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Scam or should I refund?

20 replies

Charliesunnysky10 · 22/08/2023 21:30

Sold a chest of drawers on Facebook market place. Lady was quite persistent about collecting them immediately, offered £45 on a £60 item, I needed the space and the cash. Me and DH got them downstairs and her husband came for them from 30 mins away. Within the hour she sent a photo of cracked backs of drawers which she said made them 'fit only for the tip'. She wants a full refund via bank transfer. If the damage occurred as DH & I were lugging them downstairs, fair enough but that doesn't make them unusable. I can't blame her husband for not checking as he'd have to inspect carefully - obviously wife did though. We are so stretched for cash right now I'm loathe to to refund her AND lose the drawers. We don't have a car to drive out and collect them at the moment, though I could borrow my Dad's. I don't know if I should ask the buyers to drop them back off. Really don't know what to do for the best. I know its only £45, but we are really struggling to make ends meet. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
FannyFifer · 22/08/2023 21:34

Ask her to return them for refund.

FloweryName · 22/08/2023 21:35

If there are cracks that she wasn’t made aware of at the time of buying, I think it is fair to give her a refund but only if they return the drawers. I wouldn’t do a bank transfer until the drawers are back in your possession, and then only if they paid you in a bank transfer. If they paid you cash they can have it back in cash.

Ahhbeecee · 22/08/2023 21:35

Nah..sold as seen...don't refund

anon2022anon · 22/08/2023 21:36

Definitely DO NOT refund this person by bank transfer. My answer would be sold as seen, but as they have your address then asking for return for a refund is fair. Don't refund without the drawers.

TheLastPictureShow · 22/08/2023 21:38

They can return the item to you and (only after you’ve got it back) then you can give her a refund.

Charliesunnysky10 · 22/08/2023 21:45

Thank you. I've talked to my husband about them bringing the drawers back and he's concerned that the cracks she shows in her pics make the drawers look not fit for resale and we havent got our own car to get them to the tip if she's correct.

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MoreRainbowsPlease · 22/08/2023 21:49

If you get them to return them and it turns out there are cracks, but they are still usable then you could offer them for free on a freecycle site. Drawers in any condition fly out on the site I am on.

I with everyone else though don't refund them unless they bring them back.

CatsOnTheChair · 22/08/2023 21:49

No. Nope. No.
Sold as seen.
Ignore (and block).

MoreRainbowsPlease · 22/08/2023 21:49

Did they pay you by cash or by bank transfer?

JaukiVexnoydi · 22/08/2023 21:54

Do not refund. It is the responsibility of a buyer collecting an item to satisfy themselves as to the item's quality and condition before handing over the money.

I hope she paid cash? If she paid by any other means than cash it's definitely a scam. If she did pay cash then I would get the notes checked to ensure they are genuine. But even if there's no scam, you do not owe any kind of refund. She bought and paid for it. If she doesn't want it that's really not your problem.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 22/08/2023 22:04

I had a woman do this to me a few years back.

I had a hifi for sale, not a top of the line one but fully working.

I only wanted £30, she drove me mental to take £15, then £20, in the end we agreed on £25.

She turns up in a 3 door, tiny car, which is fine, except there was at least 7 people squashed in the car, and when DH took it out to her (after we offered to show her it working and she declined, saying she was in a rush) her boot was full up.

She told DH to put it on our drive and she would make room, she gave me the cash and we left her to it.

Then I heard an almighty bang. She had dropped it by trying to force it into the car.

I thought, here we go, she's going to want a refund. But she drove off instead.

About a day later, I got an angry message, using some rather inventive choice words. I had sold her a "shitter" that I was a "effing c**t" and she would "throw this shit through my window" if I didn't refund her £25, plus £20 for petrol and inconvenience. She then reminded me she and her associates knew where I lived.

Clearly she thought I would be frightened into paying up.
I messaged saying no chance, your car was a tip, you dropped it from the boot getting it in around various people and crap, and that after the transaction was completed its no longer anything to do with me.
I then said my opposite neighbour had the full incident captured on their CCTV, and should she like to threaten me or follow up on the threats, I would contact police and they'd probably be interested in the state of her vehicle and the fact 7 passengers were in a car designed for no more than 4.

The fact is, you don't know what happened after it left your property. So I would say, no, it left here in good condition. Then block.
People like that who try and manipulate for a refund are cheeky fuckers, hoping to get a freebie.

If you carry on selling, take full photos of the item

Charliesunnysky10 · 22/08/2023 22:19

@ReformedWaywardTeen Blimey! She was a piece of work, wasn't she?! Glad you stood ypur ground.

@MoreRainbowsPlease It was cash and I used it in Lidl yesterday so hopefully all above board.

@JaukiVexnoydi I'm okay with blocking her I just don't want to be mean as i know what it's like to feel out of pocket. But yes, I did think the husband left quite happy with them.

OP posts:
OleMioSole · 22/08/2023 22:23

Never refund for selling where the buyer has been allowed to inspect. Always sold as seen.
Caveat Emptor

mummybear247 · 22/08/2023 22:24

Block her I've been in the same place as u with some man I sold my old iPhone and I showed him it up and working it was only just over 12 months old and he texted with in the hour saying it was not working wouldn't turn on and sent a vile msg saying I know you live on ur own with ur kids I will be back.... he came around about 2 days later kicking my front door and shouting outside lucky my dad and other half was here he soon fucked off and never came back x

OleMioSole · 22/08/2023 22:29

Another tip - unless you HAVE to don't meet at your house.
Won't work for bulky items but if I have small things etc I meet them at the bus stop. Right in the view of several people's Ring doorbells so if they try funny business it's all recorded.

Charliesunnysky10 · 22/08/2023 22:35

@OleMioSole very good tips there. Thank you.

@mummybear247 Jeez...I'm glad that turned out ok. I'd have been terrified!

OP posts:
Clymene · 22/08/2023 22:38

Sold as seen. Just block.

Soapyspuds · 22/08/2023 22:41

Either of the below

  1. Tell her sold as seen. Block her
  2. Tell her to return them for a refund.

DO NOT send any money through bank transfer.

This is a common scam to scare people into sending money. Basically extortion.

Soapyspuds · 22/08/2023 22:43

ps they are probably selling them on for a profit anyway so will not be bringing them back.

Charliesunnysky10 · 22/08/2023 23:49

@Clymene and @Soapyspuds Thank you both x

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