Buying From A Local Ebay Seller

While I could agree that it would be prudent to inquire if a pick up option would be available before bidding, there is no way I believe it would be "unfair" to ask after bidding, especially as there is no statement that local pickup is not available, and the shipping charge seemed very unreasonable. While a "local pickup is not available" stipulation doesn't seem common on ebay it is not at all unusual on Craigslist, print/digital want ad publications, and other marketplaces. Absent such a specifically stated condition I always assume local pickup (doesn't have to be at someone's home, could be a public place) could be an option. I respect the seller's right to decline, I maintain my right to decline the purchase if I can't pick it up rather than pay shipping and handling charges.

It is any one's prerogative not to receive customers at their home or to disclose their address, but home based businesses that welcome customers are fairly common and unless an online business specifically discloses that they don't offer an "in person" experience they shouldn't feel put out if someone asks. I know several professionals (accountants, architects, barbers) who maintain home offices and receive clients there. It is perfectly fine and understandable if one wants to have a firm separation between work and home, but people can't just assume everybody knows this is what they want if it's not clearly stated, there are many exceptions.

If one is willing to accept home visits for collection of items, one can state it in ones item description. If a postage rate is quoted and there is no such statement, the reasonable assumption bya prospective bidder must be that personal collection is unacceptable. Welching on a bid is always unacceptable.

Only if you inquired about local pickup and waited to making the purchase/winning bid until you received a response. If you buy/win you are obligated to honor the seller's terms in the listing. Backing out after the fact because they won't let you pick up (which was not part of their original terms) is not playing by the rules and is disreputable. Candidly, I would block someone who did that.

So yes, you have every right to ask for local pickup, but you cannot then back out/cancel a transaction you have already committed to if the answer is no.

Umm, I'm confused how this is even a debate. If the auction does NOT say local pickup, then the seller did NOT check off that box. Therefore the CORRECT assumption is that this is not inherently offered. You can ask the seller if they would accept but if they didn't check off that box and they decline, YOU are obligated to follow through with the purchase if you bought it.

Cancelling a CONTRACT does affect the seller. They STILL pay some fees and they have to repost plus may have lost out on other bidders or prospective buyers while dealing with a negligent buyer. Case closed imo.

I would like to clarify that I completely agree that backing out of a winning bid because a seller declines to let one pick up an item in lieu of paying the shipping charge when that wasn't part of the conditions (I would not ask for free shipping) is unacceptable and not something I would do. The way I wrote my post gave a wrong impression and I apologize. I appreciate GeoffHa and revenuecollector for their responses so that I might clarify.

What I was reacting (or perhaps overreacting) to was my impression that many seemed to think it would be "unfair" or otherwise wrong / inappropriate to ask about local pickup AFTER the bid and I totally disagree, it is NEVER inappropriate to inquire, in my humble opinion, as long as one does not make a nuisance of themselves and they know how to take no for an answer.

I did clearly state that it would be best to ask BEFORE bidding but perhaps one didn't notice the location, or there wouldn't be time for a reply before the auction was to end, or the seller had previously agreed in general to local pickup, as stated in the OP.
While it is perhaps the minority position here, based on my experience in the digital / print marketplace I believe that there is the presumption of local pickup being allowed unless otherwise stated. In other words, if a seller does not allow local pickup that stipulation should be part of their conditions of the sale.
But, to each there own.

Another aspect to think about is that with COVID-19, you are likely to encounter more resistance to in-person pickup than you normally would, which is understandable.

No, I believe there is a presumption on NO local pickup, IMHO.

The local pickup option is a radio button that a seller selects if they wish to accept that option. It will then put in the auction that local pickup is accepted. In the event it is not selected, it does not say this, and thus the default presumption is local pickup is not allowed.

I appreciate all the interesting replies.

I realize that I should have asked before bidding about local pickup and waiving the shipping. It did seem a bit ridiculous to me to pay over $7 to ship something less than 10 miles. I do realize by bidding I have an established contract, but the seller was kind enough to offer to cancel the bid, and I accepted. I was the only bidder for that item. He ended up relisting the stamps and they sold the next week. I doubt he had any extra ebay fees from cancelling the sale as he seems to be a small seller. I had also offered to meet at a neutral site or he could drop off at my office.
I do have another seller that is local, that I buy from every few months, who drops the stamps off at my office(I offered to meet up, but he prefers that). I think I just assumed that another local seller would do the same.
I also buy stamp collections on craigslist and facebook marketplace, locally, as well as sell other items on these boards for my kids, so I meet my sellers/buyers where they prefer-either their home or a neutral location. I have never had a problem. I do not meet people at my home-I offer to meet at a neutral place-sometimes they say to come to their home.
I have dropped off ebay sales I have made locally to save my buyers the shipping charges-why not make it less expensive for them? Perhaps they might buy more from me in the future. Of course I ask them if they would like it dropped off or shipped and I waive the shipping charges if I drop it off. All local buyers have preferred me dropping off their winnings. I am a small seller, so I appreciate all the sales I can get.
I also figured it would save the seller the trouble of packaging, going to the post office, etc He would save on ebay/paypal fees from the shipping charges. Basically, he would send an invoice with no shipping charges, therefore, no ebay/paypal fees on shipping. I do not understand the comments that this is costing him more fees.

There are many comments about privacy. If you use ebay shipping, to take advantage of their discount rates, which most sellers do, and print a label, for most of the people I buy from, it lists their name and home address on return address part of the label. When you pay with paypal, it lists the sellers first and last name on the activity page(not address) but you do know the originating city of your purchase.
So there does not seem to be as much privacy-there is probably more privacy on sales with craigslist or facebook marketplace as the sellers name and address are not listed anywhere.

In summary, yes, I should have asked ahead of time if there was local delivery. There are benefits to local delivery, primarily saving shipping costs for the buyer and packaging for the seller(and not worrying about USPS mailing/delivery issues). Who wouldn't want to get their stamps the day after they buy them? The sellers name is usually revealed on the return address on the shipping label and in the paypal activity.

I use a PO Box for all ebay and hobby-related correspondence, as many people do. So the fact that a seller shows an address on their parcels doesn't mean that they therefore should allow strangers to come to their home.

On the few occasions I've done craigslist transactions, I have people come to my office for pickup, never my home.

It's up to the seller to determine their comfort level and privacy concerns when it comes to local transactions, not the buyer.

I wouldn't ask for pick-up on a small lot, no matter how close the seller was. I WOULD have considered the total price (including listed S&H) before bidding. I have passed on LOADS of lots because the S&H fee brought the total above what I was willing to spend. If it were a LARGE lot (over 20-ish#), I would ask in advance if I could do a pick up. I know I don't want strangers at my house, so I wouldn't expect anyone to welcome me into their's. I would offer to meet at a safe area - police station, public library, busy shopping center, near the seller's house. I would give him the choice of where and when - I don't want him to have to leave the house just for me - maybe he can plan to grocery shop or eat out during the same trip. I did this once when I bought a glass vase that was heavy and fragile. The seller was also happy to do it, knowing that it wouldn't be broken in transit. I would only find it worthwhile if the trip were within a few miles (10 at max). I've never seen a carton of stamps that large that interested me and was within 10 miles, though. On ebay, I just don't see geographically close as anything attractive - chances are, the best stamp at the best price is somewhere else in the world and not within 10 miles.

I don't know if it's still the case, but at one point doing local pickups was very risky for sellers because you cannot prove delivery. So a buyer can just go home and file a PayPal chargeback and the seller cannot prove otherwise.

Perhaps eBay/PayPal have changed their seller protections to include local pickup, but as a general rule it's a no go for me.

I think that's right - I believe that the lady in the house opposite mine was bitten in that way. Payment needs to be in cash in thise circumstances.

All of this hand wringing about an ebay seller coming to your dwelling or visa versa is hilarious. It is the folks that come uninvited that you have never heard of that should give you pause. In this day and age I would be much more concerned about the electronic intrusion you are exposed to than direct human interaction. Hiding behind a PO Box is useless when a determined bad person can likely find your underwear sizes if they wish along with those photos of your naked frolic at the local zoo. Or you could make a purchase from a cartel account. No personal contact necessary to be completely violated and relieved of all of the monies that you wish, thank you very much. No, I seriously doubt that there are many people selling on ebay that are biding their time, lying in wait for a victim and like a Soviet sleeper cell spring into action when a "fly" lands in their web.

Rogdcam, it doesn't MATTER what is actual risk vs. simply perceived risk. It's all about personal comfort level.

I've never allowed anonymous buyers to come to my home. Period. That doesn't make me a tinfoil-hat-wearing screaming meemie.

If you want to give the unwashed masses a personal guided tour of your home during COVID-19, knock yourself out. I won't be.