Buyer claims item was damaged

frugalpam

Becles wrote: »

I sold a lampshade recently on ebay. It was packed in a sturdy cardboard box, with plenty of bubble wrap to protect it.

The buyer has claimed the item has arrived damaged due to insufficient packaging. I don't believe this. I send a lot of items by post/courier for work, and hubby works for RM, so it definitely was packaged well.

I asked the buyer to either send the item back or to send a photo showing the damage, but they are refusing to do so. He said he has binned the item as it was broken, but still wants a refund.

Where do I stand now?

The buyer sent cash in the post to pay for it, so I'm not at the mercy of PayPal!

Like everyone else has said, this person's just trying it on. Just point out that if he had bought it in a real life shop and went in saying he wanted his money back cuz it was broken, but couldn't produce the item, of course he'd be laughed out of the store.
I had a few buyers like that - in the end I gave up Ebay as I couldn't be bothered with the hassle. And that's a pity because the vast majority of Ebayers are honest people, but there's always a small percentage who want to try it on and be greedy and ruin it for a lot of people

Pam

shelovestobuystuff

Don't let fear of negative feedback stop you from doing what is rght in this case.I agree with the other posters in that its very strange he should just bin the item.Let paypal decide, if it gets that far.I am sure it would come out in your favour anyway.
If you do end up with negative feedback because of this, don't worry.Buyers will check back over any neg and see the reason for themselves.I know I always do.

appleblossom

I was going to say the same as Pam - ask your buyer if he could walk into harrods claiming an item was damaged and he wanted a refund but he had binned it - I would be inclined to tell him that you need to inspect the goods and suggest he retrieves them from the bin and takes a picture of them - unless he is very unlucky in that he binned it very early this morning and the dustbin men have been round since, that wouldn't be a problem. No-one in their right mind would throw something out then say they want a refund. As suggested, if he leaves you a neg - follow it up factually - it wouldn't stop me from buying from you put it that way. Please don't refund him though, otherwise he has had your lampshade and cash for nothing.

Becles

Thanks all.

Had a further e-mail saying the packaging was inadequate, and have repeated that he must send either the item back or a photo showing the damage.

It was a spare box from a works project where I had to send glass bottles of liquid to a company address Europe (don't ask!). If the boxes were strong enough to send glass bottles by courier without breakages, then it's certainly strong enough to send a lampshade. It was packed with plenty bubble wrap so the lampshade didn't move in the box too.

Not too worried about a neg, as I've got over 400 positive feedback and only one ranting neg from a seller who sent a misdescribed item that I queried.

charliegirl_3

I too have had a couple of buyers say item arrived damaged. I always ask for proof and if they can provide this (usually an emailed foto) then I refund or replace immediately, whichever they prefer. For the ones unwilling to do this or send the item back my guess is they are chancers as I hear no more about it. Stand your ground Becles x