posted on October 13, 2000 11:33:58 AM new
I have this customer that emailed me today wanting to pick up his item at my house.
He lives about 20 miles away.
I am real leary about having a stranger come to my house.
Even though he already has my address I feel somewhat safe because my house is hard to find.
What would you do?
posted on October 13, 2000 11:36:51 AM new
I don't allow ANYONE to come to my house to pick up their items. This is an ONLINE auction and when they placed their bid they agreed to pay the bid price PLUS shipping.
I once even had someone email me and ask me to DELIVER their package to their work address - which is about 1/2 an hour from me!
I say NO. I won't deliver (except to the post office!) and I won't allow anyone to pick their package up at my house.
____________________________________
The only place you'll find success before work is in the dictionary.
posted on October 13, 2000 11:40:04 AM new
I had someone who lives 30 miles away ask to save shipping by picking it up. He was driving through my town the next day. I arranged for him to meet my husband in front of a store very near my home and he picked it up there. He was happy, saved money and left me a great feedback. Good deal for everyone.
posted on October 13, 2000 12:25:41 PM new
I agree with cdnbooks.
The only real reason for someone to pickup something is a large and heavy item: furniture, a piano, big office equipment, automobile or something else that one is buying on a regional basis to save on costly shipping.
posted on October 13, 2000 12:29:11 PM new
I personally would not, but we did make an exception a few weeks ago. My husband also is an eBay seller and he decided to list our living room sectional. We had just done some redecorating and weren't quite sure what to do with our old sectional. It really was in pretty good shape and was rather expensive when we bought it years ago, but it was also three large pieces. I told my husband he was nuts!! I mean, who in heavens name is gonna buy it. Well wouldn't you know he got quite a few bids on it and it sold for way more than I ever expected. Go figure!! We both called around and searched the net for delivery charges. HOLY COW!!! More to ship than what it sold for.
At any rate, the buyer turned out to be from our state, about an hour away and asked if she and her husband could come and pick it up in order not to pay the outrageous delivery charges. Why not!! We did move the pieces out from the garage, all fully wrapped I might add in plastic and styrofoam, and my husband met them and their pick-up outside our house. All went well and they were happy and so were we. But then again, this is a large item and it was to both (buyer and seller) our interests to do it this way. Any other items just might be asking for trouble if you offer to let them come for a "pickup".
posted on October 13, 2000 12:35:14 PM new
I've made some good friendships this way,and repeat buyers too.A boyscout troopmaster picking up a vintage uniform,a buyers wife,two buyers at once who also then bought some other hard to ship items...
but then again,I'm a guy well above the norm in stature,so I've got little to worry about as far as being assaulted/robbed.
I often wonder though,is it not worth the three to five bucks in gas,time and hassle to recieve the item at your door????
posted on October 13, 2000 12:41:32 PM new
I would never allow anyone to come to my house to pick up their items. I would, however, agree if they wanted to pick it up from my place of work. In my building a guard would call me and ask if the individual had permission to visit me. If the answer is yes, then the guard would make them show their ID and then have them walk through a metal detector. On their way out of the building they would have to produce a property pass signed by our property officer verifying that the property was personal.
I think that most ebayers would be somewhat intimidated by our security measures and never want to go through it again!
posted on October 13, 2000 12:49:05 PM new
Allowing buyers to pick up items at your home could also be a problem in some cities and states. There are zoning laws and restrictions, as well as insurance considerations.
As far as a buyer who lived close, you could arrange a meeting place and have someone go with you. I've only had one item sell to someone within a few minutes driving, but mailing the item was still the best way to go.
posted on October 13, 2000 12:59:42 PM new
Just a thought... Do you really think someone who bought something from you is going to assault you? I think they'd make the top story on Dumb Criminals.
posted on October 13, 2000 01:30:00 PM new
Meet at a resteraunt, that's what I always do, I've made some solid connections in my area with top dollar bidders who are specialty collectors in their field of interest. Use your gut, and look at the item. Are you making .50 or $50. Is it worth your time meeting a stranger? What is their feedback like? Get your next door neighbor to watch while you're loading the truck with their couches, these days, you really do never know. At least with my way in the resteraunt, I know I'll be fed.
posted on October 13, 2000 01:48:18 PM new
Hi,
I've had many people come by to pick up their item. To me this is no different then running an ad in the newspaper and having the people come by to look. Met a lot of nice customers this way also.
posted on October 13, 2000 01:52:37 PM new
I've lived in large cities all of my life and I've suffered home burglaries. A couple of them were done by individuals who were acquainted with people who had visited my home and had told others about my stereo equipment, my clothes and my jewelery. The last theft we experienced was a year ago when someone stole our lawn mower from the storage shed in the back yard. Six months later I heard that a nearby community was experiencing numerous back-yard-shed thefts.
I'm certain that most Ebayers are marvelous people, but in this day and age it is foolish to trust everyone. Anyone who is advertising that they have valuables for sale is a prime target for thieves
posted on October 13, 2000 02:09:25 PM new
I have offered this to three buyers over the years. One came by the house. One, who lives about 20 miles away, but works about 5 miles from my home, met me at my office, which was closer to her place of work. Another person, who lives 4 miles from my home, and whose route to work is only a quarter mile from my house, preferred to have his three items (bought over the course of the year) mailed to him, as I work days and he works nights, and he felt he would be intruding on my privacy by coming by in the evening, even though I told him he was welcome up to midnight.
Criminals are, by nature and behavior, remarkably stupid regardless of their measurable IQ or other outward abilities. There's no great shortage of highly successful and professional people doing hard time for crimes that a rookie cop could solve before their morning cup of coffee.
Dumb doesn't make them any less dangerous however. Many victims know their attackers. Better to err on the side of caution.
posted on October 13, 2000 03:39:34 PM new
If it isn't furniture or something big I look at it this way:
Firstly I get this request frequently. I first write and tell them it is not my policy due to the fact when I decided to sell on the Internet I promised my family that I would not meet people in person. I also state the reason is that I would have to take two toddlers with me to meet a perfect stranger and this makes my family uneasy. Also if you think about it, it is almost like you are paying their postage for them. It take you time (which time is money) to drive there and meet them, time to dress and get kids together (in my case) to meet them, and gas in your car. Personally on the small items you might as well give it away if you meet this demand. Like someone else said it is clear in your ad that you ship your items. I had someone out of state say I am coming to your state can I pick it up at your house on a less than $20 item. Too weird for me. If I had a storefront that would be different.
posted on October 14, 2000 12:38:52 AM new
Well they might not assault you, but if they slipped on that wet leaf on your front stairs, fell down, broke their arm, then your insurance doesn't cover it likely & they could sue the pants (and antiques) off you, especially in the Litigious States of America.
These things always seem totally remote and not in the realm of possibility, until of course they happen to you.
Best to mail the item, or as fall back, at least meet in a neutral place, such as local coffee haven.
posted on October 14, 2000 12:58:18 AM new
As a buyer, I once picked up my item at the sellers once we realized that she lived a half block from me (that goes in the it's-a-small-world category).
As a seller, I met with a woman who drives within a block of my house on her way to work every day. We met at a coffee place around the corner from my house.
In both cases, once our addresses had been exchanged, it seemed somewhat silly to not make arrangements to at least meet. I could certainly envision lots of cases in which I wouldn't be willing to do this though. Just depends on the circumstances.
posted on October 14, 2000 07:43:06 AM new
As a general rule, I think home pick-up is not a great idea.
I did deliver an item once, since the store it was to be delivered to was only 2 doors down from the PO anyway.
I used the same terms though: check had to have cleared or MO or cc payment rec'd. And since I only ship once a week, it had to be ok with her that I deliver it that day. All went well and she was delighted.
Of course, since I'm thinking about listing a wood-burning stove soon, I may have to re-think home pick-up! Do you think having a crazy old mountain man w/a shotgun, and three Rottweilers on the property is enough security?
posted on October 14, 2000 07:53:16 AM new
I wouldn't allow pick up at my home. People are unpredictable. Why take the risk?
If the person has good feedback, I'll consent to meeting them in a public place. I once met a lady in front of a store to give her an LP record she bought.
posted on October 14, 2000 10:13:52 AM new
I would meet them at a public place if it's not inconvienent to me or if it's an expensive item to ship, but I would not go too far out of my way just to save them $3.20 postage. It could end up costing you in time, effort, and gas money.
posted on October 14, 2000 11:41:32 AM new
I would NOT recommend allowing home pickup of eBay items for single women living alone.
In nearly 3 years on eBay, my husband and I have had only two or three requests by buyers to pick up their purchases in person. Have not had a problem with any of 'em.
I do recommend going with any gut feelings about your buyer, and maintaining your street smarts to avoid trouble.
posted on October 14, 2000 12:02:18 PM new
Thanks for all the great advice.
I emailed him telling him it was not my policy to allow home pick up but I would meet him half way at a neutral place. So we are meeting at McDonalds tomorrow .
My husband will be with me.
Thanks all. It really helps to get the advice of those who have done this selling a while when problems like this come up.
I feel much better erring on the side of caution.
posted on October 14, 2000 05:57:49 PM new
I get asked for home pickup, or to meet a buyer somewhere regularly...have a firm policy of never doing business in person and just email that in reply. You never know about people these days and it is just plain good sense to be careful. Also it is more convenient for me to just ship the item!
posted on October 14, 2000 08:40:26 PM new
Definitely go by gut feeling. I accepted home-pick up once, and felt very good about. Gentleman worked in San Jose, and called me from his office, and left his number, as I could not get to the phone at that time. When I returned the call, sure enough, had the correct Company name and man's office ext.
But normally, yes, be very careful
******************** Shosh
posted on October 15, 2000 03:53:04 AM new
I've delivered a couple of time, when its been about 1 mile or so from my house (just dropped it off while I was on errands.)
I also arranged a meeting to pickup something where the seller worked near where I lived and I worked near where he lived. We met in the parking lot of where he worked. (It was a kind of big and fragile item, so he was glad not to have to pack, and I was glad to know it couldn't get damaged.)
I'm thinking about selling some large items, so I guess I'll have to allow home pick up for those.
posted on October 15, 2000 05:04:15 AM new
I've never been asked, but I have asked 3 times myself. The first one let me come to her home. I was actually kinda suprised. I offered to meet at a public place, but she said come on over (she had a toddler). That went very well and she was a nice lady. The second one turned out to be on the other side of town so I just had him ship it. It was faster that way The third one I met at the post office. It was a little out of my way, but I didn't mind (sheets can get heavy ya know).
Mind you I know none of you know whether I'm a crazed person, but I know I'm not But being female, I did take my husband with me the 2 times I did pick it up...just to be safe myself.
I agree with those that say if you want to, meet in a public place. I don't think I would have someone come to my home, I'm paranoid that way!
~~MouseSlayer is not a cat =^..^= ~~
Yes, I'm MouseSlayer everywhere. It's a great name, so I use it!
The third one I met at the post office. It was a little out of my way, but I didn't mind (sheets can get heavy ya know).
