Pickup only: Free

[*crikey*mate*]

It's not really though, is it? In most cases there will be costs involved to gain posession of the item despite the word "free" being used.

Petrol, Physical labour, Time waiting for buyer to arrive or time for buyer to travel, Couriers etc - all cost something whether it be financial or physical, and yet the term "free" is one that is generally accepted.

I searched "tables" (simply because I figured they would be big and most likely to have pick up items - not because I have any listed and am advertising)

They seem to appear in two different formats.

I wonder why no one has objected to the word "free" in these instances?

Example One - as it appears on the search page

Example One: as it appears in the listing

Example Two: as it appears in the search

Example Two: as it appears in the listing

[ajarnjenny]

If you find that anything is free in this world, I would like you to tell me where you found it,

[kopenhagen5]

I think objections have been made and I have suggested to drop the word "free" simply because it adds to confusion.

As you probably know and have seen in many posts that members have thought it free postage rather than it's free of charges on ebay to pick it up.

One of the many small nuances on ebay that create confusion and at times member conflict.

However I still remain confident these things will be improved eventually.

[digital*ghost]

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@*crikey*mate* wrote:

I wonder why no one has objected to the word "free" in these instances?

Example One - as it appears on the search page

Example One: as it appears in the listing

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Postage / delivery quotes are costs charged to the buyer to access the service being offered. 

Whether or not something costs money is irrelevant, if you advertise something as free, it's supposed to be free for the person you're advertising it to, and objections enter into the equation when people start questioning whether something is actually free to the person the item is being advertised to.

It's not like when eBay offer extra free listings we sit here and go "but they're still costing eBay money for bandwidth etc, so they're not really free". They're free to me, and that's why they can be advertised as free.

[davewil1964]

It's free if you pickup, as the listing states.

If you want it posted, you pay for same. Simple.

if the seller is happy for you to arrange your own delivery,pProvided the seller is prepared to pack for your courier AND hang around for the courier to eventually (maybe) turn up....

[amber-eyed-girl]

ajarnjenny, so far, breathing in the air where you happen to be, is free. That is about it.

using this forum, is free...but in a way, anyone who contributes to it, where the result is a reliable answer to an eBay related question, is providing a service to eBay, without payment. So, that time might be considered of value, and the value of it, a fee for the forum...

[cherry*135]

It is FREE to pick up from the sellers house/business... no 3rd party charges.

The buyer may have a ute, van or trailer they can put furniture in.

For small items, they go in the buyers car

Drivers put $50 or whatever amount petrol in their cars every week. They don't keep tabs on every trip they make in the car for personal use - how much it costs to drive to the store for a loaf of bread, to the sports ground to pick up their kids, to visit Granny.

[amber-eyed-girl]

Unless there is a split of the car's use between personal and work, no...at least I don't worry about it. Picking up an item, is like going to the shop to buy and pick up. There is a cost, but it is an everyday one 🙂