Is this Correct?

Jimx26

Came across the below on an eBay item description

I always obtain receipts for items I post so if item lost or stolen it up to you to deal with Royal Mail.

Second Class standard postage offered.

Is this correct? I was under the impression the seller was responsible until the item is delivered?

starrybee

No, it is up to the seller to claim from RM.

I would always avoid sellers with silly t+cs like that, they are always bound to be difficult should something go wrong.

porto_bello

There are a surprising number of sellers - even some BIG sellers - who attempt to overwrite eBay/Paypal terms & conditions, with phrases such as "postage at buyer's risk of loss or damage".

Another 'trick' is "Full refunds must be claimed within 7 days of payment", the trick being that they will hold on to the item so that it arrives after 7 days!

They can't override Paypal/eBay buyer protection, so you do retain cover, but pragmatically, the kind of seller who writes this kind of stuff is a seller to be avoided.

Jimx26

Thanks, they have over 500 feedback all positive but will give them a miss.

Avoriaz

Jimx26 wrote: »

Thanks, they have over 500 feedback all positive but will give them a miss.

I've bought quite a few items from sellers with silly Ts & Cs without any problems.

If the seller has good feedback and the item is at a sensible price, I would go ahead.

There is a very good chance that all will be ok but, if it does go wrong, Ebay and PayPal will enforce their terms not the sellers terms.

techspec

I don't even read t&cs - paypal and ebays are all i care about.

soolin

I agree techspec but sometimes I don't want the hassle. A seller with stupid terms has already shown themselves to be an idiot, so there seems to me to be more chance that something will go wrong and that means spending my time going through disputes with ebay or paypal.

Crowqueen

Same here - I'd rather support the people doing their utmost to please people rather than those who seem to take their buyers completely for granted. There are too many who think people will just buy whatever they say and sometimes it's up to buyers to make a point of not buying.

Avoriaz

If, as above, some people avoid sellers with silly Ts & Cs, that leaves fewer bidders so anyone who does bid is more likely to win at a lower price.

That is one reason not to dismiss them out of hand.

I'll happily take a calculated risk if the price is right.

porto_bello

I don't disagree that eBay's/Paypal's T&Cs are the only one that matter.

However, I would avoid against engaging with any seller who OBVIOUSLY failing to fulfill their responsibilities.

Even if you are always completely in the right, eBay will get cheesed off with having to engage to assist a buyer launching numerous claims.

It's always best to avoid this scenario in the first place - if you possibly can.

Crowqueen

anyone who does bid is more likely to win at a lower price

May end up being a false economy - like the dirty Playmobil that came for one poster or a seller I saw the other day where every item of clothing that they were selling had visible dirt on it and they were whining on the forums about a 'petty' buyer (who bought a coat which was pictured done up without the lining showing - obvious problem being there was no picture of the innards and going by the other listings it might only have sold because there was no visible dirt).

I've also had enough of eBay 'bargains' which turn out to be anything but myself, particularly electronics (either knock-offs or on their last legs).

So I tend to look for things that are priced normally - I might spend a bit more but I'm usually happier with what I get.