Not quite sure how to handle this one...

Contains_Mild_Peril

I recently sold an old teddy bear, which I described as "well-loved" and said "No major damage, but plenty of wear which enhances its authentic vintage character: you wouldn't mistake this for a reproduction." I also mentioned that I wasn't sure what the stuffing material was but that it was heavier and less squashy than a modern bear.
The buyer has now sent a message saying that she loves the bear but is afraid to touch him because of his condition. She says the filling is probably woodchip, which deteriorates with age, and his heavy head has sunk into his shoulders and wobbles around when moved. She also mentioned a couple of small holes (one of which she noted "repair attempted") and that his paw pads looked dirty. She thinks professional restoration is needed, and writes "Please kindly advise me". I fear restoration costs might exceed the £14 sale price, but I don't think she will want to return the bear since she seems to be quite sentimental about it.
I looked at the feedback she's left for others in the past, and since 2009 she's left 97 fb, of which 5 are negative and 1 neutral. This strikes me as a rather high percentage.

chancesare_2

Feedback as a buyer does not represent anything. Far too often sellers have poor listings/terms/customer service et al. So unless the negatives were obviously given by a harsh buyer, then I wouldn't pay too much attention to them.

Ultimately you can't offer more than a refund upon return or a partial refund.

theoretica

You could point out that profesional restoration would probably cost so much that the £14 purchase price would be negligible but offer a full refund on return if she feels the bear is really beyond plenty of wear and into major damage. [Wood deteriorates with age? Eh?]
Eg http://www.oldenbears.co.uk/teddy_hospital.htm

lindseykim13

Contains_Mild_Peril wrote: »

I recently sold an old teddy bear, which I described as "well-loved" and said "No major damage, but plenty of wear which enhances its authentic vintage character: you wouldn't mistake this for a reproduction." I also mentioned that I wasn't sure what the stuffing material was but that it was heavier and less squashy than a modern bear.
The buyer has now sent a message saying that she loves the bear but is afraid to touch him because of his condition. She says the filling is probably woodchip, which deteriorates with age, and his heavy head has sunk into his shoulders and wobbles around when moved. She also mentioned a couple of small holes (one of which she noted "repair attempted") and that his paw pads looked dirty. She thinks professional restoration is needed, and writes "Please kindly advise me". I fear restoration costs might exceed the £14 sale price, but I don't think she will want to return the bear since she seems to be quite sentimental about it.
I looked at the feedback she's left for others in the past, and since 2009 she's left 97 fb, of which 5 are negative and 1 neutral. This strikes me as a rather high percentage.

I had a recent situation with a doll which had been described as played with condition with some small signs of play wear. I was then harrassed for over a month about a small mark on the dolls shoulder!
I was also contacted by another seller about her to warn me of her ways.
Basically this buyer moans about the tiniest thing so she can get a partial refund. In my case she started off at half the selling price and went down from there when she realised i wasn't going to budge.
I stuck to the 'please send back for a full refund' which she wasn't happy about. On checking her feedback and follow ups its pretty bad and she clearly does this an awful lot.
She kept threatening to get ebay involved-in the end i told her to but she then came back saying she didn't want to! I wonder why.

Reporting her to ebay did nothing!


I would stick to the please send it back for a refund, i have been put off giving partials now as clearly some are using it as a nice way of not paying full price for their item.