Theoretical Ebay question

malkyh

Lets say I sell something on Ebay, the buyer complains about it being broken and I offer to refund on its return.

The buyer sends back the box the item was in via RM special delivery, but filled with useless items and the item I sent had been kept.

He has a tracking number, I signed for the package.

Will he now be refunded so gets the item as well as the cash?

Crowqueen

Yes, but you will be able to appeal and probably win on that basis.

You can't prevent someone returning an item if they raise a dispute, however - and it's fairly rare on most items for this to happen.

simmed

Crowqueen wrote: »

Yes, but you will be able to appeal and probably win on that basis.

How so? Wouldn't that just be the seller's word vs the buyer's?

"The parcel was filled with junk"
"No it wasn't, it had the item"

Crowqueen

I don't know how it works, it's never happened to me (never had to take any returns) but that's apparently OK - I guess you can argue it out with eBay in some way. There is also reporting for claim abuse.

The buyer will not have the money taken back from them but eBay will reimburse the seller.

GamerInfo

i went through this whereby the buyer said the item was faulty - it went to dispute, the buyer was absolutely horrid all the way through - the case was decided in the buyers favour they sent back via special next day delivery - only they sent me back an empty box!!! Clever buyer used that much packing tape that it took me 20mins to open it - so no chance of opening up on the doorstep!!

They were not that clever though as i kept the original receipt from when i sent the item (via special next day delivery) - obviously there was a noticeable difference in package weight - this weight couldn't be explained by the buyer.

Unfortunately when it comes to an ebay dispute there is little you can do - ebay will refund the buyer regardless, the only thing you can do is stop ebay from pursuing you for the money - as far as the buyer is concerned their job is done!!!!

Paypal on the other hand are a little different - i purchased an item that was originally listed on ebay (this was an off ebay sale) it was paid for and sent - when it arrived it was in an awful state so i contacted the seller - the seller was unwilling to help with the replacement of the broken items so i opened up a dispute through paypal, won the case and was instructed to return it. I did and it was received 24hrs later. Unlike ebay, paypal didn't refund me immediately even though they'd confirmed delivery - the seller 'claimed' items were missing from the box. It took 2wks and around 6 phonecalls to paypal before i was eventually refunded.

The seller obviously appealed this and was also given her money back and they were free to relist it on ebay which they did do some weeks later - using the exact same details - funny how all the stuff they claimed was missing from the box was now included in the ebay relisting......

I had to pursue my first case outside of ebay - consumer direct gave some great advice - it does depend on the value of the item, in my case i was talking over £200, so i was willing to take it all the way - whatever it took to stop these scammers!!!!

Happy_bunny

I had a very similar case a while ago, The buyer claimed an expensive aftershave was fake and opened a particularly nasty and abusive case.

They returned the item via tracked SD yet when it arrived the item was clearly an old, almost empty bottle, they had also wet the inner wrapping and then, when I advised reported to ebay/Paypal I'd smashed the item myself to avoid 'persecution from ebay'!

Paypal did refund on his tracking and it took a phone call with paypal for them to refund me on pictures I'd emailed. I've had a couple of paypal issues both as a seller and buyer and if the case is sound and backed up with receipts they often work out well.