SNAD - buyer won't refund postage - warning!

bundly

I bought two brand new answerphones off an ebay seller. They were two separate listings.

There were two photos with each listing - one of the box, and one of the phone outside of the box. In both photos the phones were brilliant white.

I paid £3.75 postage for each.

On receipt both phones are dark silver and black. Contacted seller immediately, he said, sorry, don't have any more white ones. Checked both listings, there is nothing mentioned about colour, or substituting a different colour. .

Asked for refund, he said he will only refund for the phones not the postage. Also that I have to send them back recorded delivery.

Asked on the eBay discussion forum, turns out he is not legally obliged to refund the postage, though he "ought" to. Told him this, response was, I am making very little from my ebay business, I can't afford to refund the postage.

Turns out I can't make him.

If I return the phones I will be £15 out of pocket and have nothing to show for it!

ampersand

Why not ebay the phones yourself, waiting for a free listing w/e?

Or, if you live in a village, or near somewhere with a village mag. or village shop, insert a small ad. in these.

Free ads in a small local paper?

bundly

Thanks "&" [lol]

Lots of reasons, firstly, this is an old style of BT phone (1500 Quartet) that I love but which few people would want.

Also, in order not to be out of pocket I would have to ask not only the £12.50 I paid for each phone, but also the £3.75 postage I paid, a total of £16.25. Not sure anyone would pay me that for them... but great idea about the free ads in the local paper... at least it costs nothing to list them!

UnderPressure

ampersand wrote: »

Why not ebay the phones yourself, waiting for a free listing w/e?

Or, if you live in a village, or near somewhere with a village mag. or village shop, insert a small ad. in these.

Free ads in a small local paper?

Why? Because OP shouldn't have to that is why!

I would go and open an Item Not As Described case with Ebay and let them decide, I think if you do this then the seller will be "made" to refund the postage you paid to him although I am not to sure about the return postage.

Someone a bit more knowledgeable on these things will be along soon so keep an eye on this thread.

Whatever you do make sure you send them back by trackable means, ideally special delivery although this will cost an arm and a leg, you could use something like Hermes I am sure they start at around £3.99, again someone else may be able to advise a bit better.

Do not give up though you are not in the wrong here!

You have not left feedback yet have you?

No_Eye_Deer

bundly wrote: »

Asked on the eBay discussion forum, turns out he is not legally obliged to refund the postage, though he "ought" to.

Are you sure they didn't mean you cant force him to send you return postage?

If you open a paypal case, you should get all of your original money back inc postage (not return postage) or am I missing something here.

I would send back by special delivery though.

Strapped

Open a SNAD case. Return the phones by trackable means when eBay tells you to (courier will be cheaper than Royal Mail special delivery - see thread on this board re. cheap parcel delivery). You'll get your money back (item price + original P&P). If you complain hard enough eBay may refund your return postage or provide a returns postage label.

If not, then if you feel REALLY strongly about it you could go down the small claims route to get the return postage back but of course this isn't guaranteed (eg court may decide colour is not a material factor for a phone).

hiccup123

Open an item not as described case....you will get original postage costs back, but not return postage. Also you can leave 2 negative feedbacks because you bought 2 separate listings. Leave the negatives now and then open the case....there is a chance the seller will ask you to revise feedback....if they do you can mention you are not happy with being out of pocket to return it. If you are lucky they may refund the return postage in return for revising feedback. If they do this then wait til you get all your money back before revising feedback

GregtheHammer

hiccup123 wrote: »

Open an item not as described case....you will get original postage costs back, but not return postage. Also you can leave 2 negative feedbacks because you bought 2 separate listings. Leave the negatives now and then open the case....there is a chance the seller will ask you to revise feedback....if they do you can mention you are not happy with being out of pocket to return it. If you are lucky they may refund the return postage in return for revising feedback. If they do this then wait til you get all your money back before revising feedback

Personally I would not leave neg feedback now, it will just make the seller even more uncooperative. By all means do so once you have sorted it.

hiccup123

GregtheHammer wrote: »

Personally I would not leave neg feedback now, it will just make the seller even more uncooperative. By all means do so once you have sorted it.

The seller has already refused to refund return postage and the fault is theirs. That deserves negative. How can he be any more uncooperative than that. EBay will force him to refund the original payment anyway