Refunding after a buyer has left feedback

richie7_2

Hi.

I recently sold some hi fi equipment on eBay that had belonged to my late father. As far as I was aware it was in full working order as it had been working fine the last time it was all hooked up.

I tested it briefly via headphones and it seemed ok.

I started it for 99p, describing it as being "used but in good condition" and it sold for just over 50 quid.

I sent it to the buyer and he said the remote didn't work properly. I'd not tried it but the problem seemed to be that it wouldn't work his other hi-fi equipment (a sort of universal remote). I offered him a few suggestions how to resolve this and after my last email he never got back to me. A few days later he left me neutral feedback on eBay with the comment "thx".

3 weeks later he's contacted me saying that one of the rear channels doesn't work properly and he wants a full refund.

Where do I stand LEGALLY? By that I mean: what am I obliged to do under UK law, not under "the wonderful world of eBay's rules" which only exist to stop them paying out any money (also see "the Kangaroo Court of PayPal" etc). As far as I'm concerned the contract between us is over as I provided him with the goods in a condition that I believed to be acceptable and he left me feedback, thus accepting the goods as they were. I genuinely don't know whether there is a fault with the item but surely there is an acceptable amount of time before someone decides to change their mind?

I have considered giving him a refund if he sends the item back but I don't feel that I should have to refund any postage costs. When I've sold items as "new" on Amazon they've advised that I'm not obliged to refund postage if a buyer changes their mind after a couple of weeks or so. Surely he's "at fault" of sorts if he's accepted the goods (by leaving feedback) and then later changed his mind?

If he'd been a little more polite in his correspondence I might have considered a full refund including postage but I'm not even sure that I'm obliged to refund him anything.

So, as I said at the start of this ramble: does anyone know what I am legally obliged to do?

Thank you.

cyberbob

If he is within 45 days of the sale date he can open an item not as described dispute. He will be told to return the item for a full refund. Paypal will then enforce the refund. Personally I would offer them this without opening the dispute as every dispute opened against you will no effect your policy compliance.

It could be the buyer being a bit dim but there could also be problems with the item. So as far as he is concerned it is not acceptable condition.

If you refused and were out of the paypal claim period he could take you to the small claims and if he could prove the item was not in the condition you described he could win the case and a CCJ etc could be awarded against you. Thats if he could prove his case and was willing to go this far

richie7_2

OK, so would I still be expected to refund the postage? And would I be expected to cover any costs that the buyer would presumably incur when returning the item?

Cheers.

cyberbob

The buyer is entitled to his full original payment. Including original postage (as he paid that) You do not have to refund return postage but if the item is actually faulty most good sellers would.

richie7_2

OK. It'd probably be best for me if I arranged for it to be picked up. If I were to find that the item isn't faulty when I get it back then presumably I would be within my rights to not issue a full refund to include postage etc

pinkshoes

richie7 wrote: »

OK. It'd probably be best for me if I arranged for it to be picked up. If I were to find that the item isn't faulty when I get it back then presumably I would be within my rights to not issue a full refund to include postage etc

I'd get the buyer to arrange to send it back, then when you receive it, test it, and if you agree it's faulty, issue a refund, as well as the cost of returning it.

If you don't agree it's faulty, then just refund initial postage and price paid.