CF eBay chancer: AIBU/WWYD?

[ZazuMoon]

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?

I really hope it works out in your favour, it would be so rubbish if the CF gets away with this!

She is trying to commit fraud.
eBay doesn’t compensate buyers for ‘late delivery’ and if she is pretending the item is used and you know it isn’t, then she is attempting to commit a criminal act.

Advise her that what she is attempting is fraud and that you are going to escalate the claim.

Depending on whether a PayPal or eBay dispute case has been opened (they’re two different things).

You will get nowhere by continuing to communicate with her as she has the advantage of
A) keyboard warrior syndrome and
B) Conviction that eBay or PayPal will ‘see in her favour’

She is playing you, and may be far more clever than you at achieving her end goal.

The only way this will be resolved is by escalating through the correct dispute channel.
If it is found in the buyers favour ultimately, you have no choice but to consider yourself a victim of fraud. You can’t fight that with eBay. Learn and move on.

Just wondering on this. If eBay find in the buyer's favour in this case (as unlikely as it would seem), does anyone know whether the OP would be able to pursue a claim against the buyer through the small claims court?

PayPal shouldn’t refund her without a return tracking number, they may force you to pay for the return though.

If it was used and unhygienic, why has she then used it herself and activated the warranty? Clearly contradictory.

I would speak to her very bluntly and factually, eg that the item was brand new so it is impossible for the item to be used or bent/faulty or to have parts missing. As she has now used the item, she isn’t rejecting it in the same condition that it arrived in so she may be liable for return postage. You will not offer her any refund without the item and all accessories in your position. Make sure you tell PayPal about the abusive messages and that you believe that she may be a scammer.

What a nasty piece of work she is!
either she had a used/broken one and wanted to swap for new at your expense, shes tried it, doesn't like it, and doesn't want to pay to return it, or she wants one but at significant discount.

The best time to call ebay is early in the morning. Try at about 8:30 AM and cross your fingers that you get an Irish accent on the other end of the line.

I'd also be reaching out to other sellers who have dealt with her in the recent past. See if they have had similar experiences.

I've got a horrible feeling you might be receiving back a box full of bricks...

I had this with a bottle of genuine Versace perfume. Buyer was from abroad and claimed it was a fake. But also didn't want to return it. Ebay found in their favour. Spoke to ebay/paypal. The only way I could supposedly 'win' was to produce a 'certificate of authenticity' directly issued from Versace. Wtf??

Never. Again.

I had one once. Similar to someone above...item ended up being sent to Italy, even though it had a uk postcode. It was a Tiffany bracelet, with authentic pouch etc.

Anyway, scammer claimed the bracelet never arrived. Sent a shit photo of the package all open, the pouch was there but no bracelet.

Luckily I’d kept the proof of postage, which showed the weight. So I contacted Tiffany directly who provided me with the weight of the item (and pouch) and I could therefore prove that the bracelet had been in the package when I sent it.

eBay ended up refunding her out of their own end. I also kept the money she’d paid.

What a joke.

Good luck poster
Must be very upsetting

Hi there, just saw your post and I have had many dealings with eBay as a seller. If you can prove the hoover was new, then you should be fine. Were your pictures good, showing the hoover in a new sealed box? If so, give eBay a call and explain what has happened. In my experience, with evidence they do help the seller out and speaking on the phone helps a lot. Take care x

It's not a hoover.

It's not a hoover. hmm

No, it's a Dyson.

I only use eBay to buy and sell cheap items. Would never use for expensive items.

@Rosey12

It's one of these www.dyson.co.uk/hair-care/dyson-airwrap-styler-overview.html

@HariboLectar

Ahh right! I need to get with these new fangled gadget lol! Thank you. OP should deffo call eBay though. Take it easy x

Paypal has confirmed that she won't be getting a refund unless she returns it at her cost. I just have to hope now that it is still worth something when I receive it, or that she gives up, given that she's used it and doesn't want to return it. It was just the sheer glee at trying to 'take me down' that rattled me. However, it is not worth the stress during these last few weeks of pregnancy. Thanks for your support everyone and I will just have to wait and see the outcome. I'm sorry for all of those who have had similar experiences and it is worrying how many people there are out there.

Well that's a positive outcome. I hope you get it back as you expect and she doesn't intentionally damage it.

Hopefully she'll give up now she's realised PayPal and Ebay won't give her money and let her keep the item. You may get a bit more abuse as she hopes you'll give in, but stand firm.

I'm glad Paypal have confirmed that. I suspect she won't send the item back, but will send more emails. Keep Ebay updated on those if she continues, and Paypal if necessary, but ignore her unless something comes through a proper channel.

Hopefully a good outcome - I would video yourself opening it so she can't claim you've ruined it.

@ferret Good idea. I'll do that. It's sad that I have to take those measures though.

Does she have I time limit to return it?

Sorry op if you’ve already mentioned but what’s her feedback like?

Whenever something like this happens you need to report it to ActionFraud online. They will take it seriously.

Hmmm... Unfortunately if she does decide to return it, you already know that she's going to leave the "missing" part (mat?) out of the returned package, to cover her earlier lie. Would it be worth anything without that?