To not want to keep storing expensive item when it has been sold?

He’s sent a fake back. It is just such a good fake that you can’t tell. Get it rechecked by a professional asap.

I'd

• talk to non-emergency police about potential money laundering and take their advice
• get it checked by a jeweller (I know you're sure it's the same item but I'd want no doubt whatsoever)
• check why exactly it was rejected by customs
• assuming it's not money laundering, is the same item and the customs reason was innocent, email the buyer again and say you'll keep the item for a short period longer (10 days?) and will then refund the money minus insurance costs. And do check your contents insurance for what this would be.

How much does it cost to store Jewellery? Stick it in a jewellery box.

I though you where talking about a car, caravan or furniture not something as small as jewellery.

Its pretty hard to claim storage fee's unless you can prove you are clearly out of pocket for only that item.

So as you say it is £8,000 if you have SPECIFIC insurance on that item (not just general home insurance) and you SPECIFICALLY have a bank lock box for just that item (not a lock box with several things in or your own house safe) you could probably claim that as an expense in small claims court.

As for saying its took too long at 6 months, it could be argued under abandonment laws. To do this you would have to contact the buyer to tell them to collect, if they do not contact the police to declare them abandoned (with proof you contacted the owner).

You will then either be told to deliver the goods back to the owner or more likely the police will take custody of them. If the police collect them they will hold them for two month and then either return them to you or sell them at auction.

This is exactly why I would use a reputable auction house to sell an item.

Trading standards will be really helpful for this. That’ll also give you email templates with exactly what to say.

And why didn't they post it?

Then why isn't that company sorting it out?? Christ.

So you now know where he works. Send it to him at that address.

Yes, that's what I'd suggest. But if you've done well on the item it might not be in your best interest to do this....

I would keep it simple OP. I would firstly get the item checked over to confirm it hadn’t been swapped for a fake. Then I’d contact the buyer and advise that he has 14 days to arrange collection, otherwise you will be de-listing the item and refunding him. I would be minded to advise him that during this 14 day period the item won’t be covered under your insurance. Realise you’ve had varying opinions on here but that’s what I’d do. I understand why you don’t want this hanging over you, neither would I!
if this has been going on for 6 months+ he needs to pull his finger out.

Unless you have made a special arrangement with your insurance company the jewellery is NOT insured. You don't own this item and do not have an insurable interest in it. House insurance only covers possessions that you own.
I would share this information with the buyer.

You can’t keep the money and the item but it’s fine for you to now refund the money and sell it to someone else.

The thing is, the buyer has your address OP. It could be any sort of scam. Either it’s been swapped or perhaps you agree to store and he arranges for it to be stolen from you, in both cases you’d return the money. It seems very dodgy to me.

If she sends him the money back without verifying it and it's been swapped with a fake

Out of interest why?

Once it's verified as genuine and saleable (hopefully this will be the case), why scrabble around to get summat for nowt when she's going to have to pay for said advice and is likely to get a solicitor 's straight letter back?

Plus perhaps he's a scammer, perhaps he's a scatterbrain. Why not just move on and sell it for a higher value?

From her end it's just a private sale that fell through, assuming it's the same item (we don't know differently) she hasn't lost anything, just a bit of time messing about. Deduct a fee for that.

I don't get feeling entitled to the cost of the item twice over.

I would re-sell it and see what you get for it. If you get more, then just refund his £8k. If you get less then refund him the amount it re-sold for.

I would give him 2 weeks notice of this and say at that time you are going to sell his property and will send him the money.

I would tell him he has two weeks to collect otherwise you’ll put it up for sale again and refund his money once the new sale goes through. If it sells for less than he paid then that’s all he gets returned. If it sells for more then return his original payment. It’s a hassle to do it all again but if you want it gone that may work. Do it all in writing so there’s proof of everything.

Say to the buyer that if it’s not collected in 21 days then you will be refunding their money. You say it’s going up in value so you’ll get more money and hopefully a more motivated purchaser.
Alternatively you could just keep it and say no more about it. It’s not as if it’s taking up a lot of space.

Would it be possible to keep this simple, give short notice and just return the 8 grand minus any postage or packing costs to you? If necessary, have the item verified by a jeweller first and deduct that from the price. Then resell to a UK buyer only if it is likely to sell.

Don't keep 8 grand, they are likely to take you to court over that and it will cause a headache and might cost you if you win. I don't know what the terms were, could be watertight and you've got 8 grand for nothing but do you really feel it's your money if the item is in saleable condition? I would just verify condition, refund minus any costs and move on.

Report to fraud action if you suspect money laundering.

Yes, actually, this seems sensible - it could be a scam. He cannot collect the item which is strangely not permitted via customs and returned (having been swapped for a replica); you refund money and are left with a worthless item.

Definitely get the item checked by an expert.

And do not refund any money.

I think you should contact a solicitor, as I am not sure he’s entitled to a refund - it is his responsibility to collect the item and the contract you’ve agreed has terms and conditions which you’ve complied with, but he has not.

I would not refund him anything yet, but ask a solicitor to explain your rights with respect to the actual property - as it is uncollected, outside contract, it may be that its title reverts back to you after all this time. Speak to legal professional as I don’t think this is so cut and dried that people with MN degrees in law can correctly advise.

Give him a week or say you will have to arrange a courier and he will have to pay. Most buyers offer this anyway at the buyers expense

There is nothing immediately suspicious about the buyer. I think he is just a really busy guy.

Sorry but it's totally suspicious. I presume it's a Rolex? I would be having it checked over thoroughly by a jeweller or similar. I would definitely not be refunding any money until doing so.

What courier company was it and what was the reason it was refused?

I've just had a package returned by UPS and it has a tracking number which I input into their website to find out the exact reason they refused it at customs.

At the very least you need to do that.