Help please with Ebay purchase - item not as described

Scubabe

Hi,
I bought a folding fabric dog crate on Ebay, so that I could crate the dogs when we went camping this weekend.
The crate arrived in good time, but with no instructions for assembly or disassembly.
Using my brains I worked out how to assemble it (there were just 2 poles to click together, and one pole had a smaller diameter than the other, so it popped inside the bigger one). Assembly was stiff, but not impossible (I'm not a big gal, and it didn't need all my muscle!).

Anyway, I got it together, it looked great, good build quality on the canvas fabric, zippers were less than perfect but could have just been stiff because they were new, no big deal.

Now I have tried to disassemble it, so I can fold it up & put it in the car to take camping, and I cannot get it apart again!

I have emailed the seller 4 times asking for better instructions, or a quick video demo, or something, on how to get it apart, and he keeps replying with "the poles just pull apart, keep them straight and pull them apart" - it doesn't work!!

I would like to return the item, as I believe it is not as described, it is not a folding crate, I cannot fold it. It's not just that I am weak, my hubby and neighbour have both tried as well and we cannot get the poles apart now. There is just no give in the pole frame to allow them to come apart an inch.

Only I can't really return the item to the seller, as it's huge when up, and I can't get it down!

So, what should my next steps be?

I have never had a problem on Ebay so am not sure how things work... am I gonna have to drive 3 hours each way to return this thing to him? As it was only £40 then the petrol would cost more than the item?

Many thanks for any ideas!

cally6008

hiya is there a brand name on the crate/fabric that you could search on google for and see if that throws up any help ? or maybe another seller selling same/similar item could offer help ?

TurkishDelight

Have you tried greasing the poles somehow?

Odd question, but the sellers name wouldn't happen to be discobargains would it? http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1993905

fatherazhara

open a PP dispute (ISNAD) if you have to send it back then send it tracked, you will get your money and original postage back but not the second lot of postage, ... often still better than haveing a useless item and be out of pocket for it too.

Scubabe

Thanks all, I think I'll see if I can work out how to ship it back to them - I just don't know if I will be able to find a shipper to take the crate (it's HUGE when assembled!)
Cheers