eBay - buyer code to unlock seller funds?!

[ChemicalChaos]

Evening all,

This is a new one on me..... Sold a trailer on eBay today, buyer is collecting tomorrow.
I wanted cash on collection but eBay forced him to pay up front. But now, despite it saying paid, eBay won't release the funds.
Apparently, upon collection, I have to scan or input a code from his account to unlock the funds to my account.
Erm, what?
My question is, given its an older chap, what do I do if he doesn't have a smartphone with eBay on it to do this magical transaction on the day?
Does anyone know how I go about this please? Currently the items says "arrange collection", when I click on this it takes me straight to "enter buyer code" which I obviously don't currently have.

Thanks in advance!

[Spare tyre]

He will need to give you a number or qr code. Worth messaging him before hand saying to bring it.

Failing that you could cancel the transaction and just ask him to bring cash.

If he is local enough and you are worried about him being old and not prepared, might be worth going to his.

Perhaps ask him if he has a smart phone with the app

[mikef]

Having been the buyer in this situation - eBay will email him a QR Code with a message “ Collection in person
Please have the seller scan the code with the eBay App. If facing issues, enter the 6 digit code: 999999”

You should check that he has that code before setting off to collect from you

[ChemicalChaos]

Thanks,

Buyer gave me a code, went into the app and it wouldn't launch the QR scanner, let alone the option to put the code in instead. Tried multiple times...

Looked online and it said I could mark the item as "collected" on the web browser version instead, so I did. Still no sodding payout though!

Now I'm really stuck. I doubt the buyer can get over £1k cash out on a sunday. Why the fking fk does ebay have to make things so fking difficult?!

[Skyedriver]

Don't let the trailer out of your sight.

[boyse7en]

Skyedriver said:

Don't let the trailer out of your sight.

That's easy to say, but the guy buying it has paid for it, and provided the code as instructed. Not his fault the OP is having issues.

If he turns up and the OP refuses to let him have the trailer, then what?

[Skyedriver]

boyse7en said:

That's easy to say, but the guy buying it has paid for it, and provided the code as instructed. Not his fault the OP is having issues.

If he turns up and the OP refuses to let him have the trailer, then what?

So many scams, has he paid?
Can the buyer get his "payment" back after collecting? I don't know, in a situation such as this, cash or bank transfer is the only way.

[GasEngineer]

eBay don't force buyers to pay up front. Cash on collection is one of the payment options. Was it the buyer that told you this?

There is an eBay contact phone number or live chat. I would suggest that you call them when they open at 08:00.

[South tdf]

I had something similar when I purchased some bits for our stables (£2k). I paid via e-bay and had to get the collection company to enter a code that eBay sent me on collection.

I assume it’s to protect the seller as it shows the genuine buyer has collected the items so they can’t claim they did not get them etc.

[Niponeoff]

Photo of him collecting. Video of it disappearing down your drive.

Call with ebay that you have proof.

[Fallingup]

If you want to let the trailer go without actually having received the money then that's up to you. I certainly wouldn't. If the buyer is unhappy and has to wait a bit longer then so be it. If he's a reasonable person he'll understand. If not then tough. If this code he has doesn't work then it's up to him to sort out with Ebay.

Edited by Fallingup on Sunday 5th November 07:55

[Rough101]

Did you take a photo of his code?

Your EBay app probably doesn’t have access to your camera.

[mikef]

From this page https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/...

eBay said:

If you don't want to use the app, ask the buyer to sign a copy of the eBay order form at the time of collection.

I'm thinking you should be able to mark the item as collected, to release payment. Maybe take pictures of the collection as well

[oakdale]

The code is to protect you from him saying he's paid but hasn't received the item, he shouldn't give it to you before collection (for his protection), but if he has and has done so through ebay messages, it may have been picked up by the system and be causing the problem.
I would not release the trailer without the code being accepted by ebay but if you do decide to, get him to message you via ebay messages to acknowledge that he's collected it before you let it go.

[Colonel Cupcake]

boyse7en said:

Skyedriver said:

Don't let the trailer out of your sight.

That's easy to say, but the guy buying it has paid for it, and provided the code as instructed. Not his fault the OP is having issues.

If he turns up and the OP refuses to let him have the trailer, then what?

I doubt any business would let goods go until they can see the payment in their accounts.

Why should an individual do things differently?

[Colonel Cupcake]

Niponeoff said:

Photo of him collecting. Video of it disappearing down your drive.

Call with ebay that you have proof.

Thats no proof of anything. Ebay won't entertain that.

[boyse7en]

Colonel Cupcake said:

boyse7en said:

Skyedriver said:

Don't let the trailer out of your sight.

That's easy to say, but the guy buying it has paid for it, and provided the code as instructed. Not his fault the OP is having issues.

If he turns up and the OP refuses to let him have the trailer, then what?

I doubt any business would let goods go until they can see the payment in their accounts.

Why should an individual do things differently?

Because he agreed to it under eBay T&C's

Ironically, eBay's collection code system was put in place for the sellers protection, not the buyers.

The OP has sold the trailer. The buyer is given a code when he pays.
When the buyer collects the trailer he hands over the code to the OP who puts it in the the app or website to confirm collection and the funds are released by eBay.

This stops the buyer collecting the trailer and then claiming his money back as it "wasn't delivered", and the OP would have no proof of collection. It also means the buyer doesn't have to go to a strangers house with a wad of easily stealable cash

[Colonel Cupcake]

boyse7en said:

Colonel Cupcake said:

boyse7en said:

Skyedriver said:

Don't let the trailer out of your sight.

That's easy to say, but the guy buying it has paid for it, and provided the code as instructed. Not his fault the OP is having issues.

If he turns up and the OP refuses to let him have the trailer, then what?

I doubt any business would let goods go until they can see the payment in their accounts.

Why should an individual do things differently?

Because he agreed to it under eBay T&C's

Ironically, eBay's collection code system was put in place for the sellers protection, not the buyers.

The OP has sold the trailer. The buyer is given a code when he pays.
When the buyer collects the trailer he hands over the code to the OP who puts it in the the app or website to confirm collection and the funds are released by eBay.

This stops the buyer collecting the trailer and then claiming his money back as it "wasn't delivered", and the OP would have no proof of collection. It also means the buyer doesn't have to go to a strangers house with a wad of easily stealable cash

But if the money is not in the OP account, the buyer has only paid ebay. If the code to transfer the money from ebay to the seller doesn't work, the buyer would have to take that up with ebay.

I would not be letting the trailer go until the money was in my account.

[PF62]

ChemicalChaos said:

This is a new one on me..... Sold a trailer on eBay today, buyer is collecting tomorrow.
I wanted cash on collection but eBay forced him to pay up front. But now, despite it saying paid, eBay won't release the funds.
Apparently, upon collection, I have to scan or input a code from his account to unlock the funds to my account.
Erm, what?
My question is, given its an older chap, what do I do if he doesn't have a smartphone with eBay on it to do this magical transaction on the day?

Had exactly this when the new system came in a couple of years ago.

Sold something 'cash on collection' but of course eBay force you to also offer their online payment system so that was what the elderly buyer chose to use.

And then despite me reminding the elderly buyer on the day that they would be collecting that they would need to have the QR code on the app on their phone or the code, they turned up without the code and not even the app installed on their phone.

After some faffing around and instructions from me as to how to install stuff from the App Store because they never had, they eventually got the app installed, and eventually got signed in when they finally remembered their password, and finally produced the QR code.

So almost an hour after arriving they left with the item because there was no way they were getting it without them 'paying' me with a QR code or code number that eBay would accept.

[ChemicalChaos]

Thanks all for the help,
Having marked it as collected the option had disappeared, however I woke up this morning and find the money in my account, eBay seemingly posting payments on midnight each day.
The guy asked for a receipt, which I wrote out and we both signed before he took it away.
Fingers crossed!