Sold an item but buyer opted for local pick up but is in another State. Will not respond.

[lacged-97]

I sold a textbook to a person. I offered postage options but they chose 'local pick up'. They have not responded to any of my 3 messages asking them about local pick up, which is unsurprising because they live in a completely different State of Australia.

I am unable to cancel the transaction on the basis that I have not been paid, because eBay records that I was paid the $99 for the item, which does not reflect that I was not paid for postage.

Based on other negative reviews they have received, I think they are trying to force me into sending it at my expense, just to avoid the frustrating situation that I find myself in.

I would be tempted to just send it and learn my lesson, but I have no confidence that someone dishonest like this would accept that they received the item, or would make some other complaint.

I have tried looking at forum posts, which seem to mention an option after 4 days to complain about not being paid properly, but as I have said, that does not seem to help here.

I tried speaking to an Ebay staff member via 'chat', but they could not have been more unhelpful. With respect, they lacked the comprehension of English to even understand what the issue was. None of the suggestions Sumit made had any relationship to the situaiton I was in, and they were not coherent so I found them difficult to comprehend.

Can anyone help me please?

[*tippy*toes*]

If the buyer has paid, but are now refusing to answer messages about shipping costs, all you can do is cancel the transaction, using the option that there is a problem with the buyer's address. Only use that option.

If other sellers have left false positives about this buyer, then I wouldn't be cutting my losses and sending anyway. Definitely not. Sounds like the buyer has found a loophole with sellers offering local pick up, and thinking they can get stuff posted for free.

In future, if you're worried, I'd be listing without local pick up, but if a local buyer buys, offer it to them post sale.

[springyzone]

My sister & I had a similar problem just a few years ago with a bulk lot of CDs and DVDs. 

Our buyer was local and we only offered local pick up but he would not respond to several messages to set a time frame. Then sent a message saying okay I am in the area right now, I'll get them. Where are you? Unfortunately my sister was not home at the time so that didn't work out. When she got home & saw the message, she explained she had been out but offered almost any other time. No reply.

After about a week, she opened an unpaid item claim, whereupon the buyer promptly paid via paypal then claimed that meant we had to post it to him.

My sister did contact ebay help and they were helpful in that they confirmed that we were not required to post it, that the ad was quite clear it was pick up and no postage had been paid. So ebay help can be supportive, just depends who you get.

When we relayed that to the buyer and again asked when he would like to pick up, he immediately opened a paypal claim.

So my suggestion would be to contact the buyer once more and politely explain that they have paid for pick up only and it will be XX amount extra, as stated in the ad, should they require postage.

One of 2 things should happen.

One, the buyer may contact you and try to bluff you into sending post free. Don't, under any circumstances.

Two, the buyer, once he realises you can't be bluffed and you know your rights, may go to paypal and make a claim. That is what happened to us. Paypal refunded him. they could see it was pick up only but stated that it was fair he got his money back as he didn't have anything.

I suppose there is also three, that the buyer may immediately pay the extra but don't hold your breath.

Given though that the buyer has paid out $99 for your item, if #3 doesn't happen soon after you send your new message, I would cancel the order and as whoever it was suggested, do so on the basis of a problem with buyer's address. Don't mess around with such a buyer, they are just trouble in our experience.