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AIBU?

To say it hasn't arrived?

23 replies

BriantheWife · 22/02/2017 13:14

I'm annoyed and don't know how to handle this ebay issue. I sold a brand new coat and 2 pairs of matching gloves with the tags still on. Buyer seemed nice. It was listed as navy blue, and the attached manufacturer tag also said navy blue.

The listing was listed as No Returns Accepted.

The buyer said when she got it it wasn't quite the right colour and she had been told it was more of a midnight blue. She wanted a refund.

I said ok, it's important to me for you to be happy. Send it back and I'll refund you. So she's sent it back with only one pair of gloves!!

I think she's kept one pair to compensate for the fact that she's paid the return postage.

I don't know whether to ask her and have her deny any knowledge of the 2nd pair, or refund her minus a bit for the socks, or say it hasn't arrived and let her take it up with the post office.

I thnk my chances of being treated fairly by ebay are slim here. WWYD?

OP posts:
BriantheWife · 22/02/2017 13:15

Socks should read gloves!

OP posts:
Cel982 · 22/02/2017 14:03

You can't say it hasn't arrived if it has Hmm I'd just tell her one pair of gloves is missing, and see what she says.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/02/2017 14:11

Since she presumably used tracked mail, and since her reason for wanting a refund is so ridiculous, she'll probably claim that both pairs of gloves were returned and it will be impossible to prove otherwise if she opens a case against you. Ebay will side with her as they almost always do with buyers and that will be one more chancer who's got away with it

Forgive me if I sound bitter but I've had this sort of thing happen far too often ... which is why I'll never sell again on ebay Hmm

BriantheWife · 22/02/2017 14:18

She has not used tracked mail. I did ask her to ensure she got proof of postage, so I would guess she got that.

It doesn't feel right saying I didnn't get it as the post office would ultimately have to reimburse her (it was under £20).

But I am cross that I am likely to get ripped off, and for being nice too as I was no way in the wrong in my listing, I was under no obligation to accept a return, and I was even prepared to incur the loss of the outbound postage!

OP posts:
MrsJaniceBattersby · 22/02/2017 14:22

I'd ask her then move on .

BriantheWife · 22/02/2017 14:23

Has anyone as a seller, raised a case against a buyer, and won it?

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/02/2017 14:40

Yes, Brian ... I clearly listed a very fragile item as collection only and the buyer demanded postage instead, then sent a torrent of abuse and negged me when I refused. I got the neg removed in the end, but only after 80 minutes on the phone to ebay, being passed from one barely-English-speaking, script reading robot to another until I insisted on a transfer to Appeals. As I suggested, it just isn't worth it for sellers any more Sad

And it seems you're yet another thoroughly decent seller genuinely trying to do their best ... otherwise, since your buyer foolishly didn't track the returned package, you might well have been tempted to say you hadn't received it

OrchidaceousRose · 22/02/2017 14:44

I had exactly the same thing. Navy blue coat returned as being "more of a midnight blue"- after it had obviously been worn on a night out as it was covered in hair, had marks and reeked of smoke. Buyer complained about my wanting to wait for item to be returned before getting a refund as "it's Christmas and I have a child to buy for".

I took photos of marks etc, compared them to selling photos and eBay did insist that she paid outward and return postage even though item was refunded. That was the final straw for me though and have since stopped sellling on eBay.

I would report it to eBay though, as if buyer does this serially they will get caught eventually.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/02/2017 14:44

Oh, and proof of postage isn't supposed to count; according to the T&Cs, the only proof ebay will accept of something being delivered is a tracked service from a recognised carrier

This particular buyer is lucky to be dealing with someone honest ...

jackieeee · 22/02/2017 14:46

I would be tempted to say it hasn't arrived

19lottie82 · 22/02/2017 14:48

I'd say it hasn't arrived, yes. You will have to refund in FULL if you don't.

In fact you don't have to actually say it hasn't arrived, just do nothing. When she escalates this with eBay they won't process her refund unless she has proof of delivery.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/02/2017 14:51

it had obviously been worn on a night out as it was covered in hair, had marks and reeked of smoke

Ah yes, that tired old trick - with me it was a returned skirt with what looked like leaked period blood on the back, and funnily enough she too whined about needing money for her children. Seems to be a well worn path ... Angry

Megatherium · 22/02/2017 15:05

Knock a bit off the refund for the cost of the gloves.

Nanna50 · 22/02/2017 15:14

Is there a possibility she forgot to include both pairs of gloves?
If you don't want to refund you will have to play as dirty as her and say it hasn't arrived. She will then claim from post office herself. eBay makes it clear that she should return tracked. If she hasn't already left feedback she will no doubt neg you.
If you try to partially refund you will not be able to prove you have one pair of gloves and will have to refund in full.
Had she opened an item not as described case eBay would have made you pay return postage and refund the postage she paid for it to be sent.
eBay stinks for sellers who are always at risk of unscrupulous buyers.

BeMorePanda · 22/02/2017 15:16

Has anyone as a seller, raised a case against a buyer, and won it?
My colleague has a successful e-bay business selling 2nd hand clothes. He says your chances are slim to none. the Ebay system is heavily weighted to buyers even when they behave disgracefully.

19lottie82 · 22/02/2017 16:06

Mega you can't do that.

19lottie82 · 22/02/2017 16:08

Panda exactly. I'm not keen on advising for the OP to essentially commit fraud but she will end out of pocket if she doesn't do so.

LucklessMonster · 22/02/2017 16:12

Tricky one. I think you sort of brought this on yourself by agreeing to a refund for a ridiculous reason, so I'd suck it up. I'd ask her about the gloves, but if she says she sent them you'll have to give a refund.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/02/2017 16:20

It's a fair point, Luckless, but too many buyers will just find another reason to demand a refund if you refuse the first, silly one. Some will even deliberately damage an item they don't want and then claim for that Hmm

BriantheWife · 22/02/2017 16:41

I think you sort of brought this on yourself by agreeing to a refund for a ridiculous reason

Muh. I agreed to a refund when my listing was accurate because I'm nice.

Anyway, I mailed her earlier, nicely, about it and no info as yet.

What options did I have? Knowing that ebay is shit to sellers, I had a choice between losing out unfairly, or being dishonest in an attempt not to lose out unfairly.

EBAY IS UNFAIR AND IT IS WRONG.

OP posts:
LucklessMonster · 22/02/2017 17:09

Muh. I agreed to a refund when my listing was accurate because I'm nice.

Yeah, but this is where it's got you. That was my point, not that you're a bad person Hmm

zombiesarecoming · 22/02/2017 17:27

Proof of postage won't count in her favour if she hasn't sent it tracked as she can't prove delivery

I know what i would do in your situation

And yes ebay do sometimes find in favour of the seller if buyer is trying to screw them over and by returning it without tracking she has helped you

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Puzzledandpissedoff · 22/02/2017 17:31

zombie for better or worse that ship has sailed now ... OP said she's messaged the buyer about the missing 2nd pair of gloves, so that will be on record and prevent her claiming she hasn't received the item back (even if she'd intended to of course, and she's said that wasn't the case)

Too bad ebay do so little to protect honest sellers like this Hmm

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