posted on July 1, 2001 03:21:36 PM new
ARGH! It never fails to happen every month or two. A buyer bids on my item (seeing the city/state I'm from). AFTER the auction, they email me, tell me they'll be paying with PayPal and they'd like to arrange a time to come to my house to pick up the item.
OK, first of all, there's no WAY they're coming to my house to pick up anything. So, I usually arrange a time/place to meet them at a mall and give them their item. But, it puts me in an incredibly bad mood every time.
Happened again this week, so I'm trying to figure out a better way to handle this for the next time it happens.
If shipping on the item was, say $4.50. Would it be unreasonable for me to charge $2 for a "delivery fee" or something? It's my time and gas spent to deliver their item to the said location.
I would feel a lot differently about it if they would bother to ASK me if a pickup arrangement was okay before bidding, but so far they NEVER have. They email after the auction, simply expecting it to be okay. I hate to flat out tell them "no" because I'm sure that would make for some angry customers who would probably give me all kinds of trouble when they received their item...
I have 2 small children, and it's always a giant pain to have a "scheduled" meeting for an ebay item... when I could have easily taken it to the post office with the rest of the stuff.
Any ideas? How do you/would you handle this situation??
posted on July 1, 2001 03:28:25 PM new
A couple of ways - I'm assuming you use a PO Box to receive payment, so they can't just show up on your door step.
Reason One: I'm sorry, but those aren't the terms of my auction. Please remit delivery charges.
Reason Two: I work outside the home, and scheduling to meet with you would lose me about $100 in consulting fees - this is more than the delivery, so wouldn't you rather pay that?
Reason Three: While I'm sure you're a very honest, nice person, a friend of mine on eBay got beaten and robbed when she arranged to meet with a buyer from eBay, so I won't do this. I'm sure you understand.
And, since this is happening once or twice a month, I'd put a note in my TOS, that you regret that all items must be shipped - pick-ups can not be arranged.
posted on July 1, 2001 03:32:18 PM new
I would just say no. If they get mad, they get mad. You are well within your rights to keep them from coming to your house. $2 won't cover your time and gas and aggravation.
If you have any sort of a handling fee and want to make a gesture to this customer you could offer to waive that part of shipping.
Or I have another idea, if they are in the same town and you have a spouse or someone who works away from your home, how about arranging a pick up at their office and sending it with them. For example I would send it to my husband's office and have them pick it up during normal business hours since this would not be a big deal to him. I too am uncomfortable having someone swing by my house since I am alone during the day and it would just not feel safe.
posted on July 1, 2001 04:23:51 PM new
Just say no, I have had a couple of local sales that buyer insisted to pick up it didn't bother me so I said OK
If you are uncomfortable with it just tell them NO its not convinent ....no need to make up stories.
Chances are they won't be upset.
posted on July 1, 2001 05:35:23 PM new
Just tell them that there is not enough profit in your sales to justify a courior delivery when normal delivery with all your other packages is so cheap. Find out what a local courior company charges to hand deliver a small package locally, and quote the same rate. Your time and gas are not free. I do local delivery for a few businesses that know me and need prints run back and forth and sometimes a small box and I charge $15 minimum even if it only takes me 10 minutes.
posted on July 1, 2001 05:52:06 PM new
I had some come to my home for pickup but then there are some I say no in a nice way.
I had told one of my buyers "I'm sorry but
I don't have the time for a pick up with my busy schedule so please add $$$ for shipping.
Thank you and have a nice weekend.
At first when they asked to come to my home and pick up there stuff I didn't know how to say no, in a nice way without offending the buyer. But I figured It's my choice to make not theirs so now I don't feel bad if I say no. But I do it in a nice way.
As a matter of fact I have someone who is coming tomorrow and the only reason I said yes was, what she bought is porcelain dishes and I really didn't want to start packing them So when she asked, I was glad to say Yes please come.
posted on July 1, 2001 06:16:08 PM new
All transactions are conducted by Mail. Simple and to the point. I don't see why you should have to do any more explaining.
posted on July 1, 2001 06:32:25 PM new
Geez folks, why do you all think your bidders are Charles Manson? I've had folks pick up stuff at my house, delivered stuff to bidder's homes, met bidders at the mall and I've even picked up some stuff at seller's homes that I've won. And never had one problem.
It's called customer service and being a nice person. All the bidders/sellers I've met in person have been very nice, have engaged me in conversation about collecting and/or eBay in general and, in a few cases, have been repeat buyers.
From a seller's perspective, it's a nice change to see the face of a buyer that you only know from email.
It can only be good for your mental health to drag your butt away from the screen and keyboard for awhile and meet a live person once in awhile.
posted on July 1, 2001 07:25:03 PM new
A few of us have had unpleasant experiences.
I once had some people get the idea I had items of value in the home and one evening when the wife and I were watching TV they came and were letting themselves in the front door with a big ring of master keys. Did not knock or care if anyone was home - they were 5 young guys invading with pistols jamed in their jeans. I suppose you would have welcomed the company marblehed?
posted on July 1, 2001 07:39:36 PM new
I have had bidders pick up at my house, met them at malls several times. No problems.
I would suggest that if you do not want to do that try telling them you will be at the post office at such & such a time and they can pick it up their. Tell them you will be the one with the 100 pakages that the rest of the people are complaining about (LOL).
Assuming, you are at the PO anyway you will not be wasting your time or going out of your way.
posted on July 1, 2001 07:40:30 PM new
This exact same thing happened to me today. Received an email as soon as the auction ended, asking if they could pick up the item and for me to call them to arrange pickup (which is long distance, by the way).
I told them what I tell everyone that asks me this.
That I'm sorry, but I do not allow customers to pick up items at my home, and I handle all transactions through the mail.
And if a customer DID just "show up" at my house unexpectedly, I would still NOT handle the transaction in person.
posted on July 1, 2001 08:08:15 PM newGravid had very good points. You are not a courier and cannot be expected to make special trips for people without a pre-arrangement.
I have had an "unusual" (to say the least) experience with someone coming to my house. Yes, I have two small children and I am paranoid of some weirdo coming to my house.
Two ideas: Do you go to the post office at a set time? Meet them in the parking lot of your post office.
Do you have a non-eBay job? Offer to meet them at some prominent location on your commute route. I have chosen a police station near my job which I drive past twice a day. They can meet me at 7:15 am or 5:30 pm, or I will also meet them at lunch at the same place.
It blows my mind that I get people from 40+ miles away wanting to meet me and save the shocking $3 ship charge. I always tell them I prefer mail and they will spend more than $3 on gas and time, but to each his own.
The last several requests I have always given the police station answer. Foolish me thought this draconian policy would have gotten rid of the meet-and-greeters, but I have actually had one person make the drive and meet me in the police station parking lot.
posted on July 1, 2001 08:10:35 PM new
A bit more information. I don't use a PO box for mailing address (I keep *planning* to get a PO box... just never seem to follow through), but this far no one has shown up on my doorstep. I would not give them the item if they did so... LOL
I put my city in the Location box ... well, just because I thought we were supposed to. LOL Never considered typing something else in that spot. Might start doing that next time...
I will keep the suggestions to say the next time someone assumes I'll hand deliver their item... I'm sure they'll come in VERY handy! LOL
RichieRich... "that try telling them you will be at the post office at such & such a time and they can pick it up their. Tell them you will be the one with the 100 pakages that the rest of the people are complaining about (LOL)."
ROFLOL about the 100 packages and the people complaining!! Been there, done that! LOL That's a fantastic idea. I wouldn't be wasting my time by meeting them at the PO, but it's still a public place so I wouldn't have to be concerned about meeting them either. I like that idea a lot...
And, finally... marblehed. I know there are nice folks out there. There also are psychos, and I'm not going to invite a stranger to my home where my TWO SMALL children are with me. Sorry, but no thanks. My butt is away from the computer screen plenty and I meet lots of nice folks... but not at my doorstep. Just like I would never invite a saleman into my home to show me the latest cleaning product... I don't know them from Adam, so they're not coming in my house. I usually don't even open the door for salespeople... I just tell them through the door that I'm not interested. LOL
Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm glad I'm not the only one who isn't happy about a hand delivery. Next time I'll feel a little more prepared.
PS On some larger/holiday items I've sold I have listed my city/state in the "local" ebay spots, and I've mentioned that I would meet the winning bidder somewhere to save on shipping costs. So, I'm not phobic about meeting someone necessarily... it's just when the people EXPECT me to meet them somewhere (or come to my house) to save THEM $4.00! Drives me up a wall.
How about, " Sorry but our pet pit bulls, Punkin and Muffin keep chewing through the logging chains. I don't think my kids could hold them long enough for you to pick up the package and get back across the creek"
Or.......
"Sure, come on over. The doctors said that we shouldn't be contagious anymore after this week sometime. If little susie blows her nose on her hands and then tries to wipe them on your pants, just try not to touch the wet spot"....
But seriously folks.... from a family security standpoint, it would never be a good idea to let anyone like that come to your house. If you decide to meet them, do it in a public, well populated place. Maybe even take a friend with you for security. There are too many crazies out there to take foolish chances....
When I first started "ebaying", I won an auction for some confederate bills. I noticed the sellers e-mail addy was a local one. After the auction, I wrote him and asked if he was close to my town, judging by his address. He replied that he lived about 40 miles north of me, but was coming to my town in a few days, and he would meet me at a local shopping center. It was his suggestion that we meet, and he said it would save me postage, and him a trip to the postoffice.
Everything worked out great. Super nice older gentleman, I bought a few more things from him after that.
posted on July 1, 2001 08:33:39 PM new
I would tell this buyer in noo uncertain terms that could not, now or ever, come to my house to pick up a widget. If they don't like that then.....screw 'em. Realizing that there are some very nice, friendly people in the world you must also realize that there are some psycho's. It seems like a lot of people on this board have had their fair share of looney's. What happens if one of these nutcases show up at your house to pick up the widget and don't like it? Could you imagine having one of EG's twirlybirds coming to your house.
Edited to add "No offense EG, but when I think of twirly bird buyers I think of you"
___________________________
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Caravaggio/confusedandsleepy are not my names at eBay.
[ edited by caravaggio on Jul 1, 2001 08:35 PM ]
posted on July 1, 2001 10:32:40 PM new
The excuse I give works every time, and it's the absolute truth: I have a very large Rottweiller whose primary job is to keep strangers from entering my house. He gets especially upset if someone tries to remove anything from the house.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on July 2, 2001 08:32:59 AM new
There is no reason that a buyer should EVER have your home address anyway! I have had only 2 buyers want to pick up items. My town is fairly small and they both seemed nice enough. I met them at another location that I was going to be at anyway and it worked out well. There ARE psychos in this world and anybody that denies the very real possibility needs to re-evaluate their stance before they get themselves and/or their families hurt or worse......JUST COMMON SENSE.
On the other hand....she wore a glove.
______________________________
posted on July 2, 2001 09:31:35 AM new
I've made arrangements twice (or was it 3 times) to conduct eBay transactions in a public place.
The last transaction involved tickets, and the exchange was made @ McDonalds, not to save the shipping fee, but rather because it was a time sensitive purchase - she needed them ASAP and lived nearby.
I'm currently looking for an item on eBay, that I would like to buy locally (because it may be region specific), and if I could I'd avoid the shipping so I can get the item faster. I'd be happy to work out any mutually agreeable place, it wouldn't have to be the seller's house.
posted on July 2, 2001 09:48:45 AM new
siddielou - Thanks that was nice to express some concern. I keep a short barreled shot gun loaded with brazing rod instead of shot.
The little rods turn sideways and tumble and very few will go through the drywall into the next room unless you are real close.
My advice however is to avoid shooting at any cost because although it clears a hallway you get to replace every visible surface you are facing - all the carpet/doors/drywall/windows.
Ruins everything and the costs really adds up.
posted on July 2, 2001 05:29:50 PM new
If you are female, or disabled, or unable to take care of yourself in an ugly situation, I would decline.
My self, I've had people pick stuff up a bunch of times, but I sell heavy, hard to pack, costly to ship items. And if you come to my house looking for trouble, you'll find it.
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
posted on July 2, 2001 05:39:17 PM new
I had a friend take the item to the dentist's office where she works and the buyer picked the item up there. Worked out okay.
posted on July 2, 2001 06:46:53 PM newThere is no reason that a buyer should EVER have your home address anyway!
While I would agree there are lots of good reasons to NOT agree to let someone come to your house, you don't instill a lot of "trust" by not letting someone paying you money know where you are located at. On smaller $ items, I wouldn't let it bother me, but I would hesitate to drop a thousand dollars to someone who didn't want me to know where they lived.
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
I don't use a PO box for mailing address (I keep *planning* to get a PO box... just never seem to follow through), but this far no one has shown up on my doorstep. I would not give them the item if they did so... LOL
[ edited by caravaggio on Jul 1, 2001 08:35 PM ]