Buyer returned item and it has been worn and tampered with

lulusaver

Hi, I sold an item on auction and to be honest it went for more than it was worth.

The buyer contacted me 2 or 3 days after he should have received it to say it was faulty and could he have a discount. I advised him to return it. The item is a kids Police dressing up outfit and has a little badge to press with a siren. He said it wasn't as described as this was not working.

4 days later he emailed to say he would return it. A folowing 3 days later he said he was going to post it but did not have my address so I emailed it to him.

This morning, another 4 days I have recieved it by recorded delivery but the outfit has been worn. Is dirty and the siren I am sure has been deliberately run down. It is still making an annoying noise now like something was stuck on it. This was a new item and therefore I cannot resell.

Admitedly I think the buyer bid too much for this item as new from woolworths it was half the price but I did have a 99p auction on it and he bid to £11.40.

What can I do. I really don't want to refund this as the item is ruined. What are my options?

Thanks

Awec

It could be more hassle than it's worth, trying to argue with him.

lulusaver

I know it could but if I he had just returned it then that is one thing but he has ruined it leaving me unable to sell again. That is just pretty mean.

Awec

It is yea. It's amazing the lows some people will stoop to.

But I doubt you're ever going to be able to prove that it's been worn, or that it's been deliberately "broken".

lulusaver

Is there any way I can open a dispute or report him to ebay/paypal. I am willing to let this one go to dispute - normally I would just refund.

Awec

I'm not sure how you'd deal with this situation as it has never happened to me before.

matthewcb

Sorry to say this, but you're probably going to end up losing any dispute.

If he paid over the odds I bet he planned it all along. Paypal will always side with the buyer. Ebay buyers have many more rights than they would in a shop. I promise you, you won't win a paypal dispute.

It's not fair, but it might be better to take the loss and add them to the blocked buyers list

lulusaver

Have I got anything to lose by asking him to dispute this? Will I get any bad marks etc? Surely if I offer him something and I have photos etc then paypal can't go all in his favour. Do I have to refund his postage either way? From me to him and him to me?

Awec

lulusaver wrote: »

Have I got anything to lose by asking him to dispute this? Will I get any bad marks etc? Surely if I offer him something and I have photos etc then paypal can't go all in his favour. Do I have to refund his postage either way? From me to him and him to me?

You will go through a lot of hassle and frustration and most likely get nothing out of it.

I said it on another thread, ebay sellers get damn all protection and disputes side with the buyer 99% of the time.

Ms_Chocaholic

Did he return it via a tracked method?

lulusaver

Yes he sent it by recorded delivery.

I thought something was up when he took his time to contact me to send it back. He had it a week before he returned it. I have emailed paypal - is there any way I can contact ebay for advice. I can't find anything on the help. I would love to open a dispute against him but can't. I haven't mailed him yet to say I have received it but am tempted to tell him to open a dispute against me.

Do I have to refund him the postage each way?

Thanks