What's my position??

darich

Hi...hoping someone can give me some advice....

I recently sold an item via ebay which was received on 17th Oct. I left positive feedback for the buyer and a few days later received positive feedback in return.
So I know the item was received in working condition and the buyer was happy with it.
Now, a few days later again, I've started receiving messages claiming the item is faulty and asking for advice. So far I've responded saying that I'm sorry he's having a problem with the item, but there's not much I can do.

If he starts a dispute with ebay/paypal claiming the item is faulty (even though he received it in working condition and left positive feedback) what's the likely procedure to be?
My concern is that I'm instructed to arrange a repair or refund for the item (£126 inc postage) and he returns a faulty item leaving him with my working item, and me with a faulty one and no sale.

Has anyone experienced anything similar???
I should point out I'm a private seller, I also stated in the auction that item had been previously repaired and my feedback is 395 and 100% (including feedback for the above item)

Many thanks in advance

nikki1520

Assuming its an electrical item:-
If he opens a dispute, likely your only option will be to offer a refund on return. Do you have a note of a serial number or such like of the item you sent?

pinkshoes

Put yourself in buyer's shoes - if you spent £126 on an item to have it develop a fault just days later, would you be impressed if the seller responded with 'sorry, it's not my problem'?

darich

nikki1520 wrote: »

Assuming its an electrical item:-
If he opens a dispute, likely your only option will be to offer a refund on return. Do you have a note of a serial number or such like of the item you sent?

No I don't have the serial number of the item (It's a ps3 with a few games and an additional hard drive) because as a private seller I didn't think I'd be obliged to give a warranty.

darich

pinkshoes wrote: »

Put yourself in buyer's shoes - if you spent £126 on an item to have it develop a fault just days later, would you be impressed if the seller responded with 'sorry, it's not my problem'?

I appreciate that if the shoe was on the other foot I'd be less than impressed but I'd also realise that having received a working item from a private seller I might have little chance of any refund. My auction also stated that no returns would be accepted.

Irn-Bru-Kid

A friend of mine sold a fully working ps3 a couple of months ago and it developed a 'fault' within a couple of days of the buyer receiving it.

He arranged for it be returned and was sent back a ps3 with the YLOD. It wasn't the ps3 he sold as his had a large scratch underneath and this did not. Unfortunately he couldn't prove it as the scratch wasn't mentioned in the listing.

So the buyer got a new ps3 and his refund, my friend got screwed.

starrybee

darich wrote: »

I'd also realise that having received a working item from a private seller I might have little chance of any refund. My auction also stated that no returns would be accepted.

Incorrect and irrelevant I'm afraid , a buyer can always open a case regardless of refund policy and whether you're a private or business seller. So long as they send it back tracked they are pretty much guaranteed a refund.

darich

Irn-Bru-Kid wrote: »

A friend of mine sold a fully working ps3 a couple of months ago and it developed a 'fault' within a couple of days of the buyer receiving it.

He arranged for it be returned and was sent back a ps3 with the YLOD. It wasn't the ps3 he sold as his had a large scratch underneath and this did not. Unfortunately he couldn't prove it as the scratch wasn't mentioned in the listing.

So the buyer got a new ps3 and his refund, my friend got screwed.

This is precisely my concern.
I end up with a faulty console and no sale, while the seller (potential scammer) receives a replacement working console for his.

darich

starrybee wrote: »

Incorrect and irrelevant I'm afraid, a buyer can always open a case regardless of refund policy and whether you're a private or business seller. So long as they send it back tracked they are pretty much guaranteed a refund.

Not disputing this but on what basis can they demand a refund when they received it in working order and left good feedback?
I described the console accurately and truthfully. There was no way I could have foreseen it would fail (if it has) within such a short time.

melliott1963

Unfortunately, buyers have 45 days in which to raise a dispute, which is one reason why I've always looked elsewhere to sell this sort of thing. Yes, I may not get so much money for it taking it to Gamestation or CEX, but it avoids just this sort of problem.

darich

Dispute resolved.

Ebay advised that as I had sent a working item and received positive feedback (proving I had sent the item in working order), then it would be up to me whether I accepted a return.

The buyer then opened a dispute. I proposed and he accepted a partial refund.

Case closed.

Thanks for the posts and advice.