topic Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First. in Selling

Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

austmagz — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 20:08:57 GMT

I'm not familiar with this situation.A potential buyer contacted me to ask if they could come to my home and use the piano to see what its like. The piano is packed and ready to be delivered to a new buyer. As any auction I'm not familiar with the idea of anyone visiting a seller to try out their item.Even in your everyday auction on an auction's business premisis for anything they dont let buyers test drive a vehicle.

What are the rules for buyers and sellers in this situation? And,what about the safety factor?

Thank you for your help.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

lyndal1838 — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 20:23:09 GMT

I don't think there is a hard and fast rule for this item.

I would have thought that it would be a Pick Up item and the buyer could try it out before paying. As you are going to send it to the buyer I think I would be allowing him to try it out before buying. It is expensive and you have already admitted it was not the right item for you.

Maybe it will not be the right item for the potential buyer either.

I know I would not be parting with that amount of money without trying it out first.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

a_beautiful_room — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 20:27:18 GMT

There are no ebay rules to cover this situation so you must do what you feel comfortable with.

Certainly for that amount of money, I would not want to buy without inspecting first. But that is entirely your perogative whether you allow that to happen.

As to safety .. make sure you have a freind or neighbor there, I wouldn't let someone in the house if I was there alone. Which is just simple common sense, not a stain on the reputation or conduct of any buyer. When I had people coming to look at something I would put it on the verandah, so that they could look without them having to come inside, but that may not be suitable in your case. I wasn't afraid of strangers coming to my house, just cautious, and worried that if they came inside I might not be able to get rid of them (if they were chatty - I wasn't interested in making a new friend! - just wanted to sell the item)

I would allow it, you want to sell the item, you have an interested buyer. You don't have to send it if they want to buy it, they may pay cash rather than paypal, plenty of advantages. Just have a friend there and everything should be fine.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

austmagz — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 20:46:57 GMT

The auction is still going.No one has any bids.They were enquiring to see if they could try it out first.I would have thought theiy would be better off going to a shop to try one out.I guess if they buy it they can try it if they are able to pick it up at the same time.Most people generally buy something that they already know its what they want.
I might have to contact ebay and ask for help.

Thanks for helping.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

austmagz — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 20:55:41 GMT

The safety factor was on my mind first.The protocol for this was new to me.
I've sold a piano before but they paid via paypal,picked it up and left..

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

old_new_emporium — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 20:55:52 GMT

I have had, on the odd occasion people come and check out an item. There has never been any problem with this from my perspective. Quite often I get paid in cash and all is well. .

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

austmagz — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 20:57:36 GMT

It worked for you.Thats a healthy sign.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

a_beautiful_room — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 21:11:40 GMT

There is no point whatsoever contacting ebay for "help". You will speak to a call centre in the Phillipines or India and they won't have a clue ! I repeat - there are NO ebay rules to cover this situation. Have them come if you want to and don't if you don't. That's it. I've had hundreds of buyers come to my house to inspect or pick up and never had a problem. They won't go to a shop and try it out and then buy yours - who's to say it will be in "shop brand new" condition or working order?

Anyway you have enough information from other users now to make your own decision.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

putney32 — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 21:28:10 GMT

@austmagz wrote:
The safety factor was on my mind first.The protocol for this was new to me.
I've sold a piano before but they paid via paypal,picked it up and left..

you were lucky to have found such a trusting buyer

payingfor a pick up item with Paypal means no buyer protection whatsoever (and no Seller Protection) offered by paypal and if it wasnt working when they unpack it and get home they would have done over a thousand dollars !!!!

not many buyers willing to gamble that kind of money without trying out the product before paying!

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

egglesdtp — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 00:32:31 GMT

When I have sold furniture, I encourage people to come and inspect it first. Same goes when I buy secondhand furniture, I always want to see it first. It's a bit like buying a car - you wouldn't buy it without test driving it first.

I know if I was laying out the sort of money you are asking for the piano, I wouldn't like to buy it sight unseen.

Just bear in mind the suggestions regarding safety. Have someone with you if you are nervous about letting someone into your home. And it is preferable for the buyer to pay cash or with a bank cheque, not Paypal, if they are picking it up.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

lyndal1838 — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 01:38:39 GMT

But the OP is not offering pickup.....she is going to deliver/courier the piano at the buyer's expense.

The listing states that the buyer should research the piano on line to be sure it suits their needs and is what they want.

I am not a piano player myself but to my way of thinking it is not the sort of thing you can research. It needs to be trie out before buying. The OP admits in the listing that it was not for her, but wants some other sucker buyer to part with over $1300 sight unseen.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

egglesdtp — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 01:44:06 GMT

@lyndal1838 wrote:
But the OP is not offering pickup.....she is going to deliver/courier the piano at the buyer's expense.
The listing states that the buyer should research the piano on line to be sure it suits their needs and is what they want.

I am not a piano player myself but to my way of thinking it is not the sort of thing you can research. It needs to be trie out before buying. The OP admits in the listing that it was not for her, but wants some other sucker buyer to part with over $1300 sight unseen.

I realise the OP is not offering pick-up, but if they are serious about selling, I think they are going to have to rethink the whole idea. I don't think it has much chance of selling unless the buyer can try it out first.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

ydgonline06 — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 03:15:48 GMT

So pick up items have no buyer or seller protection, I understand from your comment here. Would that be the same if they pay cash on pick up, or PayPal beforehand? I wonder how that will unfold with the new 180 day refund. Would these 'pick up' items still fall under the new system starting November 1st?

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

casbit33 — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 03:36:35 GMT

I sold an organ recently. someone made me an offer, i accepted. They came to get it and the lady came inside and spent a while trying it out before agreeing to take it. It was only $50 but they felt the need to - try before you buy. I didn't mind, she was a nice lady.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

casbit33 — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 03:38:34 GMT

My husband had a large item he was selling. someone came to inspect it while the sale was still on. They made an offer, we accepted. Then they changed their mind. That's life.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

lyndal1838 — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 05:30:50 GMT

@ydgonline06 wrote:
So pick up items have no buyer or seller protection, I understand from your comment here. Would that be the same if they pay cash on pick up, or PayPal beforehand? I wonder how that will unfold with the new 180 day refund. Would these 'pick up' items still fall under the new system starting November 1st?

Yes, pick up items are not covered by paypal at all and still won't be under the new system. The only change is that Made to Order items will be covered but they are not covered now.

To all intents and purposes the only real change is that paypal will not accept disputes up to 6 months after the sale.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

springyzone — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 10:25:24 GMT

I would guess that with a lot of larger items, people ask if they can have a look first. It isn't a rarity on ebay.

Plenty of ads invite people to come inspect.

I've seen wedding dresses for sale, size is listed, but the sellers still invite people to come and try it on. Ditto for bikes-some sellers say buyers are welcome to come have a look if they want to.

It could work out well for you as it sounds as if the item is almost new, so if a buyer comes to your home, likes it and bids & buys, they will probably pick it up and pay cash, so you won't have to pay paypal on postage and you won't have to leave home to deliver it to a courier or whatever.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

cherry*135 — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 10:38:12 GMT

If you are keen to sell the piano, let prospective buyers come to your house and inspect it, try it out.

Get their name and phone number first, if you are worried about security, maybe car rego number as well.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

austmagz — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:56:02 GMT

A potential buyer should go into a retail shop to try out the same make and model for a start.That way they can decide if its to their liking in the first place.

There are people out there who like to demo things with no intention of buying.This happens with cars mainly.I want to avoid that situation.

Buyers have to be responsible.They want to try something out in a shop first if they want to buy online cheaper.They will only comparing a demo model in a shop for a new one in my home.The price they pay as is the only difference.

Re: Potential Buyer Wants To Call In To Demo First.

austmagz — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:57:50 GMT

I bought mine from interstate from a shop.I dont travel due to disability.I dont have that luxury to go into a shop.I have to research everything then buy it hoping it will be suitable.