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Original poster

Sold iPhone on eBay - it's now gone wrong...

18 replies

OiledBegg · 12/08/2015 22:46

I recently sold my old iPhone 4s on eBay after upgrading. Phone was in perfect working condition.
Buyer has messaged me to say the phone worked fine for 2/3 days then suddenly callers couldn't heard him and he couldn't hear them either. He's taken it to a repair shop who've said it cod be loose connection on the motherboard and that once they've got back to him he'll "let me know". Is he going to expect me to pay him back for any repairs? Confused and is my duty to do so?? He hasn't left feedback yet.

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 12/08/2015 22:55

You don't have to pay for repairs at all. The fact he admits it worked fine for 2/3 days is in your favour. If you have that in a message/email save it incase he tries to do an "item not in expected condition" type thing in an attempt to get paypal to refund him.

Original poster
OiledBegg · 12/08/2015 23:02

Thanks viva. He had a couple of other issues beforehand (I'd forgotten to remove the phone from my iCloud etc) which we worked through well together but I'm just going to ignore this message for now and see what happens.

OP posts:
mindyourown15 · 12/08/2015 23:12

if he opens a case he will need to send it back. You did make a note of the IMEI number before you sent it? Or he could send back his old broken phone and keep yours for free. But no, do not pay for repairs. Return for full refund or nowt. The fact that it only worked for 3 days is not enough of a reason for you to win a case.

Original poster
OiledBegg · 13/08/2015 06:40

Thanks mindyourown. I've looked into the buyer protection and it seems I wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Is it best I just reply now and ask him to return it to me for a full refund? At the minute he's waiting for a repair shop to get back to him to let him know what's wrong with it.
Yes I've got the IMEI.

OP posts:
dolallymum · 13/08/2015 07:00

Surely if it has been working for them, even for a couple of days, you can not be blamed. It would not have worked straight away if it was from you sending it.
Plus it could easily have been damaged during shipping. You can write FRAGILE or HANDLE WITH CARE as big as you can and they still throw them about.

daisydukes229 · 13/08/2015 07:03

Yes but if you bought a phone from a shop (even a second hand one) you would expect it to work for longer than 2-3 days. You would expect a repair or a refund.

I think you'd either need to pay to fix or get him to return it for a refund

YonicScrewdriver · 13/08/2015 07:06

Wait until he sends the quote then decide. If you decide to go ahead he needs to agree first that you will only pay this once. It may be less hassle to get the phone returned.

YonicScrewdriver · 13/08/2015 07:09

Oh and I would send a note saying

"To confirm, you are getting a quote to repair phone IMEI xxxx. I will review this quote and contact the repair centre to discuss if necessary, however I may ask you to return the phone for a refund."

Just in case he's trying to get you to pay for a different phone!

mindyourown15 · 13/08/2015 07:27

if he gets a repair done that is at his expense and there is no way eBay would force you to meet that cost.

I would say he either returns for a refund or he repairs at his expense and keeps it.

mindyourown15 · 13/08/2015 07:28

but do make sure you mention the security marks you made and how you will be checking the IMEI number - you did make a note of the number?

Original poster
OiledBegg · 13/08/2015 07:30

Yes I have got a note of the IMEI

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 13/08/2015 11:10

VivaLeBever You are right in the fact that the OP doesn't have to pay for repairs, but totally wrong in saying that she has no liability in regards to the phone, as the buyer sent an email stating that "the phone worked for 2-3 days". This will not "save" the OP from losing a PayPal or eBay case, if one is opened by the buyer.

OP, as already advised, ask the buyer to return the phone , stating that once you have checked that the IMEI number and security markings match up to the phone that you sold him, you will refund in full.

Don't get involved in partial refunds for repairs, this is the oldest scam in the book. Full refund or nothing.

I would advise asking him to open a case with eBay, so everything can be logged officially. Chances are it will result in a defect on your account, BUT if he is a scammer, I would bet he won't even bother, and you won't hear from him again.

19lottie82 · 13/08/2015 11:12

Surely if it has been working for them, even for a couple of days, you can not be blamed

Common sense would say so, but unfortunately eBay doesn't work like that, so it doesn't make a dot of difference.

Original poster
OiledBegg · 13/08/2015 11:45

Thank you Lottie. The buyer seems legit (as far as you can tell on eBay), he's got 100% feedback as a buyer as well as a seller. Although I think I am going to stipulate that all I want to do is organise the phone to be returned so I can refund.
Don't want to get into the all game of paying £x for a repair and then something else "goes wrong" and I then end up refunding or with a dispute. Luckily I hadn't already spent the money I made from the sale...

OP posts:
mindyourown15 · 13/08/2015 12:49

100% feedback as a buyer means nothing as buyers can get neg feedback, or even neg comments.

Original poster
OiledBegg · 13/08/2015 12:59

He's got good for both buying and selling mindyourown, I know it still has to be taken with a pinch of salt... Which is is why I've messaged him to say he can either return phone to me for refund or repair it himself and leave me out of it. I don't think I'm going to sell on eBay anymore after this, I know buyers need their protection but it's more hassle than it's worth. Facebook/gumtree is the way forward I think!

OP posts:
sherbetpips · 13/08/2015 13:04

Exactly the same thing happened to me, I bought my DH an iphone 4 off a reputable ebayer. Worked fine for a week then DH couldnt hear callers, has to put it on speakerphone. I am guessing it is something to do with the age of the iphone 4? Randomly its working again at the moment and a lot of the internet forums say its something to do with bluetooth in cars (i.e. it doesnt quite manage to switch back to normal speaker mode).

ashtrayheart · 13/08/2015 13:08

Get it back and sell it at entertainment exchange or similar instead. I never risk selling old phones privately it's too risky imo

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