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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

143 replies

Wheredoistandwiththis · 08/08/2024 08:07

posted here for traffic!

Hi. I sold a very expensive item online 6 months ago (approx £8,000). The buyer paid for the item with a bank transfer and planned to collect ASAP. A courier was arranged on the buyers behalf, but there was an issue with customs and the item was returned back to me. I have checked and there is nothing ‘dodgy’ here - the item that was returned to me is the exact item that was collected.

I have been in regular contact with the buyer who keeps making excuses as to why the item cannot be collected. Says he is really busy, not had chance etc. He is located abroad else I would have just delivered the item myself (even though he is responsible for collection of the item).

Where do I stand legally? I am annoyed that I am essentially providing free insurance and storage for this item when this would usually be £££.

I have sent an email stating that the item must be collected by x date else it will no longer be available for collection. Would I then be obliged to return the money even though I have tried numerous times over the past 6 months to get this sorted?

YABU: item needs refunding if buyer isn’t collecting
YANBU: item has been paid and it’s up to the buyer whether he collects or not but the money is now mine

OP posts:
BMW6 · 08/08/2024 08:45

Sorry but I don't understand why this is such an issue?

It's a piece of jewellery, not a large thing to be a nuisance having around!

Why can't you stick it in a drawer and forget it until the buyer arranges collection?

Am I missing something?

Theunamedcat · 08/08/2024 08:46

Tell him he has 14 days and you will consider it abandoned and that your under no obligation to return his money under those circumstances

And get it to a jeweler to be valued make sure no-one has switched it or any part of it

Stickinthemuddle · 08/08/2024 08:46

They’ve made you ‘involuntary bailee’ legally.

you can give them 21 days notice to collect after which you can dispose of the item. However if you sell it you need to return any profit to them.

If you send the 21 days letter at the very least you limit your own liability but sadly still a bit of a conundrum over what to do with it…

Bouledeneige · 08/08/2024 08:47

I was trying to think how this is a scam. If OP definitely got £8k it doesn't really matter if she got a fake back. If she organised a courier and the buyer claimed they didn't receive the item the buyer could keep the watch and then demand a refund. But OP could still refuse to refund and keep the money.

So how does a scammer come off better out of this?

Waxdrip · 08/08/2024 08:49

I would also be more suspicious. Could this be a form of money laundering? Or a scam where the item is stolen from your home and you have to refund the money? Does he have your address?

Original poster
Wheredoistandwiththis · 08/08/2024 08:49

BMW6 · 08/08/2024 08:45

Sorry but I don't understand why this is such an issue?

It's a piece of jewellery, not a large thing to be a nuisance having around!

Why can't you stick it in a drawer and forget it until the buyer arranges collection?

Am I missing something?

It’s an issue as I feel that I’m not able to spend the money until the item has been collected just incase something goes wrong and I’m obliged to return the money.

The item is also desirable and if it were to get stolen or misplaced, I am liable. I don’t want the responsibility of the item without any of the benefit. If I wanted to just keep the item and not have the money, I would have kept it myself and not sold it (with it also increasing in value!).

OP posts:
Original poster
Wheredoistandwiththis · 08/08/2024 08:51

I have googled the buyer (who uses a business email address), and everything does check out. He has a very very high level role in a huge organisation. I don’t think this is money laundering, just a man with a busy job who isn’t that bothered about paying for an £8k item and taking ages to collect it!

OP posts:
sanogo · 08/08/2024 08:52

If it's going up in value I would say it needs collecting by a given date

If not collected, refund and sell for more money

Superworm24 · 08/08/2024 08:52

What platform did you use to sell the item?

Waxdrip · 08/08/2024 08:54

To put my mind at rest I would maybe try to contact the buyer by other means just to check that it's definitely them and their ID hasn't been stolen.

3luckystars · 08/08/2024 08:54

I would well believe it, some people couldn’t care less about that amount of money! I know my friend works in a very fancy shop and people buy expensive things and never come back to collect them.

It’s not just the odd thing either, it’s loads of them every year.

cookiebee · 08/08/2024 08:54

whatever has happened, this buyer is messing you around, they clearly have no motivation to sort this, leaving you quite anxious about doing anything further with the money. I’d suggest, if possible, refunding immediately and then put the piece in a physical auction, get it valued and sold at an auction house, with a reserve of a price your happy with, at least that way the auction house will liaise with the buyer and you will get your money easily, they do usually take a reasonable fee though.

RedHelenB · 08/08/2024 08:56

I'd just notify them that after x date it will no longer be in your insurance and they will have to arrange their own and then forget all about it

shortcutsal · 08/08/2024 08:58

You're being a bit tight. When you said you were providing free storage, I thought it was going to be a large item. Then I reread and saw it's a piece of jewellery Confused
Can't you just put it in the drawer/safe/whatever that you always kept it in, and forget about it for a while?

Cobblersorchard · 08/08/2024 09:00

Return the money and resell it. I don’t think
it’s a dilemma. If he still wants it that badly he can re-buy it for more money!

Just refund him and move on. Stipulate in the next sale that it is collected within 7 days or re-sold.

Original poster
Wheredoistandwiththis · 08/08/2024 09:01

shortcutsal · 08/08/2024 08:58

You're being a bit tight. When you said you were providing free storage, I thought it was going to be a large item. Then I reread and saw it's a piece of jewellery Confused
Can't you just put it in the drawer/safe/whatever that you always kept it in, and forget about it for a while?

Why should I do this for somebody, free of charge for 6 months +?

Would you store and take responsibility for an item worth £10k for free for a stranger for 6 months?

OP posts:
Undisclosedlocation · 08/08/2024 09:03

Well if it’s now worth £10K, why wouldn’t you want to give him a deadline, then refund and resell?

LittleBearPad · 08/08/2024 09:05

I thought it was going to be a grand piano.

I also think this sounds dodgy.

timenowplease · 08/08/2024 09:05

Wheredoistandwiththis · 08/08/2024 08:43

It’s definitely the same item.

The courier came and attached a customs label to the parcel when they collected it. It was returned in exactly the same packaging but had been opened.
There is no question about the item being the same or not. I was suspicious upon hearing it would be returned to me too, but it’s definitely the same.

Im not at home right now, but I didn’t think to check the address on the customs return label. I’ll have a look later!

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

Show quote history

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.

Zanatdy · 08/08/2024 09:05

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

CautiousLurker · 08/08/2024 09:06

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.

CautiousLurker · 08/08/2024 09:08

timenowplease · 08/08/2024 09:05

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.

Show quote history

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.

Catlord · 08/08/2024 09:09

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.

Toptotoe · 08/08/2024 09:11

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.

WhingeInTheWillows · 08/08/2024 09:14

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.

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