Sold a few BEC engines for really cheap on ebay, making it really clear its cash on collection only.

two people have bid on them without contacting me first, and then after the auction told me they will be "sending a courier".

First one wanted the engine packaging up for nothing - its not like massive plastic crates, or pallets are free! But to be fair I did say I could potentially organise a courier in the advert, so maybe they are just being a bit cheeky and he is at least using a courier that is flexible in terms of collection times/locations so I can be at work at meet him at the boot of my car.

The second one waits a week to get in touch, and only when I file a non payer item strike... and then tells me he will be sending a courier... wants to know the weight/dimensions etc. I am quietly confident he has underestimated what normal couriers will collect! And if they think I'm taking the day off work for THEIR courier they can go jump!

So basically I now have the hassle and ball-ache of couriers, having to send items in packaging that isn;t really up to muster, and I get NOTHING for doing it, and carry all the risk if something goes wrong in transit!

If I offered postage, it would be in the advert, and I would have built in a fee to cover the time it would take to package, the packaging it will cost to wrap up properly and the time I'll have to take out my day for the courier. As it was I EXPRESSLY said in the advert, cash on collection.

GRRRRRRR

Thanks - that feels better

[Edited on 13/11/11 by Dangle_kt]

sorry - that wasn't very clear was it, in the red mist rant and all that

on one item (r1 engine cases), I said collection only, but I might be able to organise a courier if they contact me for a quote before bidding.

Which they didn't...hopefully that makes a little more sense now!

On the second one I didn't offer anything. Didn't stop them either.

I'm giving myself a good paper trail through ebay messages about them taking full responsibilty if they get them collected. I hope the paypal monkeys will look at it properly if it comes to a claim...

[Edited on 13/11/11 by Dangle_kt]

We don't allow "own couriers" any more on eBay full stop.

Lots of potential problems not least been they will have paid you by paypal so your wide open to a INR dispute, secondly should the item get damaged then again you will most likely cop for it and finally as you have pointed out, still wants packing for transport.

Refund them both tell them cash on collection is fine.

I would have though that the minute the purchasers agent has made the collection, then any problems thereafter are the purchasers and the purchasers alone! If it gets lost... they instructed the courier. If it gets damaged... they instructed the courier.

As long as you retain the collection docket, then I don't see how there can be any comeback for any courier-related problems!?


But back to the main point of the thread... most couriers won't accept something as heavy as a bike engine, so you're looking at haulier. That means draining the engine and securing to a pallet. Then booking a haulier who has a tail-lift and trolley (assuming you don't have your own fork-lift). None of that is cheap... it'll be £70 by the time VAT is added all day long!

Go back to them and make it clear that if they organise an agent to collect, then the agent will have to take care of the palleting themselves.

But to be fair I did say I could potentially organise a courier in the advert

As it was I EXPRESSLY said in the advert, cash on collection.

So which was it??

If you give people an inch on eba you know what happens, i would refer them to the ad and state cash on collection or relist.

quote:

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Originally posted by chrisxr2
But to be fair I did say I could potentially organise a courier in the advert

As it was I EXPRESSLY said in the advert, cash on collection.

So which was it??

If you give people an inch on eba you know what happens, i would refer them to the ad and state cash on collection or relist.

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tell them to do one, its not worth the headache. And as said, you are exposing yourself to a lot of risk.

Packaging an engine,as far as I am concerned would be strapping it to a pallet.

Do you not find with ebay adverts, no matter how well you think youve written them, some knacker thinks of something you failed to cover.



What ever way you do it, its a pain in the backside selling on Eclart

I had a similar problem recently on ebay. I sold a Golf Rallye intercooler which is pretty big, same size as the rad. The auction said postage to the UK only as I worried about posting it anyway. Auction ended and low and behold winning bidder was in Holland and had made no attempt to contact me before bidding, was really pissed off! I told him he was welcome to come and collect but there was no way I was posting, ended up doing a 2nd chance offer and selling it to someone in the uk for a couple of quid less.

quote:

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Originally posted by scootz
I would have though that the minute the purchasers agent has made the collection, then any problems thereafter are the purchasers and the purchasers alone! If it gets lost... they instructed the courier. If it gets damaged... they instructed the courier.

As long as you retain the collection docket, then I don't see how there can be any comeback for any courier-related problems!?

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As far as I'd be concerned he's sending a courier to collect it on his behalf, and as long as the courier can prove the same then it's been collected in person

Which leaves you wide open for an INR case which you would 100% lose.

What's INR?

I had an engine and a gearbox on ebay not long ago. They went for nothing (and cost me nothing) and the lady buyer said she would send a courier despite me having said 'collection in person only'. I told her that I could not take any time off, there would be no one here, i would leave it outside the house and if it went, it went. She paid by paypal sending it as a gift, i left it outside, it disappeared, positive feedback, i'm a happy bunny!

quote:

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Originally posted by Ninehigh
What's INR?

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In principal ebay is good, it's only when something goes wrong that ebay AND Paypal are a pain in the ar$e. As a seller you have to cover every loop hole to stop someone trying it on or the buyer wins 99% of disputes

Ian

I quite often email people who say cash on collection only and ask them, as I'm in the northwest of Scotland and collection is rarely an option. That said I always mail first and ask, never expect the packaging for free and try to arrange the courier at a convenient time. I accept that if it shows up broken its my problem, however until it shows up on the couriers tracking number Id regard it as the sellers problem.