I found a small piece of office furniture on eBay that I probably want to buy. It is for local pick-up and only a few miles away. The seller has no feedback; this is his first time on eBay so I want to see the item before I commit. We’ve been emailing back and forth to arrange a meeting.
He’s going to put in his van and meet me tomorrow at a local park; not a dangerous situation – he’s a boy scout troop leader and will be there in the busy picnic area on Main Street with the troop.
I’m trying to figure out the most efficient way to handle payment if I decide to go ahead and buy it … I won’t have internet access in the park, so that looks like I go home, make the payment with Paypal then wait for him to get home and see that I paid, and then meet again to pick up the item.
Anybody know how it works if I pay him cash on the spot? I’m not necessarily talking about bypassing eBay.
If I give him cash and take the thing home, am I then expected to go on Ebay and click BuyItNow? Or is he expected to handle it all from his end? If I Bid, what protects me from having to pay again if he should deny getting the cash? If I give him cash and take the thing and he doesn’t report the sale to eBay can or will they come after me for anything since we have been messaging back and forth on eBay about the item?
Anybody know the ropes on this stuff?