Why don't...

[Robotstar5]

...people read all of an Ebay listing?.

I put a quad bike on ebay, the standard info states "buyer responsible for collection" and in the description I put "collection only".
A few minutes after the auction ends I get an invoice request asking for total including delivery to an address in South Wales 160 miles away!.

 

[awemawson]

I'm amused by the number of sellers who advertise something that obviously needs collecting but carries a silly low delivery price. I think what happens is it defaults to the last rate you selected. So if you advertise (say) a book with £2.50 delivery, then list a stonking great lathe without changing the delivery options it gets listed as £2.50 delivery !

 

[julianthegypsy]

It drives me nuts! Why people don't read descriptions is utterly beyond me but I've had it happen so many times. The latest is an old stove that I sold spares or repair as I don't have time to fix it up. The guy then asks if I could fix it up for him at extra cost. No. The advert clearly says I need it gone as I don't have time!

 

[Bill Edwards]

Did you state on the postage part of the listing that it is collection in person - what i'm getting at is what would the buyer have seen on the postage side of things. Would it have said 'collection in person' or shown other options too?

If it was listed with no delivery options on the official listing as well as saying collection only in the listing then i'd be tempted to see what it would cost to send it - buy a pallet, book a courier for about £60 plus a bit to strap it down, add a few quid for your hassle then send that amount - probably a good £100 or so - and see if they pay it!
It either lets them b***** off or if they do pay it it covers your cost and hassle of sending it!

 

[mike os]

easy... £1500.00

 

[F.J.]

I sold a Honda crf last year for £2500. I only owned the bike for month so was asking what I had paid with no offers. I told the guy this on the phone before he left (from Leeds to manchester) which he said was understandable. Once he arrived and did his bit of tyre kicking he asked what my lowest offer would be!!!! After 10 minutes of telling him the price was the price I'd put in the eBay listing (buy it now, not an auction) Id had enough and started to wheel it back into the garage when he finally decided to cough up the full amount. Can't be doing with messers

 

[Robotstar5]

Did you state on the postage part of the listing that it is collection in person - what i'm getting at is what would the buyer have seen on the postage side of things. Would it have said 'collection in person' or shown other options too?

As it's in the vehicles section I couldn't change some things, the first section is standard.

Postage: Will post to United Kingdom. Read item description or contact seller for postage options.

Delivery: Buyer is responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.

and I put Collection only in the description, so I suppose if the buyer just reads Will post to United Kingdom and ignores all the other statements it must be my fault?

 

[Robotstar5]

...buy a pallet, book a courier for about £60 plus a bit to strap it down, add a few quid for your hassle then send that amount

He has asked if I could palletise it for collection by his courier, but 30 mins of googling couldn't find one that would take a 2000mm x 1200mm load, I suppose if I'd have asked one here someone would have posted me a link within a few minutes

 

[Wendelspanswick]

He has asked if I could palletise it for collection by his courier, but 30 mins of googling couldn't find one that would take a 2000mm x 1200mm load, I suppose if I'd have asked one here someone would have posted me a link within a few minutes

If you can push it you shouldn't have to stick it on a pallet, just make sure it can't be knocked into gear and the handbrake is off.
They should be able to push on/off a taillift and strap to the side of the truck. Try Paisley, large goods.
http://www.paisleyfreight.com

 

[MattF]

and I put Collection only in the description, so I suppose if the buyer just reads Will post to United Kingdom and ignores all the other statements it must be my fault?

Nah, they'll just ignore absolutely anything you say or write regardless. You could have had a flashing neon at the top of the listing saying 'personal collection only' and they'd likely still have done the same. Just remember that if someone is being such a pain to start with, having ignored everything you've already said, what will they be like once they recieve the item? Plus, they obviously won't have payed cash if it's being collected by a courier, so you then have the likely possibility of a Paypal dispute for nonexistent problems the buyer may create. I know it may appear from the above that I have a particularly low opinion of people, but I'd honestly expect the worst and allow for it.

Securely packing something, palletising it, and then having it go through the courier system without damage, all of that is a pain in the jacksy, which you made clear you didn't want the hassle of. Not being harsh, but if people are either unwilling to read else aren't willing to collect something themselves, they have only themselves to blame if you cancel their bid and either reoffer or relist.

 

[Robotstar5]

If you can push it you shouldn't have to stick it on a pallet, just make sure it can't be knocked into gear and the handbrake is off.
They should be able to push on/off a taillift and strap to the side of the truck.

The buyer is currently trying to sort out collection, but he does seem to be a bit "half soaked" about logistics.
I've sent him a few ideas and links to courier services.
I had another quad bike (replacement for the one sold) sent 160 miles from Essex for £95, it turned up on a Transit sized flatback car transporter.

 

[Robotstar5]

Just remember that if someone is being such a pain to start with, having ignored everything you've already said, what will they be like once they recieve the item? Plus, they obviously won't have payed cash if it's being collected by a courier, so you then have the likely possibility of a Paypal dispute for nonexistent problems the buyer may create.

The only good thing so far is he paid by bank transfer within 24 hours of winning.

 

[MattF]

They're tough ones to decide on, when they're like that. I'll honestly admit that occasionally I've been mostly tempted to just think sod it and not bother dealing with someone any further, but have decided against dropping them and they have ended up being genuinely decent seeming people, but then some have just been 'mares. Whether you're able and willing to cater to the buyer is the main point. If you do, they may be really thankful or they may be ignorant and just expect it, so don't necessarily expect any thanks for your efforts.

 

[brightspark]

I'm amused by the number of sellers who advertise something that obviously needs collecting but carries a silly low delivery price. I think what happens is it defaults to the last rate you selected. So if you advertise (say) a book with £2.50 delivery, then list a stonking great lathe without changing the delivery options it gets listed as £2.50 delivery !

i bought a drill of ebay and it said £250 del and i won the drill for 40 quid . no sign a week later so i rang up . he said del 16 quid hmm ok i said its still worth it and sent him the cash . no bl...dy drill so rang up got a bull story and had to lodge a complaint . in the end got my money back 1 lousy transaction in 80 isnt bad though

 

[Bill Edwards]

As it's in the vehicles section I couldn't change some things, the first section is standard.

Postage: Will post to United Kingdom. Read item description or contact seller for postage options.

Delivery: Buyer is responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.

and I put Collection only in the description, so I suppose if the buyer just reads Will post to United Kingdom and ignores all the other statements it must be my fault?

No, I wouldn't say it is your fault. I just wondered how daft or pushy the buyer was.


It does sound though now like the buyer is trying to get it sorted so you don't have any justification for sending an invoice with a suitable amount for delivery multiplied by 1.5, hopefully it won't cause much trouble.

 

[Kayos]

I don't sell on eBay after a couple of bad buyers trying it on, can't say too much as I'm currently involved in legal precedings with ebay right now

 

[mr migwire]

ive been stung a couple of times as a seller and had a fair few bad experiances as a buyer too, gets my back up when folk start messing, no need for it really.

 

[awemawson]

I've been on ebay since March 2001 and have done over 2500 transactions, mostly as a buyer but many sales. I have only had one or two issues, and they have all been resolved in my favour by ebay. Admittedly very few have been in the motor section where I think most of the trouble is.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Gumtree is as bad with motors. We had a nightmare trying to sell a vw sharan. We clearly put in the advert that the turbo wasn't boosting, yet had dozens of Eastern Europeans insisting on coming a hundred miles then getting really aggressive because the turbo wasn't boosting and offering stupid money. One of them even said, "I don't read the adverts", as if it was somehow our fault. Never again.

 

[Robotstar5]

I've been registered since 2005, had a couple of hundred transactions but only one issue where someone bought an item, but didn't turn up to pay or collect.