Local pick question and suggestions.

[mjcj1980]

I have been on Ebay for a number of years, as a buyer and seller. I have been successfully offering shipping and local pick up, depending on the item being sold, because some of the larger things would cost too much to ship and luckily I've never had a problem, so far. In the past, when something sold for local pick up, I could get the buyers name and address, to work with them on directions to our home, or a place to meet, basically using their address as a 'safety net', knowing a little something about who I am giving our home address to. As of this week, I can no longer get 'their' information which makes me feel very unsafe not knowing anything about who might show up or where they are coming from so I can work with them. Is this the new normal method or am I missing something because I now feel very nervous and scared to continue offering local pick up to a potential buyer I know nothing about, or who might show up. Thank you in advance for any insight because I am seriously thinking I might need to forego future local pick ups.

[varebelrose]

I always do local pickup at a public place with lots of people around. Many police departments now have a monitored area for that as well. Nothing has realistically change; Just because you may have had a buyer's address, does not mean that was/is their actual address or name....

[glasser]

Yes, a public place is critical. Of course, have them pay in advance as well. 

[pburn]

If you ship a package, what return address do you use on the mailing label?

[bonjourami]

Im not sure that knowing the buyers address would give you any more of a 'safety net'. Ive had several successful pick up only items without knowing that. The items were much too large and heavy to be picked up anywhere but my garage, and has always gone smoothly,with my dh present of course.

[mjcj1980]

Thank you everyone for all the advice, and I appreciate the information about meeting in very public places, which I also have done in the past on some occasions, again, depending on where they were coming from. Being, ah, let's just say, an older person, getting around is not easy anymore, not having a cell phone to communicate (text) with the buyer to confirm our meeting place and the timing should something change on either end, doesn't help either. Again, I want to thank everyone for the suggestions, ideas and thoughts.

[varebelrose]

"...have them pay in advance as well"

Cash in hand only. Yes, I know eBay requires you to offer an electronic payment means, but you can also make it very clear in the listing that you want greenbacks. This works out MUCH better for both buyer and seller... Buyer gets to physically see/feel/try the item before making payment, and seller doesn't have to worry about the buyer claiming INR after they have driven away after a local pickup. Of course you have to mark it "paid" so eBay gets their cut, but out of probably 75-100 local pickup sales I have never had any problems with this.