posted on December 23, 2000 04:30:36 AM
It was nice to actually meet someone that bought an item. The winner was traveling through the town where I live and stopped in at my work to pick up item. It was neat. Anyone else have a story like this?
posted on December 23, 2000 05:25:51 AM
We've had winning bidders stop in at our shop on their way to the Emerald Coast, BUT I would NEVER allow a customer to have my home or work phone number or address (with the exception of a self owned business). All you need is one nut to cause you TONS AND TONS of pain and trouble.
We have a nut right now who won't interact via e-mail, she called our shop 4 times yesterday wanting to know why the Post Office hadn't delivered her package - How many different ways can you tell someone that once the post office has a package, there is no way we can know where it is, or why it hasn't as yet been delivered????
I suspect, since it was a large package, that they probably left a notice in her mail box and she either didn't see it, or it hasn't dawned on her yet to check with the post office. We have told her to call her local post office, but she wants us to take care of that!!!! NO THANKS - CUSTOMERS DON'T HAVE OUR PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER OR HOME ADDRESS...
BE CAREFUL GIVING OUT SUCH INFORMATION - you may rue the day you did.
What is really sad is, I feel this is a clear commentary on the commercialism of Christmas; where probably normal, decent people go completely crazy over a piece of merchandze at this time of year...very, very sad - they have completely forgotten the ONLY reason for the season - the Birth of Jesus Christ!
posted on December 23, 2000 06:31:31 AM
Took an oak flat file that was destined for the dumpster and dragged it back into the vacant office next to mine.Borrowed the digital camera,listed it,and although I said I WILL NOT AND CAN NOT ship it,a buyer from Chicago had Mailboxes Etc pick it up at the same loading dock and I made 100.00 in the process.
Have also had one guy stop over to pick up an old beer can,and then another guy called,so...we 3 had fun looking through the collection I had recently bought,and they each bought 3-4 more.
I correspond with them weekly/monthly now.
This thread will surely pick up the "THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD EVER DISCLOSE MY MAILING ADDRESS OR LET AAAANYONE VISIT ME!I HAVE EVERYTHING SHIPPED TO A DROP BOX AND CHANGE CARS AND CLOTHES TWICE BEFORE I PICK UP MY MAIL!"
I've had nothing but great experiences,and there are a handful of collectors that know they can stop by-prearranged,of course!
posted on December 23, 2000 06:41:48 AM
I had a lady from Hawaii win an item from me. Her husband was at a business meeting in San Diego at the time and had to drive to Los Angeles for his departing flight back to Hawaii. We arranged for him to get off the freeway at my off ramp where I met him at a coffee shop for a cup of latte where we exchanged the package. It was a very fragile item and I was thrilled that I didn't have to pack it for shipping.
I deal mainly in equestrian type items and have had a number of customers pick up their items at the barn where I keep my horse. I've never had a problem. And believe me, any time a customer wants to come pick up their saddle, I say sure! Saves me lugging a 50-pound package to UPS!
posted on December 23, 2000 07:49:53 AM
We had one customer win an item who lived across town from us--first local customer in a year of selling. So my husband dropped off the package on his way home from work at the bidder's home. Customer left fantastic feedback over the SUPER QUICK SHIPPING and was very happy there were no shipping charges!
posted on December 23, 2000 08:37:12 AM
I won a bid on a vintage sewing pattern, and in the exchange of emails, discovered the seller lived about 6 blocks away from me, in a suburban Seattle neighborhood. I don't remember who suggested it, but shortly thereafter, when I won another pattern from her, I stopped by her house to hand her my payment and pick up the pattern. Saved us both on postage and time, and we exchanged "WOW-FAST" feedbacks.
posted on December 23, 2000 08:42:12 AM
We've had several people come to our house to pick up their winnings. Most of them bought several hundred dollars more.
One fellow was really thoughtful: as part of the "tour" down to the room that holds most of the merchandise, he caught a glimpse of my "nautical" room (filled floor to ceiling with collectibles I've bought, mostly on eBay). Next time he came over he brought me a beautiful framed picture.
posted on December 23, 2000 09:05:14 AM
I had a "seller" drop by from out of state as he was passing through my area~to bring me my item! and then he had a car load of items that I just had to buy several items. It was great!
posted on December 23, 2000 11:19:48 AM
uhhh....call me cynical (maybe it's because I live in da big city) but I do NOT want people dropping by, announced or unannounced.....I think it's great that all your experiences have worked out so well, but the times I have had requests to either meet or drop off the package (or have someone pick it up!) I have run like hell!! Who knows who these people are or what their weirdnesses might be. Now I have to say I am sumthin' of a hypocrite cause I met my sweetheart online and we met without "knowing" each other (cept for 4 months chatting IRC) but that was dumb luck! And my mother still doesn't know how we really met or she'd have a heart attack! Just be CAREFUL!
posted on December 23, 2000 11:35:45 AM
Last year I delivered a toy to a buyer 40 minutes away. She had a very nice doll shop. My daughter and her granddaughter played in the back while she showed me around her store. She even gave me a pacifier for one of my dolls at home. It was wonderful meeting her!
posted on December 23, 2000 11:55:58 AM
For Valentine's Day, last year, a wonderful buyer paypaled the money right after EOA, and came to pick up item the next day, so his wife would not see the package being delivered. Really nice encounter. Gentleman works in Silicon Valley, about 40 minutes from my town. Received a lovely thank you note, from both of them. Makes one feel good all over
********************
posted on December 23, 2000 12:40:40 PM
I sold a book last week and when I went to email the buyer, it was the new person at my job. I took the book in with me, she paid. I got a WoW fast shipping feedback. Really funny, she did not know it was my book.
I once had a husband who thought I chased other men, only because he chased other women. Hmmm, makes me wonder about people who think everyone might be a weirdo. Hmmm.
posted on December 23, 2000 12:57:02 PM
I once met someone on a street corner for an eBay purchase. It was heavy and he was local, and we met at the corner of the building where I work and he went across the street to one of his favorite record stores after we'd made the exchange.
I felt a bit like a drug dealer or something, though, doing a street corner deal!
posted on December 23, 2000 01:02:46 PM
Last May Day, I sold something to a lady that lived less then a mile away from me that wanted to pick it up. I too was a little nervous to have her come to my house, but I offered to drop it a hers and my husband waited in the car.....She met me at the door , I didn't go in.....she was just lovely and even gave me an adorable little May Day Basket!
posted on December 23, 2000 01:25:18 PM
I too have had those local folks purchase items. I have my husband meet them at the post office for the exchange of money and item at a time that's good for both. It's a very public place. My husband does all the mailing for me, so it's part of his "job description" to handle those sales - LOL!!!! But, I don't let (and wouldn't let) the buyers come to my home!!!
posted on December 23, 2000 01:35:54 PM
happens often..
just yesterday a lady needed an item for a xmas gift.. emailed me in the am, picked up in the pm.
she walked out with more than she had ordered, didn't know she needed that too! i miss selling face to face.. you know, those add-on sales really add up!
I only allow women to drop over tho.
Enid
deja deja deja vu believe it and it will come true!
posted on December 23, 2000 02:27:15 PM
This thread topic appears on a regular basis, however, this one seems different. Most of the posters favor the idea. I like the option of picking up an item. I do ask if it's OK before I bid.
I often buy old (not antique) furniture to refinish. Some I keep, some I sell. Shipping costs on large or bulky pieces, combined with initial cost, make most a poor value. For smaller items I do prefer to have the item arrive at my door.
An added benefit, as bobarrett pointed out, is the likelihood of meeting people (and sources)with common interests.
Those who are uncomfortable in any way with the option certainly should not be expected to embrace the idea. It works for me, though.
posted on December 23, 2000 02:44:47 PM
I'f had at least 4 pick-ups at my shop, 2 at my home, and met buyers near the interstate exit twice...
I have also saved a few local bidders shipping fees by having their item left at their door by my Delivery truck driver (from my real world business). They were happy, I was happy, and we both got good feedback out of the deal.
Each time, the buyer and I had a nice conversation. In one instance, I invited a book buyer to the garage to rumage through some boxes of old books I was going to toss - lucky lady ended up carting off all those books in her trunk and I didn't need to dispose of them!
I like meeting online folks in person, and find it reasuring somehow.
(should I insert tyops and misspellings now or come back later and to it?)
posted on December 23, 2000 02:56:28 PM
I let anyone who wants to pick up an item come directly to my home if they want to. I have 2 large dogs, a very large gun, and my hubby is HUGE !
I do not mind at all. I have had some strange ones call to arrange coming over and I have to admit they sound kind of flirty on the phone. I simply tell them when to come over and they do. It is so funny watching their faces when my hubby opens the door ! If I were single I would not let anyone show up.
I had a buyer recently win a bicycle from me and paid Paypal within 1 day. I noticed she was local (about 30 minutes away) and since she had already paid for shipping I offered to deliver right to her home the next day. Needless to say she was thrilled with the idea and only asked that I deliver before her son got home from school so she could hide it, I did and she was very pleased. The smile on her face when I showed up with her son's bicycle in plenty of time for christmas was priceless.
posted on December 23, 2000 04:34:50 PM
A note of caution: imagine that your buyer comes by to pick up her item. She slips on your stairs and breaks a leg. Or your usually-friendly dog bites her. If, in the process of investigating the matter, your homeowner's insurance company figures out that you were conducting a business transaction at your home, they will refuse to pay the claim. Unless, of course, you have coverage specifically for your home-based business. If your insurance company won't pay up, YOU will be personally liable for that person's injuries, medical payments, pain and suffering, etc. Hate to seem paranoid, but we do live in the United States of Litigation. It is for this reason (and some other general matters of caution) that I never permit someone to pick up an item at my home.
posted on December 23, 2000 06:04:14 PM
I once bought something from someone who lived near where I worked, and worked near where I lived. We arranged to meet some where.
I've delivered a couple of packages that have been close when I've been out on errands. (left it at the door).
Now,I want sell my son's old wooden swing set, but when I list it with a no shipping, have to pick up in ......., all I get is emails from people in the the southern US who want to know what the shipping cost will be. I guess people up North aren't thinking about any thing outside right now.
posted on December 23, 2000 08:19:03 PM
I had three people come to my shop to pick up items that were highly collectible, and they didn't want to send it in the mail. I also had two other buyers come to my home since they were from Long Island, NY also.
I don't mind that they come. I enjoy meeting the people I am selling to.
Some items are hard to pack and breakable that I like when they offer to come and pick up. They save the shipping and I save the trouble of packing. If you don't feel good about them coming to you home, just meet them nearby. I know that so much is going on in the world that we became worried about too many things.
People have garage sales and think nothing of letting people in there home to show them other things they have for sale. Why is it any different, because you are selling on the internet and you feel everyone is a stranger?
All people are strangers until we get to know them, Plus on Ebay you could request a persons information, where at a garage sale you don't even know their name.
To each his own........
posted on December 24, 2000 02:43:43 AM
Hmmm...I have never let someone from a garage sale come into my home....Some might call it paranoia but I call it better safe than sorry---I've been mugged twice in my 33 years, had an attempted robbery by a guy who pretended to be from the Gas Company (I refused to let him in because I didn't call the Gas Company and he went down the street used the same line, and walked in and robbed a neighbor) and a very very close friend was raped by a guy who had been doing some painting around the house (came back later that night and broke in, and held her tied up and helpless for 4 hours at knifepoint). I'm not trying to scare anybody but I just think you have to be careful. Inviting people to a shop is one thing, but I don't see any point in inviting strangers into my home period, I have plenty of friends, I don't need new ones! The liability issue is also real, I know people who have been sued by others because they tripped over a stone in the front yard. My landlady was sued for having a pet dog behind a fence in her backyard...kid (a stranger) opened fence and walked inside to pet dog, dog bit kid (who's this stranger coming into my yard?), the parents went nuts and got an attorney and the landlady spent amazing amount of time and expense defending herself (finally won, thank goodness.) Anybody can sue anybody for anything and the next thing you know you are out $10,000 just to get rid of the people!! I am sticking to Priority mail.
posted on December 24, 2000 06:37:24 AM
Brighid - I hear you and agree with everything you have said. Maybe it's the "living in the big city" thing as to why we agree but there's not a chance on earth that I will allow someone to come to my home to pick up an item. I'm actually quite suprised and a bit concerned at how many people allow this. I especially like your comment "I have plenty of friends, I don't need new ones", I couldn't agree more.
It doesn't matter how big your dog, husband or gun is. If someone is coming to your house with bad intentions, they too will be prepared, why would you want to take an unnecessary chance?
Bid city paranoia? Maybe....But it only takes one wacko and I'm not putting my family in jeopardy.
posted on December 24, 2000 10:00:40 AM
A guy won a video that lives in my city. I put the video in the mailbox and he left the money. Now he emails when he wants a certain movie, and if I have it we do the same thing. I've never met him face to face.
[ edited by chococake on Dec 24, 2000 10:03 AM ]
[ edited by chococake on Dec 24, 2000 10:04 AM ]
That is very funny...