eBay Seller advice...

v_2

Hi I recently sold a pager on eBay. My buyer has recently filed for a "Item not as descriped" dispute. To cut to the chase I am a fair eBayer, 100% feedback etc. I am torn between giving a refund as my description was very accuarate...

"A small and convient pager which can be kept in your pocket or otherwise can be discretly clipped onto your trousers or belt. The pager also has a little hook (ring) which could be attached to a chain.

On the back of the pager is the following:

* PAGER No.
* SERIAL No.
* CUSTOMER SERVICE No.

I have had this item sitting around for a number of years now and can't remember exactly how to use it so it is 'sold as seen'. On putting a battery into the pager the screen comes on and the units starts to beep.

As I don't know how to use the thing, it would be helpful if bidding, you knew how to use a pager."

The first few emails I received from the buyer were "pager doesnt work, can I have my money back". I responded and asked to descripe exactly what the issue was. In repsonse I just got "doesnt work". Finally I managed to find out that she has rang BT and they have ceased the service on these pagers. This is something I truthly didn't know about. Stopped using the pager ~7years ago when mobile phones hit off.

So what do I do? I really don't want to con anyone, but I feel she is just trying her luck with me. The pager works, but BT have stopped their service with it. Surely that isn't my fault? Is my description of the item fair?

Thanks

motorguy

Did it make much?

If they paid by paypal there is more than a fair chance that paypal will rule in their favour. Also if you don't give them a refund they will leave you a neg, which will probably eat at you and will probably say something like 'item not as described and no refund offered', which could affect the price that future items make.

Personally, i'd probably refund....

15lsp

No one forced her to buy it! If they had done their research they would have realised pagers dont work anymore. I wouldnt refund, the item isnt faulty & your description is very honest. Whats the worst she can do? Leave neg feedback?

devizes18193

the problem with pagers is they are locked to 1 servce ie bt easy reasy can not be swaped with one call they are not mobile phones so when bt pulled the plug that was it foer easy reach ( game over ) .The problem is doctors etc still use pagers so its easy to assume that if some one is selling one it'll work .I know beacuse i have done tahat in the past .The seller gave me the refund .

frivolous_fay

I wanted to sell my old pager... then I found out the service was about to be cut off.

You've obviously sold it in good faith... but in fairness, it is a completely useless item.

I'd be really embarrassed and refunding about now.

(I threw mine in the bin)

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I think you should refund the buyer as the item sold is totally useless. Before listing you should have checked whether the item could still be used and stated this in the auction.

stolt

i no it hurts to hear it but i would refund them, i know you didnt intentionally rip anyone off but your'll get a paypal claim and probably a neg. I cant imagine it sold for much, you can lodge a mutual claimback and get your Final value fee refunded if the buyer agrees with you.

motorguy

15lsp wrote:

No one forced her to buy it! If they had done their research they would have realised pagers dont work anymore. I wouldnt refund, the item isnt faulty & your description is very honest. Whats the worst she can do? Leave neg feedback?

The point is that pagers DO work these days - we have them for work and a lot of businesses use them for on call stuff.

this particular one doesn't work as the provider no longer offers a pager service, thus rendering the item useless. To me that makes it 'not working' therefore i think ebay / paypal would rule in the buyers favour. i'd take the hit, refund, and hopefully avoid a neg, which as i've said could take the form of 'item not as described - avoid' which certainly put me off a seller if i was a prospective buyer.

RAMBLER

stolt wrote:

i no it hurts to hear it but i would refund them, i know you didnt intentionally rip anyone off but your'll get a paypal claim and probably a neg. I cant imagine it sold for much, you can lodge a mutual claimback and get your Final value fee refunded if the buyer agrees with you.

I agree. You did sell in good faith, but the buyer has got a completely useless piece of equipment. Imagine if you were in their position?

If you can protect your rating and avoid a neg - it might be worth it.

mishkanorman

I dont think it deserves a refund as although they bought a useless item, the listing does state the seller wasnt sure if it operated correctly. They have made every effort to point out it may be of no use to the buyer.

I would suggest a partial refund on those grounds, say half the price and they keep the pager, if a buyer cant be bothered to investigate items in advance i think they need to take on partial responsibility when it doesnt reach expectations.

good luck keep us updated !!


mishka

motorguy

mishkanorman wrote:

I dont think it deserves a refund as although they bought a useless item, the listing does state the seller wasnt sure if it operated correctly. They have made every effort to point out it may be of no use to the buyer.

I would suggest a partial refund on those grounds, say half the price and they keep the pager, if a buyer cant be bothered to investigate items in advance i think they need to take on partial responsibility when it doesnt reach expectations.

good luck keep us updated !!


mishka

the implication in the listing though was that 'it does work' just that the seller doesn't know how to work it and i quote "it would be helpful if bidding, you knew how to use a pager". is that not like saying of bidding for a car, "it would be helpful if bidding, you knew how to drive", only to find the car had no engine?

there can only be a few quid involved here, refund, or get negged. personally, a neg is worth more than a few quid to me....