Ebay moral dilemma (I think)

Gleeful

I'm just pre-empting this. I'm still waiting to hear from the seller.

I bought 3 of the same item (used) from a private seller who had a BIN up with 4 of the item, 1 had already been sold by the time I got to the listing. The seller charged £15.00 per item and £10 postage per item. Because I was buying 3, I messaged the seller to see if he could combine postage and he said yes, I'll knock £10 off. I have not yet received this refund.

Received the item today. He has sent me 4 of the item. I'm assuming he's got mixed up somewhere. Now, I want 4 of this item, so I'd like to keep the extra one. Now, the seller already 'owes' me £10. Shall I just send a gift payment of £5 (meaning I have also paid for the 4th item) and think no more of it?

I know the right thing to do would be to send it back? It's a heavy item so it will cost me around £10 to post back.

What do the folk of MSE think?

toffe

why not tell the seller he sent you an extra item but point out that you would like to keep it and offer him the money for it, less your agreed postage discount.

given the sale price and postage cost you quote above i doubt he'd want to pay you to return it as it would surely wipe out any potential retail profits if he was to re sell it.

Gleeful

He's a private seller. The extra item he sent has been purchased by another ebay user.

Crowqueen

Gleeful wrote: »

He's a private seller. The extra item he sent has been purchased by another ebay user.

In which case he will need to pay to you get you to send it back otherwise he will have an unhappy buyer on his hands and you might feel rather responsible if you insisted on being allowed to keep it.

If it was sent by mistake then you do have a right to ask him for the return postage, but I wouldn't withhold it from someone else if the seller's feedback from them was at stake and you were fairly sure they couldn't replace it.

Though to me, a private seller with four identical items for sale would be starting to raise questions in my mind about how much of a private seller they really were. There may be an innocent explanation (e.g. selling off spare pipes or fittings from a DIY project), but still...

redcard

You should pay the difference, plus extra to cover postage for the 4th item. You got what you wanted, you got a discount on postage.

It's hardly a dilemma.

Gleeful

Crowqueen wrote: »

In which case he will need to pay to you get you to send it back otherwise he will have an unhappy buyer on his hands and you might feel rather responsible if you insisted on being allowed to keep it.

If it was sent by mistake then you do have a right to ask him for the return postage, but I wouldn't withhold it from someone else if the seller's feedback from them was at stake and you were fairly sure they couldn't replace it.

Though to me, a private seller with four identical items for sale would be starting to raise questions in my mind about how much of a private seller they really were. There may be an innocent explanation (e.g. selling off spare pipes or fittings from a DIY project), but still...

The feedback thing is where I feel morally obliged to send it back.

He's definately a private seller. It's a wedding item so quite normal to have many to sell after the event. Indeed, once mine is over I will have 13 of them to sell on!

Sambucus_Nigra

I would contact him and ask him what he wants you to do:
Send it back, once he has paid you the return postage
Keep it, paying for it with a reduction for the combined postage
Send it onto the person who bought it originally, once he has sent you the return postage plus the combined postage discount.

Or you could just keep quiet of course.

Crowqueen

Gleeful wrote: »

The feedback thing is where I feel morally obliged to send it back.

He's definately a private seller. It's a wedding item so quite normal to have many to sell after the event. Indeed, once mine is over I will have 13 of them to sell on!

Always do what feels right. You are entitled to ask for the return postage, though.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

Gleeful

Heard back from the seller.

He thought there were 3 in each box, didn't realise he had sent 4.

He says to keep it. I will be leaving very positive feedback!

jasmineswhiskers

Crowqueen wrote: »

Though to me, a private seller with four identical items for sale would be starting to raise questions in my mind about how much of a private seller they really were. There may be an innocent explanation (e.g. selling off spare pipes or fittings from a DIY project), but still...

Oh come on... Without meaning to sound rude I've never heard anything so ridiculous?!?! I've had a buyer in the past leave me a neg as I had TWO identical items insinuating I wasn't a private seller (they were very happy when they came to pick it up). :eek: Some people should get a grip (or a hobby if they've that much time on their hands!).