Buyer didn't want to pay for Insurance - goods damaged.

Sievo73

Hi,
I recently sold a model car to a gentleman in Italy for £173 (even though my auction was for UK only buyers - I only found out the buyer was abroad after he'd won the auction) & it has been damaged in transit.

After the auction ended I went to the local Post Office & was quoted a shipping price (with insurance up to £200) of approx £56.
I passed this on to the buyer who said it was too expensive.
I then drove back to the Post Office & got a quote for £34 (with insurance up to £100), this was still too expensive for the buyer.
He refused to pay more than £20 or he wouldn't buy it, saying (quote): "hi, i'm very sorry but i prefer International shipping standards £ 20.00 to Italy without insurance....i purchase alaways Autoart models of this size for the price indicated....I need only a number of tracing if you do not agree I'm sorry but is too expensive.......bye thanks"
Finally (after looking online) the very cheapest postage option I could find was with Parcelforce who charged £21.66 (with just £50 insurance) who collected my very carefully,securely wrapped package last week.

With all of this in mind, as an independent seller am I legally obliged to refund him? My eBay ad clearly stated 'No Returns' & 'Post to: United Kingdom' & on two occasions buyer refused (against my advice)to pay for adequate insurance for the product.
Thanks

JPS29

Even though you specified UK buyers only you must have had your settings not set up to exclude non -uk, that show he managed to purchase,
The buyer will be able to claim back from paypal if you refuse for a damaged item.or SNAD so you may well have no choice in the refund

hermum

Yes unfortunately you will have to refund him.
Insurance is for your benefit as the seller, not the buyer.
When he said your postage quote was too high, you should have asked for a mutual cancellation.
If he opens a case he'll be told to return it tracked at his expense, once it's delivered or a delivery attempted you will have to refund his entire payment including initial postage.
Have you asked him for photos of the damage, if he's trying it on, then you may not hear anymore from him.
You need to block buyers from overseas if you don't want to post internationally.

MyOnlyPost

hermum wrote: »

If he opens a case he'll be told to return it tracked at his expense, once it's delivered or a delivery attempted you will have to refund his entire payment including initial postage.

This could be your saving grace. The Italian postal system is notoriously bad and there's a chance the item will get lost in the system

freddysmith

Your buyer will also be out of pocket and quite annoyed I expect.
He may well ask for his return costs from you.

soolin

Tips for new sellers here including how to set your seller preferences:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1623183

postage requirements for full paypal seller protection here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3146680

Sievo73

freddysmith wrote: »

Your buyer will also be out of pocket and quite annoyed I expect.
He may well ask for his return costs from you.

He can ask...

Sievo73

Ok then, I accept that I'm at fault, (frustrating though it is!) thanks for the info guys.
In my naivet! I didn't realise that the insurance was for my benefit, not for his. If I had I would never have posted without full cover. I'm sure it's all done for a good reason, but it's extremely frustrating when I told him on several occasions he should pay for postage insurance!

It just doesn't seem fair that I'm left with nothing to show for this ordeal but a (now worthless, once worth £173) broken model car...

sequence

In future remember you are the seller - you decide what methods to post buy - if the buyer doesn't like your price tough, they can buy elsewhere.

Don't let the buyer decide what you should be deciding in future

Sievo73

sequence wrote: »

In future remember you are the seller - you decide what methods to post buy - if the buyer doesn't like your price tough, they can buy elsewhere.

Don't let the buyer decide what you should be deciding in future

No need, I think that's the last time I'll be selling on ebay - certainly the last time I'll sell abroad!

hermum

A lot of the regulars on here who sell overseas, don't post to Italy, as there postal system leaves a lot to be desired, I believe.
Have you asked for pictures of the damage?