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Original poster

Am I in the right or wrong?

19 replies

todayisthedays · 18/08/2017 10:52

So I sent an innotab 3 with one game, USB and Power supply to a buyer on eBay for £12.50 and FREE postage on the 09 Aug. The item was fully functional apart from a few scratches on the screen. I stated that in the listing that there were some screen scratches that doesn't affect functionality whatsoever. I checked the item before sending and it was perfect apart from that. I also put up pictures showing the scratches. Someone bought it. After paying postage (£2.90, a PayPal fee and an eBay fee) I only made £7 on the item and now the buyer has contacted me yesterday (17th Aug) saying she only just opened the item ( which is rubbish because she would have received it on the 11/12th) saying she didn't realise the scratches on the screen were the way they were ( even tho it clear shows it) and now wants me to refund her all the money and she will send me the item back? Do I have to accept the item back and lose money when she should have made a better choice about it before buying ? It's not as if I lied about them and the game works well. She didn't message me before buying the item asking more info on the scratches either. Also how can I trust that she will send the item back after i refund her? For all I know she could just not send it and claim it as a lost item, she's got her item and her money. What would you do?

OP posts:
flirtygirl · 18/08/2017 15:00

Ebay will make you refund. So to ensure you get the item back, have her open a return case and accept the return. That way a label can be sent to her via the ebay system, to return the item to you and then the refund gets sent automatically to her when the tracking confirms that it has been delivered to you.

Good luck

Original poster
todayisthedays · 18/08/2017 15:32

So how am I going to pay her the refund when I have no money in my account ? I used the money because im going though hard times financially hence why I am selling items on eBay. So Now I have to stress out finding money I no longer have because she no longer wants the item. And I've lost at least £2.90 of my own money paying her FREE postage. These people are time wasters and don't realise the stress they cause. The description is clearly there and the pictures and the item is really good so why can't people make sure it's what they want before buying instead of messing people about. And eBay don't protect its sellers even though I've paid them a fee for selling it so I've lost out on that as well!

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 18/08/2017 20:53

Ebay will take the money putting your PayPal account into a negative balance. You then have to top it back up again but selling items on eBay or transferring money from your bank account.

It doesn't make a difference if the postage was "free" or not, you'd still have to refund it even if it was added on separately to the sale price.

starving · 18/08/2017 23:45

Make sure it is the one that you sent that is returned and not one that she had already that is broken or scratched worse than yours.

19lottie82 · 19/08/2017 10:48

starving doesn't make a difference u fortunately, OP will still need to refund.

RelaxMax · 19/08/2017 11:21

eBay is terrible now for sellers: they will always side with the buyer.

Try local Facebook groups in future.

Original poster
todayisthedays · 19/08/2017 12:02

I'm Just going to wait for her to make a case against me. But what gets me annoyed is she has had the parcel 6 days and only contacted me saying she's not happy with the scratches 6 days later but she was obviously happy with it before then ? And then she lied saying she didn't open the parcel until 6 days later. Yeah coz who receives a parcel and just leaves it there for 6 days without opening it.

OP posts:
Original poster
todayisthedays · 19/08/2017 14:09

She's just messaged me saying she will take it up with eBay. She can do that. I will fight my corner because all she has done is waste my time, I will be at a loss now after the free postage and all the packaging I bought sending it and she has had the item for 7 days so she could have done anything with that in that space of time.

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 20/08/2017 21:46

OP as I already explained, it doesn't make a difference if the postage was "free" or not you'd still have to refund it.
Not much point infighting, eBay will force you to refund anyway. You will be better to just accept the loss and take it on the chin, that way you won't get a default on your account and you will minimise the chance of getting negative feedback.

Original poster
todayisthedays · 20/08/2017 22:12

The problem is, I can't afford to refund the buyer. After 7 days I assumed the buyer was happy as had no contact and saw item had been delivered so I used the money. Now I won't have any spare funds to refund the buyer ( money is right and ha who spare money after everything paid) if the buyer would have contacted me sooner I could have refunded the money immediately but no they chose to wait 7 days when I no longer have the money. So what am I supposed to do now?

OP posts:
AlternativeTentacle · 20/08/2017 22:13

Have you got the item back yet?

Original poster
todayisthedays · 20/08/2017 22:14

No I've not got the item back. I spoke to eBay and they said just to let the buyer open a case so I'm waiting for her to open a case

OP posts:
AlternativeTentacle · 20/08/2017 22:15

Which she probably wont

19lottie82 · 21/08/2017 17:30

Why wouldn't she?
OP I wouldn't rely on her not opening a case.
If you can't afford to issue a refund, eBay will take the money from your PayPal account putting it into a negative balance. You won't have to put t back straight away, but if you leave it longer than 30 (?) days then they'll pass it on to their debt recovery agency.

Original poster
todayisthedays · 21/08/2017 18:01

That's the way it is gonna have to be? Go to a debt collector. I think she's a scammer. You just be to buy an item eBay clearly shows scratches and a description of the scratches and then complain about the scratches after? It's just the most dumb thing ever and then causes problems for sellers because of their dumb ways! It's the sellers who have to pay eBay fees and pay pal fees as well not them!

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 21/08/2017 18:24

I would just pay it for the sake of £12.50! Is it really worth the hassle?

Original poster
todayisthedays · 21/08/2017 18:41

It is because she will get to keep the item i she wishes. One of eBay's 'options' is her keeping the item, and eBay refunding her as well so I'm out of pocket and I lose the item. She doesn't even need to send the item back according to eBay's 'policies' it's just a scam to get things for free

OP posts:
AlternativeTentacle · 21/08/2017 18:57

No, she does need to send it back. That's the point.

19lottie82 · 21/08/2017 19:08

Yes that's an "option". You don't need to choose it. Select to refund in full WHEN the item is returned to you, but you do need to purchase a returns label for £2.99

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