Can I specify collect only?

[crofterphotographer]

I want to sell a bulky dog bed and basket which go together and it would be a nightmare to post. Can I specify "collection only"?

[m25jet]

You can specify Collection In Person Only, but if you are going to set your listing up in that way then try implementing this bit of advice in order to avoid any potential problems caused by buyers paying via PayPal if you would prefer to be paid via Cash On Collection.

First of all, avoid using the basic selling form - eBay have been known to alter adverts without the seller's consent when they have been created using the basic selling form, the end result being that eBay have caused several problems for sellers, such as lowering the asking price, which has sometimes caused the item to sell but for less than the seller wanted, which in turn has led to the seller not honouring the sale, thus leading to a disgruntled buyer opening a case against the seller and/or leaving negative feedback in relation to the transaction.  Another common problem is that eBay often add the Best Offer feature without the seller's consent if it was not already included, the end result being that the seller ends up receiving unwanted Best Offers as a result of eBay's interference.  There are more problems that have resulted from the use of the basic selling form, but I'll move onto what I was going to say with regards to the best way to set up the listing.

When you set up the listing use the Advanced Selling Form, sometimes referred to as the Business Selling Tool.  Ignore any eBay warnings that it is only for business sellers - anybody can use it to advertise items for sale and you will not be penalised by eBay for using the Advanced Selling Form to list your items for sale.

Once you have got the Advanced Selling Form template up on the screen and have got to the part where you enter the asking price, look at the section just beneath it.  There is a heading that reads "Offline Payment Methods" - click on that heading and it will open up a list of drop-down options.  Tick the box next to the second to last option on the list, which is the Cash On Collection option.  There is a white box beneath the drop-down list - type something into that box along the lines of "I have included an option at checkout that you can tick in order to indicate that you would prefer to pay via Cash On Collection.  Should you tick this box the sale will be concluded on eBay, in line with eBay selling rules, but you will still be allowed to collect the item in person and pay in cash."  The instructions that you type into that box will show up on your listing for any potential buyers to read, so if you do get somebody who wants to buy the item and the buyer would prefer to pay in cash but is under the impression that if he/she clicks on the Buy It Now button then he/she would have to pay via PayPal then this should help to reassure the buyer and possibly clinch a sale.

If as a result of doing that a potential buyer did decide to commit to buying the item and chose the Cash On Collection option at checkout then the transaction would show up on eBay as having been completed via the site, in which case eBay would then allow you to provide the buyer with your address and exchange telephone numbers.  If you were to try to exchange these details prior to the buyer committing to the sale then if eBay spotted it both you and the buyer could end up with sanctions being placed on your accounts, so it is best not to provide that information until the buyer has committed to purchasing the item.  If you don't provide the Cash On Collection option by activating that option via the Offline Payment Methods options on the Advanced Selling Form then the buyer will have no second option but to pay via PayPal when he/she goes through checkout, which could lead to problems.  Provide the buyer with a legitimate means of getting around this obstacle that doesn't breach any eBay rules with regards to selling and you may well end up selling the item sooner than would otherwise have been the case.

[**peaseblossom**]

Yes.  On the selling form, under the headings "Delivery details" and "Domestic postage" you should see the default setting of "Flat: same cost to all buyers".  Click on the dropdown arrow and change it to "No postage: Local collection only".

[john1297576]

You can't refuse paypal but it is far safer to ask for cash, AFTER INSPECTION.

The danger with paypal is that you have no proof of delivery and a dishonest buyer can get a refund if they claim Not Received.

May sound a bit far fetched but it happens, far too may buyers will do anything to get their purchase for free.

[rusticrye]

And insist on cash on collection only, as PayPal is not safe for sellers of collection items.

@crofterphotographer