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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

CF eBay chancer: AIBU/WWYD?

356 replies

ZazuMoon · 04/06/2019 13:05

First time poster.

I sold a Dyson airwrap last week as unused (which it is, it was an unneeded gift). Buyer messaged the day after purchase asking when it was arriving despite me providing delivery information. I paid almost £30 for delivery to cover its insurance. The package was lost over the weekend due to an admitted fault by Parcel force. Buyer emailing all weekend chasing despite me reassuring that I'd spent 2-3 hours on the phone/going to the post office to chase. It arrived today, one day after the estimated delivery time. She is now claiming the item is used. I asked for photos and they are not of my hair and not the condition the item was sent in. I know this but I can't prove it to eBay. She wants £100 refund and has sent a string of nasty messages all morning. I have acknowledged to her that I accept that she is unhappy with the whole experience but that I felt this was too high. Privately, I feel that she is seeking compensation for the late delivery or trying her luck but I have no way of demonstrating this to eBay. I am heavily pregnant and whilst I would Ordinarily be disputing this, I am considering relenting. AIBU/WWYD?

OP posts:
Antigon · 04/06/2019 13:07

Does she want to keep the item too?

fedup21 · 04/06/2019 13:08

Can you ask her to return the item?

Daffodil2018 · 04/06/2019 13:08

She’s a CF. I’d ask her to send it back then refund it minus the delivery fee (if you can do that).

MyKingdomforaNameChange · 04/06/2019 13:09

No partial refund!!

She can return it for a full refund at her own expense, or keep it. Giving a partial refund just trains these CF's to try it on every time :)

If you have photos of the item from when you listed it, upload them to the case if she opens a case. Do not refund until the Dyson is back in your hands!

Invisimamma · 04/06/2019 13:09

Did you take photos of the condition before you sent it? To prove it was unused.

eBay will side with her.

ShinyRuby · 04/06/2019 13:11

Oh God this is why I never use Ebay anymore to sell. It used to be ok but I've had so many CFs & parcels 'never arriving'Angry All I can suggest is get in touch with Ebay if possible to state your case but they seem to usually side with the buyer which is just ridiculous. Good luck, you certainly don't need this when you're pregnant.

Original poster
ZazuMoon · 04/06/2019 13:13

She wants to keep the item. If I ask her to return I have to pay for her return postage as well. Then I may end up going through this again with someone else. I did take photos but she has photographed everything from a new angle showing how she has 'found' the hairs. EBay I've heard always sides with buyers.

OP posts:
Dontthinkofthegame · 04/06/2019 13:13

Get the item back, no partial refund!!

As soon as you say you want the item back so you can refund she will probably disappear.

MadSweeney · 04/06/2019 13:15

Never give partial refunds.

Tell buyer she can return the item for a full refund which will be issued as soon as you have cross checked seals and serial numbers.

Worst case scenario she will open a not as described case and unfortunately you will end up paying for a return label as well.

MadSweeney · 04/06/2019 13:16

@ZazuMoon she's chancing that you won't want the hassle of having it back. Call her bluff.

Walkamileinmyshoesbeforeujudge · 04/06/2019 13:16

Ebay have sided with my dh as a seller a few times. Don't be put off sticking to your guns. No refund imo. EBay will read your conversations and won't take kindly to her attitude imo.

Dontthinkofthegame · 04/06/2019 13:17

I don’t think you do have to pay for her postage if the item isn’t faulty, but don’t take that as gospel so double check.

Even if you did have to pay the postage it would be worth it to them be able to resell it for the original price. Basically you could give her £100 off or refund her postage (I’m guessing about £12 max) then resell it for the original amount that means you’re only down the postage cost £12 rather than £100.

Original poster
ZazuMoon · 04/06/2019 13:18

She already opened a not received case with PayPal yesterday, the estimated day of delivery. 😮 So I suspect she will just open another case.

OP posts:
DeadButDelicious · 04/06/2019 13:19

I have become properly disillusioned with eBay recently. It's great if you're buying but once you try to sell something it's awful. I sold an old damaged iPad recently as spares or repairs and the level of cheeky fuckery was astounding, one potential buyer even asked if I would be providing my personal Apple ID and EE account number for him to use. Errrrr no?

In your situation I would provide eBay with the photos from the listing and provide copies of all the messages sent between you if she chooses to pursue a claim. I wouldn't be partially refunding bugger all, I only do that if I need to refund postage if I've over estimated how much it would be. If she's not happy she can send it back and at her cost if possible. She's clearly chancing her arm and trying to claw back some cash.

JessieTalamasca · 04/06/2019 13:19

No partial refund. She sends the item back and you pay postage and fully refund her.

TixieLix · 04/06/2019 13:24

I'd ask for it back. I'd rather lose the £30 postage to get it back insured than lose £100 to a CF who is obviously trying it on.

Original poster
ZazuMoon · 04/06/2019 13:25

@MadSweeney I think that's what she's counting on.

The postage was almost £30 to cover the item's value.

@Dead I am also disillusioned. I've never come across anyone quite this bad before!

OP posts:
Popuppippa · 04/06/2019 13:26

You could totally call her bluff and say the item is marked with Smart Water (don't say where - it could be on the item/packaging/label) for fraud detection and could she ensure it's returned exactly as sent in the original packaging. I would be breezy and co-operative but state your terms.

I once called the bluff of a CF who tried it on over an electrical item and I never heard from him again.

If it escalates you can report the buyer. I've never had to do this but it is an option.

Huskylover1 · 04/06/2019 13:33

You can leave feedback on her can't you?

I'd just get it back, tbh. Then when you sell to someone else, make sure it's collection only and paid for in cash.

Surely the photo's on the advert will show it was not damaged?

What is smart water?

MadSweeney · 04/06/2019 13:36

You can leave feedback on her can't you?

@Huskylover1 she can, as long as its positive feedback. Oh, and don't even think about leaving a negative comment in positive feedback because eBay will just remove it.

LiverpoolVictoria · 04/06/2019 13:42

I sold a phone recently on eBay, took loads of photos of the face to show no scratches, and put in the advert it wasn't working and should only be used for 'spares and repairs'.

Guy bought it, then claimed it didn't work (erm, yeah..) and that it had loads of scratches on it! Refused to send photos though.
I argued saying this wasn't the case, and after looking at his eBay profile saw he bought and sold phones so he'd clearly thought it could repair it and sell it on for a profit, then when he figured he couldn't he wanted his money back!

I refused to give him a refund, so he opened a case with eBay telling me he KNEW they would just side with him (which they did) and I had to pay for the item to be returned!

Within 1 minute of him opening a case I received an email from eBay saying they'd looked into it (impossible in the time-frame) and sided with him!

I was so angry I called them, told them to read our messages, and they said to not worry and they would investigate. They also said they automatically send these emails out and don't even look at messages?!
Next thing I had the phone money AND return postage taken out of my account by them.

Will never sell a phone or something similar on eBay again.

Original poster
ZazuMoon · 04/06/2019 13:44

I would have to cover her return costs as she is claiming it is not as described. So by the time I have paid those out and then posted to a new buyer there wouldn't be much difference from the £100. It's more the principle.

She's been enraged as well- she's 'not going to let this drop'; she's 'not going to let me pull the wool over her eyes.'

What a drama llama!

OP posts:
OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny · 04/06/2019 13:47

This sounds like some sort of scam where she's got a used airwrap, bought your brand new one but will return the used one to you complete with hair/signs of use for a refund.

She's then left with a new and unused one to sell

MadSweeney · 04/06/2019 13:48

I'm sure there will be a cheaper way of returning. Hermes will be about £15 covered for £300.
Assuming seller paid original P&P then you're down £15 at worst.

Call. Her. Bluff.

DontCallMeShitley · 04/06/2019 13:48

Check first whether she can open another case, it used to be that you could only open one.

Have you entered the tracking into Ebay to show delivery? It will show receipt. Also check you have entered it into PayPal. Check with PayPal that they know it has been received.

If she insists on returning it do as suggested above and say you will accept the return and will be checking the serial no. against the photos you have on your phone, and your security marks. Regardless of whether you have them or not.