Need advice please

*Rainbow*Warrior*

I had a duplicated gift of curling tongs which I sold on ebay as 'new'. They had never been used. The cardboard insert which held them in place had a bit of a tear which I photographed in the listing.

The buyer emailed saying the plug was broken. I couldn't dispute it because I hadn't checked. I know it was fine when I received the curling tongs as I did plug them in, but then put them back in the box and left them for a few months before selling.

I offered a partial refund and agreed to a return if that was what the buyer wanted. She opted for a return but has waited over a month before sending them back. I've just received them now and the packaging is butchered. The cardboard insert is totally ripped off and the plastic portion of the box is shredded at one end.

I'm not happy - I did say I would refund if they are returned in the same condition. I thought I would get a new plug put on and list them again. But without the box they will be worth significantly less.

I'm not happy about this, but don't know what to do. Advice please?

theonlywayisup

Refund, then if you feel you need to, report the buyer. But block them from buying again.

*Rainbow*Warrior*

I've already blocked the buyer. I don't think there's anything I could report her for??

My suspicion is that ebay are pretty much always on the buyer's side and as long as she can prove she has returned the item that's all they will be bothered about.

It's just really annoying because 1) I agreed to accept the return straight away but she waited over a month to send it back, and 2) now that she has trashed the box it's going to be virtually worthless and difficult to sell on. I had planned to get it repaired so I could sell it, but the box is ruined. I'm always so careful with things like that and I feel upset that the buyer can effectively destroy the item and make it worthless and there's nothing I can do about it.

I'm not a business seller, I'm just a Mum trying to de-clutter and make a few quid to pay off my debts.

RainbowDrops

Surely if you're replacing the plug, the item is going to be worth less anyway, as it is no longer brand new?
It's not they buyers fault that the item was broken.
I myself have sometimes opened new things, not thanking much care with the packaging as I assume I won't need it again, so you can't blame her for doing the same.

Strapped

Are curling tongs worth that much?

*Rainbow*Warrior*

Originally £50 on Amazon - may well have been overpriced, but that's what they cost. I sold them for £28.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diva-Professional-Styling-Triple-Barrel/dp/B004HYTJKC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1361272817&sr=8-3

*Rainbow*Warrior*

RainbowDrops wrote: »

Surely if you're replacing the plug, the item is going to be worth less anyway, as it is no longer brand new?
It's not they buyers fault that the item was broken.
I myself have sometimes opened new things, not thanking much care with the packaging as I assume I won't need it again, so you can't blame her for doing the same.

Yes, but in a box they would be worth more. Plus I am annoyed that she took so long to send them back. I did say I would accept a return in the same condition. As far as I'm concerned this isn't the same condition. Obviously we won't agree on this - personally I do take care with boxes as I think they're important. I know I can't prove it so technically this isn't relevant, but I suspect she damaged the plug herself anyway. I don't see how it could possibly have snapped while still in the box.

BargainJunky

Not defending the buyer but is there a chance that the damage to the box occurred on the way to her hence how the plug got damaged.

If you have the box for the pair of tongs that you kept could you use that to put the 'new' ones in.

*Rainbow*Warrior*

BargainJunky wrote: »

Not defending the buyer but is there a chance that the damage to the box occurred on the way to her hence how the plug got damaged.

If you have the box for the pair of tongs that you kept could you use that to put the 'new' ones in.

No, the plastic 'sleeve' that goes over the box is torn but the cardboard itself is ok, though a bit battered. I suspect, like someone posted earlier, she probably just ripped it when trying to open it. All you need to do is slide the cardboard bit out of the plastic sleeve, but it looks like she's tried to rip it (or cut it) open from the top.

Personally I don't see how the plug could have got damaged like that without the cardboard itself being totally bashed out of shape. It's the top 'prong' on the plug which is plastic, and that prong has completely snapped off - I would imagine it takes some force for that to happen. My suspicion is that she damaged the plug herself... I know I can't prove this but it's nagging at me.

The tone of her emails, and the fact that she's taken so long to send the things back just doesn't seem 'right'. However, I know I have to refund, there's no argument over that, I'm just upset, and I suppose I wanted to have a moan and see what other people thought. I wasn't sure if I should email her and let her know I'm not happy with the condition she's returned them in, or just refund and leave it at that.

I don't think we still have the box for the other tongs, I'm pretty sure my daughter threw that out when she opened them.

susancs

*Rainbow*Warrior* wrote: »

No, the plastic 'sleeve' that goes over the box is torn but the cardboard itself is ok, though a bit battered. I suspect, like someone posted earlier, she probably just ripped it when trying to open it. All you need to do is slide the cardboard bit out of the plastic sleeve, but it looks like she's tried to rip it (or cut it) open from the top.

Personally I don't see how the plug could have got damaged like that without the cardboard itself being totally bashed out of shape. It's the top 'prong' on the plug which is plastic, and that prong has completely snapped off - I would imagine it takes some force for that to happen. My suspicion is that she damaged the plug herself... I know I can't prove this but it's nagging at me.

The tone of her emails, and the fact that she's taken so long to send the things back just doesn't seem 'right'. However, I know I have to refund, there's no argument over that, I'm just upset, and I suppose I wanted to have a moan and see what other people thought. I wasn't sure if I should email her and let her know I'm not happy with the condition she's returned them in, or just refund and leave it at that.

I don't think we still have the box for the other tongs, I'm pretty sure my daughter threw that out when she opened them.

I wonder if the plug is the travel adapter type they have on the GHDs (two pin adpater inside a 3 pin plug with the third prong being a plastic blank one) as my daughter had only used her brand new expensive GHDs a couple of times when the plastic top pin plug got stuck in the plug socket and broke off. She was sent a new plug from GHD when they were contacted without any quibble as it seems it is not an uncommon fault. I must admit that I was not happy with the fact that there was a problem with the GHD plug so soon after purchase and would have insisted on a refund from the manufacturers, only DD was insistant that she had to have the GHDs. I wonder if similar happened to your buyer and they were afraid if they said they had tried the product and it was unfit for the purpose after one use due to the plug breaking, then they would not get a refund, so opted to say the plug was damaged on arrival. If your hair appliance is still under guarantee it may be worth contacting the manufacturers for a replacement plug.

*Rainbow*Warrior*

Yes, it's that type of plug, with a plastic prong at the top. I think you may well be right about what happened. I don't think it's still under warranty but I'll look into it. Thanks.