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AIBU?

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Original poster

eBay buyer claims item arrived empty

41 replies

Allgreyeverything · 08/04/2021 11:25

Would it be unreasonable to refuse to refund, or even worth the hassle?
I sold a nearly empty niche perfume bottle. But I know how much was left - a good 5ml. I have sold many many nearly empty perfume bottles with no problems or complains. People buy them for different reasons- to try the perfume, to have a pretty bottle if they are collectors. I sell them cheap so it’s not like they pay good money for it.
This person just emailed me saying the bottle is empty and she wants a refund. I would say there is close to zero possibility of the perfume leaking as I had it with me in handbags and suitcases, and it’s a very sturdy bottle, very high end brand. Plus she didn’t say it has leaked.
I just think it’s so cheeky to demand a refund. I bet she’s sprayed it straight away and now got an empty bottle to ‘prove’ she is right.
I have 600+ positive feedback.
Would you refund and just forget it? It was £10 but with free postage which cost me £3.20, plus the hassle on going to the post office on Saturday. I know the amount sounds ridiculous but it’s the principle.
I really don’t want a negative feedback as it’s my little side hustle that brings extra pocket money and even one negative feedback is a big impact.

OP posts:
skirk64 · 08/04/2021 11:33

If you can't prove she is lying then there's not much you can do - it's your responsibility to ensure it arrives as described, not hers.

Given you think the negative feedback would be such a problem I would probably refund and ask her to post the empty bottle back (you would have to pay though, but it might be worth another £3.20 to inconvenience her slightly).

BTW if you've got 600 happy purchasers and this is the first one who has tried to pull something like this, I think you are doing very well. I've found 1 in 5 buyers are chancers, fraudsters or liars.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 08/04/2021 11:37

Is it really worth the hassle?

Just refund her and move on.

Original poster
Allgreyeverything · 08/04/2021 11:44

I know, probably not worth the hassle just so annoying when someone tries to tell you you are dishonest 😬

OP posts:
KoalaOok · 08/04/2021 11:52

If you have really positive feedback you could take the hit on the feedback and write a reply to it? If I see one negative feedback out of 100s then I just assume it was a one off or the buyer is telling fibs.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 08/04/2021 11:54

I totally get it's annoying but tbh I would just write the £10 off. Not worth getting into a dispute with an internet stranger lol.

safariboot · 08/04/2021 11:55

You know eBay will side with the buyer, so you just have to eat the loss.

Zancah · 08/04/2021 12:00

@sunflowersandbuttercups

Is it really worth the hassle?

Just refund her and move on.

That's really not the point though.

No real advice op, if she causes a fuss with eBay they'll (usually) back her up unfortunately.

AramintaLee · 08/04/2021 12:07

I bet she didn't read the description properly so wasn't expecting a nearly empty bottle and now feels like a muppet.

You could refund but she can still give you crap feedback.

Dogscanteatonions · 08/04/2021 12:16

You might as well refund her - eBay will side with her if she opens a case. At that price it's probably not worth asking her to send it back either. It sucks I know but that's eBay for you - there's no point refusing a refund at all

Happycat1212 · 08/04/2021 12:17

I’m another one thinking she didn’t read the description properly so to her it’s “empty”

DonGray · 08/04/2021 12:20

I would only refund once the item had been returned

ConnieDobbs · 08/04/2021 12:23

Ebay always sides with the buyer if its their word against yours. You can either refund her, or ask her to return it first. If you ask her to return it you'll have to pay postage but you'll get the item back and may be able to resell it.

DeepfriedPizza · 08/04/2021 12:25

I thought this post was about me. Lol. I received an empty bottle of essential oils the other day and the seller was a bit difficult. It didn’t even smell like it had ever been filled.

They are sending me another so if I were you I’d refund.

Rustygriswold · 08/04/2021 12:27

Always photograph items as you package them is what I’ve learnt after selling on eBay since the good old days of 2002.

If you know they’re lying, then there’s nothing you can do about it, as you probably know by now buyers can negotiate all the little nuances and loopholes of eBay and PayPal claims.

You may as well refund, absorb the loss, and suck up to them massively, really massively, like hugely apologetic, even if you don’t mean it because you know they’re lying, because the buyer can still neg you regardless after a refund.

Argue your point, call them out as a liar, what good does that do you apart from feedback impacting your reputation?

Just refund, beg for forgiveness and absurd the loss.

I find Facebook marketplace safer for selling eBay items nowadays.

Rustygriswold · 08/04/2021 12:29

Absurd the loss Grin kinda sounds better than absorb anyway

Clarice99 · 08/04/2021 12:30

It's crap when this happens, but as it's already been said, Ebay will side with the buyer so you might have to just refund if you want to avoid negative feedback.

If you didn't offer a return in the listing, I understand that you can ask the buyer to return it and they'll have to meet the return cost. If the buyer knows that they'll have to pay to send it back, they might change their mind about pursuing a refund.

Cwassonk · 08/04/2021 12:31

I stood up for my principles and took the resulting hit to my 100% 10 year+ positive feedback but I figured someone needs to stand up to the scammers and I can honestly say it hasn't affected my selling at all.

Badfootkk · 08/04/2021 12:32

Problem with photographing , it doesn't actually prove anything. It could of been altered after.eBay still sides with the buyers.

Sleepyquest · 08/04/2021 12:33

Sick of eBay for this very reason. Sometimes it just isn't worth the hassle! I'd say fight your case but bear in mind that you're likely to lose

Brogues · 08/04/2021 12:36

The trouble is you can only list perfume as new or new (other) so the buyer has you over a barrel already even if your listing states used (I sold a number of bottle last year). Unfortunately I’d accept the loss because you haven’t a hope in doing anything else.

MNWorldisCrazy · 08/04/2021 12:47

She is STILL going to give you negative/neutral feedback, even if you refund her. So I'd ignore her. Why pay her to leave negative feedback?!

MNWorldisCrazy · 08/04/2021 12:48

Also, you can respond to any negatives left for you and they cannot respond to your reply.

KoalaOok · 08/04/2021 12:51

@Brogues

The trouble is you can only list perfume as new or new (other) so the buyer has you over a barrel already even if your listing states used (I sold a number of bottle last year). Unfortunately I’d accept the loss because you haven’t a hope in doing anything else.
Are you not allowed to sell used perfume and makeup then? I've seen loads of it on there
Frauhubert · 08/04/2021 12:52

Thanks all fellow ebay sellers 🤗
I have refunded the money, but i am angry and sent her bad perfume karma with the refund too, may all her perfumes turn rancid, namaste

OldEvilOwl · 08/04/2021 12:52

Does she realise that it wasn't a full bottle? maybe she didn't realise it was almost empty and thought it was a full one

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