-collection?id=4181%3... https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/buying/postage-delivery/changing-delivery-address-method/local-pickup?id... Cash on collection is allowed/acceptable using these eBay links ^^

[missdollydaydream]

Immediate payment was NOT offered. I spoke to an eBay agent who agreed the item was properly listed and had no explanation as to why the buyer was not allowed to commit to buy. I was passed onto a manager who suggested the buyer collects the items and I then record the cash sale. Problem is as I pointed out, the  buyer will not know where to collect untill they purchase because I will not be able to send the collection address untill they do. The CS manager suggested I send a message disguising my contact details.

I have been using eBay for over 25 years and have no intention of using devious selling methods because eBay do not understand their own rules.

[dancewithadingo]

Good Evening Ert

A very sensible approach to selling ie seeking clarification before listing. To stop the buyer organising a courier then put in capitals in the title (if space permits) and again in the description COLLECTION ONLY.  Positively NO COURIERS.  Collection to be within 7 days of the auction end  at a mutually acceptable time and day.

Additionally in the description add cash on pick-up, which allows you to examine your purchase before handing over any money.

Good luck.  I must add that of all collectors record enthusiasts seem to be to be the most picky of all people that I have come across.

[tressygirl]

I apologise for not fully understanding the issue here,  but you are correct again in,  saying contact details cannot be exchanged before purchase is made,  otherwise,   off eBay sales could be made.

Only after purchase ( payment does not have to  be made here at this point),   can contact details be exchanged,  and the buyer is shown various methods of payment which include card and PayPal payments,  which they may prefer to use,  as this does give them protection from those companies.

Cash can be offered as a payment method,   but a seller cannot enforce this.

[irt303]

@tressygirl- Hi there, I see your name pop up often on this forum, and you're always full of good advice and information - this is no exception! I hope I don't sound sycophantic, I mean it sincerely!

So I'm clear on what you're saying:

If the buyer pays via eBay, and will not accept a request to refund, buy again (but not pay) after the seller has relisted, and pay upon collection, the seller must either

a) continue with the sale, arrange collection with the buyer (could be an awkward atmosphere!) and hope that the buyer doesn't subsequently open a claim - or

b) cancel the sale and get a defect.

Have I understood correctly?

As for the collection itself, would I not have the right to cancel the sale (without a defect) if the buyer asked me to send via a courier (which is not 'collection in person')? That would be a clear breach of the seller's (permitted by eBay) conditions.

Similarly, could I not cancel the sale (without a defect) if they insisted on arranging a courier collection, rather than collecting themselves? I guess that's a greyer area, given that a courier collection is still technically 'collection in person'.

I know that, if the buyer sends a courier to collect, this would invalidate eBay's MBG, but that a chargeback would still be possible (if they'd paid by card). That's the main reason I would want cash on collection - then, even if it was a courier coming to collect, no chargeback would be possible.

Another thing I've always wondered: if the buyer doesn't pay through eBay, and sends a courier to pick up, do they give the courier the cash to pay the seller? How does all that work? And, in the event of trouble, how could the seller prove to eBay that a name and signature on a print-out of the order is genuinely that of the courier, and not just random friend or family member I've asked to make up a name or signature?

It looks like collection in person is just as fraught with potential problems as sending via post or courier! I read a collection-only listing earlier today in which the seller stated in all-caps that "under no circumstances" would they send via courier, or allow the buyer to arrange for a courier to pick up. If I've understood things correctly, they could only insist on the former, but not the latter.

I've always been concerned by the chasm between buyer and seller protection. It's one of the main reasons I haven't plunged into selling on eBay as fully as I was hoping to. That, and the lack of clear guidelines and policies when it comes to certain areas, this being a prime example. eBay's help page on 'collection in person' listings gives very little detail indeed.

Anyway, I don't want to tie myself up in knots, so I guess I just have to put the listings up, and then just hope and trust that I don't get a buyer who doesn't read the description properly, or one who does, but who still decides to pay via eBay and/or request courier delivery or arrange courier collection.

Perhaps I was wrong to try and arm myself with some knowledge ahead of listing (even though you say I was right to do so). If anything, I'm now even more anxious about getting ripped off! And - despite your helpful post, for which I'm grateful - I still have questions swirling around in my head! Perhaps I'm better off trying to be positive, and posting here if and when something goes pear-shaped.

I hope that this post isn't as long-winded and convoluted as some of my other posts! But, if it is, perhaps I should simply ask, with regard to 'collection in person' listings: what can a seller insist on, and what can they not?

[missdollydaydream]

Cash can be offered as a payment method,   but a seller cannot enforce this.

My buyer was perfectly happy to pay by cash on collection but was prevented by eBay of doing so. The item was something that could not be sent or collected by a non specialized courier. If I listed the item accepting payment via eBay and the item was collected, a dishonest buyer could have opened a SNAD dispute and I would have had to pay for the return costs. Problem is, I would have had to use a specialist courier at a cost hundreds of times the value of the item. if indeed I could find such a courier willing to do the job! 

[dancewithadingo]

Good Evening Irt

While I commend your caution and concerns it could well be that you are over thinking things and worrying unduly.

Do what I suggest in my earlier post and hopefully all will go well. If needs be just test your nerve and the water with say six records and see how it goes.

Just do it.

[tressygirl]

After purchase if you do not have anything selected as Immediate payment,  not sure what specialized courier means,  but a buyer then buying, does not have to carry on with a payment through eBay , but can can pay cash after purchase .

Truly not sure what has prevented your buyer,  then from paying with cash on collection, it's not a banned pament,   just one which cannot be enforced, if the buyer chooses to buy with another method.

@missdollydaydream 

[irt303]

Just tried to edit my message above (post #12) for clarity, and got the message "The time limit to edit this message has expired." That's a new one on me. Why is there a time limit in the first place, and why can eBay not at least be helpful enough to state what the time limit is? I was taking pains to try to be as clear as possible, but now feel like eBay has sent me over to the naughty step!

[plpmr]

"the buyer was not allowed to commit to buy. I was passed onto a manager who suggested the buyer collects the items and I then record the cash sale. Problem is as I pointed out, the  buyer will not know where to collect untill they purchase because I will not be able to send the collection address untill they do. The CS manager suggested I send a message disguising my contact details."

CS do give out bad advice now and again and this is extremely bad as it constitutes an off eBay deal and violates eBay rules/policies numerous times..

[irt303]

Blimey, I wasn't expecting so many replies! Thanks to you all. I'll be here all evening (and into the small hours) if I reply to every single post (which I like to do if possible, as a gesture of courtesy and gratitude), especially with my propensity to go into things in great detail. And eBay timing out my post edit sessions doesn't help, either!

I haven't even read the replies sent after tressygirl's and missdollydaydreams yet! I will try to respond in time (or at least mark helpful posts), but this may not be possible on a practical level, what with eBay listing and other commitments, so I just wanted to thank everyone for their contributions, and please don't take it personally if I do not reply. The notion of replying to each post is a self-imposed burden, I know - it's not like everyone else unfailingly replies to each and every post in a thread they've started - but I like to be polite, and hate the thought that someone who has tried to assist me may feel that I'm ignoring them or taking their help for granted. I'm probably even more self-conscious about the whole thing because I'm very aware that, in terms of help on these pages, I am far more of a taker than a giver (more from lack of selling experience than from my temperament).

Uh, anyway... thanks again for taking the time to reply, it's greatly appreciated.

[tressygirl]

You are very welcome, end of the day after purchase,  cash is always best,  but cannot be enforced if the buyer wishes to pay by other means.

[irt303]

@missdollydaydream- Thanks for replying. Yes, that risk is precisely why I would prefer cash! But sellers cannot insist on this, leaving them completely exposed to this risk. Any action the seller takes to mitigate the risk could result in a defect. Yes, ebay certainly don't seem to like 'cash on collection', and I suspect that they only include it as an option (and a fairly obscure one at that if my experience is anything to go by) because they're legally obliged to. Information about 'cash on collection' on eBay's help pages is very light on detail, and appears to have been added as an afterthought!