# Ebay cash on pickup problem - am I screwed? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 28, 2013, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610 "2013-02-28T06:16:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/1 "2013-02-28T06:16:14Z")
I had never seen this “cash on pickup” option in ebay before, so imagine my surprise when I commit to buying something and then don’t get directed over to paypal to complete the transaction. I look at the email from ebay and see it says “cash on pickup” at the top. I should note that _the buyer knew that I am overseas_ because I asked about shipping charges from his country to mine before I committed. Turns out that he expects an international wire transfer. Ugh. I know there will be fees involved, so I ask him how much. He asks me to send a total of 125 euros, which I do. I also pay an additional 15 euros on my side to my local bank. It turns out that his bank deducted 25 euros from the total as their handling fee, and now he’s complaining that I didn’t send him enough. He’s 25 euros short of the agreed-upon sale price) but it’s due to his bank’s fees, which I had no way of knowing about. Now he wants me to send the additional 25 euros. Of course I now know that his bank will want its cut (25 euros) and so will mine (15 euros). So I will need to transfer a total of 65 euros just to make sure he gets his 25. This cash on pickup thing is a mistake I won’t make again, but what can I do now? If I cancel the transaction, he’s already got 100 euros from me. I can ask him to send it back, but at a wire cost of 35 euros for banks on both sides! I’ve offered to send the balance via paypal or personal check, but he didn’t accept. He’s opened an “unpaid sale” case with ebay, but I’m not sure what ebay will be able to do about it seeing as how they weren’t involved in the monetary part of the transaction. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/2 "2013-02-28T06:57:29Z")
My suggestion is that you have completed your side of the bargain: you sent him 125 euros, as he requested. You have nothing to do with what his bank charges, just as you have nothing to do with what the credit card company charges the merchant when you use a credit card. Respond to eBay explaining this. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/3 "2013-02-28T12:39:47Z")
Yes that is my feeling too. I was just hoping that there was some way to either get my money back or send him the additional 25 without incurring 40 euros in bank fees for a second time in the same transaction. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/4 "2013-02-28T19:41:42Z")
It’s amazing the cross-purposes at work in international transactions. The countries say they support free trade but you try to do a simple transaction and get surprised by the fees, customs, and postage cost. Why is PayPal out? I didn’t even know you could have an eBay auction without PayPal being an option. But really I wouldn’t send them another cent, fees are not your problem. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/5 "2013-02-28T20:58:31Z")
If I were you, as a longtime member here, I’d be asking fellow dopers to see if there’s someone local to the seller that can handle the pickup, shipping, and payment through Paypal. ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/6 "2013-02-28T21:10:55Z")
Do not send the seller any more money. You aren’t responsible for his fees. eBay’s US payment policy for sellers is [here](http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/accepted-payments-policy.html) (I am assuming the seller is in the US). Basically: [ul] [li]A seller must accept a form of traceable electronic payment[/li][li]If a seller accepts multiple payment types, they cannot try to lead buyers to a specific type[/li][li]Sellers cannot try to hint around the policy by saying things like “contact us for payment options”.[/li][/ul] eBay does look for keywords in the auction description that indicate the seller is trying to use a banned payment type. The cash on pickup option was in all likelihood an attempt to evade eBay’s enforcement. It is only for situations where the buyer physically picks up the item from the seller’s facility, as in purchasing an item from a business and going to the business’s storefront to get it. Payment by bank transfer is restricted to certain business-oriented categories. Otherwise, the seller is prohibited from requesting or accepting such payment. eBay policies, in general, are designed to give buyers a lot of leeway and eBay particularly looks down on seller attempts to evade their enforcement mechanisms. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/7 "2013-03-01T08:15:56Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > If I were you, as a longtime member here, I’d be asking fellow dopers to see if there’s someone local to the seller that can handle the pickup, shipping, and payment through Paypal. That’s not a bad idea; I don’t know why I didn’t think of it. However, I must sadly report that I broke down yesterday and sent the remaining money (bank fees and all). I just didn’t see any other way out and I didn’t want this to linger on for days or weeks more. > [@](#): > > Do not send the seller any more money. You aren’t responsible for his fees. > > eBay’s US payment policy for sellers is here (I am assuming the seller is in the US). The seller is in Germany, and I’m in Thailand. I am using my US eBay account. How’s that for messy? It says at the bottom of the listing “barzahlung bei abholung” which, as well as my rusty German can tell, means cash on pickup. I guess that means it’s a perfectly acceptable payment method on [ebay.de](http://ebay.de). ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/8 "2013-03-01T08:35:10Z")
What kind of feedback does the seller have? Frankly I have the bad feeling the seller may be swindling you and you will see neither the merchandize nor the money back. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/9 "2013-03-01T09:51:02Z")
Positive feedback: 100%, feedback score: 69. He’s been a member since 2002 and has no neutral or negative comments. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/10 "2013-03-01T10:07:30Z")
talk to ebay ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/11 "2013-03-01T22:09:34Z")
Just a comment that 25 euros for a bank to honor a 125 euro wire transfer seems pretty outrageous. Handling - what did they have to look at a screen and type in a command? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/12 "2013-03-01T22:22:51Z")
> [@FrankJBN](#): > > Just a comment that 25 euros for a bank to honor a 125 euro wire transfer seems pretty outrageous. > > Handling - what did they have to look at a screen and type in a command? Don’t forget that the CEO’s multi-million euro annual bonus has to come from somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/13 "2013-03-02T01:01:27Z")
> [@FrankJBN](#): > > Just a comment that 25 euros for a bank to honor a 125 euro wire transfer seems pretty outrageous. > > Handling - what did they have to look at a screen and type in a command? Seriously a 20% service charge? Ebay and Paypal rape sellers, but that seems like a kiss compared to the bank fee. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/14 "2013-03-02T01:15:21Z")
Bank transfer is convenient in Germany (and Denmark iirc), unfortunately it doesn’t work in the US. And some ebayer’s simply don’t like the paypal commission. I’ve actually had 100% success sending cash. After establishing a sense of trust with the seller. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/15 "2013-03-02T06:01:16Z")
Cash on pickup means you take cash when you pick it up. If shipping is happening then he has to accept PayPal or credit card of some kind and there is no excuse for him not to. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/16 "2013-03-02T07:40:44Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Seriously a 20% service charge? Ebay and Paypal rape sellers, but that seems like a kiss compared to the bank fee. I think USA bank wire fees are high in general. My credit union charges a $25 for a wire transfer within the USA and $45 for an international transfer, regardless of the amount being transferred. I have no idea what the reason is for the extra $20 for an international transfer - an extra couple of buttons being pressed? It just seems like an outrageous amount of money being charged considering the effort that is required to fulfill the service. I think it’s one of those things we put up with, like “points” on a home mortgage loan. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/17 "2013-03-02T10:05:01Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Bank transfer is convenient in Germany (and Denmark iirc), unfortunately it doesn’t work in the US. And some ebayer’s simply don’t like the paypal commission. I’ve actually had 100% success sending cash. After establishing a sense of trust with the seller. Ebay’s list-sell fees cost to seller’s are usually around 9-11% for sold items. Paypal fees are around 2-3%. Total ebay+paypal fees are usually around 11%-14% of the transaction amount. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/18 "2013-03-02T14:21:29Z")
So, **Patty O** , did you ever receive your item? Just wondering how this situation turned out. **echo7tango** ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/19 "2013-03-02T14:35:25Z")
It’s an international shipment so it’ll be a week or three before it gets here. Fingers crossed. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610/20 "2013-03-02T14:40:36Z")
Me too. Let us know? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cash-on-pickup-problem-am-i-screwed/651610.md?page=2)