ebay étiquette question

[alecstilleyedye]

there's an old computer on ebay that i'm interested in (largely for spares) and so far no one has snapped it up (it's pick up only). the seller offers paypal but prefers cash on collection.

the location is somewhere i'll be going at the end of the month, so i messaged the seller to ask if i could buy it with paypal now and collect it when i'm there.

he replied that if it didn't sell on before the end date of the auction (it's just a buy it now, no bidding) he'd be happy to do so.

question is, should i secure the item via paypal and then expect him to hang on to it for my convenience, when it's clear he wants to not incur paypal sellers fees, and presumably does not want it cluttering the house/flat for another month?

would it be better étiquette to do as the seller suggested; or should i just look after my own interests? would he be entitled to bad feedback me if i took a month to collect it, even though i'd paid?

cheers in advance…

 

[coffeejo]

You could offer to pay the cost of the paypal fees the seller will incur?

Depends how much you want it, I guess. If it's a Must Have, never seen seen on ebay before, never will again, then go for it.

 

[vernon]

Ask him about the delayed pick up. We are no better at second guessing what he might do than you are.

 

[swee'pea99]

The only reason he hasn't simple said 'yes' is because he's hoping someone will buy and pay with cash, yes? So assuming it still makes sense for you, you could suggest to him that you pay him now, paypal, and add another 3.4% + 20p, with pickup in a month.

 

[Shaun]

If it's just hanging around his place - and presumably has done for a long time already - I would have thought he'd be quite happy to hold on to it if you 'buy now'.

What is the end date for the sale?

 

[alecstilleyedye]

less than a week, and it's been on for ages. as it's buy it now only, i can't see anyone waiting for the final seconds tbh…

 

[vernon]

i can't see anyone waiting for the final seconds tbh…

There are no certainties on Ebay.

 

[ELL]

I wouldn't offer to more for paypal. if he has offered it as a payment method he agrees to the charges. The problem I would have with picking it up a month after payment is if he disappears after payment you haven't got long to raise a dispute with paypal to get your money back.

 

[vernon]

I wouldn't offer to more for paypal. if he has offered it as a payment method he agrees to the charges. The problem I would have with picking it up a month after payment is if he disappears after payment you haven't got long to raise a dispute with paypal to get your money back.

The vendor has no choice. Ebay insist that all vendors list Paypal as a payment method. Paypal is the biggest contributer to Ebay's profits at the moment.

 

[swee'pea99]

Etiquette doesn't really come into it - it's simple practicality. If the guy's prepared to wait for another (cash) buyer, it's possible one might turn up. Then you lose it. By paying a bit extra (and I'm assuming this isn't a highly expensive beast - 3.4% of £50, say, eg, is £1.70) you definitely get it. I would have thought that was worth the money.