To be really cross at this ebay seller

[skyofdiamonds]

I think I know I am not BU but need to vent.

So I bought an item that was described as 'perfect used condition and ready to use'. It is a hobby specific item that is a well known brand.

It arrived 10 days later, to discover that the item is not usable at all, in any way, shape or form, as it is missing a part that fastens it together.

I contact the seller and state the above. She says that it is what it looks like in the pictures, so I should have been able to see for myself!

I reply saying that I read her item description as 'ready to use, in perfect condition' and therefore that is why I bought it!

She messages back to say she'll give me a partial refund to help me buy the missing part. The item is no longer sold and there is no way of sourcing this part any more so that is simply not an option.

I disagree and want a full refund, as item is not as described or fit for purpose.

She agrees to give me a refund but will not refund me the return postage.

She tells me that she would then be out of pocket, as it cost her more than she charged me to send it and that she was going to end up having the item back that can't ever be sold on again so she would be losing a lot of money as she's only a small business and can't afford to!

I reply telling her that it is my buyer rights for her to cover return postage, as in the ebay conditions, and that if she didn't then we would have to involve ebay with it.

She agrees to pay the amount of postage that I was charged, as the return postage, as long as I don't leave negative feedback.

I agree to this as just want my money back.

I post the item back (£5 more than the return postage refund agreed) and she refunds me the item cost ONLY with no return postage at all.

AAAAHHH.

I have phoned ebay, who have contacted her asking to pay me the postage.

AIBU to think I am not being unreasonable here?

AND she does not deserve to NOT get negative feedback, as she has been SO evasive from the start?

And that is it appalling business sense to expect a customer to be out of pocket on the postage with no item in hand either?


FYI item is a waterproof rug for a horse, which arrived with no fastenings on the front to even fasten the rug on to a horse! On googling, it seems an extra 'flap' is part of the rug which does the fastening, which was not included.

[ChameleonCircuit]

So if she sold you a bike without pedals, she'd think it was ok? YANBU, leave honest feedback and she might think twice about trying to fleece people on eBay.

[Chloe84]

YANBU. Sounds like she knew the rug is missing a fastening but sold it without stating it in the listing. Push for your money back and leave accurate feedback, that she refunded the item but not the postage, as agreed. Let it be a lesson to her.

[feathermucker]

YANBU....and she deserves negative feedback!

[Singingforsanity]

Definitely leave honest feedback, or she'll carry on ripping people off. That's what the feedback is for.

[OwnedbyFred]

YANBU, you've given her every chance to amend the situation and she hasn't. She sent you something not fit for the purpose she advertised it for - can't put a rug on a horse without the correct fastenings! Then when you want to return because of this has agreed to pay return postage and not done so. That to me is a negative buying experience and your feedback should reflect as such.

[Trb17]

If you paid via PayPal make a PayPal claim and provide evidence and they'll refund you in full usually. Also leave negative feedback as she's clearly having a laugh.

[GattoColorCioccolatto]

YANBU. I've just about given up on eBay.

[limpit]

YANBU.

eBay will always side with the buyer (rightly so, in this instance). Leave her negative feedback.

I'm also done with eBay. As a buyer and a seller. It's so easy to get done over.

[Madwoman5]

You cannot leave negative feedback without affecting your ratings too. I had something similar happen and I wanted to warn other buyers. Ebay resolved it for me in the end and I left NO feedback rather than give them a single star. If you read through the mid range ratings, you will see unhappy customers hidden amongst them. I wish I had done so before getting swindled!

[sabs22]

I would fight for the postage refund and still leave negative feedback once you get it! I hate people on eBay that intentionally sell things not fit for purpose and hope they won't be challenged on it.

[ScissorBow]

If the deal was for her to pay return postage and you not to leave negative feedback then she's reneged on her part of the deal so neg away!

[themueslicamel]

I have more luck raising the issue via PayPal rather than eBay as it's more like a bank account or credit card re buyers rights.

[19lottie82]

Did you send it back with proof of delivery? If so open a PayPal return case. If not then there's no point.

Why didn't you open an eBay case in the first place? You would have got your original postage refunded AND a pre paid returns label.

[19lottie82]

Sorry ignore that bit about a PayPal case. They won't refund you for return postage.