help with ebay purchase

Claire_Jones_3

Hi all,

I need some advice from you & your pearls of wisdom, I won this from ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220253759307&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=012


The item was sent recorded delivery which was signed for by one of my neighbours whilst I was out. They then dropped it into me. When we opened the parcel the actual minidisc player is missing and the free 5 discs. The listing stated brand new and unopened which is obviously not the case as you can see some of the accessories have been opened and then put back in their plastic sleeves. I've emailed the seller twice and they've not replied, so I've opened a paypal dispute but still no reply. What should I do now?

What I'm worried about is the seller stating the listing sells unopened and that we must have taken the player out, which is not the case at all.

Thanks
Claire

frivolous_fay

So what was actually left in the parcel? Just accessories?
Was the package tampered with?

Claire_Jones_3

Thanks for replying fay, there was just the accessories and instruction manual. The packaging on the parcel was in perfect condition, not looking like it had been tampered with at all

frivolous_fay

You've done the right thing by opening the dispute. It could be the seller has a job lot of electronics to sell, and hasn't checked them all. I see they don't really have a solid record on ebay yet.

I suggest keeping the packaging, as the postage price paid (if shown) might indicate the weight of the parcel, ie. prove that the heavier part of the item was never in there.

Claire_Jones_3

paypal have contacted the seller and they say he is willing to refund if I return the item. However the seller has emailed me to say it might be in his shop and he's looking for it. He's asked me for a few days to try to find it. Should I let paypal know that he's asked for a few days (worried in case he's trying to drag the time out and the dispute be closed).

Should he be reported for being a business seller (he's told me as much in his emails).

Also I can't believe I have to pay the return postage costs! I could understand if I had changed my mind etc but the seller failed to check everything he had put on his listing was included in the box so he was at fault and I'm the one who loses money over it!!

rdp1980

You probably haven't helped your case by leaving negative feedback so soon.

Now you have lost what could have been a valuable bargaining tool.

Floxxie

Claire_Jones wrote: »

paypal have contacted the seller and they say he is willing to refund if I return the item. However the seller has emailed me to say it might be in his shop and he's looking for it. He's asked me for a few days to try to find it. Should I let paypal know that he's asked for a few days (worried in case he's trying to drag the time out and the dispute be closed).

Should he be reported for being a business seller (he's told me as much in his emails).

Also I can't believe I have to pay the return postage costs! I could understand if I had changed my mind etc but the seller failed to check everything he had put on his listing was included in the box so he was at fault and I'm the one who loses money over it!!

Your feedback is really harsh. You have plenty of time for a dispute to be followed up. The seller has said he is looking for the item and he may well find it and send it on to you - do you think your feedback is justified then?

As for return postage..yes it is up to you to pay...if you had been a little more understanding of the seller's mistake, he might even have refunded you the extra postage; you would be very lucky if that happened now. And if there is nothing in the box, it's not going to cost the world is it?

And yes he might be a business seller but you are coming across as very vindictive - he made an omission and now he must pay big time!

I sent a Lego set and was unaware that there was a piece missing. My buyer asked me if I could find it. I did and she was very good at waiting the four days it took me. She did not jump to conclusions about my motives - thank goodness.

soolin

I agree with the above. As a seller if I make a mistake then of course I will refund in full and also pay for the return postage. However if I got a neg before I had a chance to rectify matters I would be much less helpful as I would have nothing else to lose and might even consider the buyer a little dodgy.

Claire_Jones_3

I understand what you are all saying but I had received no communication from the seller at all. I'd sent loads of e-mails to them and it wasn't until I left the feedback that I got any response from them. If they had said they were looking for the player then I wouldn't have done anything and wouldn't have minded waiting. In hindsight I wished I hadn't filled out the feedback so soon but this has never happened before and I was scared of losing the money we paid out. You hear of so many scams and buyers/sellers conning people I was worried. I've sold a mobile phone in the past which got lost in the post and the buyer never signed and returned form to royal mail so I lost money.

Its just really upsetting when I have sold bits on ebay to get some money together so I could treat my husband to something for once. Our income has reduced drastically since our son was born and we can't afford treats, holidays abroad etc. Considering my husband is working a 39hr week in a supermarket to support us I thought it would be nice for him.

I just felt it was unfair for me to bear the whole cost of returning the bits he did send, I wouldn't have minded if they had offered to pay half or something.

frivolous_fay

We need to get the word out there that negative feedback isn't a bargaining tool... it's the final word once paypal have concluded their resolution processes

soolin

I understand you were frustrated but you specifically mention you were worried that you would lose your money, and I can't see how leaving negative feedback would assist with that?

If you had started off with the paypal dispute route and waited, and yes it can take some time, you would have been more likely to have had the seller offer the return postage. Sellers are a bit paranoid about negs, so many will just offer return postage as well in a good will attempt to avoid such feedback.