Item not as described - best course of action

flightinfo

Sorry, having just read this through it is really long and is more a vent as I have just received an email from the seller and am not happy! Not a huge amount involved (just over £7.50) but the seller's attitude is bugging me!

I've been buying and selling (more buying) on and off on ebay for a number of years. Not a great user - I dip in and out but have over 130 postive feedback.

Recently, I have bought several items and seem to have had quite a few problems , a couple of which I resolved via ebay help. I had some very helpful advice on this forum on a different ebay issue recently.

I bought a book (seller had over 240 positive feedback) which was listed as new. Item arrived and I could see right away that it was not new as the corners were really dog-eared. On opening the book, there was a name written inside - so was obviously used. I fully accept that people can make genuine errors and that the amount I paid was not large but I'm really getting annoyed at the seller's attitude.
(I could have bought a new book from an online shop for a few pence more and certainly wouldn't have paid this amount for a used book.)

I emailed them straight away politely stating that the book was listed as 'new' but that it was obviously used. They replied the next day (Friday) stating that they had two books for sale, 1 new, 1 used and did i want a partial refund or to send the book back. I was slightly annoyed that there was no apology - just the word 'sorry', I was selling 2 books - would have been sufficient. I checked the buyer's current and completed listings and they were only selling 1 book like mine. I realise they could have been selling elsewhere but my feeling is that it was used as an excuse.

The seller did not state how much refund they were prepared to give so emailed them back on Friday asking how much and also if they were prepared to refund postage if I returned the book. (I know they don't have to refund postage but thought it was worth asking - if it was me, I would as it was my mistake.)

I have just received an email from them stating 'Hi I have already paid money posting this item to you and paying ebay fees for listing it. Please can you send the book back to me. I am not responsible for the return postage.' Well, I paid the p & p £2.50 - post was £2.35 -so I was perfectly happy with this and I paid just over £5 for the book so the fees aren't huge.

I was going to email back asking how much refund they would give if I kept the book but not sure if it is worth it. I'm wary of sending it back as even if I send it tracked I can see it taking a long time to get my money refunded so might just have to keep it and feel annoyed every time I see it! (It's a textbook for my child so is needed.)

I have never left negative feedback before - I've just not left feedback if I wasn't 100% happy but I will definitely be leaving it this time.

geri1965_2

I would leave a neg for the attitude. I am so sick of being messed about by sellers that I can't be bothered p*ssyfooting around any more.

flightinfo

Thanks geri1965. This is how I feel. I don't buy loads but have bought a few items recently and twice have had to get ebay to cancel the sale.

What puzzles me is that if someone has over 240 feedback - 100% positive - that they take this approach.

jetplane

I am similar to yourself (except I don't sell) and I also seem to have had more problems of late. In the past I have not left negative feedback when disappointed with my purchase I just haven't left any. Maybe this is how some sellers keep a high % while still selling the odd dodgy item s no feedback doesn't affect their score.

I know that buyers are open to scammers but recently I received a really poor quality item with a high postage cost that just wasn't worth the cost of paying for tracked return and I also felt scammed.

trukdiver

flightinfo wrote: »

I have just received an email from them stating 'Hi I have already paid money posting this item to you and paying ebay fees for listing it. Please can you send the book back to me. I am not responsible for the return postage.' Well, I paid the p & p £2.50 - post was £2.35 -so I was perfectly happy with this and I paid just over £5 for the book so the fees aren't huge.

I'd neg them for attitude as well. They're relying on you not wanting to pay out more money to return it, then having to buy a new one elsewhere.

Crowqueen

Agreed. I would open a case, get most of the money back as well - try to salvage something from it at least. But that is automatically not positive for me - so a neg wouldn't be overkill given their response, particularly about their fees/postage etc.