A sale through eBay where the buyer is failing to collect

[kelk]

Hi all, I need your help,

Need some advice. On behalf of a club I run, we sold 38x18m of astro turf in a variety of cut pieces and large rolls. The guy who won it did not realise the sheer size and weight of the astro and brought a small combi style van to pick it up and he has been and picked up a certain amount c. 40%. The advert on eBay stated the size, there were photos to match and it stated we would NOT deliver.

He then sold it on to a couple who came and picked up about 5%, they were unhappy took it up with him and he resold it to another chap who has picked up about 20 - 25%.

The issue is that this all started in January. On February 20th (some 4 weeks into the process) I said to the my buyer he had 1 month left to remove it. The reason being is that the club I run is based on a school premises and the headteacher had raised concerns over its appearance.

The 20th of March has been and gone and still the remaining 30% is still on site and he is now saying he has done everything he can. To make matters worse last weekend I received a text from the latest guy who had bought it from my buyer asking me if it was still there. I replied honestly and said yes at which point he told me that he had been informed that it was gone. Apparently my buyer had told him it was all gone and he had got yet another buyer to come and pick it up. He says that I have interfered and wants nothing to do with it. I have said I was not in on his little plan to lie to his buyer and I have behaved honestly. Now it appears none of them want to be involved.

What leverage or legal recourse do I have in order to get him to take this away in as quick a fashion as possible?

Thanks in advance

[Jasandjules]

Start charging him a daily rate for storage.

[paintman]

I'm assuming he has paid in full for the turf?

I would suggest your course of action is to write to him giving him a set period within which to remove the remainder of the turf and that at the end of that period any turf not collected will be disposed of by you and he will be billed for any costs incurred. No refunds of any kind will be entertained.

As far as other people he may have sold it to contacting you are concerned that's his problem not yours & any callers should be told to contact him.

Edited by paintman on Saturday 21st March 11:38

[tapereel]

But it isn't gone so why doesn't the new buyer come and get it after you tell him it's still there?

Your buyer obviously hasn't 'done all he can' because it is still there.

Tell the headmaster who owns it as it is the owners responsibility to shift it.

[kelk]

Thanks for the starter for 10.

Can I legally charge him for storage? If so how do I do this?

Paintman - yes he has paid for it in full. My issue is I want it gone. Regarding the costs of disposal, how do I get that from him?

The new buyer is taking forever and a day to collect. To be fair he can only get access at limited times due to the school, however he takes a small car load not a big van each time

[hidetheelephants]

Freecycle it or advertise uplift for free on Gumtree; pie people will have it away in seconds.

[23rdian]

If he's paid in full who cares. Give him notice to pick up the remaining or you will sell/give away the rest. Simple?

[paintman]

kelk said:

Paintman - yes he has paid for it in full. My issue is I want it gone. Regarding the costs of disposal, how do I get that from him?

The new buyer is taking forever and a day to collect. To be fair he can only get access at limited times due to the school, however he takes a small car load not a big van each time

Your sale was to him. Who he subsequently sells it to is not your concern. He's taking the piss by effectively getting you to store it for him at no cost to him.
As far as disposal is concerned you would need to send him a bill. If he didn't pay then you would have to sue him. Hopefully it will focus his attention to get it shifted ASAP & it won't need to go that far.
Probably be worth telling the current buyer that you have contacted your original buyer and given him x days to shift it all or else it will be disposed of. It just might get THEM to get it gone ASAP, but point out to them that their arrangement with and whatever money they have paid to the original buyer is not your concern.

Edited by paintman on Saturday 21st March 15:07

[barker22]

You say that this is on a school premises.... Tell him it is out of your hands and the school wants it gone and is arranging removal after 7 days.

[Boosted LS1]

Leak the address and maybe somebody will just come and take it. That won't be your problem if they do. It could be the new buyers who are collecting it or their mates, mates. lol. Where is it by the way?

[22Rgt]

Its expensive stuff and popular. Dump it out near the entrance close to the road. The next morning it will all be long gone. Job done..

[Du1point8]

Contact your local garden centre, I know of one person who buys astro turf by the pitch size and can't get enough and sells it as a hanging basket liner for £5 each and makes a hell of a markup on it.

His company is www.outdoorlivinguk.co.uk maybe give him a call and if its worth his while he might just take the lot off you.

(assuming this is not the guy who bought it originally)

[beanbag]

22Rgt said:

Its expensive stuff and popular. Dump it out near the entrance close to the road. The next morning it will all be long gone. Job done..

This. Or give it away in Gumtree.

Just make sure you give him 24 hours notice (out of courtesy), and leave it like that.

[kelk]

Du1point8 said:

Contact your local garden centre, I know of one person who buys astro turf by the pitch size and can't get enough and sells it as a hanging basket liner for £5 each and makes a hell of a markup on it.

His company is www.outdoorlivinguk.co.uk maybe give him a call and if its worth his while he might just take the lot off you.

(assuming this is not the guy who bought it originally)

That's a great suggestion and appreciated - I'll give them a call. Do you have a name for the contact I should ask for? I have a lot ot get rid of

[Du1point8]

kelk said:

Du1point8 said:

Contact your local garden centre, I know of one person who buys astro turf by the pitch size and can't get enough and sells it as a hanging basket liner for £5 each and makes a hell of a markup on it.

His company is www.outdoorlivinguk.co.uk maybe give him a call and if its worth his while he might just take the lot off you.

(assuming this is not the guy who bought it originally)

That's a great suggestion and appreciated - I'll give them a call. Do you have a name for the contact I should ask for? I have a lot ot get rid of

Michael Hall is the owner of the company, I know he does sell a lot of this stuff as his father runs the stall at Ideal home show and was telling me he goes all over the country to pick it up and utilise the astro turf and rubber.

The chance of you being able to talk is not great at the moment as he will be attending Ideal home show until beginning of April, I have PMed you his mobile and you can try to ring/text him, if you can't get in contact he will ring up as soon as he can and he will discuss the situation with you to see if you can come to a solution.

Edited by Du1point8 on Wednesday 25th March 11:10