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Man and van

eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace collections

A man and van collection of a second-hand sofa, wardrobe or bed costs £27 to £49 locally through AnyVan (June 2026), or more from a local firm booked for a set time. The driver goes to the seller's address, checks the item, sometimes pays for it on your behalf and brings it to you. Agree who pays the seller before the van sets off.

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Illustration: a parcel with a tag

What it costs and what it covers

Typical price. Having a second-hand sofa, bed or wardrobe collected locally costs £27 to £49 on AnyVan's listings (June 2026), and a dedicated single item booking runs £60 to £150 (Fantastic Services cost guide, September 2026). See the furniture delivery cost guide.

Typical jobs

  • Collecting a second-hand oak dining table and four chairs from a seller's house 12 miles away
  • Picking up a Facebook Marketplace sofa from a third floor flat and showing it to the buyer on a video call first
  • Collecting an eBay collection-only cross trainer from a seller's garage
  • Picking up a Gumtree chest of drawers and a bookcase from two sellers in the same town in one trip
  • Collecting a tumble dryer from a seller who is moving out that afternoon

What is involved

Marketplace collections are short jobs with an extra step: the seller is a stranger, and you may not be there. Fixed-price platforms such as AnyVan list a two-seater sofa or a double wardrobe at £27 to £49 for a local run (June 2026). A local firm booked for a set time charges by the hour or a fixed fee; in London, Compare the Man and Van's typical job for a medium van with the driver helping is £92, within £58 to £140 (March 2026).

Paying the seller. An eBay item bought through checkout is usually paid for already, so the driver only collects. Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace sales are normally settled directly between you and the seller, by bank transfer or cash. The simplest arrangement is for the driver to check the item, show it to you on a video call, and for you to pay the seller yourself before it is loaded. Ask when you book whether the firm will handle payment.

Checking the item. Buying from a private seller gives you fewer rights than buying from a shop. Under section 13 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 the goods must match their description, but the satisfactory quality term in section 14 applies only where the seller sells in the course of a business. That makes the check at the door matter. Ask the driver to film the item from all sides and look for stains, tears, loose joints and missing parts, and to see an appliance switched on. Agree beforehand that if it does not match the listing, the driver leaves it and you pay only for the trip.

Safety. Give the firm only what the job needs: the seller's address, a first name, a phone number and the collection window. Tell the seller who is coming, in what van and when, and ask whether the item is on the ground floor or upstairs. Be wary of a seller who wants a deposit to hold an item, or who will only deal by message and bank transfer before anyone has seen it.

Choosing a firm

Before booking, send the firm the listing, the item's measurements, the floor it is on at the seller's and at yours, and whether the seller will help carry. A firm that knows a sofa is on a third floor with no lift can send two people.

Ask how the firm handles a wasted trip: the seller is out, the item is not as described, or it will not go through the door. Some charge the full price for the journey either way, so agree a figure for that case in advance. Ask too whether the driver will wait while you and the seller settle payment, and how long before waiting time starts.

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Common questions

How much does it cost to collect a Facebook Marketplace item?

AnyVan listed £27 to £45 for a two-seater sofa and £27 to £49 for a double wardrobe moved locally in June 2026. A local man and van booked for a set time usually costs more; Fantastic Services gives £60 to £150 for a single item job of 1 to 2 hours (September 2026).

Can a man and van pay the seller for me?

Some will, but many prefer not to carry cash for customers. The safer arrangement is for the driver to check the item on a video call and for you to pay the seller directly before it is loaded. If the driver does pay, ask the seller for a receipt.

What rights do I have buying from a private seller?

Fewer than from a shop. The Sale of Goods Act 1979 requires the goods to match their description, but the satisfactory quality term applies only to sellers acting in the course of a business. Check the item at collection, before any money changes hands.

Is it safe to send a man and van to a stranger's house?

For most firms it is a routine job. Share only the address, a first name, a phone number and the time, tell the seller what van is coming, and keep your phone on for a video call. Be wary of any seller asking for a deposit before the item has been seen.

Firms offering marketplace collections

165 firms on the site offer it. The busiest towns:

A few to start with

A spread of firms from the biggest towns, one from each.