Faulty item I sold is not as described

SimbaSimon

Hi,

Looking for some advice. I'm pretty savy with ebay and have sold quite a few things over the years and never really had any problems until now. I sold a Packard Bell Laptop. Was sold as faulty / for spares only and I didn't have the power cable but until the battery ran out it did work.

Original item description:

Packard Bell EasyNote Laptop - Faulty / For Spares

Does not include power supply or any software. Believe the hard drive may be faulty as couldn't load windows previously.

I believe the processing is a Intel Dual Core but can't currently check as unable to load it without power supply. 1GB Ram.

I posted the item out next day but got the response below today.

Hello the laptop arrived today however it is not as you describe it as there is a short circuit on the power input meaning this laptop is totally useless. I carefully read your description and all it said was you had problems loading windows which is obviously nothing to do with any power fault or mention of it. This laptop is totally useless to me and I will be returning it back to you because you clearly failed to mention this major power fault. I hope we can resolve this without me having to take further steps.

Any ideas? It was sold as faulty and for spares so I think I've covered myself. Or do I take the laptop back and relist it but lose out on postage in the mean time?

Kinda annoying as I listed it for someone else and this happens.

gazfocus

I would reply stating that you had no knowledge of what the fault was and your comment in the description was only your opinion as you said 'Believe the hard drive may be faulty' and as such did not state that as fact.

Myyrrddyn

Also say that you are not a computer technician and these where the faults that where diagnosed by myself. The item is as advertised as I did state for spares or repair. Also be carefull if you do take it back as the buyer may swop it for a different computer, this has been done so many times. Did you mark it in any way so that you can identify the one you sold?

pinkshoes

Packard Bell EasyNote Laptop - Faulty / For Spares

Does not include power supply or any software. Believe the hard drive may be faulty as couldn't load windows previously.

I believe the processing is a Intel Dual Core but can't currently check as unable to load it without power supply. 1GB Ram.

Hmmmm....

If that's what your advert said, then it is a little ambiguous!

It says you couldn't load windows previously (implying that it did actually power up), and then says it has no power supply with it, so it's easily read as it DOES work, but you just can't power it up as you have no power supply.

I'd offer the buyer a full refund when they return it, as your advert isn't clear.

marcowil

The OP listed the laptop as "Packard Bell EasyNote Laptop - Faulty / For Spares" Why on earth would anyone buy it expecting it to work?
Any time I see a listing like this on EBay I assume it is aimed at people who want to take things apart (to get spare parts).

JPS29

What was the category condituion the item was listed in, used, or

For parts or not working
An item that does not function as intended or is not fully operational. This includes items that are defective in ways that render them difficult to use, items that require service or repair, or items missing essential components. See the seller’s listing for full details.


If the latter then I would say you're fine, if the former then even with your spares or repairs by default its SNAD due to the category condition listed in

macfly

Implying a faulty hard drive would make the end price higher. costs buttons to replace it. This sounds like a motherbosrd fault, which is much more expensive. Yes - bought as faulty, but the fault was not described accurately. It does imply that it's an easy fix.

Ihatecameron

Its a tough one, on the one hand you give the impression there may not be much wrong with the laptop and all it really needs is a power lead, on the other hand it was sold as faulty. IMO there has been a slight degree of deception here.

gazfocus

macfly wrote: »

Implying a faulty hard drive would make the end price higher. costs buttons to replace it. This sounds like a motherbosrd fault, which is much more expensive. Yes - bought as faulty, but the fault was not described accurately. It does imply that it's an easy fix.

While technically, you are right, it's actually the buyer that has made the assumption that it's an easy fix. It's totally unreasonable to expect someone that knows nothing about computers to be able to accurately diagnose a fault prior to selling.

SimbaSimon

Thanks for the replies. Just to be clear, it did previously power up and I'm pretty sure all that was faulty was the hard drive. However before I got chance to sell it my friend managed to damage the power cable hense why there is no cable. The operating system recovery was on the laptop hense why no software. I wasn't trying to deceieve anyone just tried to give any useful information, but perhaps I would have been better not saying at all!

It was listed as under 'For parts or not working: An item that does not function as intended or is not fully operational. This includes items that are defective in ways that render them difficult to use, items that require service or repair, or items missing essential components.' Kinda wish I had brought a new power cable now as I don't like to cause problems for others or myself but I didn't want to spend money on something that wasn't of use to me hense why I sold it as faulty.

To be honest, it only sold for £50 and the screens gotta be worth £40 alone without all the other bits.

sequence

If I were your buyer, I'd be expecting a full refund. If you imply/say the HDD is faulty and that it should power up. I'd expect that.

I think your ad was poorly worded though.

Just because someone sells something for spares/repairs doesn't meant that you should expect it to not work at all.