harry_mr Posted October 27, 2013 Posted October 27, 2013 I know this is a controversial topic but I am interested to know what others think when they want to bid for an item that is local pickup only, but in particular when a seller is re-selling an item that they had sent to them but now they demand local pickup only. The world is globalized and sometimes you can get an item sent to you from overseas that you cant get a seller to send to you from interstate, again there may be different reasons for this. I have had this on ebay and SNA and it made me wonder if is genuine concern for the item or just laziness on the sellers behalf, or maybe its neither. It can be just as inconvenient to arrange for local pickup as it is to arrange for freight pickup so its not always about convenience. Curious to know what others think when it happens to them, BTW there is no correct answer just looking for opinions of others in the same situation.
wolster Posted October 27, 2013 Posted October 27, 2013 Hi Harry One of the great things about the SNA community is that there always seems to be members willing to pick up locally for other members and post or organise a courier. The bigger SNA becomes, the more likely you will get help when needed. That pretty well overcomes the hassle of sellers insisting on local pick-up. BTW, on eBay, those who insist on local pick-up narrow their market dramatically. They had just as well use Gumtree. 2
LogicprObe Posted October 27, 2013 Posted October 27, 2013 I sell a bit of stuff on ebay, mainly furniture and usually mark it local pick up only. People will ask if they can bid and I tell them only if their carrier can pick up on weekends because I'm never certain to be home during the week. A lot are a real pain. I had one ****head who reckons he turned up three times to pick a sideboard up...............he had all the excuses............the final being that because I took six rings to answer my phone.........that's less than 30 seconds..........he had gone too far and wasn't coming back. I ended up taking it myself to near the QLD border for a few hundred bucks.
houdinifangs Posted October 27, 2013 Posted October 27, 2013 To some the world of couriers and delivery services is outside of their comfort zone. I'll admit it took me quite a leap of faith to put trust in these services for the first time...it's still black magic to me but I consulted and honored the gods well enough to make it work.
LogicprObe Posted October 27, 2013 Posted October 27, 2013 Since I am in the industry...................I have little faith in them. I remember the CEO from TNT (I think) boasting about how they delivered 96% of all their freight. He failed to mention that they transacted 20 million consignments and that means they lost 800,000 parcels. One of them could be yours! 3
L J T Posted October 27, 2013 Posted October 27, 2013 I recently sold some heavy amps that were around 60 plus kilos. Offered them only as a pickup due to the cost to have them posted. It was easier for me to do it this way. I prefer to sell items as pickup only because it gives the seller the chance to inspect the item visually and test it's full operation. These are two important things that I like to do when buying anything with audio. I will offer postage if I feel the original packaging is adequate and buyer accepts all responsibility for costs and associated risks.
daemon d Posted October 27, 2013 Posted October 27, 2013 As a buyer, local pick up only means find someone else to sell it to, because if you can't be bothered to ship it, I can't be bothered to buy it off you. There'll always be another one for sale somewhere. 1
Newman Posted October 27, 2013 Posted October 27, 2013 Local pickup means your item may be slower to sell on buy it now, or you will accept a lower price on auction.
Equaliser Posted October 27, 2013 Posted October 27, 2013 (edited) I sell and buy things regularly, I have very little faith in Post, TNT and DHL delivery couriers. Post = mishandle your items. TNT = takes there sweet time delivering items, hit and miss with receiving your item. 2/5 parcels arrived damaged. DHL = expect 2-3 months for some DHL parcels to arrive if sent from Germany or so. Local pickup is inconvenient for some people, especially since they don't want to spend the extra $$$ for the item being posted out to them. Edited October 27, 2013 by DefQon 2
Prana69 Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 In my experience, the majority of people who list items as "Local Pickup Only" do so for one or a combination of the following reasons: They are only occasional buyers / sellers and packing seems like too much effort for the occasional listing. They think the courier process is complicated, only for commercial sellers, and are unfamiliar with modern delivery / courier options that are door to door. They think the process of packing and labelling is overly arduous (which it can be, depending on the item in question). If I see an item that I want but it is listed as Local Pickup, I just politely ask the seller if they would consider packing the item up for a courier pickup if I make all arrangements at my end. All they have to do is safely pack and box it, stick a delivery note on it and leave it on their doorstep for pickup. I would say that in 90% of cases, when they are aware of how easy it is, they have agreed to pack for me. Your seller who received an item via delivery, but then refused to offer it with delivery, does seem a bit strange. DaveR
Peter_F Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 I think we forget how valuable our time is vs the cost/value of the product being sold by the seller. I have shipped numerous items and it is the poor seller who has to bear the burden of adequate packaging, shipping mishaps, and the amount of time it can take to properly ensure that the item is safely packaged. I have spent hours packing things up for shipping and then reflecting that for the work involved I would have been better off dropping the price and selling it locally. Then there's waiting for a courier who will attend between set times over a 6 hour period, so you can't go anywhere or do something that would inadvertently lead to missing the courier. Or driving 30 minutes each way to a couriers' depo, or driving it to the post office and getting stuck in line and then driving home again. When the package arrives the purchaser can really allege anything and then make a Paypal claim and make life difficult, because they can!! Now if I was selling something and a potential buyer said that if I was to ship it and they would pay for all costs including my time to pack it carefully, then perhaps that would be more enticing. The shipping process as a seller really is a PITA. Its not about being lazy, its that some people may feel that they have more valuable things to with their time, or that the amount effort and responsibility is simply not worth it. 6
emesbee Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 I think the seller has the right to ask for local pickup only, for whatever reason. Nothing wrong with asking them if they will consider sending it though, as suggested by Prana69 above.
Prana69 Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 I think the seller has the right to ask for local pickup only, for whatever reason. I agree 100%. Seller can do whatever the heck he or she likes. It's their item and their prerogative. I've never pushed or questioned anyone who came back to me with a "No, pick up only" response. It's none of my business really. DaveR 4
Saxon Hall Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 I work in a warehouse and I see the way items are mishandled (both by my colleagues and couriers) so I can understand some sellers wanting pick up only. If original packaging and boxes are not available then you are trusting that your shipped item will be well looked after., a trust which could easily be misplaced. I believe it is a seller's prerogative to choose pick up only as it is also a buyers to decline to purchase under those conditions. 3
New Sensations Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Although it's nice when a seller pays his buy price and/or shipping terms forward, neither should be expected. It's the seller's item and he/she can do as he/she pleases. 2
Brendo09 Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Shipping is a must for all items I buy, there simply isn't the market for the items I want locally. I've also been on the bad end of shipping items to buyers. It's the little things, like your buyer not telling you if it's arrived or not, and you worrying for a couple of weeks whether something has happened. Or the tracking to go haywire, and an item you paid a premium for to be delivered in 3 days, is actually delivered in 6 weeks, and the couriers simply point to the fine print and shrug their shoulders. When shipping works, it's great. When it doesn't, it's a whole bunch of inconveniences over and above a buyer being out of pocket and a seller no longer having the item in their possession. It's a necessary evil, and I understand sellers who aren't interested in going down that road. I just wish that more of them would!
Full Range Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 I have asked nicely on many occasions that if I bid and win would they post and make special note that I appreciate there time and not to rush as work comes first 99% of the time they say OK 1
Jventer Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Firstly: I always respect the wishes of the seller. Based on my location I cannot pick up. I need things posted/couriered etc. So I make arrangements with the seller. I have not dealt with a seller that did not agree to assist with Pack and Send or Couriers picking up or posting for an extra fee.
gemini07 Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 I've been on both sides and I think it's a matter of negotiation, mutual respect and some common sense. I currently have an item on ebay. It doesn't have the original box or padding etc, so I'm naturally concerned about potential damage if freighted interstate. However, if a potential buyer asks about arranging freight and packaging I will try to help out. On numerous occasions I have spent a considerable amount of time wrapping stuff properly, padding boxes, sealing them with all sorts of tape, getting quotes, carting stuff around etc etc. I don't get reimbursed for my time and effort to do that, but I don't want any dramas or dissatisfied buyers, and I've got pride in my gear so I just do it. What I don't like, however, is people who 'demand' or take it for granted that I do all of that, somehow expect that I will pay for or absorb the freight costs, and expect to get the item for a fraction of the asking price as well. Give me a break! 1
hired goon Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Some sellers allow local pick-up only, that's their prerogative. If I've got some bulky shiz to offload then that's probably what I would do myself. Although I have bought some stuff on ebay for sale in Sydney and Melbourne and some kind dudes on SNA have picked 'em up for me and sent 'em on to Brisbane (I always offer them a share of the booty). Then again, there are some sellers on ebay who will ship only and not allow local pickup. Fair enough, you may not want some clown rocking up to yer doorstep, or you may want to keep some of those sweet, sweet shipping fees for yerself. Many is the time I've wanted something locally but the shipping cost from one suburb to the next makes it an unattractive proposition. --Geoff
harry_mr Posted October 28, 2013 Author Posted October 28, 2013 For sure sellers have the right to do what ever they want its their item, however as as seller I prefer my ebay items are freighted as I don't really want people visiting me that I only have an online name for knowing where I live. On SNA however i am more than happy for local pickup or freight as there is a higher degree of trust with someone you can read their posts and make an assessment of. I will hold an item for SNA members based on a persons word, I still value a person words and but I have felt the bitter disappointment of a seller saying its first one here with the cash gets the item. I have sent many things both local and overseas and generally its the buyer who has done most of the freight leg work apart from the packaging which I don't consider to much effort if I get the money for an item I wanted. It may just come down to the value of the items being sent on here more than anything else but I do find it odd when its been freighted to them.
Juicester Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 For sure sellers have the right to do what ever they want its their item, however as as seller I prefer my ebay items are freighted as I don't really want people visiting me that I only have an online name for knowing where I live. just get a friend to help you move whatever the bulky item is, onto your neighbours driveway for pick-up...
pete_mac Posted October 29, 2013 Posted October 29, 2013 I don't see what the issue is. It's completely up to the seller. These days, I struggle to facilitate a courier pick-up as my workplace prohibits courier pick-ups for personal purposes. Accordingly, unless the item is small enough for Auspost to handle it, shipping is out of the equation. On smaller, valuable items, I also much prefer pick-up as it eliminates the risk of shipping damage or total loss of the item. Laziness doesn't even come into the picture. 1
quadrodude Posted November 1, 2013 Posted November 1, 2013 (edited) Some people just don't want the hassle of packing stuff and then dragging it (..especially if it's super heavy) off to the post office and/or courier with all the attendent paperwork...and that's fair enough. However, making an item "Pickup only" almost always works out great for the buyer, as it greatly limits the amount of people that will bid for the item...you can pick up some great bargains that way....and I have.... ...so personally I have no issue with it... ...although I do find it super frustrating if it's something really ultra rare that I'd like, and it's in another state... ... In any event, I always prefer to pick stuff up anyway, as that will guarentee it'll (..most times) end up at my place in one piece... Edited November 1, 2013 by quadrodude 1
masliko Posted March 14, 2014 Posted March 14, 2014 I know this is a controversial topic but I am interested to know what others think when they want to bid for an item that is local pickup only, but in particular when a seller is re-selling an item that they had sent to them but now they demand local pickup only. The world is globalized and sometimes you can get an item sent to you from overseas that you cant get a seller to send to you from interstate, again there may be different reasons for this. I have had this on ebay and SNA and it made me wonder if is genuine concern for the item or just laziness on the sellers behalf, or maybe its neither. It can be just as inconvenient to arrange for local pickup as it is to arrange for freight pickup so its not always about convenience. Curious to know what others think when it happens to them, BTW there is no correct answer just looking for opinions of others in the same situation. laziness or just don't have the time.
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