posted on July 10, 2001 05:23:14 PM
I was just shopping ebay and ran across this in an ad. "Items can not be picked up in person -- we can only ship out the products because our insurer and our lawyer are somewhat anal retentive. They are also our relatives..."
What do you think?
posted on July 10, 2001 05:40:50 PM
I don't know what the big deal is. If a winning bidder gets your address to mail their payment to then they could figure out where you live and do whatever it is people think they will do. I have met or had people come to my house many times and they have all been very favorable experiences. Maybe the items I sell are geared toward families so they are more likely to be honest and friendly. I haven't been able to understand why some people won't work with bidders/sellers. It seems silly to pay the post office so much to send something across town.
posted on July 10, 2001 07:44:38 PM
I can totally understand their position from a legal perspective.
1) I have a 'home business' license from the county in which I live. One of the regulations is the business does not generate any traffic from clients/customers.
2) I suspect their home-owner's insurance policy could decline a claim for any injury to business clients.
When I have local bidders who prefer to pick up the merchandise to save on shipping charges, we've simply made arrangements to meet at a public location. They have all been very understand when I explain why I have to do it that way.
posted on July 10, 2001 07:54:23 PM
I've had quite a few buyers request to pick up an item. I simply inform them that my location is a private residence and that I would be happy to meet them at a public place (which is very close to me and just off the highway). It has worked out very well - we simply agree on a time, they call me from either their cell phone or the public phone that is at that location when they arrive, I hop in my car and in five minutes I'm there. On every occasion, I have very much enjoyed meeting them and, often, have spent as much as an hour chatting about ebay. It also makes me happy to have one less thing to pack! Almost all these sales, however, were higher end items. I did refuse a request only when the item happened to be a $5 souvenir spoon. LOL
posted on July 10, 2001 08:02:04 PM
I've only had a couple of buyers ask to pick up their purchases at my home and I was delighted! Both items were REALLY heavy and I was dreading packing them up. I spoke with both buyers on the phone...both sounded on the "up and up". I was just thrilled to get out of packing these items and both buyers were delightful. I will admit, though, to agreeing to do this with some trepidation...but it worked out well for me.
posted on July 10, 2001 08:13:09 PM
I think it was funny! But, honestly, it makes very good sense. Who would give out their home address anyway??? Atleast that nips any requests for pickups in the bud. Maybe they live in a very large city and get lots of requests for pickup. I've only had a couple and I arranged for them to meet me at another location that I was going to be at anyway, but would NEVER give out my home address!
posted on July 11, 2001 08:05:31 AM
I have to admit that I thought their wording was funny when I first saw it (perhaps lacking in professionalism, but funny nonetheless). I doubt that I would word it that way myself, but whatever works.
posted on July 11, 2001 08:53:20 AM
As a buyer and seller who has made in-person arrangements on both ends - I would never use my home as a location. Public places are just safer.
posted on July 11, 2001 11:08:07 AM
"If a winning bidder gets your address to mail their payment to then they could figure out where you live and do whatever it is people think they will do."
I'm hoping most eBay sellers invest the couple of bucks it costs to rent a PO Box. I get mine for free because there's no mail delivery here, but I've rented them before, and it's inexpensive in comparison to risking telling complete strangers where you live.
I wouldn't have someone come to my home. I've only had one request for that, and instead I took it to where her friend worked (down the block from me), and that worked out fine. I also had the rest of the transaction take place the same, i.e., I'd been paid before I delivered it.
