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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:
Original poster
ZazuMoon · 06/06/2019 18:37

@AlaskanOilBaron nothing sticking out in her feedback but from looking she seems to have bought low value items from 'bargain' sites so perhaps she just wanted a discount because she wasn't happy with the delay?

I'm not sure of any time limits for her to return. The heat mat is shown in the pictures so I don't know why she's now claiming it's missing.

The thing is, her messages were so furious that I actually found myself doubting whether or not there was hair/fluff that had floated in the packaging while I was inspecting/packaging it. Until I saw the photographs of the hair. And her lie about the mat. And that she'd activated the warranty. Then I realised what she was up to and turned hardball 😀

OP posts:
inchoccyheaven · 06/06/2019 18:54

Stick to your guns as she is having a laugh using the item and activating a warranty before having an issue resolved!

Also royal mail special for 4kg would still be £26.60 x

RumpoleoftheBaileys · 06/06/2019 19:31

Definitely video opening it. DH has had bricks sent back to him before.

RumpoleoftheBaileys · 06/06/2019 19:32

And also a computer game which, instead of containing the disc, had a picture of a smiley face instead. We didn't video that one. Buyer could prove return and ebay found in their favour.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 06/06/2019 19:40

Definitely video opening it. DH has had bricks sent back to him before.

Possibly continuously video you opening the door, taking the parcel from the Royal Mail woman, showing the label, opening and unpacking it, checking serial number (or counting bricksGrin).

Otherwise she'll say you faked it!

Original poster
ZazuMoon · 06/06/2019 20:56

@rumpole could I rely on you if it goes to small claims court? 😆

Yes, I shall video. It will probably be bricks covered in hair at this rate 😀

OP posts:
user1472482328 · 07/06/2019 13:30

It seems to me it doesn’t matter what people sell there’s always someone out there who will be as cheeky as f**k .
DD has just had a review from a girl she sold a top to on Vinted . DD described the top as good but had a couple of marks on it and even took a photo of them . Buyer now saying it’s a great top ( adidas sweatshirt ) but it has 4 marks on it and not two as in the description, so has given daughter a bad review. She paid all of £7.00 including delivery. Wouldn’t mind but I’d actually washed and ironed it before it was sent , so I know there was only two marks on it .

Really hate it when people think it’s ok to try and scam others or leave shitty reviews because they can’t be arsed to read descriptions properly.

lhastingsmua · 07/06/2019 20:37

People like this make me wary of selling things on eBay or Depop etc. It’s like no matter what you do, you can’t really protect yourself against scammers 100%.

perfectstorm · 07/06/2019 21:47

OP, I once had a seller threaten to 'pay me a visit and sort me out' because I left a negative review on a wooden Thomas the Tank Engine train set. (It hadn't gone for anything like what it was worth, and he cancelled the sale and spun me a line on how his son couldn't bear to part with it, before promptly relisting...) He was the sort of person who was selling loads of those Heston Blumenthal Christmas puddings for four times the ticket price, the year they came out.

Some people are just batshit crazy, and/or dishonest. Really sorry you're dealing with this in late pregnancy, but I seriously doubt she will want to return it to you, least of all at her own cost. She got a bargain and she knows it - she just thinks she can bully you into doing what she wants if she's aggressive enough about it. More fool her.

19lottie82 · 07/06/2019 23:07

eBay or PayPal can’t force you to issue a partial refund. Worse case scenario she will have to return it l, after you’ve provided a pre paid returns label (very easy to do, all you have to do is click a button and it will be sent to her and charged to your eBay account), and a refund will be issued after the item is returned (or delivery attempted).

If you check her feedback there should be a “feedback left for others” tab. Worth having a look to see if she’s tried to scam people before and left negative feedback.

If eBay decide in her favour and she returns the item in a poor state, it’s worth remembering that the buck doesn’t stop with eBay / PayPal, you could always take her to (or threaten to with a “letter before action”) the small claims court.

MamaOfBothTeams · 08/06/2019 14:40

Have you had any more emails from her?

Espoleta · 09/06/2019 15:12

Op any update?

AlaskanOilBaron · 09/06/2019 16:07

Small claims ct is a brilliant idea.

I’d lay out a sparse, unemotional letter before action and tell her she has 14 lays to respond.
Send by registered post. She’ll be nervous.

Original poster
ZazuMoon · 09/06/2019 19:12

I've uploaded my response to PayPal with screenshots of the messages and transcripts of my eBay and paypal chats. Not all of my photos uploaded so I added them by email. Hopefully they will be added to the dispute.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 09/06/2019 19:15

Don't send a letter before action by a means which needs to be signed for. It may never be collected if she isn't in when delivery is attempted. All you need to do is take it to a Post Office and get proof of posting. Send the same letter twice from two different Post Offices as a fail safe.

Original poster
ZazuMoon · 11/06/2019 21:22

Update. PayPal decided that buyer should return the item to me for a full refund. How do I make the point that she has admitted to using it and should not therefore receive the full refund?

OP posts:
Walkamileinmyshoesbeforeujudge · 11/06/2019 21:26

Send screenshot of her messages to them. Even if they have seen the messages, resend.

PowerslidePanda · 11/06/2019 21:47

As well as the messages where she admits to using it, be sure to include the ones where she says that she's registered the warranty to herself as well.

Original poster
ZazuMoon · 11/06/2019 22:04

I screenshot every message and uploaded as my response to the dispute. I clearly and thorough set out my response and feel aggrieved that they haven't factored in her admitted usage to the refund due.

OP posts:
mummabubs · 11/06/2019 22:06

Can you live chat with eBay and emphasise that she has used the item (and registered the warranty). I used live chat as a buyer not too long ago and found it helpful?

mcmooberry · 11/06/2019 22:08

Oh God I was hoping there was a happy ending i.e. justice was served but - as usual with ebay disputes - it seems not!
Keep fighting OP, hopefully she will at the very least be hugely inconvenienced and she definitely shouldn't get a full refund.

Original poster
ZazuMoon · 11/06/2019 22:13

Well she has to return at her cost, so it's whether she wants to do that. It's a paypal dispute so would have to contact them rather than ebay. The warranty and admitted use is an issue though.

OP posts:
PowerslidePanda · 11/06/2019 22:18

Well she has to return at her cost, so it's whether she wants to do that.

I'd be surprised if she wants to return it all. My take on her behaviour so far is that she does want the item, she just wants it for less than she agreed to pay. But even so - you're better off continuing to argue your case with Paypal at this stage than calling her bluff. Rooting for you, OP!

PowerslidePanda · 11/06/2019 22:18

*at all

eebagum · 11/06/2019 22:22

I would withdraw all money from my PayPal account and contact my bank to say do not authorise any payments to PayPal. I had it once when I'd changed banks, and not updated PayPal years ago, and I hadn't paid some eBay selling fees. Totally forgot, and they sent me a letter threatening court action if I didn't pay. If they don't side with you, let them take you to court as you can prove the item had been used.