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Original poster

buyer argues over item not fitting

26 replies

madwomanacrosstheroad · 20/03/2015 16:00

Sold a pair of unworn Clarks ankle boots on ebay (auction). Boots are size 7. According to ebay conversion chart this is 40. So I sold it as size 7 (40). Seller contacted me that shoes are to big and she believes they are more a 41. Replied that they are labelled size uk7 and that I sold them in good faith but offered her refund of the price of boots, not postage. She argues a size 7 is a European 41 and I should refund full postage both ways as well. In fact a size 7 uk is somewhere between a European 40 and 41 and I feel as a uk buyer of uk sized shoes she should know her size. It states nowhere on the shoes that they are 40 or 41. What should I do?

OP posts:
kittenwrestler · 20/03/2015 18:34

Clarks 7 is a size 41. Tell her to return for a full refund including postage. You can't refund and keep the postage.

www.clarks.co.uk/help/fitguide

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 20/03/2015 18:40

I agree, I wear a size 6.5 Clarks shoe and it says 40 on the box.

Original poster
madwomanacrosstheroad · 20/03/2015 21:57

Ebay conversion site says size 7 is European 40 and I clearly sold them as size uk 7

OP posts:
CountingThePennies · 20/03/2015 22:03

Im a size 6.5 and sometimes it says 39 and a half on the box and sometimes a 40.

I have seen different online conversion charts which contradict each other.

If you put the uk size aswell then you should be covered.

I wouldnt refund anything

Lunastarfish · 20/03/2015 22:06

If you sold them listed as a size 7, and they state size 7, I don't see what grounds she has for a refund. Buying shoes and clothes off ebay is always risky re size, buyers haveto accept that. If I buy something that doesn't quite fit I just list it and sell it.

You've offered to refund (which you don't have to do as a private seller) if she's unhappy she'll need to complain to Ebay. I would tell her this.

A buyer tried this with me claiming a cardigan I sold her was not a size 12 despite the fact the label clearly stated it was. I refused to refund, told her to complain to ebay and I never heard from her again or had to refund her.

MadameJulienBaptiste · 20/03/2015 22:10

She does know her size. It's 40.
same as me. If I bought a 40 that was too big or labelled as a 7 I'd be pissed off too.
I search on 40, if she did this then your shoes would show up on her search.

kittenwrestler · 20/03/2015 22:10

It doesn't matter what eBay conversion charts say - look at the Clarks link. If they open a case you will be forced to refund. You cannot refuse it. And if you make it difficult for her she will prob neg and trash your stars.

KarmaNoMore · 20/03/2015 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Branleuse · 20/03/2015 22:17

theyre a 7, you sold it as a 7. She needs to sell them on herself really

coalscuttle · 20/03/2015 22:23

I wouldn't have added the (40) unless it said that on the actual shoe. I find a 41 fits me regardless of what uk size it also says, but in my experience almost all UK shops sell a 41 as a 7. I think you were wrong to say it was a 40 and should refund. If you had just sold it as a 7 and not added the 40 then I would say it is the buyers problem.

Original poster
madwomanacrosstheroad · 20/03/2015 22:24

Shoes were clearly labeled as size 7. Stamped on the bottom of sole and visible on photos. European and uk sizes dont correspond exactly. Size 7 is somewhere between a 40 and a 41. Neither is correct but 40.5 does not exist.

OP posts:
Hobby2014 · 20/03/2015 22:27

If ebays conversion is wrong I'd be complaining to ebay about it. You/customer has lost out because you used their charts

lastnightiwenttomanderley · 20/03/2015 22:28

I would normally say that a ladies 7 is a 40, a men's is a 41 due to the fact the charts don't alighn (I suffer myself as I'm a 2/34.5 and shops say a 3 is a 36 when it isn't).

That said, I think it was your mistake to put the converted size. if the box/shoe said 7/40 then fine but if it just said 7 then that's your mistake so should refund IMO.

lastnightiwenttomanderley · 20/03/2015 22:29

madwoman some brands do half European sizes, they just ditch the whole UK thing altogether.

Original poster
madwomanacrosstheroad · 20/03/2015 22:30

Ebays conversion is not wrong. Neither are the ones stating it is 41. UK and continental sizes do not correspond exactly.

OP posts:
kittenwrestler · 20/03/2015 22:30

I don't know why you added the 41 - if you hadn't done that then yes they were accurately listed. But by adding that 41 you are listing them as 2 sizes. Anyway the buyer will almost certainly win a not as described case - buyer is king. You will be better off being gracious and getting them back, refunding in full - and then list as a 7 only.

kittenwrestler · 20/03/2015 22:31

(added the 40 not 41)

Original poster
madwomanacrosstheroad · 20/03/2015 22:48

There was no box. The shoes are labelled 7 this is clearly visible in the photos. I would see the point if I had sold them in a country that primarily sells European sizes. I sold them as a UK 7. Ebay asks for a corresponding European size. European size for uk shoes will always be approximate, same as uk sizes for European shoes are very hit and miss. The conversion charts are contradictory so surely the size printed on the shoe and stated in the description should count.

OP posts:
Original poster
madwomanacrosstheroad · 20/03/2015 23:10

I agree I should probably not added a corresponding European size but ebay foes ask for it. However I also feel I buy clothes or shoes of ebay I take a risk that things are not a good fit on me. I am usually a size 39 and mostly that is a 6 here, however it can be a 5.5 or a 6.5. So either I am very sure of how a particular make and style fits me or I take the risk of getting something at a much cheaper price that may not be a great fit. Incidentally my friend who is an average 41 had tried the shoes before I sold them but they were too small. As they fitted me with thick socks the 40 is probably fairly correct.

OP posts:
Sleepyfergus · 20/03/2015 23:30

I think it's just tough luck for the buyer. You said a clarks 7 or size 40. She could have checked the clarks website herself to double check their conversion. Clothes/shoes on eBay are a gamble, that's the risk as a buyer.

It's no different shopping in the high street, you can be a size 10 in one shop, a size 12 elsewhere and then a 14 in another (h&m - I'm looking at you!).

I wouldn't offer a refund at all

ragged · 21/03/2015 00:13

^Everything Kittenwrestler said. Sorry. Relist with the info as you describe here.

CrazyOldBagLady · 21/03/2015 01:04

I've bought a tonne of stuff on ebay and complained when the description hasn't been accurate, but never complained that something hasn't fit me (unless the actual size differed from the stated size). Personally I wouldn't refund unless I had stated refunds accepted on the auction. Ebay won't honour this complaint.

kittenwrestler · 21/03/2015 07:38

Sellers cannot refuse a return. No matter what protestations you have - if a buyer opens a case, in all likelihood they will win. Arguing the toss is neither here nor there. Sorry, but you are just going to have to ask them to return, or if they open a case you will prob be forced to refund, plus get a defect on your account and prob have an annoyed buyer who trashes your feedback and stars (and maybe even return an item they have willfully damaged too). Sorry - but that is how eBay generally works.

OwlCapone · 21/03/2015 07:50

I sold them as a UK 7.

By putting the 40 in, you also sold them as a 40. If you had looked at the brand specific size chart, you would see they are a 41.

Neither you nor the buyer are more right than the other.

GobblersKnob · 21/03/2015 08:00

I am a 7, a 7 is a 40, I have never bought a 41.