eBay question

emily_jackson

If you return an item on eBay that doesn't fit the selling description, is the buyer obliged to refund your postage as well as the purchase price?

adandem

You do have a right to claim 'significantly not as described', if you think this is the case, then the seller should refund return postage.

reborndoll

Ebay state that buyers pay return costs, some big companies such as argos will send a pre paid label but not the ordinary person on a private account .Ebay just ask you to post it back via a tracking service and keep a receipt, it is between you and the seller to come to an agreement who pays return post, some people are very good about it and send refunds right back and tell you to keep the item or pay you back extra at paypal to have it returned, it is up to the seller how much goodwill they show the buyer. ebay stays out of it on the whole.

emily_jackson

Thanks for your advice, I bought a Bob the Builder vehicle for my godson, which was described as a friction toy (it should have bands on the wheels to make it move fast), but this is not the case, so am not very happy. It will cost nearly as much as I paid for the item if I have to pay for postage, but it's more the principle really :mad:

techspec

Have you asked the seller?

Any decent ones will pay for return if its their fault.

purple321

Is this a different Bob the Builder vehicle to the one you posted about on the 8th May, as that was missing the bands too but not from ebay was it??

emily_jackson

No, that was a different Bob the Builder toy, from a car boot sale.

I emailed the seller yesterday trying to explain why I'd like a refund. The toy is listed as "friction", which to me means that after rubbing it backwards and forwards on the floor a few times, the vehicle then moves along the floor at a fast pace, making a noise whilst doing so. I would not have bought the toy if it was not listed as friction, I'm making a collection for my godson, and all the others have friction bands round the wheels, however this toy simply moves along at a very slow pace, making no noise. I've tried to explain all this to the seller, however they don't seem to understand why I am unhappy. they don't understand the concept of friction (which they listed the toy as); they are prepared to refund me what I paid, but not the first class postage, which is actually more than what I ended up paying for the toy (I bid against 2 other bidders, and ended up paying £1.70, and £1.95 postage)!

I don't consider myself an unreasonable person, but I definitely would not have bought the item if it had been listed correctly, and feel that it is the seller's error so they should refund the postage, however after discussion, they still say that they stand by their original listing, and will not refund postage, so I would be out of pocket if I returned the item. Do you think I should contact the resolution centre or will it just be my word against her's?

soolin

So you have now bought 2 identical toys with the same bands missing?

Have you asked the manufacturers if there is an issue, or are you just guessing the bands should be there?

Incidentally, there are several BTB friction toys sold on Amazon, none have anything on their wheels.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bob-Builder-Friction-Lofty/dp/B0002RQ0Q4

ballisticbrian

Could be to do with the surface on which you are testing the "friction" toys.

Nerja_2

A "friction" toy is one that moves using the energy you put into it by moving it as you describe and does not use batteries, or is wound up with a key. Basically it has a fly-wheel inside.

I don't think bands on the wheels or the noise it makes are part of that definition.

purple321

I think there are different designs of the toys, they have been making them for over a decade remember. I think I know what you mean by rubber band on the wheel but that is not what makes the toy friction, its the motor thing inside although it may make them grip better to the floor. I think the older style toys will have had the rubbery part and the newer ones don't. They are both still friction though so the seller hasn't described it wrong. I really don't think they would have made a toy that had bands on the wheels that could come off, it wouldn't meet safety standards!

If you really want ones with bands on you will have to look really closely at the pictures or ask the sellers which type they are and try and get the old style.