WWYD? SNAD and Mutual Cancellation

jumpedtheshark

I bought an expensive piece of jewellery from a self-proclaimed vintage/antique jewellery specialist in the US. It was SNAD and in a way that they would have known for sure - basically the quality of the main gemstone was nothing like they said it was and there's no way as a specialist that they didn't know that.

Rather than raise a formal dispute, I tried to deal with it informally because I'd heard that even the existence of a dispute (no matter how it's resolved) could harm the seller. I was polite throughout and they agreed to a refund on return. I raised the issue of return postage costs and they said they'd never heard of that before and queried it. When I explained it was because it was SNAD and I thought it was usual to refund return postage, they said they would contribute.

So, they've now successfully received it back in the US and refunded the initial purchase price but not the return shipping. They've filed for mutual cancellation with a note that it's to get their fees back.

TBH I'm a bit peeved. I'm out £8 on the exchange rate on the refund back to my credit card, £17.20 on the return postage, and I've yet to try and recoup the ££ customs fees I paid on the initial import. Presumably I also won't get the £13.50 or whatever it was that Parcel Force took from me to import it. So, I'm out at least £38. Plus this has also been a lot of stress and hassle (particularly stress over the return shipping!), and I feel like the seller hasn't recognised any of that.

I am minded to refuse the mutual cancellation so they don't get their fees back, and leave a neutral or at least a lukewarm positive with a lower number of stars for item description. Am I being too harsh?

lindseykim13

No way i would not agree to the mutual and i would leave a neg-
I am a part time business seller and i would expect exactly that from my buyer if i had treated them that way.
If they have agreed that they mis-described the item then the should be offering you your return postage at least.
Unfortunatly as it's the US you can't enforce our laws on them so i believe other than asking them for the return postage there is not much else you can do other than leave the appropriate feedback.
If i was down that much money i'd be livid!

pinkshoes

I'd also refuse the mutual, or perhaps email them first saying you can't accept a cancellation of the transaction until they've paid the £X return postage.

jumpedtheshark

Thanks for your replies. I wasn't sure what was 'standard' practice, so I'm reassured to see it's not usual and I'm being reasonable. I'll think on it but likely decline the mutual cancellation. Not sure about feedback. Do sellers think less of / are they automatically wary of buyers that have negged a seller?

Wicked_witch

Not if you leave a calm, factual explanation of why

I'd go with pinkshoes' solution as well. Don't mention anything about feedback if you reply, as this can be seen as extortion and your fb removed.

custardy

agreed,if the seller isnt playing ball on the return postage(and as you say,you are out of pocket on top of that) then no way would I help with their 'losses'

pursestring

Agree with the other posters about return postage and feedback.

If you paid import tax you can claim it back -

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/paying-tax.htm

Hope this helps.

RainbowDrops

Make sure you actually decline the cancellation request, if you just leave it the seller will get their fees back.

hiccup123

RainbowDrops wrote: »

Make sure you actually decline the cancellation request, if you just leave it the seller will get their fees back.

Is that right....i thought if both didn't agree to mutually cancel then ebay don't cancel.

I sent a mutually cancel request when a buyer changed their mind and i'm sure it said that the buyer would need to agree for me to get my fees. Maybe i'm wrong

hiccup123

lindseykim13 wrote: »

No way i would not agree to the mutual and i would leave a neg-
I am a part time business seller and i would expect exactly that from my buyer if i had treated them that way.
If they have agreed that they mis-described the item then the should be offering you your return postage at least.
Unfortunatly as it's the US you can't enforce our laws on them so i believe other than asking them for the return postage there is not much else you can do other than leave the appropriate feedback.
If i was down that much money i'd be livid!

i'd leave a neg for something like this too....if they knew it wasn't as described.

Jen_Jen1985

hiccup123 wrote: »

Is that right....i thought if both didn't agree to mutually cancel then ebay don't cancel.

I sent a mutually cancel request when a buyer changed their mind and i'm sure it said that the buyer would need to agree for me to get my fees. Maybe i'm wrong

If the buyer doesn't respond either way within 7 days then the seller can close the request and get their fees back.