sold, but did not collected

[Someone-Else]

I have sold some stuff on ebay (just to get rid of it) most has been collection only.
Don't you hate it when they (the buyer) doesn't turn up, had another one tonight, said he would come after 18:00 nope.

But I am sure some of you must have had a worse one than that?

[kellys_eye]

No offence intended but...... I can't stand people who sell on eBay using the 'collection only' option. Postage is so simple to arrange and is, after all, paid for by the buyer so why do people say 'collection only'? Arre they too bone idle to go to the post office or something.... If you want to SELL it, then sell it.

[Someone-Else]

No offence taken, really, I understand, but allow me to explain.

1) There are some items that couriers will not touch with a barge pole, I have some items for sale. (Pressurised containers)

2) Big and bulky, if its big and bulky its very expensive to post it, hence collection only. (I am selling one of those too. (In this instance, the postage would be more than what the item costs)

When i do post I use parcel force, but only because its reliable, insured, and convenient for me. I had a query asking was the postage right? They thought it was too much, even though ebay have a notice saying that there is no 2nd class parcel post anymore (or words to that effect) so, no, some folk will not pay postage.

[guitardedleon]

off topic a bit, but last month I bought a guitar on ebay

won the auction and contacted the seller to arrange payment and finalise some things

day later

"Sorry Leon, was desperate for the cash last night, sold the guitar to someone local, sorry buddy"

needless to say, I was fu***ng furious.. I had spent all week keeping an eye on this guitar and trying to win the auction, to be told he'd sold it. W&&KER

I have got rid of a few things via collection only..but only items that were free.

[kellys_eye]

No offence taken, really, I understand, but allow me to explain.

1) There are some items that couriers will not touch with a barge pole, I have some items for sale. (Pressurised containers)

2) Big and bulky, if its big and bulky its very expensive to post it, hence collection only. (I am selling one of those too. (In this instance, the postage would be more than what the item costs)

When i do post I use parcel force, but only because its reliable, insured, and convenient for me. I had a query asking was the postage right? They thought it was too much, even though ebay have a notice saying that there is no 2nd class parcel post anymore (or words to that effect) so, no, some folk will not pay postage.

Obviously I didn't consider items that are 'unpostable' (as yours were) therefore there is no argument or complaint but there are, in reality, very few items that can't be posted, couriered or palleted - caveat emptor and all that.

I speak only of my own frustrations with auctions that are collect-only when they are OBVIOUSLY postable. If people want a collect-only sale they should be using a local auction/selling service (like Gumtree) rather than a national/international one like eBay. I think people are capable of deciding for themselves whether or not an item is worth collecting or posting and giving a potential bidder the postage option is precisely that - optional - the use of the phrase 'collect only' sounds like it is mandatory - and usually is.

Then again, it's entirely the sellers loss (imho) as a collect-only auction severely limits the possible selling price.

A good example (or bad, as you'll see what I mean )....... I put a '53-plate Scudo van on eBay, collect-only (you can see where I'm located ) and got just £800 for it (ignore the fact I was desperate for the cash at that time... ). Had I done it with a 'postage' option (say £50 for delivery) I could have got..... who knows? What WOULD a 53-plate Scudo get these days bearing in mind I sold it three years ago??????? For sure it would have been a sh1t load more than £800

A salutory lesson learned.......