Couriers!!!

[BigG]

Recently sold some of my parts on eBay and due to the size were advertised for collection only. 2 of the buyers, paid and messaged to say they were sending couriers and if it was ok? Couldn't see a prob so said yes.
Now here's the prob, first one agrees to come on a Tuesday but best time he can give me is 'sometime between 9 & 5' which is no good to me as I'm self employed and can't afford to hang about all day for a £30 item, but he turns up the day before and leaves a card saying no answer can I drop of at their office 40miles away or rearrange collection!!
That's after I had to go and find someone with a working printer to print a label and then wrap everything up. Eventually collected 3 days later after waiting in all morning.
The second courier for the second item, just turned up the following morning, was for a pair of wheels, no need to wrap or label them, just grabbed them and went, lucky I was home really.
Question is should I say no to courier pick up next time? Or are their some more reliable than others or should I just insist on 'collection only'

 

[chad]

If someone says collection only and I'm really interested in the part I'll email them before bidding to see if they are OK with that.

I think to pay for something and then say you're sending a courier is taking the P*ss. You're assuming that the seller has nothing else to do but wait in for your courier.

Alternatively you could send them by courier yourself, at their cost, and drop it off if you have a local depot/drop-off point.
This avoids waiting around for a courier.

In my experience some couriers are far better than others. The most reliable I've used is Parcelforce but it's reflected in the price.

 

[Clem]

Trouble is saying 'collection only' is that at some point you will be waiting in for the buyer, or meeting him in a lay by somewhere. The best policy is probably to arrange a courier yourself and take control of the situation. You can then drop off at a point at your convenience.
Selling stuff is almost always a nuisance at some point! :lol:

 

[KateLovesPurple]

As has been said, forget the collection only option and arrange the courier yourself. You are in control then and can have it collected when it suits you or drop it off if more convenient. Also, as a buyer, if I look for something and see collection only on the listing, to be honest, I nearly always look for a different listing.

 

[BigG]

To be fair I only ever say collection if it's a bulky or fragile item, most of the items I've sold like that have been collected no prob, the collectors have always been on time so no hanging around all day, the other problem is the nearest courier to me is ups and they are quite expensive, took a scooter exhaust to price up and it was something like £25, buyer didn't want to know.
Not always that bad though, sold a NOS mini auto gearbox a few years back, guy drove all the way from France in his classic mini to pick it up and a load of his mates decided to come over too just for the fun of it!! Great sight outside my house with about a dozen french registered classic minis 8)

 

[aspro]

If you say collection only then a buyer should really ask beforehand if it is alright for a courier to pick it up. I think it is rude not too.

All courier companies operate on a 9-5 pickup window I'm afraid. The only time you can get a specific time is when you arrange a private courier who has decent organisational skills.

If it is causing you grief just write pick up only, no couriers in your ads. Only problem is you will restrict your market and probably get less for your items.

End of the day, ebay is ****. I's rather sell on forums for less money and have less stress.

 

[harveyg]

Had same issues,it will stop when you put [pick up in person only] in your add,stop people asking and yourself getting into a negative feedback place, ive only had one neg feedback in many years and it was when i agreed for buyer to send courier and it went pair shape i couldnt win as he was the buyer leaving feedback,and me doing all the running around.

 

[Supertramp]

Not fully related but I had nothing but grief using couriers to send items to other forum members. Multiple failed collections, despite being in, missed deliveries, items returned.
Of maybe 8 deliveries, 2 went smoothly.

 

[chad]

I seem to remember an article a while back that said the couriers only got about 20p per delivery

No wonder the service can be c***, how long can they spend on each one if they want enough money to live on?

 

[Clem]

I seem to remember an article a while back that said the couriers only got about 20p per delivery

No wonder the service can be c***, how long can they spend on each one if they want enough money to live on?

I think I read around Christmas that they start making money after the fiftieth delivery of the day!

 

[jonboylaw]

You make far more on th deal if you offer a courier service. I used paisley freight foe seats and wheels. Add an extra £5 to the courier cost and you could leave with a reliable neighbour if you need to be out.
I recently bought a collection only item, mailed the seller BEFORE buying and he was cool for me to send a courier. Picked up same day as I placed the order with courier, again paisley freight.


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[Whistler]

I only ever use TNT and UPS now and the service is great. UPS picked up something yesterday for me, arrived before 9am this morning. Ok so I paid £10.99 for that device, but no issues so far in 10 or so years. From little bits to bumpers, tailgates etc.