Anybody experienced a buyer who lists the item they bought while trying to get cash back from seller?

[borninastorm]

I sold a guitar on ebay a couple of weeks ago to someone who I'd had a few email questions from that I answered to the best of my knowledge.

She wanted to know first of all if I would take less money for it. I said no. Then she asked if the guitar had a low action and a mellow (think that's the word) sound. I said, to my knowledge, it did but I'm not an expert.

She bought the guitar. Took delivery of it on Sunday and on Sunday evening she emailed to tell me that it didn't have a low action or a mellow sound and that she'd had to change the strings but that didn't make a difference. Could she return it to me.

A few hours later (1.30am) she emailed again saying that if I gave her £50 back she would keep the guitar.

I then had a look at her profile and what she was selling as I suspected something was afoot and lo and behold she is selling my guitar for £80 more than she paid for it (I'm absolutely fine with that) but she's described it as having a low action and a mellow sound and she wants me to refund her £50 because it doesn't have that!?!

I got a friend to email her for the serial number of the guitar and it is definitely my guitar.

Obviously I'm not going to refund her anything and I'm going to let her know that I know what she's up to. But I don't think she should get away with doing this? How many other people has she conned?

So what would you do or what have you done in this situation?

sorry it's been such a long post I wanted to give all the details.

[fergoose]

I would tell her to return it in the condition in which it was sent for a refund - no point mentioning her having the item listed, just tell her you don't give partial refunds.

This is why most sellers never give a partial refund.

[CoffeeShoppe]

I think I would just ignore her emails for the moment, and watch the item on ebay. Once sold, and in particular if it goes for more or the same as you sold it, then send her a snotty one, saying you are so pleased she has managed to recoup all or more than she paid for it. And don't do feedback until this is resolved.

[fergoose]

But the seller can't leave the buyer a neg feedback anyway so that bit is irrelevant isn't it?

[borninastorm]

I like the idea of waiting until she has sold the guitar on and then sending her a snotty email.
I haven't given her any feedback yet.
Is it true that I can't give a buyer negative feedback anymore fergoose? I'd no idea. Ebay has really changed their regs and working ways.

[CoffeeShoppe]

i have not heard that a seller cannot give buyer neg? What if they don't pay or you have to wait ages for payment, or they start to be funny about the purchase as in this case?

[fergoose]

a seller has not been able to leave neg or neutral feedback for years - all you can do is report a buyer for non payment or abusing buyer protection

[CoffeeShoppe]

wow! I never knew that. I wonder what the reason for that is? It seems so one sided.

[fergoose]

it enables buyers to leave honest feedback without the worry of a retaliatory neg from the seller.

[MrsZoidberg]

You can report the buyer though - I think the link is on your sold items page or within feedback

[CoffeeShoppe]

but then, what if a buyer was permanent trouble. What if, like the OP this buyer emails all her sellers to say something not right and could they have part refunds etc? If I was a seller and they were interested in my stuff, I would not be inclined to sell to them.

[fergoose]

well a seller can report a buyer, and a buyer who asks for partial refunds isn't going to get them granted by ebay, and sellers are normally advised to refund in full after return, not give partial amounts back.

If a buyer keeps opening cases ebay will take action won't they. They are only allowed to open so many cases within a year.

[K8Middleton]

Can you not report to eBay?

[K8Middleton]

Gosh I took so long to hit post I x-posted with everyone saying the same thing!