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Ebay - sold an item but....what would you do?

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 10:28 am
by wibblywobbly
Here's a question.  ???

I recently purchased an electronic tank component brand new from a UK dealer, but then decided not to use it. I therefore put it on Ebay, but just to be sure I wasn't going to get accused of selling something dodgy I tested it and it worked perfectly. A neighbour was here when I tested it so two of us saw it was faultless.

Someone bought it, so it was duly despatched in a bubble wrap lined jiffy bag. The buyer then asked for advice on how to connect it up, (so I explained, it was quite simple!) but then mailed me to say it didn't work?

I have offered them a 50% refund if they return it, but they appear to want a 100% refund. I know beyond all doubt that it was working when I sent it, so I am wondering what I should do? Has anyone else been in this position, I have no idea whether they connected something incorrectly and damaged it, they claim they never, but they did say that the original component that this was bought to replace also failed?

Advice anyone?  :-\

Cheers

Rob G

Re: Ebay - sold an item but....what would you do?

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 10:41 am
by fv432
rob
anything that is fit yourself is bad news as they could have wired it wrong personally would have put in the listing no refunds due to the nature of the product and a sub listing stating to get it fitted by a competent electrician  just to cover yourself

but yes E-bay is a fun place at times (maybe offered it on here first ;))



Kind regards Rob

Re: Ebay - sold an item but....what would you do?

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 10:55 am
by Matdragon
i wouldnt give a refund, you have proof it works, they broke it, say that they get the 50% or nothing, or they send it back but they pay postage.

Re: Ebay - sold an item but....what would you do?

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 11:30 am
by FireflyKeith
What sort of feedback do they have, if 100% they probably are quite honest, if less they could of pulled this trick before, similar thing happened to me but the item was worth less than £5 so i refunded the money and told them to send it back, what sort of value are we talking about here.

Re: Ebay - sold an item but....what would you do?

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:59 pm
by tiger205
rob if it was working when you sent it(which it was) then its down to the buyer installing it wrong, an burning it out, not your fault, why should you refund anything?, even if he has 100% feedback, you got proof it worked, so dont refund, would be my advice

            Tony 8)

Re: Ebay - sold an item but....what would you do?

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:14 pm
by Oddball
My cents there is nothing to say that he had tried to connect before asking your advice and could have blown it then so no refund ! there is always 1 .

Re: Ebay - sold an item but....what would you do?

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:17 pm
by recoil
What did you state on your Ebay listing return policy? If 'no returns for this item', then your're under no obligation to refund the seller.

Re: Ebay - sold an item but....what would you do?

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:33 pm
by FireflyKeith
Basically there is not much choice, if they did break it you cannot prove it, so if choose not to refund the money your more than likely to receive negative feedback, or the other way you refund the money and have goods that are no good to anybody, its a lose, lose situation im afraid. >:(

Re: Ebay - sold an item but....what would you do?

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:36 pm
by wibblywobbly
Thanks for the comments, and yes I stated that their were no refunds for it. It was about £12 worth, not a fortune by anyone's standards. All that I have done for now is enquire with the company I purchased it from about getting a refund, if they say no, then that will be my message back to the Ebay buyer. The irony is that if I am selling something that isn't perfect I always say so, so that people know what they are bidding on. This was perfect so I sold it as such. You are right there is always one!

It is a minefield out there (excuse the pun).  :-\

Rob G

Re: Ebay - sold an item but....what would you do?

Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:44 pm
by 971wright
Hi Rob If it stated no refund your in the clear Ive only ever had one dispute on ebay they took 6 weeks to send me some tracks went into dispute with them for not recieving goods they ended up with egg on there face because  they advertised something they didnt have basicly they put for sale the tracks but there supplier didnt have any,they got a message from ebay saying if they did it again there out.


      regards pete