I won an auction for a set of wheels on eBay. The seller quoted me $60 for shipping, but is now trying to add a $50 pickup fee.

Here is what his auction says:
"YOU ARE WELCOME TO PICK UP FROM SAN CLEMENTE CALIFORNIA BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. PAYMENT MUST CLEAR FIRST . 50 dollar pick-up fee will apply , THIS ITEM IS HEAVY E- MAIL ME FOR A SHIPPING and handling QUOTE"

I am not picking them up and do not feel that the pickup fee applies. Do you agree?

I'd tell him that he already quoted you $60 for shipping, and see what he says. Was this quote included in the description, or in an e-mail?

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Sounds like $60 if he's shipping it to you and $50 if you're picking it up - not both. I would kill the deal if he won't agree to that. I've learned to ALWAYS read the specific shipping charges; too many idiots out there want to charge $20 shipping for something small, then the bastard USPS's it for $3.88. I won't buy from those idiots.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

The $60 quote was in an email. It sounded to me like he wanted to have his cake and eat it too; I just wanted to bounce it off another set of eyes.

Must be miscommunication.

It's $60 to ship them or $50. to pick them up. He makes even more profit if you pick them up.

Can't be $110..........

I think by the lines "pick up fee" and "this item is heavy" he actually wants to charge you $50 for bending over and physically picking it up.


Actually it just looks like he is only charging $50 if you physically come in and pick it up. No idea why you would do that, but he is.

Put it this way: if the seller wants to charge you the $50 in addition to the $60 and that is not the way you reasonably saw it then you did not have a "meeting of the minds," there is no contract, and you both can walk away.

If you want to enforce the terms as you see them then look at it this way: He advertised his terms and you sought a clarification of them. He gave that to you in writing. If there is any ambiguity in the written language where reasonable people can disagree then a Court would typically hold that against the drafter of the language (the seller).

Look again at this language: "50 dollar pick-up fee "WILL" apply." That could only modify the pick-up option because the word "will" is conditional and would not make sense if it applied in every instance. Additionally, you were quoted $60 in the e-mail. The seller states if you e-mail him he will send you a "shipping AND handling" quote. You got your quote for shipping AND handling. Having both a handling fee and a pick-up fee would be redundant.

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Peach Parts W124.128 User Group.

80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic

Sounds like a 1st year law school Contracts class analysis.

(Essentially the answer is correct, however.)

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

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My Gallery

Not in this weather!

This sounds alot like the seller of the wheels I bought a coupla months back.
Claimed they were off a '95 E320-wrong. What's the sellers ID or zip code, if you don't mind my asking?

So he's charging you to pick up the item, because they're heavy? But you are the one doin the pickup, are you not!

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Yeah, but you better be careful of the "walk away" fee.

Bet it's a big ticket.

Why do I see negative feedback coming?

I am sure negative feedback is in my future, but I believe in the principle of it. Personally, I think the whole $50 pick-up fee is a joke. If I am going to come to your place and pick up what I bought, why would I have to pay you $50 for that privelage?

Thanks for the comments everyone.

I got involved with an @$$clown that shipped me the wrong bumper cover for my old Caravan and then got pissed when I posted negative feedback because he said I ordered the wrong part and wouldn't replace it. There are opportunities for you to reply to feedback given to you to state your side of the case. That worked wonders for me and eventually he agreed to ship me the right part and withdraw his negative.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Sorry, but it's not clear to me from what I can read here in the thread: Has the seller stated explicitly that, in order for him to ship you the items, he wants both $60 shipping AND a $50 pickup fee?

If this isn't clear - and you're not picking the item up in person - then ask the seller to invoice you through the eBay system. That should make it clear what total amount he expects you to pay in order to receive the goods.

Correct. The issue started when I requested an invoice and it had the $60 shipping fee on one line and $50 on the Adjustments line.