What are my rights when it comes to refunding a buyer?

soolin

heybigsaver wrote:

I'm not really angry, I'm perfectly calm...I'm just a bit wound up.

Just to clarify, lovetoshop was responding to a post that has since been removed, and was not aiming the comment at the OP.

Soo

bleugh

heh, tis busy in work today and someone asking the exact question answered three posts earlier winds me up at the best of times!

BONJOEY

:mad: chill out, i have sent proof of posting of to royal mail now, and i will refund the buyer,

i was just stating that if i brought something of someone on ebay , for say 30 pound and they posted it first class standard,

i recieve item and think, thats cac, ill say i aint recieved and they aint got a leg to stand on!!!!!!

you get me now?:D

BONJOEY

apologies if i have upset anyone, but surly you see where im coming from?

MyUserNamesTaken

BONJOEY wrote:

:mad: chill out, i have sent proof of posting of to royal mail now, and i will refund the buyer,

i was just stating that if i brought something of someone on ebay , for say 30 pound and they posted it first class standard,

i recieve item and think, thats cac, ill say i aint recieved and they aint got a leg to stand on!!!!!!

you get me now?:D

That's why the seller should take out insurance in the form of recorded delivery or special delivery. That way, the buyer can't say they haven't received it. If they do, the seller's got proof the item was delivered (aif it has been) or has adequate insurance to claim from RM (if it hasn't been). Of course, if the item is cheap, you can get a certificate of postaging, which will cover you upto about £30. However, if the buyer says the item is lost, there's no way you can prove it either way when it comes to Paypal, and you will lose any paypal claim for unreceived goods. It's not cack, it's a perfectly good policy which provides protection for both the buyer and the seller. It also stops sellers saying they sent something when they haven't, as Paypal will refund the buyer if the seller can't prove it was sent and received.

Yes, the buyer can say they didn't get the item when they did. However, that won't affect you as long as you have a COP or recorded/special delivery receipt and number. You claim from RM, so you get your money back.

Hourglass

I'm in a similar position to the original poster:

I recently returned a suit to M&S and as the card I used originally to pay for the suit had expired they said they had to give me a credit note. I didn't want to spend that money so put it on eBay and sold it for £84. 22 days later, the buyer still has not received it. She insisted on Recorded 1st Class which I sent it by. Today I called RM and was told that it was lost somewhere and the only compensation I would be entitled to is 12 1st class stamps!

I am pretty p***ed off as the buyer insisted on this method of delivery but also at myself for not double checking this.

I agree with everyone that of course a buyer should get a full refund but I'm losing a lot more than £3.16.... and it annoys me more that RM are so good at losing post.

MyUserNamesTaken

On something of value, Hourglass, you should have made sure you quoted a high enough postage charge to cover insured special delivery when you listed your auction. As stated previously, it's the seller's responsibility to make sure adequate insurance is taken out when posting an item, as it's the seller who loses out if things go wrong. The buyer shouldn't be given the option to choose. Sorry to hear of your problem - it's an expensive lesson to learn.

bleugh

Hourglass wrote:

. She insisted on Recorded 1st Class which I sent it by. Today I called RM and was told that it was lost somewhere and the only compensation I would be entitled to is 12 1st class stamps!

Rollocks!

first class RECORDED covers you up to £32 GBP refund

edit, oops, re-reading and you posted a 'card', it's a technicality, it's not strictly cash or vouchers, if you pushed, you could get your money back

frivolous_fay

But only special delivery covers cash, or vouchers.

Hourglass

The lady I spoke to at RM said that as it was essentially a cash value rather than an item, say a book or some jeans then it came under different rules. Which seems mad to me.....

My own fault - should have done my own research.