[eBay] Item not as described. Do I need to pay return postage costs?

jonnywright

Hi,

I received an item which was described as BNIB. Not only is it not brand new but a critical component is missing (its an electrical item).

Is the return postage my responsibility?

Thanks

soolin

jonnywright wrote: »

Hi,

I received an item which was described as BNIB. Not only is it not brand new but a critical component is missing (its an electrical item).

Is the return postage my responsibility?

Thanks

There is no mechanism on ebay to get seller to refund return postage, however a good seller will - so ask.

theonlywayisup

Are you saying it isn't brand new because one piece is missing, or that it isn't brand new AND a piece is missing?

jonnywright

Both. Its a wireless access point. When I received it, the antenna was missing and there was an old config still saved on it. Looking at the buyers feedback they have been buying job lots of PSUs/leads etc so it seems they are refurbing items and selling them on. That isn't that much of an issue to me but I contacted them (haven't mentioned yet that I know it isn't brand new, only mentioned the missing antenna) and they said "all I can suggest it that you return it and I will refund you".

sistafromanothermista

Ebay really need to review their policies on this as it's totally unfair for people in this instance to cover return postage. Ridiculous!

jonnywright

It really is unfair. If I do request a refund, is the seller obliged to refund the delivery cost I paid when I bought it?

I don't know what to do now. The item sold for £40 and I was charged £10 delivery so I paid £50 in all. If the buyer isn't obliged to refund the delivery charge I paid and refuses to cover the return postage I will be £20 out of pocket for a £40 item. So I either lose £20 or am stuck with an item which isn't as described and I still need to pay out approx £10 for the missing part.

I know I can always neg feedback but in my experience, I will just get neg feedback in return.

theonlywayisup

jonnywright wrote: »

It really is unfair. If I do request a refund, is the seller obliged to refund the delivery cost I paid when I bought it?

I don't know what to do now. The item sold for £40 and I was charged £10 delivery so I paid £50 in all. If the buyer isn't obliged to refund the delivery charge I paid and refuses to cover the return postage I will be £20 out of pocket for a £40 item. So I either lose £20 or am stuck with an item which isn't as described and I still need to pay out approx £10 for the missing part.

I know I can always neg feedback but in my experience, I will just get neg feedback in return.

Ok Jonny you need to know a couple of things.

1. You get the entire original payment back when you SNAD.

2. The seller cannot leave anything other than posiive feedback.

To add, Ebay *may reimburse your postage to return, if you are lucky.

So not all is as bad as you think.

jonnywright

theonlywayisup wrote: »

Ok Jonny you need to know a couple of things.

1. You get the entire original payment back when you SNAD.

2. The seller cannot leave anything other than posiive feedback.

To add, Ebay *may reimburse your postage to return, if you are lucky.

So not all is as bad as you think.

I think your username is rather appropriate! Looking for the positives, I like it. I know it was a bit of a rant but it just annoyed me, daft policy IMO.

I have also posted a rant on the eBay forums and someone else just told me that the seller can't neg feedback me so that is good.

I think I'm gonna sleep on it and see what I think in the morning but thank you for clarifying those few points.

theonlywayisup

Rant away, that is fine. But do not fail to act just because you think you will be worse off.

Just because you were charged £x to ship the item doesn't mean it will cost that to send it back, tracked. It won't. So you will be out of pocket a few quid at worst, possibly not if ebay reimburse, but you will have the upper hand on feedback.

jonnywright

I will wait and see what the seller offers. They are a pretty slow communicator so I don't expect a response tonight.