to want a full refund including postage? (Ebay related)

[CoolaSchmoola]

A few days ago I bid for an electrical item on Ebay listed as "new".

It wasn't a cheap item, including postage it cost £225.

When I opened the box everything was packaged and sealed except for the power adaptor, which had a label on it which for some reason (no idea why?) I read - and was surprised to see that it said "BT Home Hub" on it.

The item I bought wasn't a BT Home Hub - and the instruction manual for the item categorically states that the original adaptor must be used, as using a different adaptor may damage the unit.

The seller does accept returns but apparently doesn't refund postage.

I have opened a "not as described" case against the seller as, according to the instructions I can't actually use the item because the seller has replaced the adaptor with one he's nicked from a Home Hub, and there is no way I am going to risk blowing up a £220 piece of kit, particularly as using a different adaptor would more than likely invalidate the warranty.

The seller has come back to me asking what I mean when I say "not as described" - so I've reiterated, and now he is ignoring me.

Obviously I'm going to escalate to Ebay - but AIBU to ask for my postage costs back? The seller doesn't refund them according to the listing, and I'm expected to pay to return the item - so by those rules I'm going to end up £10 out of pocket because the seller decided to replace a fundamental part of the item with an unsupported piece of equipment, thereby rendering it unusable.

I'm more than a little pissed off tbh - this is the most I've ever spent on a single Ebay item, I can't use it and the seller is being seriously unhelpful.

[stressyBessy22]

Is it a business seller? If so then under the ndistance selling regulations they must cover both return postage and refund the original item +postage.if it is a private seller unfortunately you have less recourse.

[WeAreEternal]

I recently bought a brand new item, when it arrived part of it was broken.
The seller replies to my first email and just said "it was in perfect condition when I sent it, it's not my responsibility after I have sent it".

After that he refused to reply to any if my 100's of messages.

I month later I filed a SNAD dispute. (Which the seller also ignored)
I said I was happy to return for a full refund but PayPal just refunded me (the full amount including postage) and told me to do what I like with the item.

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

If it is as cut and dried as that then eBay may send you a prepaid envelope. I had this recently with a £100 item, seller 'lost' original item and posted out a replacement without telling me first. eBay refunded postage due to the fact that the seller had admitted in an email that it wasn't the item I bought.

[BrienneOfTarth]

Agree you would be much better off asking them to refund just the cost of buying a new proper power adapter from the original manufacturer. Might even be worth doing a quick online search to see what one would cost as you might be able to get one for less than the cost of the postage that you would lose by doing a full refund.

But you are right not to use the equipment with the wrong power cord!

[CoolaSchmoola]

Thanks for your replies. It was a Best Offer not an auction so I think DSR does apply. Will have a look at that.

Have had a look for a replacement adaptor and whaddayknow - it's a Philippines import item (he didn't mention that either but I guess it explains the adaptor switcheroo) and the 'right' adaptor won't fit UK sockets. He made a lot of references to English in the description, which implied it was UK spec but looking at it now he never directly stated that it was or wasn't. Partly my fault for not checking, but I assumed English, brand new in box would have a UK adaptor.

Slightly more pissed now.

[orangepudding]

I would ask the seller to refund the amount it would cost you to buy a replacement adaptor - surely it must be less than £10.

[RandallPinkFloyd]

Unfortunately they don't have to refund any potage costs. It's shit, I've been bitten before by it, but it's in the t's and c's.

Even if you open a case and eBay refund you you'll only get the item price. Although if it's a refund from eBay rather than the seller you may not have to actually return the item.

If you do have to return it you'll need to fork out for record delivery too just in case.

Ebay's shite when this kind of thing happens sadly.

[sarahtigh]

DSR mean original postage costs have to be refunded legally but not return costs

if you won this item in an auction DSR do not apply anyway they only apply to BIN or second chance offers from business sellers

[maddening]

Also check the price for a replacement adapter - the seller might be happy to refund the cost of the replacement adapter - which might be the route of least resistance compared to the dispute hassle.

[vix206]

Distance Selling Regulations should cover this, I'm sure eBay will help

[TheChaoGoesMu]

I raised a dispute through ebay and asked for the postage to be paid for the return. They were great, resolved the case in my favour, gave me a postage label to print off and refunded my money a few days later. It was clear the buyer wasn't going to reach an agreement about anything with me as he had stopped responding, which is why they gave me the postage label. No harm in asking.

[sonofzod]

sadly that's the way it is and ebay will be as useful as a chocolate fireguard in helping you get postage costs returned, ive experienced similar recently and seller offered to take return minus the postage so I would be a tenner out of pocket due to a deceiving picture of item they posted

Left em negative feedback and they are livid..


its the sad reality of using ebay sadly, it comes with its bad points and this is one of em