Thread: Why do so many "private" eBay sellers only offer "local pickup"?...

GumTree is for local pickup.
Face to Face.
Cash transactions.

But I always offer paypal on inspection.
either buying or selling.
i.e. no cash to get mugged.
Never ever transfer directly to bank account.
Unless its $10 or $20 you can afford to loose.
And find it exciting to risk.

I only use eBay to buy and don't like selling on eBay as its about 13% with paypal fees.
eBay using PayPal gets me insurance if sent with tracking.
With immediate refund and return postage refund up to $45.
(First time I've been scammed by an eBay Paypal seller in years just this last week.
and PayPal were super nice about refunding immediately.)

I prefer pickup only as reasons stated above.
Some sellers just don't get it.
And pretty much just waste your time.

They have their dogs bark at the door before opening it.
Then ask if they have a issue with dogs.
I tell them I don't as long as the dog doesn't have an issue with me.
And that I'll be asking for medical bills if I get bitten.
Usually the dog runs out the door and they have to chase them down after we transact.
LOL

Some buyers just don't get it.
And pretty much just waste your time.

If I DO sell on eBay or GumTree and they can't pickup its via PayPal only.
ebay postage has never been correct. I don't know why.
I was loosing money on postage every time.
As mentioned above its just estimates using the AusPost calculator.

So I ask for an extra $20 for postage ($50 for heavy items) and tell them why
and immediate or next day postage with immediate refund on the postage difference with a pic of the receipt.
So they are paying for postage only and NOT my handling.
Too easy.

A few months ago I was having heaps of issues with AusPost not delivering my packages to me.
Even tho I was here and have a sign on the front door telling the delivery guy I'm here expecting a package and to please wait.
4 Times in one month I had to go to the post office to get my package.
I complained after the 2nd time.
And finally spoke to the supervisor the 4th time and I pay for delivery to my home and not to the post office.
And told them I'd be sending them an invoice for my pickup time on the next one.
They had all kinds of excuses why. I kinda blew up at them when they suggested I get a delivery box.
Finally a few weeks later the supervisor send me an email stating they had disciplined the individual and and I haven't had to pickup once since.

A few weeks ago I was trying to buy something off gumtree.
They told me I could pick up in north melb.
I told them I was having brunch in melb that morning and it would fit into my travel plans.
They replied that they were just trying to sell on gumtree and they weren't looking to make friends.
I replied there is a difference between being friendly and and making friends and GumTree is for face to face transactions only.
They replied they wouldn't be joining me for brunch.
I laughed and told them it was so funny they thought I was inviting them to brunch with my wife and family friends.
Anyway, they made every excuse not to sell from being so embarrassed.
Including wanting me to transfer $200 directly into their bank account.
And would only meet at a local park, etc. LOL
I missed out on a good buy.
But now have a funny story to tell.

There was something not mentioned.

You'll get an anxious buyer who will offer to buy at a premium of perhaps 10% and usually from off shore. The buyer will than have his assistant send you a cashier's check or money order. Oops, the assistant sends a check for significantly more than the agreed upon price. No problem right? Just cash the check and put the excess funds into a Western Union money transfer while you keep some for your trouble. Oh, the buyers agent will be stopping by to crate and ship the item at no cost to you.

OK, it all sounds legitimate and you do have the significant extra funds from the buyer.

Here is the problem. Here in the US, the banks are required to front you the money from any deposited checks. Some checks (International) can take up to three weeks to actually clear. Fraudulent checks are returned outside the normal banking systems and there is no real notice of a fraudulent check until it is actually returned to your bank.

You have cashed the check and put the excess money into Western Union funds transfer. Later the bank tells you that the check was bad. At this point you are out the funds put into Western Union and of course the buyer's shipping agent never contacts you. When you try to contact the buyer, they don't exist because they are only an e-mail box.

Don't be surprised if you get one of these e-mails offering to buy at a price higher than your sale price and then receive a check for significantly more than the sales price.

Cash or eBay/PayPal with insurance only.

Checks and Money Order and off shore are a bit of a red flag.

Society is pretty weary in this day and age.
But I always cringe thinking about the odds of 100,000,000 spam emails where they only need a few to bite.
Say the elderly with a touch of the forgets on an off day and bam thinking it could be one of my elders getting caught out.

OK so Back to GumTree.
Face to Face.
Cash only.

I sell bits n pieces on ebay. I had a bloke come around to inspect a couple of side tables before purchasing. He decided he couldnt resist them and said he will pay using his phone with ebay/paypal. I quickly told him he can pay cash right now and ill give him about 100bux off because ebay/paypal are going to take that much anyways. Instant reply was "where is a westpac atm?"

I do private listings so my sales value doesnt show up in feedback history so I can gradually increase prices over time without stupid argument from buyers.

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned is that ebay's fees are based on price plus postage. Unbelievable but true.

Thats a bit harsh.

I do recall now why I stopped selling on eBay.
One seller tried to scam me with the "I didn't know what I was selling and got the descriptiin wrong" excuse
and gave me a negative comment towards me as a buyer.
eBay refused to remove it.
Probably just that one phone support person on a bad day.
So I've saved probably ~$2000 on ~10% ebay fees since and a lot of time and effort having to package and post by selling on GumTree. 90% face to face.
So less hassle on GumTree expecting pickup.
Than selling on eBay expecting to have to post.

The reason that Ebay is now charging their fees on selling price+postage cost is that there were more and more sellers offering stuff at low cost but charged over the top for postage, thereby saving on Ebay fees.

if you use ebay to print out a AusPost sticker, then it usually works out about the same cost. You will pay slightly less for postage using ebay's system +9.9% for ebay fee. Works out about the same. Difference most times for me is about 10-15cents. Since it is about the same, I get the girl at the post office to do it, keeps an extra buck or two in an Aussie company for the same service.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

The reason that Ebay is now charging their fees on selling price+postage cost is that there were more and more sellers offering stuff at low cost but charged over the top for postage, thereby saving on Ebay fees.

Frak! Never understood that before.
Always felt like it was a bait n switch tactic.
Lowest price by far then shipping put cost back up with the rest.

ebay shouldn't penalise honest players. In particular, if you use ebay's postal estimate then why do they still charge fees on postage??
I asked the ACCC if it was illegal to charge a fee for a service that wasn't carried out by ebay, and they said no.

Oh Man!
Not cool at all!