Correct procedure for item not as described?

flimsier

Can anyone help please?

I bought a tent. It was £60ish.

I didn't put it up for a month (because I couldn't!). It was clearly used, with not enough pegs, but that was ok as it said so in the ad. However, when I worked it out, the tent wasn't any good - and wasn't as described. I wrote to the seller, and was more assertive than I should have been. I regret my tone.

Right, I've worked it out. Of course, I think you already knew this:

The tent is crap. It's got two of its' straps that have sheered away from the tent and need repairing. One of the bedroom hooks has also sheered away. There is mould in the bedrooms and on the edge of the tent, though this hasn't got to a serious level. The poles are old, and though this isn't a problem, one of them is mis-shapen - looks like it's going to crack.

I was expecting an old tent, with a problem with the bag. I wasn't expecting what I got - which now I've managed to work it out is a tent that is long past its use-by date and one that anyone thinking of camping would replace imminently.

I haven't mentioned the problems with a lack of pegs because you mentioned that in the ad, but from my impression it's about 12 pegs short.

Overall, a very disappointing purchase. I'm aware I only have a few days to submit a paypal claim, and I'll be doing that.

I suspect you hoped that we wouldn't notice in time to do anything about it - because there is no way you didn't know about these problems with the tent.

Very disappointed.

This was two days ago; I also opened an ebay dispute.

The seller replied via the ebay dispute the same day:

'Hi xxxxxxx, First of all I would like to take this time to apologise for the problems you have experienced with the tent. I would like it to be known that it was never my intention to deceive and I was honestly unaware of the problems you have noted. I would also like to point out that the tent had not being used for a while and had been stored and moved around several times. I will ofcourse issue a full refund once I have the tent back. If you could supply a collection address and a convenient time for me to collect using a courier (so between 9-5 on weekday) I will arrange a collection at my cost. As you previously expererienced I was more than happy to answer questions and would have been more than happy to co-operate and listen to your issues and respond accordingly in way of full refund, so there is no need to question my ethics as a seller on ebay. Once again I apologise for the inconvenience caused by this and hope we can resolve the situation as soon as possible. xxxxx'

So my question is, can I just do this? Am I protecting myself? What steps should I take to ensure I can't get ripped off?

I don't think she is ripping me off at all, but I want to use this to learn how to do it and protect myself?

I've already learnt that I shouldn't have been so assertive/ aggressive in my message to her - it was unnecessary.

Cheers in advance.

flimsier

I've replied giving a day to pick the tent up next week. What else should I consider?

soolin

To be frank the seller sounds honest and is acting very well in this, I would risk allowing them to collect and just accept the refund.

theonlywayisup

You could ask the courier for the tracking number, most have them with the parcel.

Likewise, I would also thank the buyer and apologise for the initial communication.

flimsier

theonlywayisup wrote: »

You could ask the courier for the tracking number, most have them with the parcel.

Likewise, I would also thank the buyer and apologise for the initial communication.

Yes, I did that when I gave the date. Cheers.