Item not as described

[ZenNudist]

First time eBay dispute . Bought a boys bike which said it had 'a few scratches from general use'. Actually has chunk missing from handle grips. No picture of damage.

It's going to cost me £5 for new handle grips. I'm already buying new stabilisers and bell. Extra costs make it not worth buying secondhand.

I bought it thinking I could always sell it on for what I paid for it if not happy but I'm going to have to list damage because I'm an honorable eBay seller. So I risk getting less than I paid for it.

AIBU to ask seller to either refund cost of handle grips or accept return the bike?

Yes ask for a refund to cover the grips and send photo of the damaged ones. Returns is a faff with such a big item so a compromise would be good if rest of bike is ok.

Oh good idea, hadn't sent a photo. I was assuming they were aware of it!

Bit cheeky as the bike was outside in the dark when we came to collect.

I don't understand why people don't just list all damage. That way buyers know what they're getting into and cant justify a refund.

It's a short distance out of dh's way home from work if we did have to return. But I don't really want to return I just want it up to the standard I expected on purchase then I will probably keep or could sell on for same price.

how did you pay?

You can't force them to give a partial refund. I would return and ask for a full refund and shop elsewhere.

Paid by paypal so think I can raise a case if I wanted....

Surely implied threat of negative feedback would encourage them to meet me halfway ?

no do not threaten a neg - that is feedback extortion and against the rules. And paying by paypal - if you file not as described you need to return tracked before you get a refund so you just have to hope the seller is decent and gives a voluntary refund.

I'm not threatening, but obviously not going to be able to give good feedback now. I get what you're saying about returning tracked but if we have email agreement to pick up and email agreement to drop off again then that should've sufficient to get paypal refund?

Or am I being naive? I always list faults with items I'm selling as I don't want buyers to have any recourse to return it!

no it isn't sufficient to get a refund - online tracking is the only guaranteed way. And if you ask them to do something on the condition you don't neg then that is not permitted.

Sellers should only accept cash for collected items, never ever paypal.

Problem solved seller refunded £5. Bike is in shop for repairs.