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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect a used laptop should come with a charger?

26 replies

Buyer97462 · 19/08/2024 18:03

Bought a cheap laptop on eBay and when it arrived there was no charger included.

I had read the description thoroughly before purchasing but there was no mention of there not being a charger.

The seller says that it isn't included in the pictures which is true.

However, I do find it unreasonable that at no point in either the listing or the title does it mention the missing charger. Without a charger the laptop is basically rendered useless and I'd say it is pretty reasonable for the seller to make this clear.

Maybe I'm being unreasonable though?

OP posts:
ButtSurgery · 19/08/2024 18:05

No, I'd say very normal and common with second hand electrical devices.

Dotto · 19/08/2024 18:07

I think ebay may side with the seller on this one, but you could try to see if you can return it for a refund.

Talipesmum · 19/08/2024 18:08

if it’s not in the description or photos I think it’s on you. Sorry!
But it’s easy enough to buy new chargers. Just look up the make and model and see what is needed. They’re usually not that much.

Boxina · 19/08/2024 18:09

YANBU. I would expect a charger or for the listing to be very clear that there wasn't one.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 19/08/2024 18:10

I would have asked a question about whether it included a charger.
Some people use a laptop with a docking station and so don't need a separate charger.

AgnesX · 19/08/2024 18:10

If it was a brand new laptop I'd expect a charger, I genuinely don't know about anything second hand.

Depending on the brand it should be simple enough to get one, I appreciate the nuisance value though.

DreamW3aver · 19/08/2024 18:21

If it wasn't in the photo I'd ask to be sure
Does the cost of a new one make the whole deal uneconomic?

FourEyesGood · 19/08/2024 18:24

What kind of charger does it need? I might have a spare one I can send you!

Magnastorm · 19/08/2024 18:26

If it's not on the listing then you can't really expect one.

You'll be able to get one off amazon for pennies anyway.

Sunplanner · 19/08/2024 18:30

Proper branded laptop chargers (not fakes) are expensive. When work sells old laptops to staff, the machine branded charger is an optional extra and costs another £20-30.

Lmnop22 · 19/08/2024 20:16

You don’t even get a plug with a brand new iPhone these days, just the lead 🙄

Google what charger you need or check the input type into the laptop because often family/friends have drawers full of old ones and one will surely work?

TrickorTreacle · 19/08/2024 20:46

Phone leads (Apple and Samsung) are so generic nowadays that they can be plugged into any USB port.

The issue that we're dealing with here is that laptop chargers are still very specific, right down to the model. Remember mobile phones from 20 years ago? It's rather like that. The lead that you had for phone A would never fit phone B.

The AIBU poll is suggesting 60:40 YABU at the moment, but I think it should be more like 40:60 YANBU. It's common courtesy of a laptop seller to include its lead and reasonable for the buyer to expect that the laptop should include its lead.

If you bought a 2nd hand cordless vacuum cleaner e.g. a Shark, would you expect the charging lead to come with it? Of course you bloody would!

The only thing @Buyer97462did wrong was not querying the listing, but in principle, she shouldn't have to.

I would return it, even if you lose out on return postage.

CasperGutman · 19/08/2024 21:06

@TrickorTreacle points out that phone leads are "generic" and generally interchangeable, in contrast to laptop chargers which are model-specific.

This isn't my experience. We have four laptops in the house - two that we own and two work machines. Three of them, all from different manufacturers, use USB C chargers that are completely interchangeable with each other. Indeed, they can also charge our phones. And the phone chargers can charge the laptops, too (very slowly, but well enough to be useful if left long enough.

The only laptop we have with a unique charger is very old - well over a decade, so ancient in computing terms.

Original poster
Buyer97462 · 19/08/2024 21:18

For context it is not a new laptop there is no USB C port otherwise I would just have got on with it. I'll need to buy a specific charger. I'm not doubting I have been a bit careless but my issue is that in the description it should have said there was no charger. Seller said they never had a charger so assume they picked it up with the intention of flipping. Anyway lesson learned I guess.

It is particularly annoying as I've been listing some items myself and been diligent in listing the issues these items have so as the buyer knew beforehand.

I just think it was a bit of shady practice hoping nobody would notice and of course I'm the idiot who didn't.

Tempted to leave negative feedback but that seems overly harsh.

OP posts:
Andwegoroundagain · 19/08/2024 21:21

If the description was pretty detailed ie itemised out what was included then I don't think you've much to complain about.
I have 3 or 4 laptops in our house (mine, DC etc) that all use the same charger so I'd happily buy another that came without for example especially if it was a bit cheaper

Original poster
Buyer97462 · 23/08/2024 00:15

Update

To address one point the description was o E of those AI ones that eBay lets you use so not fully descriptive of the actual laptop.

I bought a charger and the laptop does not charge. Do I have any chance of getting a refund here?

OP posts:
Original poster
Buyer97462 · 23/08/2024 00:16

For detail when I say doesn't hold a charge I meant doesn't charge at all so isn't recieving power. So even if charger plugged in it doesn't work.

OP posts:
ChemicalA03959X · 23/08/2024 00:48

Buyer97462 · 23/08/2024 00:16

For detail when I say doesn't hold a charge I meant doesn't charge at all so isn't recieving power. So even if charger plugged in it doesn't work.

basically a dud laptop, at a guess id see what the description says about it eg spares and repairs etc

Original poster
Buyer97462 · 23/08/2024 00:55

ChemicalA03959X · 23/08/2024 00:48

basically a dud laptop, at a guess id see what the description says about it eg spares and repairs etc

Show quote history

No mention of it being spares or repairs.

OP posts:
JuliesName · 23/08/2024 01:18

If it's broken you could get a refund. Assuming it's the laptop and not the charger.

Andwegoroundagain · 23/08/2024 06:41

If it doesn't hold a charge and that was not in the description defjntely ask for a refund

Original poster
Buyer97462 · 23/08/2024 12:59

The seller has said that it was charged by them and tested and working prior to sending.

This is despite earlier saying that the laptop has never come with a charger!

Not sure whether I'm being lied to or if I should suck it up and take the loss.

OP posts:
Andwegoroundagain · 23/08/2024 13:15

Well it doesn't work now. If you're confident that the charger you got is working then I'd just write back and say that it does not work and therefore you want a refund. You could go into settings and show the battery usage over past 7 days or something to show that it's not charging

Personally if it doesn't work I'd be sending it back

Lmnop22 · 23/08/2024 17:43

Buyer97462 · 23/08/2024 12:59

The seller has said that it was charged by them and tested and working prior to sending.

This is despite earlier saying that the laptop has never come with a charger!

Not sure whether I'm being lied to or if I should suck it up and take the loss.

If you paid on card could you request a chargeback since it’s broken?

coldcallerbaiter · 23/08/2024 17:46

You can get a new universal laptop charger with a few plugin extensions for about £20