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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Marketplace buyer now wanting money back

110 replies

lonelylou09 · 12/12/2023 23:00

Aibu to refuse to refund?
So I advertised something on marketplace. A lady messaged saying she definitely really wanted it so we organised a time during my lunch break for her to come and view it, which she did.
She said she had wanted one for ages so was really keen to have it.
Asked me if I'd lower the price so I did by a bit, wanting a quick hassle free sale.
She then insisted on paying for it upfront as she didn't want me to sell it to someone else even though it was a large item so she wasn't able to take it then..All sorted.

Then she spent 10 minutes (after paying) second guessing herself wether it was right for her. I gave her several opportunities to have the money back if she didn't feel happy..no pressure at all.
She hummed and hahhed and said ...no I want it so it's fine. I said 'are you absolutely sure because I'll give you the money back now?'
She said ' no I'll take it'.

So it was left with me saying I'd remove all the adverts and let the other people know it had been sold and wait for her to say when she could collect it.
Deleted all the adverts for it and she's just messaged now saying she's changed her mind and wants her money back.

I will more than likely give her money back but I really feel like saying I'm sorry ..you've wasted an hour of my time, you insisted on giving me the money upfront and you said from the first message you really wanted it.
I missed having lunch to meet her. Then I have to arrange to meet her again to refund her...plus redo the advert and wait again for them to be processed and approved.
Would I be being unreasonable to say no? It's yours come and collect it please. Or deduct some of the refund for my wasted time?
Wwyd?

OP posts:
Tiredbehyondbelief · 13/12/2023 06:53

You need to get hold of Marketplace people and find out what they are. Morally you are in the right to keep the money sp stand firm.

PlipPlopChoo · 13/12/2023 06:59

She does not know where you live. There is absolutely no reason to entertain her request.

'It is unfortunate that you have changed your mind after me making absolutely sure you that wanted the item. I hope that you find a new buyer soon when you list it for sale.'

Block and move on.

Please please please times a million do not let her return it for a refund. The more shitty buyers like this get accommodated the more they will continue to be shitty buyers.

Original poster
lonelylou09 · 13/12/2023 08:52

@Sproutier yes she could mess me about with the collection but could also do the same as I'd have to meet her to give her the cash back anyway. I could leave the item out for her to collect and not have to deal with her again but I can't leave the cash out

OP posts:
Original poster
lonelylou09 · 13/12/2023 08:55

@mjf981 she paid cash. I'm not asking for her bank details as that means me then having to travel 20 minutes into town to put money in the bank to transfer it.

OP posts:
YireosDodeAver · 13/12/2023 08:56

Yanbu.
She has bought the item. It is now hers. You are currently providing free storage for her item but cannot give it house room much longer so if she doesn't collect in a week you will dispose of it but no she is not getting a refund.

Sproutier · 13/12/2023 08:58

Fair enough. I bet she'd be more amenable at turning up to get her cash back though!

beautifullittletree · 13/12/2023 09:04

I would give her the money back and I would happily do a bank transfer which is set up in 2 mins on my online banking.

You have been messed about for sure but I can't see what good could possibly come from refusing to refund her. Relish and move on

Original poster
lonelylou09 · 13/12/2023 09:13

@beautifullittletree that's assuming you have money in the bank..not everyone does..I don't. So I'd have to go and put her cash in the bank..so another hour wasted as it's a 20 minute drive.
The good that might come from it is her not messing someone else around in future and me not having to waste more of my time because she has changed her mind...which even in a retail environment isn't legal reason for a refund.

OP posts:
0palfruity · 13/12/2023 09:21

Legally you're under no obligation to refund her. You're not a shop. In your shoes I'd block her but I appreciate some people have kinder hearts than I do!

PlipPlopChoo · 13/12/2023 09:22

Offer to buy it back for 75% of the original price. If she is not happy with that then she can list if for herself.

Sproutier · 13/12/2023 09:23

I really don't think OP can just block her while OP has both her cash and the item still.

RudsyFarmer · 13/12/2023 09:24

Thisilldo · 12/12/2023 23:07

id say:

Hi Idiot who wasted my time

Sorry to hear you’ve changed your mind. Unfortunately as it’s Christmas the money you gave me is didn’t as you stated you definitely wanted it.

Its Christmas and things are tight so you can either wait until the end of jan when I get paid for a refund or you can collect your item and sell it on yourself if you don’t want it.

Love Louxx

This has happened to me. I told them the money was spent and they came and took it away almost straight away

Genius!

Vinrouge4 · 13/12/2023 09:27

I wouldn't rush to refund her or to get in contact. Let her sweat a bit.

VisionsOfSplendour · 13/12/2023 09:29

lonelylou09 · 13/12/2023 00:44

@Weddingblues23 yes I get that but it's taken a couple of days already for the adverts to all go through and be approved so it's not just the waste of 1 minute to rewrite the advert. Plus it's right before Christmas so I've got better things to do!
She had several opportunities to leave it ..even after she had insisted on paying.

If it's Facebook marketplace can't you just click to relist?

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/12/2023 09:32

Annoying

This happened to me over a car seat. I said what make it was. In the ad. Showed the label - maxi cosi and said it was 360 spin and was £50

Lady said yes. Came and saw it. With the label showing maxi

Brought it and took home and few hours later messaged me and said it wasnt the brand she wanted and she wanted joie and would I take it back

I said no

She got a bit shitty and said she didn't have the money to now buy a joie etx

I said tough. You saw the car seat. Ad says maxi. Label says maxi so no

I told her her to sell it then buy one

Slightly diff as you still have the item but I would say no to her. She insisted on paying

Tell her needs to be collected within 24hrs or will go to the dump

0palfruity · 13/12/2023 09:37

Sproutier · 13/12/2023 09:23

I really don't think OP can just block her while OP has both her cash and the item still.

Oh I missed that bit! Yes that does make it a but more awkward.

OhmygodDont · 13/12/2023 09:40

I’d send a message like one of the previous posters.

You’ve spent the cash as she was insisting on paying there and then and would collect it. She can either collect and sell on her self or she can wait for the refund once the item has resold minus any money that you’ve lost. So if she paid £200 but you now get £180 she only gets £180.

pontipinemum · 13/12/2023 09:41

I'd be really pissed off but I would probably give her back the money and re-list it. Because it seems easier.

If you wanted you could say you've spent the money and you will refund her once it has sold. I would also tell her I will refund by revolut or she can come or somewhere that is convenient for me for the refund

WildFlowerBees · 13/12/2023 09:47

I'd refund and then when she contacts you again because she's changed her mind again tell her to get stuffed.

FarmGirl78 · 13/12/2023 10:12

@MercanDede
she has the legal right to change her mind prior to taking possession of the item no matter how long that is. 9 hrs is nothing.

You're incorrectly applying commercial law to an private individual. She's not a shop!!

PebblyPig · 13/12/2023 10:45

Is it one of those big field hay feeders? In which case she should know she wants it from the photo and would only need to see it to check condition. If you have several interested it must be a reasonable price.
Maybe she couldn't sort out transport.
Get why you're frustrated if you've taken time out to go to yard/field to show her. What a timewaster.

slashlover · 13/12/2023 11:02

MercanDede · 12/12/2023 23:54

You were happy enough to take her money even though you could see she was not entirely sure. You didn’t refuse to take her money when you should have. You could have offered to reserve the item for say 24hrs when you saw she was uncertain and second guessing.

Show quote history

Just to confirm, OP should have refused to take her money even though the GROWN ADULT she was selling to insisted?

NorthernSpirit · 13/12/2023 11:15

MercanDede · 12/12/2023 23:35

From a legal standpoint you don’t have a leg to stand on.

  • she has the legal right to change her mind prior to taking possession of the item no matter how long that is. 9 hrs is nothing.
  • you have no right to keep her money unless you have it in writing with her signature that she agrees it is a non refundable deposit.
  • she didn’t ask or demand you take down the adverts, that was your decision. You could have legally sold it to someone else and then told her sorry, you never completed the transaction, I have a buyer that is willing to proceed, so here is your money back.

This isn’t correct (assuming this is in the UK).

You don't have an automatic right to get your money back if you change your mind about something you've bought and there's nothing wrong with it.

Basic UK consumer rights.

The item is hers and the money is yours.

If she really doesn’t want it - I would relish it and she can only have the funds once the item is resold.

What a complete time waster.

Locutus2000 · 13/12/2023 11:16

Unfortunately, this is all part and parcel of selling on Facebook. Any fool can waste your time without consequence and there is no real feedback system unlike eBay where it's easier to identify dickheads.

You have to price it in I'm afraid. If this buyer is messing you about now they have the potential to be a complete nightmare if you force them to buy, cut your losses and refund them.

The amount of nonsense and scams mean I no longer bother selling items below a certain value, not worth the hassle even though I really need the money.

QueenBean22 · 13/12/2023 11:33

It’s annoying but I think you are going to have to refund the buyer. I’ve just had a quick look at terms and conditions and it looks like meta will always side with the buyer with any dispute. As the buyer doesn’t yet have the item they could dispute the sale.