If I see a 'local pick-up only' item on ebay that I would like to buy, but it's at the other end of the country, what are my options ie. something that would be acceptable to the seller and wouldn't cost me a fortune?
Item is an electronic drum kit - a bit bulky but not too heavy.
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check ebay for people ebaying courier services.
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>> check ebay for people ebaying courier services.
good idea :)
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Just wondering whether anyone had done this themselves and had any particular advice/recommendations?
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I`ve just bought a 5kg item on Ebay and the courier service was £6, and for that I got ALL this! ;-)
Received into Carlisle Depot
at 00:30, Mon, 06 Jun 2011
Sorted at Droitwich 09:42, Fri, 03 Jun 2011
Into Container at Leeds Depot 20:29, Thu, 02 Jun 2011
Despatched From Leeds Depot 19:48, Thu, 02 Jun 2011
Received into Leeds Depot 16:46, Thu, 02 Jun 2011
Parcel Collected by Leeds Van 14:37, Thu, 02 Jun 2011
Parcel Collected by Leeds Van 14:34, Thu, 02 Jun 2011
Received at Bp - Manor Sstn, WF3 2HE 17:09, Wed, 01 Jun 2011
Delivery booked 14:39, Wed, 01 Jun 2011
Dread to think of the fuel costs alone, apart from handling charges, and delivery is still to come!
|Cant complain about value for money!!!
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Thanks - it's more the issue of sending a courier round to the seller to pick up the item that I'm worried about, although maybe I shouldn't be.
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Were I the seller, having been paid, my only concern would be releasing the goods to the right person.
Assuming no breakdown in communication, it ought to be possible to provide the courier with sufficient information to satisfy that requirement.
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Try this site: www.anyvan.com/
It aims to tie up your delivery with a space on a vehicle going the same way.
Delivery operators have to provide proof of Goods In Transit insurance, and the site operates a feedback system similar to eBay. I registered on it as a transport provider with the thought that I could make some money delivering small items in the car, but the standing costs and low rates meant it wouldn't work on a small-scale basis. Medium- and large-scale operators have latched onto it in a big way though.
Last edited by: Dave_TDCi on Mon 6 Jun 11 at 12:47
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Thanks chaps - looks like it shouldn't be a problem. I'll contact the seller to check he'll accept my bid if I sort out the courier.
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Another thought.
I believe there is a scam whereby the goods are paid for by Paypal, collected by an 'agent', the scam buyer reports the transaction as fraudulent and Paypal refunds the money.
If the seller is aware of that, he may be nervous of releasing the goods before he has transferred the money from his Paypal account to his bank account.
Last edited by: Iffy on Mon 6 Jun 11 at 12:53
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>> If the seller is aware of that, he may be nervous of releasing the goods
>> before he has transferred the money from his Paypal account to his bank account.
Thanks iffy - shouldn't be a problem, no hurry. Actually not sure whether I'm going to bid yet - need to consult my Financial Advisor when she gets home. (It's not for me BTW.)
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The more I hear about Paypal, the more I don't like it.
A better way would be to pay by the bank's 'faster payment' scheme.
Doable via online banking, I believe, but when I used it, I wandered into the branch.
The other party has your money, guaranteed, within hours, if not sooner.
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>> The other party has your money, guaranteed, within hours, if not sooner.
Ok, ta - presumably seller would prefer that as he doesn't have to pay the Paypal fees.
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...Ok, ta - presumably seller would prefer that as he doesn't have to pay the Paypal fees...
I would, although my limited experience of ebay suggests some sellers are welded to the idea of Paypal.
Is there a connection between the two organisations?
Perhaps that's how ebay like to collect sellers' listing fees.
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>> Is there a connection between the two organisations?
On October 3, 2002, PayPal became a wholly owned subsidiary of eBay
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PayPal
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...On October 3, 2002, PayPal became a wholly owned subsidiary of eBay...
Thanks, explains a lot.
The two companies are obviously giving business to each other, which is only sensible.
But it does make things difficult for the likes of me, who won't use PayPal.
My choice, of course, and I've accepted it.
No PayPal equals no ebay for Iffy.
Last edited by: Iffy on Mon 6 Jun 11 at 13:40
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There is no reason not to use Paypal. Ok you can disagree with their monopoly on Ebay, and their intransigent attitude, but it is convenient, for the most part as risk free as the internet gets, and they always come down on the side of the buyer.
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...There is no reason not to use Paypal...
My reason for not using Paypal is the account I did have was more or less fingered by Barclays as the cause when money was taken out of my current account by fraudsters unknown.
That and I read of lots of transactions where payments are reversed.
I don't know the rights and wrongs of those, but it's not something I want to risk.
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The trick is to use a limited credit card. That applies to anywhere ont he web really. A pre pay one is ideal. Any fraud is always the responsibility of the credit card company, and your temporary losses and inconvenience are minor.
Play the game right and its not a problem.
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...The trick is to use a limited credit card...
Good tip, thanks.
I'll look into it if I feel the need to buy stuff via ebay.
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>>Try this site: www.anyvan.com/
Some interesting examples of cost especially some international ones
Transport of Motorbike and 2-3 bags Milan 20122 London E2 785 miles £205
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>> Transport of Motorbike and 2-3 bags Milan 20122 London E2 785 miles £205
Get a box with breathing holes - cheap holiday? :)
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Make sure you check with the seller before arranging to buy and have a courier collect.
I wouldn't be amused if I specified collection only and was then expected to box it up and wait in all day for the courier to turn up.
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As mentioned above, "I'll contact the seller to check he'll accept my bid if I sort out the courier."
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I've used shiply.com - bit like anyvan. There's a £7 (iirc) fee to use it.
And the transporter I found I've since used quite a few times since. So great for them. And indeed me as the £7 needed only to be paid once.
Interestingly they're based in Nottingham, so pick stuff up and take it up there, and eventually deliver it to London. It's actually cheaper to get them to pick things up in London, take them up there, and bring them back down again than it is to use any London-based transporters I've ever found. They do things like house removals and so pick up my odds and ends whilst they pass.
They will collect and wrap items - unlike a Courier (like Parcelforce/City Link etc) who will require the package to have been wrapped first.
Last edited by: Mapmaker on Mon 6 Jun 11 at 15:28
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>> They will collect and wrap items - unlike a Courier (like Parcelforce/City Link etc) who
>> will require the package to have been wrapped first.
Thanks MM - do they have a website?
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No. It's two blokes with an elderly Transit and an elderly Escort van. email me through the mods if you like. Loads of similar types on shiply or anyvan - and you might find some based near you.
Last edited by: Mapmaker on Mon 6 Jun 11 at 18:25
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Is it a Traps kit? Got one of those meself a few years back, they're good fun. I'm going for my first lesson tomorrow evening...
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>> Is it a Traps kit?
It was a Roland HD-1 entry level kit, for my son (14). However it turns out stepson who plays in the metal band has an endorsement that includes Roland, and he was also thinking of getting an electronic kit for home practising. So we might go halves with him on a more up-market kit (at 40-50% off hopefully, stepson looking into it).
Still thinking about it though - the courier info was useful.
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...and he was also thinking of getting an electronic kit for home practising...
Am I right in thinking this enables outwardly near-silent use?
An ordinary drum kit is going to disturb the household, and probably the neighbours.
Unless Focus Towers has a rehearsal studio in the grounds.
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>>and probably the neighbours
No 'probably' about it, unless detached and windows firmly closed.
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At our previous place we converted half of the double garage on the side of the house to a computer/music room, and he could practise on his acoustic kit in there for short periods of time without driving the rest of us (and the neighbours) completely mad. But he also had a Yamaha DTXpress electronic kt, and that was comparatively silent - he's since sold it unfortunately.
We don't have anywhere suitable for an acoustic kit in in the new place - it's a 1930s build and the vibrations alone would probably bring it down around our ears :)
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>> We don't have anywhere suitable for an acoustic kit in in the new place
(which is why he's thinking of buying an electronic kit again)
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I've a near neighbour who practices on his bagpipes for half-an-hour or so every afternoon.
He shuts himself in his detached garage and I suppose it must stop a lot of the sound, even if it doesn't seem like it.
After thirty-five years he doesn't seem to be getting any better at it.
I think it's a wonderful eccentricity.
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courier query - Zero
