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Original poster

Feel like this buyer is trying to fleece me....

18 replies

YourHandInMyHand · 20/12/2016 17:40

So I don't sell on Ebay often, I'm more of a buyer but I had a beauty related gadget that was very expensive and barely used so I decided to sell it.

It had a new price of £260. It was working, and was all immaculate. Buyer bought it for £60 including postage, fair play to them.

Fast forward a little, I get a message off the buyer saying that the battery life on it isn't great (it was fine when I posted it) but it is working and is lasting the amount of time that is needed for use.

Buyer stated wording of ad meant she couldn't demand a refund so what was I going to do and that she would consider a partial refund Hmm. (Don't really get this about the ad wording, as I say I'm not a business seller, I rarely sell on ebay). I said it was all working fine when posted and I would seek advice. Then I got ill, and then son got ill, so didn't get chance to seek EBay's advice.

Today I log on, she's requested a return on the grounds of faulty/defective OR will accept a partial refund. Hmm

I can't help but suspect that buyer is pulling a fast one and just wants a bit more money knocked off.

Oh and paypal is holding the money until resolved.

What can I do? If anyone has more ebay selling experience than me I'd really appreciate your help.

OP posts:
Original poster
YourHandInMyHand · 20/12/2016 17:41

Oh and buyer has been using the item too as she's stated so in messages so I don't want a return AND it proves it is working and usable.

I really do think she just wants it at a lower price than she agreed to pay.

OP posts:
lljkk · 20/12/2016 18:00

If Paypal is holding the money, does that mean she opened a Not as Described case?

What was the time gap between receipt and her first msg (about battery life)? When she says defective now, is she saying it's the battery life that's defective or something else (what)?

Did you ignore messages she sent about things she didn't like?

I'm wondering if you could say she has accepted & started using it plenty, so it can't be that faulty. However, Ebay usually sides with buyer. Play this carefully.

19lottie82 · 20/12/2016 18:59

I'd just accept the return and reject the proposal for the partial refund.

nauticant · 20/12/2016 19:47

I'd do the same as 19lottie82. Arguing is pointless so either you hand some of the money back or take the item back.

EagleIsland · 20/12/2016 19:53

Do a return, eBay is mover on the sellers side. You will end up loosing if you argue no matter what.

SortAllTheThings · 20/12/2016 20:01

Yep, get her to return it. Just make sure its the same one that gets sent back and not a faulty one shes trying to replace

nauticant · 20/12/2016 20:12

For the benefit of the OP, if the buyer returns in a "not as described" case, does a private seller have to pay for the return postage? I have a feeling that sometimes the buyer pays and sometimes the seller.

SortAllTheThings · 20/12/2016 21:10

Seller pays, in my experience

Original poster
YourHandInMyHand · 21/12/2016 15:07

I'm guessing it's now a dispute if she's requested a return or partial refund? I am clueless, never had a problem as a seller before.

I am not offering any more money off it, it was an absolute bargain and I know full well it was working when I sent it.

However she has also used it, and has said "It does work but...." re the battery. She is stating the battery IS lasting the time required for one session of use but she wanted to double session and can't. Again, I know the battery life was fine as when I did use it (rarely) it always lasted, I used it in the same way this buyer wants to.

So as I don't want to offer partial refund I have to accept a return? Even though she's used it? And therefore will have used some of the disposable strips? (a bit like throw away wax strips but it's not a waxer). And may have damaged it herself? Or swapped it for a dodgy one she already had?

I've sent a report buyer message to ebay and asked their advice but so far no response from ebay. Is there a number you can call?

OP posts:
Original poster
YourHandInMyHand · 21/12/2016 15:08

Who would pay the return postage is another good question that I hadn't considered. Out of the £60 I've already paid postage to seller, ebay fees, and paypal fees. Grr......

OP posts:
Joz157 · 21/12/2016 15:14

I had this with a games unit. He paid through PayPal them picked up from house a week later he contacted me to say something wasn't working. I ignored, he opened a case PayPal gave him his money when he had returned to me. Nothing wrong with it, put it up and sold again this time with no problem. The guy was just a dickhead but no matter what we said PayPal and eBay found in favour of seller. I'd get it back and resell.

nauticant · 21/12/2016 15:16

So as I don't want to offer partial refund I have to accept a return? Even though she's used it? And therefore will have used some of the disposable strips? (a bit like throw away wax strips but it's not a waxer). And may have damaged it herself? Or swapped it for a dodgy one she already had?

In short, the answer to your questions is "yes". If there's an argument between you then if ebay get involved they'll almost certainly find in favour of the buyer.

It would be useful for you to find out if a case has been opened. You need to look at your ebay page and click the Resolution Centre link. On the PC version it's in a drop-down menu under Account.

Original poster
YourHandInMyHand · 21/12/2016 15:41

I think it's just as a return request at the moment, I can't see anything about resolution.

I've just been on the phone to ebay help.

The guy said to just reiterate to the buyer what we had already discussed, and then to wait til it goes to them to look into (I'm guessing that that's when it's a resolution?). He told me they will look at all the messages, and then they will decide what needs to be done. He agreed it sounded like buyer wanted more money or had changed mind.

I forgot to ask about postage costs. If it comes to it I will have it returned rather than give her a partial refund, even if it means I lose out a little I'd rather than than this buyer have any more of my money. In her messages she has said it is working and that she'd rather keep it than return it.

Just what I need before Christmas! I have anxiety and this is really upsetting me. I'm very honest and feel I'm being conned.

It will go to the next step on Christmas Eve. Hmm Angry Am going to try and put it out of my mind for now. Thank you all for advising and I will update thread when I know more.

OP posts:
Original poster
YourHandInMyHand · 21/12/2016 15:44

Ah I have found the resolution centre page in my account. No dispute, at the moment it's just a return request but I am going to let it go that way as I don't want go any further with buyer's return request. I'd rather Ebay stepped in and looked at her messages.

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 21/12/2016 16:32

A return request is a dispute. They've just reworded it.

It's up to you. If you don't want to pay for return postage and have the hassle of reselling id offer a 10% refund. If they want any more than that let them return it for a full refund.

19lottie82 · 21/12/2016 16:34

eBay won't side with you in this one I'm afraid. Your choices are, offer a partial refund, accept the return or fight it then be forced into accepting the return and getting a defect at the same time.

cx5221 · 21/12/2016 16:42

I'm sorry but if she's been using it no way would I be refunding the money and accepting a return especially on an item that expensive.

This happened to me a few months ago, if your item sold by auction then legally you do not have to issue a refund it is sold as seen.
I sold a designer handbag a few months ago it was in really excellent condition it was an unwanted gift I'd used it maybe three times, the buyer emailed after a few days saying the colour wasn't exactly the same as the picture. (It was exactly the same I didn't use any filters or anything it was just a normal photo in normal lighting) she also said their was debris in the bag itself (there wasn't anything in the bag I wouldn't send a bag off without checking or cleaning inside)
She told me she would still accept it but wanted a refund I refused saying item was sold as seen according to auction rules I was not refunding (as she had been using it by that point)

She opened a case on eBay, eBay as usual ruled in her favour and said I had to accept a return and cover postage both ways (so basically I'd paid her to use my bag for a few weeks)
I wrote back to eBay saying that there was no way I was refunding an item that was exactly as described and had been used by the buyer. I stated in the email that I had no legal obligation to accept a refund on an auction item and they had no right to overrule this and infringe my legal rights.
The next day I got an email saying that eBay were refunding her themselves and I was not expected to pay anything so I got my money she got a refund.

I checked her account a few days later and she was selling the bag with a buy it now if more than double what she paid for it so being a bitch I reported her to eBay nothing happened though.

eBay will rule in her favour but fight it and you won't end up our of pocket

cx5221 · 21/12/2016 16:44

Sorry she opened a faulty item / item not as described case.

I never sell on eBay anymore it's utterly full of chancers trying to rip you off

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