Electrical Items

rose_sparky

Are there any rules and regulations regarding electrical items on ebay.

Most charity shops won't accept electrical goods but I have sold quite a few household goods without any problems.

Today I've been having numerous ask seller a question emails from one person querying the wiring and quoting electrical specifications/ebays rules etc etc. I'm tempted to say just go and buy in B&Q and have done with it. :eek:

mishkanorman

chances are if they are this fussy without actually bidding, they will be a P.I.A. if they win. I would point out that you are selling a second hand item (i presume) in good faith and dont have the answer to their many questions. Suggest if they arent happy they do not bid.


mishka

rose_sparky

That's what I thought too.

Yes it's second hand, vintage actually and it says that in the listing, also I have said it would be advisable to have it re-wired but they STILL ask questions!

mrwibble

rose_sparky wrote:

That's what I thought too.

Yes it's second hand, vintage actually and it says that in the listing, also I have said it would be advisable to have it re-wired but they STILL ask questions!

Its a vintage item and they want to know if its up to EU reg 0393023920/2006 ? Of course you have them all on the tip of your tongue !

Either ban them from bidding to save the hassle of their PIA questions or - more reasonably - just delete the emails. I do this all the time with the "what will you take ? Just being cheeky - don't ask - don't get eh matey eh eh eh" questions - life is just too short. Gotta shut up - this gets me started so easily - I really need an autoanswer response email whenever anyone asks a question -

1. Have you tried searching on Google ?
2. Don't ask for my lowest selling price "as its only reached £2.54" when its 6 days before the auction finishes in the belief that a 637 feedback seller does not know the true value of said item and can't check via the Ebay completed item page
3. Yes - you can send this easily damaged heavy item for half the shipping I quote but when it arrives bashed and scratched you might consider the 45 minutes of my time, air cushions, tape, specially purchased double-wall boxes etc that make up most of the rest of that "too high - it must be cheap" charge (and no I won't ship using your courier without a packing / waiting around charge)

Please put me in a straightjacket and take me away .... gibber ....

Oh and to answer the OP question - no regulations except those Ebay impose and generally apply to private sales - just look at the amount of secondhand mowers, kitchen appliances, vintage radios etc sold. Charity shops don't accept secondhand electricals because the regulations apply to them (and for-profit businesses) to test appliances before sale (regulation sponsored by electrical manufacturers assoc) and anyway given the unknown state of these potentially hazardous items would you as a lawyer advising a charity say "OK" ? These items may be faulty, left out in rain, have no instructions, blow up and most of all result in expensive legal actions. Its easier to "just say no".

rose_sparky

I've had another email from the same person telling me that selling electrical items which do not comply with safety regs is illegal and I should remove the wiring.

juno

I used to help out at a charity auction, and they got around the electrical regulations by cutting the plug off. I don't know if this is fully legal, but you could check it out

Hintza

Thank them for their interest and block em. Then pray they don't have another account.

I find (as mentioned above) that buyers that have loads of questions tend to want refunds more often than not. Many whom I have the option of replacing an item or refunding will automatically get a refund and an apology about being out of stock...it will be 50:50 the second one will come back too.