eBay Advice

TheEffect

I've been using eBay for quite a few years and have had the odd problem, but overall everything usually runs smoothly.

After not using eBay for a few months, I sold an iPhone on ebay a few weeks ago. The iPhone was posted special delivery and received by the buyer on the 25th.

I never heard anything until yesterday, when I received an email saying

''When I received the phone, I was unhappy with the speed of the phone when opening applications, so I sent the phone to o2 to be repaired and they have replied saying the phone is water damaged.

This wasn't mentioned in the description and can you please reply so we can sort out a refund''

I know for sure that that iPhone was fine when posting. I never had any problems with it and it was never exposed to water.

I sent an email back saying

''Sorry to hear about the problems. I can assure you the phone was in full working order when posted and I've never had any problems with the phone. It has never been exposed to water.

Please can you scan and email me a copy of the letter that o2 sent you. This should also contain the IME number of the phone which i can match up with my records. I will also contact o2 to ask about the outcome of this repair.''

What do I do?

mishkanorman

your reply sounds spot on, wait for a reply as you may find they are trying their luck (also isnt 'water damage' quite a standard response from O2)

of course there is no way you can know if they have let the phone come into contact with water since owning it !!

alfiesmum

As they said "When I received the phone I was unhappy with....." any normal person would have returned it to the seller straight away. Not sent it away to be repaired, if they'd only just purchased it surely? I agree with Mishkanorman, they're trying it on here.

I think your reply is excellent, just await their reply now - if there is one that is.

Notice they don't want a contribution towards repair, they want a refund, nah..something fishy there me thinks..

Ames

Wow, o2 are very quick in replying to stuff, 11 days to have it sent off and get a reply back seems very quick.

TheEffect

Ames wrote: »

Wow, o2 are very quick in replying to stuff, 11 days to have it sent off and get a reply back seems very quick.

I thought this exactly. I'll await a reply from them now.

Jakg

A phone wont slow down because it's broken, that would be a software not a hardware problem.

Saying that, all phones have built in moisture sensors and imo they are all a bit of a con - they can be set off by standing in the rain etc...

3_cheeky_princesses

Great reply. Also have you checked their feedback and buying pattern to see if they have purchased any other IPhones and if any were water damaged incase they are trying to get one over on you.....

g1ryt

good reply, don't worry and just tell him no refunds as was sent in good condition. Sounds he's pulling a fast one, damaged his phone then buys another and wants to return his in place of yours. His undoing is by saying that he took it to O2 for repair. Who would do that? if I bought something and was unhappy the seller would hear first and as soon as!! looks like you sold to a conman! might be worth emailing ebay to explain your side first so when he does contact them they'll know your the honest up front person.

TheEffect

The buyer opened a dispute with PayPal today and now I'm -£250 in PayPal.

Here is the message on the dispute from the buyer

Messages
From Buyer - james bishop09/11/2009 09:09 GMT
As I explained in my earlier email I received your I phone on the 27th of October and was unhappy With its speed and general working. On the 29th I sent the phone to 02, and they have replied saying that the phone is water damaged and they won't cover it under the guarantee. They also sent written documentation outlining exactly what was wrong with the phone, which I can forward to you if you like. Obviously there was no mention of this in the items description. I hope we can resolve this matter as soon as possible.

Thank you

What do I do? What do I put in the reply. I can't stand to loose £250. I know the university of the this buyer as well as he used his university email address. I can advice him I'll be informing his university of this attempts to scam people on ebay to shake him up a bit?

soolin

I would caution against telling the uni that you are being scammed unless you are prepared to stand up in court with proper evidence to defend a defamation charge. You may think you are being scammed but that is not the same as being able to prove it and it could get very nasty indeed.

I'd respond formally in paypal and say that phone was in good order when sent but if buyer does produce a letter from O2 then I would suspect you'll lose the case immediately.

itsnotfair_2

Very clever of him to send the phone to o2 on a Sunday, and they have sent a written reply so fast, amazing.
Ask him again to show you online the evidence from o2 containing that number you needed.
Problem with gaurantees on phones is they are nigh on useless, if you study it you basicallly can't use the phone or they say you dropped it down a mountain and it's your fault. Trading standards say really the phones are not fit for purpose.
Sorry off topic there.
This is a tough one given paypals inability to understand what sellers tell them.
If he escalates you will ahve to let him send it back, via a trackable service and he gets refunded. Watch out though that you check any parcels before signing to be sure it is yours in it.