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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not refund this eBay buyer?

28 replies

GruffaIo · 04/05/2020 15:02

I sold an expensive ring back nearly two months' ago. It was delivered and signed for. Today the buyer has contacted me to say that, in a certain light, they can see a crack in the stone. It was used but there were absolutely no cracks. I have photos online, but they don't show every angle. I've asked the buyer for photos. But I'm thinking I shouldn't refund anyway as they have had the ring for nearly two months. Anything could have happened to it in that time. AIBU to not offer to refund? The buyer hasn't asked yet, but that must be where they're going with this. If I don't offer to refund, will eBay try and force me, even though they've had it for so long?

OP posts:
motherheroic · 04/05/2020 15:07

Pretty sure it's 30 days to make a claim. I wouldn't refund.

Original poster
GruffaIo · 04/05/2020 15:09

Thanks. They've just send a photo and although their photo is higher quality than mine there's no evidence of the crack in any of my photos, and I have one that shows the same area quite well.

OP posts:
rottiemum88 · 04/05/2020 15:09

No, they've had it too long. I'm fairly sure they'd have had to complain of a fault within 14 days of receipt to be entitled to a return/refund under the distance selling regulations. In two months, as you say, anything could have happened. I'd absolutely refuse a return and eBay should back you up

amber763 · 04/05/2020 15:09

I dont think you should refund but ebay and PayPal really seem to favour buyers if they open a case with them. Not sure after 2 months though! They're definitely at it.

lilyboleyn · 04/05/2020 15:28

Email them back and say you’ve got photos of the condition of the ring before it went to them. They’re trying it on and eBay shouldn’t back them in this case.

Original poster
GruffaIo · 04/05/2020 15:29

I've searched eBay's help pages for specifics on how long a buyer has to open a dispute but I can't find anything.

I'll message the buyer back and hope they take it well.

OP posts:
PumpkinP · 04/05/2020 15:31

I’m pretty sure pay pal give you a lot longer about 6 months to make a claim so PayPal may refund them. That’s what eBay told me.

snappychat · 04/05/2020 15:33

I absolutely detest eBay for the fact they are always on the side of the buyers, no matter what argument you put across and whether it's fair or not, they also just award refunds without giving you chance to dispute. I would get in first, email eBay and put in a complaint that they are trying it on so to speak, not sure you'll get anywhere, though you might be lucky as it's been two months!

PumpkinP · 04/05/2020 15:35

paypal gives 180 days to open a case so if they paid through them then they will probably be refunded

Original poster
GruffaIo · 04/05/2020 15:36

I'll have to wait and see what they buyer says. If they file a dispute, I'll have to fight it as it was for a sum in the high hundreds of pounds, whereas a ring with a cracked stone is not worth much to me.

So frustrating...

OP posts:
Original poster
GruffaIo · 04/05/2020 15:37

Thanks, @PumpkinP. So if Paypal force a refund, I suspect I would need to take the buyer to small claims to get my money back?

OP posts:
SunShine682 · 04/05/2020 15:37

Pay pal gives a lot longer then 2 months. If they make a claim they will win

Original poster
GruffaIo · 04/05/2020 15:40

They win regardless how long they've had it! Yikes.

Is there anything to be gained by fighting it if I know I've been honest?

OP posts:
PumpkinP · 04/05/2020 15:40

I had it with a bed I bought on eBay, eBay said it was too late to open a case but that I could open one through PayPal even though I don’t even have a PayPal account but they said that didn’t matter as they said the payment is still covered by them, I pay on eBay as a guest. Which is why I knew it was much longer.

PumpkinP · 04/05/2020 15:41

Should have added the bed broke after about 3 months

Jayfeem · 04/05/2020 15:43

I believe eBay is 60 days to raise a dispute and PayPal is 180. Both routes require evidence though especially for higher value items.

Having had the item for 2 months it is certainly worth your while fighting! I had a buyer try the same thing after having a phone for just under the 60 days - eBay refunded them but paid for it themselves instead of charging me. It’s irritating in the fact it felt so unjust but at least I wasn’t out of pocket.

Original poster
GruffaIo · 04/05/2020 15:48

Right. If they open a dispute, I'm going to fight it. My job involves the law and is based on personal integrity so, if they Google me, they'll hopefully see that and think twice about trying it on.

OP posts:
Runnerduck34 · 04/05/2020 17:24

I think after 2 months you shouldn't have to refund. They are probably trying it on.
Annoyingly ebay always seems to take the side of the buyers, we dont sell a lot on ebay but my teenage DS sold a component of his gaming PC, we sent it special delivery, post office said it had been signed for, buyer said it wasnt them that signed for it and it never arrived ebay refunded them automatically without question. We queried it and ebay were spectacularly unhelpful said we should claim off the post office but that required buyer to complete a post office form confirming they hadnt signed for it which , unsurprisingly they never did despite several requests.

2007Millie · 04/05/2020 19:09

OP, my business is through eBay so kind of know the ins and outs.

Ebays return policy is 30 days. The quickest way to solve this is to call eBay and say "someone has opened a case but it is over 30 days, please can I request you close it immediately" there isn't even any discussion required between you and the buyer

However

If they paid by PayPal, PayPal will allow a buyer to raise disputes up to 90 days since the item was delivered. Not a huge amount of people know about this though. So just hope that they don't

Warpdrive · 04/05/2020 19:34

I had a buyer claim the item wasn't delivered. They had CHOSEN the non-tracked postal service. Anyway ebay sided with them and the refund was given to them. I complained and then Ebay refunded me the money- saying I had been with them since 1998 or something like that and had never complained before so I was valued. Anyway, that was over a year ago and I haven't used Ebay since. I think it's a breeding ground for fraudsters...

mygenericusername · 04/05/2020 19:38

So much false information on here

Here is the link to eBays Buyer Protection. www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210

Here is the link to PayPal’s buyer protection. 2007millie I suggest you read this too as you are wrong. A buyer has 180 days to file a dispute with Paypal. www.paypal.com/dm/webapps/mpp/security/buyer-protection-resolution

mygenericusername · 04/05/2020 19:40

If the buyer opens a dispute OP, supply the photographs you have then call paypal. I’ve only ever had one person try it on but I got the case shut down immediately with one phone call

HariboLectar · 04/05/2020 19:53

Anyone else open this thinking it was going to be about wallpaper?

Sorry not helpful.

PumpkinP · 04/05/2020 20:10

Anyone else open this thinking it was going to be about wallpaper?

Grin yes I did when I first opened it. Would have been very interesting!

Original poster
GruffaIo · 04/05/2020 20:21

Not about the wallpaper - I saw that thread :)

So far, the buyer seems to have taken it OK and has said (at my suggestion) they'll take it into the store it's from to see if anything can be done. I'll aim to wait out the 180 days!

OP posts:
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