eBay - WWYD?

What's their ebay history like? Do they have a good feedback rating. If you wait, you and something goes wrong, will ebay buyer protection be able to help you?

If you really want it - why don't you wait? Ofcourse delaying payment until you collect it. Hopefully they are being truthful. If not then you'll be able to gauge the situation once you reply saying you'd like to wait. I'm not sure what ebay does as that's outwith their payment terms etc. so I expect seller will have to mark it 'payment received'. I know that's possible as people sell things then take cash on collection. This may be a better option for the seller too as it would save him a lot of ebay/paypal fees?

I've managed to glean that you have to pay in 30 days, which we won't have done, and eBay may come after me... They can relist within 90 but we don't want it relisted, we want to have them!

Their score is 100% but it's only 5 transactions... Ouch.

12 weeks will take you far beyond the ebay cut off point for dispute resolution, however as you were collecting anyway that is less of an issue.

I'd be agreeing to wait, and then pay cash on collection once you have checked everything over. If they want to put you off having it then they would just say no and risk the negative feedback,

Sounds like a great bargain. Well done! ?

A 12 week wait for the perfect furniture set is nothing (especially when you have something to sit on in the meantime). Call his bluff and tell him you'll wait.

I think they have violated eBay's terms and conditions by listing an item that wasn't technically ready to be sold yet. I'm searching the ebay t's & c's but can't find this yet however, I'm pretty sure you're only supposed to list an item that is available for sale. I realise they have a good reason for keeping it but they could in theory re-sell it under another account for a higher amount and then just tell you that the DFS ones are no longer available so then you don't get it. Sorry, I'm being really cynical here! However, I'm not sure eBay can 'force' them to sell it to you.... Maybe open an ebay support case - you can do this via the chat function and just ask them what you're rights are? Or, there's another option, if it is protected under ebay's buyer protection & they accept paypal, why not pay for it now & then they have to sell it to you in 12 weeks. Maybe I'm just thinking the worst of people here but it does sound a wee little bit suspect!

I don't think you can force them to sell it to you. So you either have to trust them and wait, or file a grievance now, give negative feedback and lose the suite...but as you really want the suite then patience is your only recourse.

I'd let it go and look elsewhere personally. I think you are putting yourself at massive risk, waiting to pay, as you won't be covered by eBay/Paypal.

I'd want to look further into what buyer protection you'd still have from eBay if you waited. If PPs are right and you wouldn't be covered at all, it may not be worth it. OTOH if it's a suite you really love and you have no reason to suspect the seller is scamming you at all, would it hurt you to wait for it?

I reckon it's an unusual circumstance where you won't be covered by eBay transaction any more.. No way I'd be paying, then waiting. I think you basically have to take it 'off' eBay. Let seller do his bit to close the sale, tell him you'll wait then pay cash on collection. If he doesn't seem to want this, you have a month or do to report him to eBay for not having an item to sell when he said he did (harsh, yes, but hopefully it doesn't come to that!).

Sounds silly too, but out of interest check Gumtree and other selling sites incase he's got it listed elsewhere now for higher price? I presume reason it was on eBay in first place was in the hope of a bidding frenzy!! Otherwise he could have just put it on Gumtree for a lot less hassle for set amount cash , no fees etc.

I would offer to wait, pay on collection if it's still available. If it falls through you wont have lost any money. The DFS bit sounds plausible

I would email ebay and ask them what they suggest. They have a pretty good customer service team.

I think so too. But again nobody can force them to sell it to you and it sounds like you will be in for a rough one if you do decide to wait. I would just let it go and look elsewhere, something else will come up.

Highly unlikely we'll find something we can afford, but I'll keep my peepers open!

I said I'd be in touch in a couple of weeks for an update.

You could always keep looking, whilst committing to buy this sofa.

I know it's naughty, but really as the other ladies have said - they don't have to sell you the sofa when it comes to it - but you are in the same situation and can turn around and back out if you find something in the meantime.

If you love it, don't urgently need it and haven't paid for it yet, I don't get why you're even questioning what to do. Just don't pay until you collect it.

I would advise to only contact the seller via eBay messaging. That way eBay can easily see all the conversations if it comes to a dispute.

You could look for something else now, but it might not be available in 12 weeks and, if you mess up this eBay sale, you risk negative feedback from the seller.

Because I am obliged to pay within 30 days and shan't be able/willing to, cash on collection wasn't an option, only Paypal

And also whether there was something I didn't know about eBay as I hardly use it, that might help me to get the items.

The seller did *seem* genuine so I can only assume, for now, that it will be okay.

I didn't mean my comment in a 'why are you asking such a stupid question?' way, just that if the seller can change the date it's available, they have no right to whinge about you refusing to pay now and should allow a cash payment to be made on collection. Fingers crossed it will turn out to be genuine. It's a bit sick if its not :/