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If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

Original poster

Flabbergasted- emailing saying...

31 replies

Gravitygirl · 23/04/2009 16:56

that the item of clothes ( which is incidentally two pieces) is stained.
I have had an email saying that there are 3 big stains on the back of a top I have just sold.

I am flabbergasted as the item had a few little marks on it , which I put in the listing but not 3 big brown marks! I am amazed and I dont know how to reply to this, its thrown me?

She is talking of a refund but she only paid £1 for the 2 pieces I dont know what to do.

Can I have some advice of what to say/do.
Does this thing happen alot?

OP posts:
sixlostmonkeys · 23/04/2009 17:31

just ask her to return them for a refund. Once you receive them issue a refund.
Block her from future bids.

Don't say much to her. Maybe something like - sorry you are not happy with your items. Please return them for a refund.

Original poster
Gravitygirl · 23/04/2009 17:33

thanks for the advice, I am really shocked tbh.
Where do I stand on refunding postage and packaging, so Im completely out of pocket?

OP posts:
Saltire · 23/04/2009 17:34

Don't refund postage, or the cost of her returning it to you. Just the £1 she paid, but not until your receive the goods back

sixlostmonkeys · 23/04/2009 17:34

buyer returns at own cost - you issue a full refund ie cost plus p&p

MrsMattie · 23/04/2009 17:36

She is quibbling over £1? Nutjob.

Original poster
Gravitygirl · 23/04/2009 17:57

Its not the £1 I mind its the cost of p&p Ill be out of pocket for.... Which is still only about £3 but still.

OP posts:
Tryharder · 23/04/2009 18:44

If I list anything with any damage/mark on it, I always take a photo of the mark and keep it. You could always ask her to send you a photo of the mark.

Seems a bit unreasonable for 99p. Why doesn't she just wash the top?

expatinscotland · 23/04/2009 18:48

Another buyer screwing over a seller, another reason I never sell on Ebay anymore.

I'm with Saltire, give her back her £1 and that's it.

Block her, too.

Tryharder · 23/04/2009 18:52

I think you have to refund the P&P as well (but not the cost of her sending it back to you). If she opened a dispute with PP, they'd just give her her money back in full.

southeastastra · 23/04/2009 18:54

we've had many annoying emails from buyers lately, just now someone wanting a pound off postage as they only want second class. aaaarrrrgghh don't bid if you can't pay numpty.

Original poster
Gravitygirl · 24/04/2009 09:44

OMG I am fuming, she is now telling me I have to pay for the recorded delivery to return the item to me!!!!!!!

I have sent an email saying that returning the item is at the buyers cost, god knows what will happen now.
There were no big brown stains on the clothes, I am so angry. I politely told her she would get her refund which still leaves me out of pocket but oh no, not good enough.

Is she on a scam!!!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 24/04/2009 12:18

'OMG I am fuming, she is now telling me I have to pay for the recorded delivery to return the item to me!!!!!!!'

Nope, she returns it to you and then you refund the full cost.

All for £1?

I'm telling you, Ebay is more hassle than it's worth.

expatinscotland · 24/04/2009 12:18

'OMG I am fuming, she is now telling me I have to pay for the recorded delivery to return the item to me!!!!!!!'

Nope, she returns it to you and then you refund the full cost.

All for £1?

I'm telling you, Ebay is more hassle than it's worth.

StealthPolarBear · 24/04/2009 12:22

recorded delivery for £1
as a buyer I make an effort to leave +ve feedback for sellers - give it a year or so and I don't think there'll be many left

EachPeachPearMum · 24/04/2009 12:37

The problem really is the cost of the goods is too little to pay postage returning.

I have received items described at 'excellent condition' that were stained (visibly on the front). I would never leave a negative feedback without giving the seller a chance to rectify... but if they ask me to send back for refund... often its not worth the postage costs- ie more than item refund.

What do you do in that situation? Seller may be taking the p and relying on people acting as I do, so getting away with it, or it may be a genuine oversight.

expatinscotland · 24/04/2009 12:46

I think the policy, though, if I'm not mistaken, is that the buyer posts the item back at their expense and the seller then refunds the buyer the initial cost to them (the original P&P+item cost).

Given that this item only cost £1, I'd say buyer is taking the piss.

I'd risk neg feedback, tbh. I only buy on Ebay now and I read feedback. You can tell when someone's been trying to scam them.

expatinscotland · 24/04/2009 12:46

I think the policy, though, if I'm not mistaken, is that the buyer posts the item back at their expense and the seller then refunds the buyer the initial cost to them (the original P&P+item cost).

Given that this item only cost £1, I'd say buyer is taking the piss.

I'd risk neg feedback, tbh. I only buy on Ebay now and I read feedback. You can tell when someone's been trying to scam them.

maxybrown · 24/04/2009 13:12

That's true, the buyer DOES have to foot the bill for return.....BUT I have had a few things now with stains and holes on/in and not mentioned, and to be honest very grubby, and even though not paid much (although i still paid the postage!) it mounts up and is irritating when people don't say.....unfortunately it never pays for me to re send the item etc....one seller told me to just tell paypal I'd sent it back and they'd say they received them....doesn't work like that though! They never even quibbled the claims about the tops so they obviously knew!!!

But if you KNOW that's not what they were like then stick to your guns.....I'm fed up of contacting people these days over stained items and stick to buying new.....just have to save up for longer!!

maxybrown · 24/04/2009 13:16

oh and PP will only give her the money back in full once she has provided tracking info for the returned items. Even THEY state it is at buyers expense, even if PP go in their favour!

Iklboo · 24/04/2009 13:21

Send her a refund. In pennies. And don't put a stamp on

happywomble · 24/04/2009 16:55

I think some one above suggested that she should email you a photo showing the stains. I would ask for this.

If you are sure the stains she is referring to aren't there either:

  1. The item has been damaged in the post and this would have shown on the envelope.
  1. she is trying it on..although amazing someone would bother if it only cost £1.

Read the ebayers feedback and try and get an impression of her.

If you think she is telling the truth and there is a problem with the garment I would refund her payment (and not bother getting the item back).

If you think she is trying it on insist she sends the item back (at her expense) and say you will refund her once you receive the item

I have had 271 transactions on Ebay and I have hardly ever had any problems. I insist on paypal payment so maybe that puts some of the dodgy people off bidding!

Occasionally I have bought something and been disappointed and have emailed the seller. They have always refunded or given a discount on the basis my complaint was valid. Sometimes they have not even wanted the item back and have suggested I give it to a charity shop.

On the whole I only sell items that are in very good condition. If there is a faint mark I will mention it in the listing.

Anything I'm not sure about (conditionwise) I put in a charity bag or give to clothes recycling.

Good luck in sorting out the problem.

maxybrown · 24/04/2009 17:01

well summed up happywomble!!!!

Original poster
Gravitygirl · 26/04/2009 14:00

Am so upset, this woman has now left me terrible feedback and I just cant find the words to add my coment.

Any ideas how I can make people beware that she completley fleeced me.

OP posts:
Flibbertyjibbet · 26/04/2009 14:17

Ok don't try to reply to her feedback today, wait till you have calmed down.

Then say something like - marks were mentioned in listing! Full refund offered but you neg me instead!!

I used to put everything on ebay but no more. Last sunday I did my first car boot sale in 10years, got rid of almost everything, came home £167 better off. It was all gone at one go, and all the buyers got to have a proper look at the stuff before they handed over the money and walked off.

I will only be putting one or two things on ebay in future that I know will go better with a nationwide audience. But not much.

Oh and tbh, twice in my nearly 400+ve items on ebay I had someone quibbling something that was under a fiver inc postage. On both occasions I just refunded, I would have had to refund anyway and couldn't be arsed waiting for it to be returned.

And finally, I never sell stuff with any marks on no matter how small, your tiny mark is another persons stain

expatinscotland · 26/04/2009 14:30

Good advice from Flibberty.

I bootsale as well, especially as around here they are fleamarkets, indoors, that start at 10AM.

Much less hassle and cash in hand and no buyers coming back later trying it on.