Potential buyer of a pick-up only item said he wants to make payment when he comes to pick up...

[gretschwhtfalcon]

I need some advice on this. I wrote back to him and said I would not be comfortable with that at all, mentioning that any purchased item is paid for prior to shipping, so why would a pick-up only item be considered any differently? I suggest the usual format - payment made and deposited in my PayPal account BEFORE any pick-up date is arranged. Am I right?  This suggestion of  his makes me very uncomfortable. This is an eBay buyer with a very good track record, but I'm extremely wary of what he is suggesting. Thoughts???

[pburn]

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@gretschwhtfalcon wrote:
Sounds a bit risky no matter how it's done, at least in terms of having any sort of 'tracking' to prove the buyer received the item. There really is none. Why is a handful of cash more 'proof' than a PayPal statement showing the transaction? Seems to me it isn't. As to "very clear signs" that the seller did not allow the buyer to pickup the item, the buyer can say whatever he/she wants once they leave my place. Sounds like eBay needs to tighten things up a bit more with regards to this. Let me ask this...having never sold an item local pick-up - what happens on eBay, once the transaction is completed? My only experience on eBay is getting those "your item is paid for and ready to ship" notices. How does it work once a pick-up only item is sold?

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I've given the best information--via eBay staff--that I can possibly give. If you choose not to take it, or not to believe it, fine by me. I'm all out of advice.

[impalajohnny]

I see you have a $1700 bike listed. If that is the item in question there is no way I'd take electronic payment from a stranger on the internet as the seller. And as an honest buyer there is no way I'd hand over that much money on something I never saw in person. I would not trust ebay/paypal to get a dispute right in either case with that much money on the line.

I understand why your buyer wants to pay cash and you should want cash too.

The risk is not in ebay/paypal it is in the nature of the transaction. Lets forget online venues and say you posted a for sale flyer on a pole by the road. A buyer shows up wanting to pay with epayment like paypal, credit card, a stack of gift cards, personal check, travelers check, etc. etc. In other words methods that can be hacked or stolen or reversed later. You would probably know right away to say NO. If he really has the money in one of these formats he can leave a deposit and go get the cash. If he can't or won't go get the cash something is wrong.

It's the same as it was 100 or 1000 years ago, the internet changes nothing. You sell something expensive locally you get the cash or you take your chances. You might even want to test the notes with one of those counterfeit detection pens you get for a dollar at the office supply.

Eyes open be safe!

[eunster1313]

Offering local pickup

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/local-pickup?id=4181&st=12...

Buying with local pickup

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/postage-delivery/changing-delivery-address-method/local-pickup?id=4...

[goldenmeowie]

Download link

Here's a link above for my "contract agreement" for non-cash pickup items.  

As a buyer of a $2,000 item, I would want to see it first and ride it first at least around the block. If I'm a smart scammer buyer, I'll pay via PayPal in case something goes wrong with the item. Then I can get my money back later and lie and say you didn't show it to me.

Which is why as a seller, you should only accept cash especially when it's over $50.

If they pay by non-cash, above is my download link to a contract agreement to be filled out during the transaction. If the buyer tries to reverse the transaction, you can sue them in small claims court. Be sure who you're selling to since they can use a cc or PayPal account that they stole.

[yuzuha]

I've sold many things on Craigslist and cash on pickup is the standard/preferred method of payment for a reason.  The buyer wants to be able to look at/inspect/test the item before they pay for it; you as the seller want to have a payment method that can't then be reversed.  The buyer pays, you give the buyer their item, the transaction is done.  Easy and painless.

[tunicaslot]

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@gretschwhtfalcon wrote:

I need some advice on this. I wrote back to him and said I would not be comfortable with that at all, mentioning that any purchased item is paid for prior to shipping, so why would a pick-up only item be considered any differently? I suggest the usual format - payment made and deposited in my PayPal account BEFORE any pick-up date is arranged. Am I right?  This suggestion of  his makes me very uncomfortable. This is an eBay buyer with a very good track record, but I'm extremely wary of what he is suggesting. Thoughts???

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Seems like you don't like the aspect of meeting someone in person and I get that - I don't like that either and why I seldom sell on Clist or Marketplace - I'm just not comfortable. Then you have to remove local pickup available from your listing. No one I know that uses the clist or marketplace accepts anything but cash. As others have stated - you have no idea who you are dealing with and whether that account has been compromised. We've had many posts thru the years where sellers accepted Paypal and then the buyer went back and claimed INR. Whether Ebay is really being more proactive in seller's defense now - I have no idea - but I wouldn't take chances no matter how many policies are linked here.

Personally opinion - I love all the posters here - but you have to protect yourself. Don't count on Ebay to do it.

[*madison]

Why? I don't get this. I just revised my listing to say "payment must be made via PayPal prior to arranging a pick-up date".

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I've never stated that on my pick up listings, and I never will.

In my world it's cash on pick up, otherwise it isn't happening.

[gretschwhtfalcon]

But couldn't an unscrupulous buyer (since that's what we're talking about here anyway) concoct any sort of story regardless of how well the transaction went with him picking up the item? I get all the points mentioned here and am starting to think also that cash is probably the best way. Still, if an INR case would be decided against me, couldn't eBay then simply deduct the purchase amount from my PayPal account as they do with any other fees? As has been mentioned, a cash payment received from the buyer is not provable UNLESS a signed transaction is part of the agreement - probably advisable to do so. 

So for those much more experienced with this than I, what specific wording would you include in the listing, if any, relative to how payment for pick-up-only items is to be handled? Seems it should be stated. 

[gretschwhtfalcon]

OK....so what you mentioned seems to cover the possibility of eBay deducting from my PayPal account in the event of an INR that would be ruled against me. Missed this reply the first time around.

[tunicaslot]

Check back as those who do local pickup only - either here or on different venues will be able to guide you with a bill of sale. It's been years since I sold a car locally and am unsure what verbiage people are  using these days. It may be the same as it was 30 yrs ago - but with these internet venues now - it may have changed.

[bonjourami]

The misinformation handed out on these boards regarding local pick up is pretty shocking. Ive had several expensive items with local pick up and never a problem. There is no tracking required, or buyer protection for local pick up.Ive had two expensive items paid for with PP,and no problems.Tho if a buyer pays with a cc at PP, he can try a chargeback for item not received.as far as snads go, for local pick up, its decided on a case to case basis, as the buyer had a chance to inspect the item when he picks up.And neither Ebay or PP accepts receipts as proof of any local pick up.

[bonjourami]

[tellmemama]

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@gretschwhtfalcon wrote:

But couldn't an unscrupulous buyer (since that's what we're talking about here anyway) concoct any sort of story regardless of how well the transaction went with him picking up the item? I get all the points mentioned here and am starting to think also that cash is probably the best way. Still, if an INR case would be decided against me, couldn't eBay then simply deduct the purchase amount from my PayPal account as they do with any other fees? As has been mentioned, a cash payment received from the buyer is not provable UNLESS a signed transaction is part of the agreement - probably advisable to do so. 

So for those much more experienced with this than I, what specific wording would you include in the listing, if any, relative to how payment for pick-up-only items is to be handled? Seems it should be stated. 

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All of this INR and SNAD talk are part of the MBG (money back guarantee) which is all tied to PAYPAL payments.  All of that alphabet soup goes out the window if the buyer pays cash.  He can't claim INR since he has no proof he paid either.  SNAD is a little trickier but again, without proof of an electronic payment, it's just screaming into the wind.

And for that amount, arrange to meet at your bank.  The buyer can inspect/test the bike and then you both can go inside to do the money exchange.  Not only is everything on bank security video, but you can hand the cash right to your teller for deposit into your account.  S/he will test the bills for any counterfeit shenanigans.

Take the cash.

[bonjourami]

And since you have to fly the PP flag with local pick ups, if the buyer decides to pay that way, you must accept it. If you cancel the PP payment, you will receive a major defect.

[fern*wood]

In all my time on the boards, I believe this is the first complaint I've read about not wanting cash over paypal on local pick ups.