Please help me, I am not happy but have no idea how best to handle it!

[KingCanuteIAm]

I bought two dresses, they were listed as "Used, in much loved condition (there are no marks or stains)" it also says "the seller will not accept returns on this item".

SO, they have arrived and the white backgrounds are really grey and both dresses are covered in small marks. The waistband on one is grubby (with that ground in dirt).

I paid £19.99 for them plus postage and I am not happy that they are as described. I want my money back (I will return them) or half my money back and I will use them as play dresses.

How on earth do I word an email to her to ask for my money back? I rarely ever complain about anything from Ebay as it is my risk but I really think that these were described misleadingly!

just state the facts

the dresses you sent me have marks (explain where and what kind of stains), as the listing stated they had no stains I am not happy, I would like to return the items for refund please.

I await your reply.

Bear in mind you wont get both lots of postage refunded (i think)

I don't mind the postage so much.

I am trying to compose a message but it is difficult to do without sounding critical!

Did you pay by Paypal? If so, open a dispute with them straight away.

Oh yes, I hadn't thought of Paypal. Don't I have to contact the seller first? (I had some vague idea that I had to give them chance to offer a refund).

Kingcanute whats her feedback like?

gingernut is spot on with her mail.

They seem quite expensive for dresses in 'much loved' condition - can we see a link?

I would open the dispute first, as it was over £20, and then email the seller and explain what you have done and why. Don't close the dispute until you have it sorted!

Lol, I can't link as my ebay ID gives away who I am sorry!

They are Boden which is why they are high priced (£19.99 is for both of them). Her feedback is great, lots of items sold all positive and no silly little messages on the feedback!

Ahh right sorry i was just being nosey - incidentally i sell on ebay and i 'say' i dont do refunds cos i do absolutely 100% describe things exactly - most of my feedback says better than expected etc .....in fact i once sold some brown linen trousers for over £15 that id paid under a tenner for new - as the bidding increased i actually mailed the highest bidder (shed emailed me about measurements) to say they werent that dear new !!! turned out she had a matching jacket and couldnt get hold of the trousers anymore.

anyway although i say i dont do returns i would if it was a situation like yours.

That's ok NC - I am equally nosey I am hoping she will see it that way as well!

WULA, is there a particular reason why you say over £20? I mean is that a thing with Paypal or your opinon?

dont worry about sounding critical, but stick tot the facts and dont get their back up with unnecessary nasty comments

it's against the rules to say you can't refund.

ask her nicely again for a refund or say you'll otherwise have to open a dispute

Thanks everyone! I will email now. I just hope she is not an Mner who has seen this thread!

Right, how long do you give someone to respond?

I am thinking email again after 24hrs if I have heard nothing. But then I am thinking what if she is away... Oh I am so rubbish at all this complaining stuff!

She has nothing else listed so I can't tell if she is around or not!

I'd leave it until this evening or tomorrow morning I think.

Thanks Owls, so email tonight, wait another 24 hrs then email to say I will open a dispute with Paypal if I dont hear in 24hrs?

Or is that too quick?

Don't think that's too quick at all. Have you heard anything yet?

You need to give her sufficient time to reply before you go to paypal. One sure way of getting a sellers back up is to run to paypal without trying to sort things out first. Given that its the weekend, and not everyone checks their email everyday you really need to give her a couple of days. By all means email again sooner, but I wouldn't raise a dispute until the end of the week.
From what the listing said "Used, in much loved condition", I would have expected to have received something that was pretty well worn. It could be that paypal agree with this (they are a law unto themselves when it comes to resolutions!), so it's probably in your interest to work it out with her if you can.

Thanks Owls, Sarah, I do sort of agree about much loved (which is why I made sure I included it here when asking for advice) My main point though is it states no marks and there are plenty of marks - also ground in dirt on the waistbands that will not wash out (having seen that kind of grub before on play dresses here ).

I know not everyone gets to their computer everyday but when im selling stuff i always check for a few days after just in case i get a buyer thats not satidfied - £19.99 for 2 dresses isnt cheap.

Paypal usually find in favour of the buyer, so regardless of the difference in description, they are likely to back you.

As a seller, I always offer refunds, particularly if someone is unhappy with an item. I'll give back both the original postage and the return postage too. Why should a buyer be out of pocket just because they've bought something from me and it's not right?

Now I know that some people will pick spots where spots shouldn't be, but I'd rather not have people ticked off with me if I can help it!

I have decided to resend the email tonight and wait a further 48 hours before doing anything else. Having looked into it it seems that my item is the last of a bunch she sold (it took quite a while to get here!). Almost all the rest have feedback already so I am guessing she may not be checking that regularly now.

I really do like people to feel they have been trested fairly so I want to give her every chance to reply. I do have a sneaky suspicion that she won't though, if she has sold these as having no marks when they clearly do I am guessing she is hoping that people just won't take the time to complain IYSWIM. (I really hope I am wrong though!)