Among other controls, if something I was selling was of high value sold by COD, old style or new, I would require photo id, providing mine at the same time, photographing together with the people involved in the transaction.
I dont have photo ID.
I just use the ‘scan QR’ system for very occasional collections which are typically heavy items, my CCTV captures the vehicle and the buyer and me of course.
Yes, just looked this up and eBay says:
“Payment options for local collection:
Buyers who choose collection in person must generally complete checkout using approved electronic payment methods.
Cash on collection is available only in a limited number of categories, such as Cars, Motorcycles, & Vehicles.”
eBay details on collection continue:
" Arranging collection
In your item description or checkout instructions, specify when and how the buyer can collect the item. Don’t add your full address, just the area will do. You may need to get in touch with them after the listing ends to confirm the details of the collection.
Read our article on listing tips for more on how to list an item.
Proof of collection
Proof of collection is required to protect you against item not received cases.
For proof of collection you can choose one of these options:
- On desktop, manually enter the buyer’s 6 digit code in View order details
- Use the eBay app to scan the QR code the buyer received through email
- Use the eBay app to manually enter the 6-digit code the buyer received through email
- Ask the buyer to confirm they’ve collected in person through the item’s order details
To scan the QR code or enter the 6-digit code:
- Go to Selling on the eBay App.
- Go to the Orders tab.
- Select the sold item being collected.
- Click the drop down button on the blue Send Payment Reminder banner at bottom of the page.
- Select Scan collection code from the list of options.
- You can either scan the QR code or manually enter the 6-digit code the buyer received through email.
Tip
Scanning the QR code or entering the 6 digit collection code when your buyer is picking up the item ensures a safe and protected transaction.
Managing returns and item not received requests
Returns for local collection listings should be treated the same as other delivery options. If the buyer returns an item because it’s faulty or it isn’t as described in the listing, they can return it to you even if your return policy states you don’t accept returns.
If the buyer simply changed their mind and you stated in your listing that you don’t accept returns, you’re not obliged to accept their return request. See our article on how to handle a return request as a seller for more information.
To protect yourself against item-not-received cases, proof of collection is required."
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I sold a musical instrument ‘collection only’ on eBay.
The buyer paid on via eBay after he bought it.
When he turned up to collect it he said he had no buyer’s collection 6-digit code and no phone reception to look it up, and so he paid me cash instead.
I said I would make sure that eBay didn’t pay me a second time for the item.
He seemed like an honest person and has a 100% record.
I’m now not sure what to do.
Should I cancel the sale altogether - which will count as a minor black mark against me as a seller on eBay?
Or should I discuss the case with eBay directly - which is awkward but would at least cover me in case he later makes some kind of complaint?
Just cancel the sale. Dont lose any sleep about it. 
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I’ve not sold on eBay for years but buy a fair bit.
I recently sold an item which finished Xmas Day. The buyer paid me (PayPal credit) and it went into my eBay wallet with “funds on hold” I’m guessing because I don’t sell much and they likely wait until the buyer is happy with the item received.
The guy emailed me the same day saying “please don’t ship for another week because I’m on Holliday” which I was fine with.
Then Boxing Day he requests a cancellation as he said he couldn’t afford the item.
Weird thing is weird thing is when I go to send him his money back I need to pay an extra 30p, or something, so wondering if this is some sort of scam.
Be careful, as there are occasions when ‘funds on hold’ can be reclaimed by the (supposed) purchaser, especially if they’ve come from a PayPal Business Account. I would report the matter to e-bay.
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Well, I cancelled the sale of the item last night and I haven’t heard anything from Ebay or the buyer so it seems all is good so far on that matter.
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I’m sure you’re aware there are many ‘refund scams’ out there – and many use the supposed protective arrangements to work against vendors.
I sold via e-bay a few years ago and, thankfully, the buyers were ‘upstanding’ – but trying to sort out something akin to a C.O.D./Collection arrangement was challenging, and what I thought were ‘held funds’ had, in fact, been cleanly paid to me. I engaged with both PayPal and e-bay, the latter refusing to take a fee, as they said I’d breached sale provisions, so had lost my ‘vendor protections’. Confused was I.
Yes and now I think the whole idea of cash on delivery is normally dead because Ebay make the person pay online before collecting as far as I can make out.
I’m not sure, but I think that changed when they stopped charging fees for sales recently.
I’m still not quite sure how ebay are trying to make up their shortfall of revenue after stopping charging sales fees?
They are going to start charging buyers fees next year
Ahh…
I didn’t realise you can’t leave “negative feedback” for a buyer now either !!!
Wow - That’s bad.
Ebay is basically dumbing down to be more like vinted, according to my kids who Kids who use vinted.
What you can still do though is leave a comment that factually summarises things that your seller has not revealed that are bad about the Item they sold you Or the way they sold it to you.
Basically, as the stock market forms ever increasing pressure on the companies, in this case at the moment the massive tech Giants, to ever increase their profits each year, they have to squeeze something to make more money more quickly, and so we get this progressive cutting of corners, which includes the use of AIs et cetera.
Sounds the same as other fora, in that you cannot ‘mark someone down’ unless you’ve engaged with them about ‘transaction repair’ (or similar words), which means a seller can constantly offer poor product (esp. condition) and not face the appropriate consequences of what was a ‘poor experience’.
This is the equivalent of what in the academic world is called grade inflation.
But in this case, it’s deflation or dilution of the value of 100% positive feedback for a seller.
One thing that’s difficult to fake on eBay as a seller is the quality of written feedback the seller gives to others, and especially the quality of feedback that the seller receives as a seller.
It may be possible to fake this for a few sales on someone with very little sales history, but not for someone with Many years or decades of sales history.
If we want to put a positive reading on eBay’s new system, that is that hopefully the quality of buyers increases as extremely price Oriented buyers are more and more attracted by the even worse selling platforms with less onerous buying fees, which might improve the average quality of buyers as well as sellers.