Intimidation by buyer

Austin_Allegro

Of course you should have tested it and demonstrated it also - I did that with all electrical stuff I've sold on ebay that was collected. But...there's no excuse for this person to send threatening emails - he should go through the proper channels. Oafs like this should not be allowed to run business affairs like primary school bullies. Give him back his money but tell him at the same time he is being reported and blacklisted for threatening behaviour.

thelawnet

jon_burrage wrote: »

Hi, I sold a TV on ebay a few days ago. I listed it as working 2 months ago (before a house move) but that it had been in storage for 2 months and as such had not been tested since the move, I said that it worked fine and we had never had a problem with it but that as it had not been used for 2 months and I could not test it that buyers should be aware of this and make their decisions with all the information.

Anyway, it sells, the buyer meets me to collect the TV. He asks me if it works, I repeat that it should because before we moved it was fine but that I have not tested it so I cannot promise.

I thought it would work fine but I didnt want to hide any details from the bidders.

You didn't want to hide any details from the bidders, but it seems that you arranged to meet not at your home? Were you scared about what would happen when the buyer found it didn't work?

How much did it sell for?

I get an email a day later saying it doesnt work and that they are going to come round to my place (which they have the address for somehow)

porto_bello

OP, from your description of events, I am left under the impression that you consciously left your buyer under the impression that he was buying a working TV and are now consciously trying to deny that you did. :think:

It sounds very strange that you arranged for the buyer to collect the TV somewhere other than your own home, unless you knew there would be trouble.

Even more so is your illogical avoidance of testing the TV to ensure it worked.

As the buyer now knows where you live, you stand to lose a lot more than the cost of a second-hand TV, (particularly if your car isn’t securely locked in a garage overnight). _pale_

The easy remedy is to give your buyer his money back and put this down to experience. I suspect the buyer will leave negative feedback stating “TV doesn’t work” or similar, so trying to resell it again and implying it does again would be even more short-sighted, second time around!

lindos90

Personally I would not sell anything that I had not checked, I would want to be confident it was working before I even put up it on ebay. I would also show it working when they come to collect, (just incase the 'ride home' does any damage!)

I dont quite get this 'sold as seen' when collecting in person with ebay sales.

porto_bello

lindos90 wrote: »

I dont quite get this 'sold as seen' when collecting in person with ebay sales.

I believe 'sold as seen' has no legal defintion. As I understand it, if a seller sells something without fully divulging the condition and any faults, (unless agreed otherwise), the buyer has grounds to seek a remedy from the seller.

jon_burrage

i understand some of the comments made but I moved house, when the tv was in my previous house it worked fine but we knew we wouldnt be using at at the new place so we put it in a self store facility along with other belongings of mine. Since when has there been a plug for customers to use at a self store facility? I had the tv stored in a lock up unit....where do I power it up?

I didnt need to give the buyer my address because we met at the self store facility...saves him driving to my place and then on to there, I thought it was the sensible thing to do. Obviously he had my phone number because we needed to ensure we met each other!

jon_burrage

I also want to add that over 8 years I have got 1700 or so feedback and am on 99.8% positive. I dont scam people, I wouldnt want to be scammed myself. I was very willing to offer a part refund because if I was in this persons position I would feel bad too but I also dont feel guilty because I had no idea there was a fault with the TV.

lindseykim13

now it seems a little clearer. to save hassle i would point out that you had mentioned it wasn't tested but if he's willing to bring it back you will refund him. or if they prefer you will offer a partial. not much else you can do.

Barneysmom

I think you should just apologise and refund. Then forget about it.

cats!

Is there any reason why you didn't ask at the self storage place if you could plug it in and test it?