HELP - need quick Ebay advice (selling) and trying to be polite

[Seraphine1]

Hi all

I sold a gas hob on Ebay last night. I listed it as collection only as it's heavy and bulky (and has a pipe welded to the bottom for the gas fitting). The guy that bought it was from out of the area, so I mentioned this in my invoice:

Dear Mr F, I just noticed that you are in Nottinghamshire - this item is collection only from Scotland. As I listed it as such, I regret that I cannot send it to you, so can you please let me know when you can come collect it? (perhaps you have a friend in this area?) Many thanks, D

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This is from him, this morning:

Hi, i'm just about to pay through paypal. i will be arranging a courier to collect. is there any packaging with the item? if not can you give it some protection during transit? i will add a few quid for the costs. also can i have your address so i can get courier quotes please? Thankyou very much

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Arg! I don't want to wait all day for a stupid courier to arrive! The last time I agreed to do this (again, after listing a collection only, but the person wrote to me and ASKED first) I had to wait 2 DAYS in the house as there was a screwup with the courier.

I composed this but have NOT sent it yet. Please tell me if I have to adjust my snark levels.   I don't want to risk my star rating, but I also don't want to be rolled over on this.  I am really trying to resist the tempation to grouse at him.

Also - how much should I charge him for packing and hassle costs?

Dear R,

The reason I asked for it to be collection in person is because I didn't want to be responsible for packing it up and waiting all day for a courier to arrive. I've been burned by this in the past and I honestly didn't want the extra hassle - hence the "collection only" listing. The hob has a pipe fitting on the bottom that make it an odd size, and without looking at it I'm not sure if it's welded on or not. I don't have a box that will fit, so I'll have to make an extra trip out to locate one. I've had instances when people outside the area have asked first before they send a courier - I haven't minded and have done my best to accommodate, but it means waiting in the house all day and I've got two kids and a business to run. Perhaps next time, you can ask your seller first.

If you want to proceed with a courier, please add £5 for packaging to your paypal payment. If you want to cancel, please let me know.
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Please help?! He's waiting for a response.

[Bethalize]

I think that collection by courier is completely reasonable for what you've specified. You didn't say "Collection be purchaser". However that doesn't mean you have to wait in for them for more than a reasonable amount of time.

As for packaging I would suggest you say that you will charge a token amount to cover the cost of wrapping it up but that you will not be responsible for any damage.

[KitKat]

I think that collection by courier is completely reasonable for what you've specified. You didn't say "Collection be purchaser". However that doesn't mean you have to wait in for them for more than a reasonable amount of time.

As for packaging I would suggest you say that you will charge a token amount to cover the cost of wrapping it up but that you will not be responsible for any damage.

I would also give him a time window for the courier to collect the package.  If there is an extra charge, that is between him and the courier.

[Virg]

KitKat's answer is best.  Simply tell him what the extra cost will be to wrap it, for whatever wrapping method you're willing to use.  If you're not willing to make a special trip out for a box to fit it, tell the buyer that you don't have packaging that will fit it so the courier will have to provide it or it'll go without.  Tell him, "The courier will need to arrive at X hour/time frame, or I won't be home to turn it over."

In other words, do what you're willing to do and no more, give him concrete time frames for the courier and then let him deal with it (or back out of the sale).

Virg

[sparksals]

I agree with Bethalize.  He is having someone else collect it.  If your listing did not specify no courier pick up, I think you should go with the flow on this and chalk it up to a lesson learned in being more specific in your listing. 

I think your email is too detailed.  I think it is perfectly reasonable for you to state that there must be a pick up window, say from 10-2 or whatever time.

[audrey1962]

I know nothing about couriers. Can you just leave the item on your front stoop? That's what I do for charity donations. You can tell the buyer you will wrap but not package and that you are not liable for it sitting out.

Again, I don't know how couriers work in your country, so this may not work at all, just an idea.

[TootsNYC]

Or, if  someone needs to be there, is there a local shop you could arrange to have hold it for you? It would mean you taking it there, of course, and it's heavy. But it's an idea.

[Virg]

audrey1962 wrote:

"I know nothing about couriers. Can you just leave the item on your front stoop? That's what I do for charity donations. You can tell the buyer you will wrap but not package and that you are not liable for it sitting out."

Most couriers won't take anything without a signature because there's too much risk that they'll take the wrong stuff, or too much or too little.  Also, since someone paid for the item, if she leaves it out and it gets stolen, she's out the money because the buyer won't pay for it.  That's different from a charity donation, where you're not risking the payment if the item grows legs.

Virg

[SiderisAnon]

Other than packaging this item up some so that it can be transported safely, which seems reasonable to charge a fee to cover your costs for, I don't see that a courier is different than a person picking it up.

If a person were coming, you would arrange for them to come on Tuesday between 2:00 and 4:00, for example.  Make the same arrangement with this customer.  If the courier service he wants to use tries to insist on an all-day or two-day window, that is the buyer's problem, not yours.

Frankly, if a courier doesn't show up one day and wants to return the next at a time of the service's choosing, you have the right to say, "That doesn't work for me.  How about Thursday between 10:00 and 12:00?  I'm home then."


Just make it clear to the buyer that a time has to be arranged in advance.  Also make it clear that you will be taking X precautions with the package, but that's it, because you don't feel it's possible to wrap it securely for shipment with UPS or someone.  (I'm not really sure I understood what you're selling, but could you at least put some bubble wrap around it?  You charge for the cost of buying the wrap, of course.)

[DavidH]

I agree that a having a courier pick something up is collecting it as opposed to assuming you will ship it.  You have the option of saying that packing it will not be convenient for you, but it is not a particularly unreasonable request.  You can also limit the courier to a reasonable time window, perhaps 2 hours on a day you negotiate with them.

If you only want the buyer to pick the item up, then you need to say in the listing that the buyer must pick it up in person.