Have I sold a fake? What to do???

rebeccauk

Hi All

I sold a CD last week on ebay. It sold for a fairly high price for a CD as it seems to be quite rare. I have had an email from the seller saying the CD is a fake and that they are disappointed as they bought it in good faith.

As far as I was aware (in complete honesty as I know this sounds incredibly dodgy) the CD was geniune. I bought it from another ebay seller a couple of years back but never really used it (it's a hypnotism CD and I was pregnant at the time so was advised against using it so it's sat in my cupboard until I had a clear out).

I can't say that I was ever dubious about its authenticity - the quality looked as normal - glossy paper in the cover, printed CD inside, all seemed ok to me BUT I have to admit that I'm a little wet behind the ears when it comes to fakes etc and wouldn't really know what to look for having never (knowingly) bought one.

Is the buyer trying it on or could I get in serious trouble over this? I'm really concerned as my ebay status is far more important to me than the money I've made from this. In fact I started the listing at only 69p simply to get rid of the thing and so someone else could benefit from it and would have happily sold it for that! Should I offer a refund or is that like admitting that I knew all along?

Rebecca

caeler

Maybe you could ask them what doubts it's authenticity. Unless they are saying it doesn't work!! That would be different and really not your problem!

rebeccauk

It definitely does work because I had another buyer asking whether it played ok all the way through so I checked it to see and no problems getting it going. I will ask why they think it's fake though but I don't want to get into a debate with them at all and really want to preserve the good feedback and my ebay status rather than angering someone so it's a tough one...

ariarnia

If they want to open a dispute then they'll have to prove it a fake - not easy to do and you're not obligated to do a thing until they do.

If you're just more concerned about the morals of the issue, you can ask them to post it back to you (recorded and at their own cost) and you'll refund them the cost of the cd and original postage, and if it's in good order (not scratched to hell) then you might also offer them the return postage.

At this stage it's not a fake, they just think it might be - unless they're a piracy professional they have no authority to judge it a fake or not (see the number of shop keepers that can smell a dodgy £20 from a mile away - honest - and are 50/50 right).

rebeccauk

Hi
Thanks for the reply.
You're right that I'm concerned about the morals of the issue and would never have sold the item if I had any inclination it may have been fake - I'm still not sure but like I said am fairly naive anyway.
I'd like to refund the person on the grounds that if I have sold a fake I certainly shouldn't be taking a profit from the item but I don't want it to come across as if I knew all along and am refunding for an easy life to stop them reporting me etc...
And I'm also not entirely certain whether the buyer may be trying it on? It's a risky gamble I know to accuse someone of selling fakes - especially if the item was genuine. Their other feedback from and to others has been good and no disputes visible.
But thanks I'll weigh-up now my best option -whether to ask them to send back or wait for them to dispute further. :-(

KeithP

What you get returned to you may be an obvious fake. I.e. a copy that the buyer has made, and them claiming that its the one you sent them.

honeyD

Let them prove it is a fake? If they open a dispute for SNAD then they will say its fake and will have to prove it to paypal before they can be refunded.

masterbrown

Its very easy to tell if a CD is a copy, the underside will have a blue or greeny blue tinge to it rather than being pure silver. Most hypnotism discs on ebay are fake and ebay are aware of this so theres a CHANCE that they may just automatically side with the buyer on this one rather than them going down the buyer has to prove its fake route.