Is this dodgy?

[Simpo Two]

I'm selling a big terracotta vase on eBay and it's marked 'Collection only'

I had a message from a possible buyer 60 miles away:

Seller: 'Hi there, would you deliver this to Norwich ?'

Seller: 'I have just seen that you offer free delivery to my address'

Seller: 'I just have one question to ask please, the person I am buying it for needs to feel it’s quality by hand, if fine, we can take it, but if not, could we please return it (without using it) quickly? Thanks'

I logged out of my account and viewed the advert as an outsider. Nowhere does it say free delivery, and in the description the advert says 'Very heavy so for collection only please. So I replied:

Me: 'Hello and thanks for your enquiry. However where does the advert say free delivery? It says 'Very heavy so for collection only please.' You are welcome to visit and see it, and if you like it, you can pay cash and take it away. Let me know if that suits. Thanks!'

Seller: 'Ob I see. I can come and collect, but the person I am buying it for will not be with me. Can I buy it, show it to him (travel to Norwich), and then come back later to return if he didn’t like it ?'


I can't see a problem with that but am I missing something?

Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 22 August 10:12

[simon_harris]

you already know the answer

[anonymous-user]

It’s up to you if you can be bothered with the hassle of a return or the unlikely return of a different vase.

Personally, I don’t offer returns on eBay. Strictly bought as seen/described.

[Terminator X]

Does the ad say no returns? Most of them do.

TX.

[Simpo Two]

It seems odd, but I can't see what the scam is if he pays cash on collection.

[Simpo Two]

Terminator X said:

Does the ad say no returns? Most of them do.

TX.

It says 'Will not post (buyer must collect)' and 'No returns accepted'. But I think eBay can over-ride this in a dispute.

[Glassman]

I wouldn't entertain it at all.

[Simpo Two]

I don't like the fact he's reading things that aren't there and making up his own rules, so I've blocked him from bidding.

[the-norseman]

It will result in you having no money and no item.

[ADJimbo]

If you need to ask the question of whether it is dodgy then it’s dodgy.

[21TonyK]

Simpo Two said:

I don't like the fact he's reading things that aren't there and making up his own rules, so I've blocked him from bidding.

This. They're a nutter.

[JQ]

Simpo Two said:

It seems odd, but I can't see what the scam is if he pays cash on collection.

I don't think it's a scam, more that you're dealing with a moron. Such transactions always end in pain.

Personally there's enough red flags in their comms that even if they agreed to buy it for cash with no return I wouldn't sell it to them. You can almost guarantee they'll find an issue.

[JoshSm]

Simpo Two said:

Seller: 'I just have one question to ask please, the person I am buying it for needs to feel it’s quality by hand, if fine, we can take it, but if not, could we please return it (without using it) quickly? Thanks'

You should be able to tell all you need to know just from this bit, both the content and the sentence structure are clues.