posted on May 11, 2001 03:08:44 PM new
I recently had an auction for a small item. After the auction ended, the high bidder wanted to come to my house and pick up the item to save herself the shipping money. As I spend most of the day in and out, and homeschooling my children, and running our business, it is very inconvenient to me to have to set aside time and have someone over to the house to pick up a $9.00 item, that I'm only making about $4 profit on. She also asked if I would drop it off at her house.
Do you think I should let her pick it up? What should I say to her? I'm not crazy about having a stranger come to my house. I even offered to pay part of the shipping, but she wants to pay no shipping. It's been three weeks since she won the item and I haven't heard back from her in the past week. I'm afraid I'm going to get a negative feedback somehow because of this.
She is a new buyer with 0 feedback.
Can some of you experienced sellers please give me advice on what you would do in a situation like this?
posted on May 11, 2001 03:15:12 PM new
We have made arrangements with a local used bookstore where people can pick items up at. But we ask they pay cash.
The store owner is happy with the arrangement because most of the time the buyer drops a few dollars on books at the store too.
posted on May 11, 2001 03:16:00 PM new
I've only ever had one such request. I suggested that we meet at the local McDonald's instead and the buyer agreed. I would never agree to having the buyer come by the house. You do have to be careful - not everyone is a nice person.
posted on May 11, 2001 03:19:10 PM new
It really depends on what works for your life, time and comfort level.
When I have local bidders ask to come pick up an item, I arrange a public meeting spot near my home, such as a shopping center parking lot.
I try to make it as convenient as possible for me -- a spot very close to my home at a time when I'm running errands anyway.
I've done this with two or three bidders. One has turned into a regular customer who has referred me to several friends -- boosting my sales by hundreds of dollars per month.
posted on May 11, 2001 03:23:17 PM new
I had a buyer come to my home once -- but it was to pick up furniture. I've met buyers twice in neutral locations to exchange smaller items. One time was slightly awkward, the other wasn't. One of the items was a large chunk of pyrite which would have been very heavy to ship. The buyer and I actually met on the street corner to exchange "the rock." I felt a little like a drug dealer.
If it will be an incovenience for you to meet this person or have her come to your home, you're well within your rights to say no.
posted on May 11, 2001 03:37:55 PM new
I would definately not have someone come to my home to pick up an item - you never know who is at the other end of that computer.
posted on May 11, 2001 03:45:53 PM new
I let somebody come by, but only because my husband would be there.
Let's face it, they already know exactly where you live.
posted on May 11, 2001 04:19:35 PM new
Tell them you'll meet them somewhere public but there's a fee of $5 for your time and gas. I don't get why buyers expect things for free at the sellers expense!
posted on May 11, 2001 04:35:12 PM new
I've had about a dozen people come by my house to pick up various items - either because of size or value. With the large items at least six have driven in from other states, one flew in to pick up a car and I met him at the airport, made sure I had the cell phone. We'd been emailing back and forth, he sent me a picture of himself at the dealership where he worked, had spoken on the phone (I know it could have been anyone). We ended up having a great afternoon with many laughs, it was his first time in NYC. All the others I made sure that my husband was home.
Never had a problem, people have been wonderful. I now give the option if they live close by and it is a really heavy or oversized package, as long as they have good feedback. They've been very flexible to meet my schedule and every single one has turned out positively.
posted on May 11, 2001 05:03:34 PM new
I don't mine, I've had several local buyers buy from me, including some who already are my customers, but I meet them in my shop. I wouldn't let them come to my house. If I didn't already have a business, I would meet them somewhere public.
By the way, there was an eBay seller who was "arrested" for transferring an item on a streetcorner. He is a friend of mine, the police did let him go once they discovered it was noit drugs they were exchanging
posted on May 11, 2001 05:09:45 PM new
By bidding on your auction she agreed ahead of time to pay the shipping unless you stated in your auction that pick-ups were allowed for local customers. So if you don't feel comfortable with her "idea" to save shipping, then just remind her of that little fact. If she refuses to pay to have you ship the item, then void the transaction, neg her, and move on.
posted on May 11, 2001 05:20:26 PM new
I've had some local bidders want to pick up their item rather than pay shipping.
I told them it would be fine if they wanted to pick up their item rather than have me mail it but, they would have to meet me at the post office at a mutually acceptable time. Since I would be there to drop off other items anyway it wasn't an extra trip.
There was one person who insisted on meeting me at my house and I simply told him "That wasn't my way of doing business not to mention that my husband was not comfortable with that." He got the message and had me mail it.
