Do you allow pick-up ?

[dipmicro]

I get some buyers who insist on pickup. Not only it's a security risk, but because not many people ask for it, I did not purchase insurance for on-site customers, and also it's not very business-y to sell from one's house.

But then I am good at heart and sometimes I break. And in 99% cases it backfires. Some want to chat. Trust me, I like to chat, but not always at the same time when you. Some have doctor's appointment and do not show-up. Others get into phone ping-pong for $10 transaction. (The worst I had was in 2006 - a phone ping-pong + 1/2hr wait to pass $0.99 transaction).

I think local pickup is overrated. Especially if local post delivery takes 1 day almost everywhere and my Canadian shipping is $2. Do they really prefers to drive 10km across the city and back to save $2 ? Or they are overly social ?

[surplusdealdude]

Nope.

They want it, they can buy from the store.

The ones that want pickup always tell me that they're going to be my biggest customers - I don't believe that either.

They just want to come in, mess up my inventory and buy $5 worth of stuff after they've bargained me down from $50 and taken up my whole afternoon- not worth the hassle. -------------------------------------------------------------------

It is our similarities that make us all human - it is our differences that make us all interesting

[pierrelebel]

"Do you allow pick-up ?"

NO. Period.

[art-in-the-making]

I see why some of you don't accept it and probably wouldn't in your shoes either.

But in our business it is a no brainer and we encourage it. Everyone loves to have the chance to walk around, look at all the paintings and meet and talk to the artist.

Some even get their picture taken with Tatiana and their painting!

There isn't much of an issue of coming by to save shipping, since shipping is free for them anyway!

Except for the very large canvases, like 48x48 or 40x60, in which cases it saves everyone a lot of time and expense when they pick up and we don't have to ship the canvases rolled in a tube.

[pierrelebel]

"But in our business it is a no brainer "

How does it affect your insurance coverage to have customers visit your place of business?

[art-in-the-making]

I am not sure if we could have gotten a lower rate if we would had said there are no customers at all coming by. It's out of the question to stop customers from coming so didn't really look into it as an option.

We do ask them to come by appointment and we get very few triflers, if any. Maybe one or two over a period of years.

[recped]

I don't offer it specifically but always allow it if asked.

When asked I simply tell potential buyers, "sure as long as you can show up when you say you will".

[zarzuella]

I used to, but not any more.

The last buyer to come to my home was a nice enough woman, but she was obese and unable to handle the stairs to my lower level bookroom. She sat on my living room sofa, sweating profusely, for almost two hours, wanting to 'visit' and have me run up and down stairs getting additional books for her to look at. She did not buy any additions, just her original purchase.

Never again. Now I arrange a pick-up point at a friends pet store.


Ann

[recyclemikey]

Depends on the product. It's a big and clumsy to ship, I prefer it but I meet them outside the house. Or sometimes at a local Tim Hortons.

[golfing_in_style]

Hi All
We are lucky enough to have a retired and bored of yardwork "father" who delivers our stuff locally.
Customers love it and because we are always in Winnipeg we are usually going that way anyway.We live in St Francois Xavier. There's one advantage of living in and or near Winnipeg.We discourage local pick up at our home though.
play well and play often...
Lucas
golfing in style

[snoopwiz]

Selling larger, heavier (read expensive to ship) items, we do a brisk local pick up business. Cash is nice. No Paypal of course. Peripheral sales make it that much more enticing for us. Security wise, I go with my gut. If I get anything close to a bad vibe, then it just isn't gonna happen. If they refuse to provide me with a home or work number, then it just isn't gonna happen. Otherwise, it works incredibly well for us. But, definitely not for everyone.

[plasmaco]

Nope, local pickup is not an option for me.

Fisrt of all, I am in and out of the office all day, it's an industrial area with a lot of "hazards" for visitors, not to mention that some projects we have require non compete / confidentiality agreements.

And my eBay is in a back office, you have to walk through the whole plant to get there. And there is a lot of "interesting" stuff happening on the way, that I am not too keen to showcase to a potential competitor.

And I don't want to leave it up front, as if the buyer has questions the person handing him his stuff isn't able to answer them, and that could be a letdown for the buyer...

Besides, under $10 I can ship everything I sell locally and it takes one day. I prefer giving him $10 back, just don't disturb my "routine".

If they ask, I just say that I am in and out all the time on a moment's notice, so we can't have a fixed time, sorry. End of story.

[westernstargifts]

The last buyer to come to my home was a nice enough woman, but she was obese and unable to handle the stairs to my lower level bookroom. She sat on my living room sofa, sweating profusely, for almost two hours, wanting to 'visit' and have me run up and down stairs getting additional books for her to look at. She did not buy any additions, just her original purchase.


We have exhibited at shows for many years and I have had my share of "visitors" at my home who waste a great deal of time and then don't buy much anyway. Now when we do shows I tell people that I can ship most items for $1.50. They don't want to pay for the postage but will travel 30 or 40 miles to pick it up!

I don't offer local pick-up for eBay and only one person has asked if it was available. In that case I allowed it because it turned out I knew the person who would be picking it up for her.

[and-shine]

I say No to pick up requests too. I do lose business this way, as it seems to offend some locals that I won't allow them to drop by. However, it is not worth the risk and hassle to me.

The risk is that I could be robbed or worse.

The hassle is that I would need to set my inventory up in a browse friendly way, which does not mesh with my current style which is shipping friendly.

[bcbeautiful]

Yes I allow local pick-ups. Usually get a nice tip...last item was to be 32.40 and the buyer gave me $35.00. Told me not to worry about it.
I have the item in a bag and hand it to them and tell them I will leave them feedback and start to close the door. Some chat, most don't.
I have a couple of regulars. My shipping for a jersey or clothing is $6.00 for surrounding area... a lot of buyers will not travel far to save even $6.00...but some do.