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Original poster

1st week of selling and a beeatch says my perfume isn't authentic. FGS!

55 replies

stylenotfashion · 13/04/2011 11:17

Sold my beloved Tom Ford perfume as am skintyskint, together with other bits.

Buyer says it smells of 'cat pee' Hmm so either isnt authentic or has gone off.

It is authentic - have John Lewis dispatch email - and can't have gone off as it's 5m old and in a solid black bottle. AND I tested it before sending and smelt lush as always.

Methinks buyer has changed her mind and is being a rude beeatch to boot.

What do I do? My listing states no returns...but...????

OP posts:
Gracie123 · 13/04/2011 15:20

I always refund sans postage.

e.g Item was £8, postage was £2, she paid £10.

I will refund £8, provided it's returned in the condition it was sent in. How she gets it back to me is up to her.

Fees are trickier. I don't think you can really take fees off unless you stated it in your returns policy in the first place. You could try though, see if paypal make you or not?

Original poster
stylenotfashion · 13/04/2011 15:22

Just had an email from her saying she tried a sample in a shop last week and it doesn't smell the same. Obviously I'm assuming she tried the right one (Tom Ford has a few different ones) but really I think I'm stuffed.

She is an old hag and I'm going to be out of pocket.

Does anyone know about the fees thing? She's saying I should bear the cost of the outward postage & ebay will refund fees.

OP posts:
Original poster
stylenotfashion · 13/04/2011 15:22

sorry xposts

OP posts:
Original poster
stylenotfashion · 13/04/2011 15:23

So Gracie ebay won't automatically refund me the fees? She says they will?

OP posts:
TheMonster · 13/04/2011 15:31

I would still keep telling her that it is as described.

Original poster
stylenotfashion · 13/04/2011 15:33

But Eeyore do you know of a way I can around her saying its not?

I mean, its a catch22, right?

Whats the deal with these type of situations because surely everyone could say 'no not as described' to everything :(

OP posts:
TheMonster · 13/04/2011 15:38

It'll be up to Ebay or Paypal to decide if she puts a claim in. Has she opened a claim yet?

If not, I suspect she is trying it on. Just keep repeating the same back to her: it is as described, but if she wishes to return it you will refind her the purchase price only.

Original poster
stylenotfashion · 13/04/2011 15:41

She hasn't opened a claim, no.

She just likes to scare me with threats

I'll be strong and confident and tell her I'll refund only the purchase price.

So I'll lose out on the fees, yeah?

OP posts:
TheMonster · 13/04/2011 15:48

I'm not sure. Depends on the claim outcome.

Original poster
stylenotfashion · 13/04/2011 15:49

Shite.

OP posts:
fergoose · 13/04/2011 19:00

OK - email the buyer and tell her to return item back to you. You will check your security markings (she doens't know you didn't do this) and then you will refund after you have checked it.

This is to ensure she is not sending you back a different item which does smell of wee.

You will have to refund her full original payment via the paypal payment, item price plus postage. The buyer is entitled to full refund, not just the item price. If you refund via this method paypal fees are wiped. You would have to cancel eBay transaction mutually to get your final value fees back mind. She will have to bear the cost of the return to you.

If she starts a claim they will tell her to return item to you recorded signed for at her expense, and will return all of her payment.

A claim is a black mark against you, so better for you to try and sort amicably if at all possible.

Original poster
stylenotfashion · 13/04/2011 19:03

fergoose I love the security markings idea! Can I don a Columbo style mac whilst typing it?! It feels so brilliantly naughty to outfox her that way :)

I will do as you say. merci :)

OP posts:
fergoose · 13/04/2011 19:11

I hope it works out for you.

eBay discussion boards are a mine of useful info also - I have learnt heaps on there.

Is horrible for you I know, just take a deep breath, and try to be polite, don't lower yourself. Unfortunately some buyers are just horrid and never happy and want a gilded moon on a stick deliverd yesterday.

sleepysox · 13/04/2011 19:16

THis happened to me. I had no proof the perfume was off, though I know it wasn't. I refunded the perfume, but not the postage.

Original poster
stylenotfashion · 13/04/2011 19:27

As I say to my boys when they play..."Why doesn't everyone just play nicely^?"

OP posts:
TheMonster · 14/04/2011 11:23

Has she got in touch with you today?
I bet she hasn't opened a dispute yet!

Original poster
stylenotfashion · 14/04/2011 11:36

She hasn't opened a dispute.

And....

She now says she's tried it again and it's fine. Says it must have been a dodgy reaction to a moisturiser on her neck.

I am beyond relieved !!!!!

I think she was trying to con me, as you and others said, and because of your advice of not bending, she gave up.

THANK YOU !!!!!

OP posts:
TheMonster · 14/04/2011 11:39

you're welcome. I'm glad it turned out ok. She did sound like she was trying it on.

Original poster
stylenotfashion · 14/04/2011 11:41

I think she could smell I was a woos... :) She did not bank on the power of Eeyore and Mumsnet to give a woos some strength!

OP posts:
Ponders · 14/04/2011 11:44

Hooray! Grin

out of interest, had you sent her the email with fergoose's "You will check your security markings (she doens't know you didn't do this) and then you will refund after you have checked it"????

Original poster
stylenotfashion · 14/04/2011 12:08

Hi Ponders, thanks! No I hadn't yet, I was waiting for her to reply after my "I can prove it's authentic" one. That was my next wave of attack!!

TBH I was so honest in that email, along the lines of, I'm just a private seller trying to raise money for my sons birthday as I'm broke and I'm gutted it's turned into a nightmare.

Seems she had a flicker of conscience and stopping trying to rip me a new hole.

Fergoose's idea was excellent and I'm definitely remembering that one for next time.

It has put me off ebay if I'm honest, no sure I'm cut out for this selling lark. Roll on pay day :)

OP posts:
fergoose · 14/04/2011 12:20

I agree she was trying it on.

What a relief she has seen sense!

Don't be put off eBay - with the amount of folk on there you are bound to find a few bad apples - just got to keep your wits about you as it were (or maybe your Columbo mac :))

BarbaraBar · 14/04/2011 12:22

Great news - so glad it's all worked out.

Perhaps she was on MN yesterday...!

TheMonster · 14/04/2011 12:23

I was thinking that too, BarbaraBear. I hope she is feeling guilty now.

Original poster
stylenotfashion · 14/04/2011 14:48

Eeyore and Barbara - I too think that. Hence why my nice email to her came back with a reply accusing me of abuse (see my thread title!! Now thats rude but my email to her absolutely wasn't).

If she is reading this - please learn from this, dear buyer. Nice people like me will be put off ebay because of these sort of threats and cons and it'll get more like a rough car boot sale rather than a place for genuine people to sell genuine things.

Thanks to all the MNers who replied who helped me out :) I'm still awaiting her feedback so I'm not out of the woods yet.

I've got a few more things already listed and then I think I'm done. I genuinely wanted some cash for my sons birthday present and I've raised a bit (not enough for what he wants but...).

Such a shame.

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