Does "unwanted present" always just mean "stolen"?

[duchesse]

I mean, who really receives £25 baby outfits or £300 mobile phones as unwanted presents? I'm always very dubious when I see "unwanted present" in the description and therefore less inclined to bid. Am I being unreasonable in this?

in short with paypal you can't - if a buyer wants to do a switch they will do it and you will have no money and a dodgy, damaged item.

Cash on collection only I guess is the only way you will be safe.

really? eBay said they would be interested. Although it didn't come to that in the end.

if a buyer returns a different item to you, as long as they give ebay/paypal a tracking number proving something was delivered they will get a refund. I've even heard of sellers receiving an empty envelope back, and the buyer keeps their laptop or whatever, and gets all their money back too.

eBay then just tell the seller to go to the police. It is very rare but it does happen.

And to be honest, even if you have a photo showing you packing an item, or security marking something, it doesn't mean you are telling the truth does it. There is no proof of that is there even if you are being honest.

I just remembered years ago, I didn't receive an item, couple of weeks later the seller then sent me an empty envelope recorded delivery, ebay took that as proof I had received the item and the seller kept my money.

I complained to eBay who then told me to go the police as there was nothing more they would do. It was only couple quid so I didn't bother - but the trust works both ways doesn't it. You get lying buyers and sellers, and lots of the time I think it is just luck.

We once bought what looked like a set of some crappy toys that DS was into. The listing used wording to describe the full box set. It was about £15 and when it came it was - and I am not kidding - ONE of those bloody plastic balls that you get from a vending machine at the supernmarket (where you put the money in the slot and turn the handle to get the toy out) with a plastic toy in it (costs £1 or 2).

After much whinging to Amazon (who said more or less 'tough luck') and the vendor, he agree to refund the cost of the toy (not the postage though). Did we ever see our money again? no we did not.