Ebay auctioned refund now seller wants item back!?

LittleAoife

Last month I made a purchase on ebay. The item was damaged and I messages the seller asking if I could return the item. The seller firstly said yes but they would only refund me the item cost, I threatened to open a case with ebay and then the seller said they were no longer able to receive a package at their address so could I send it elsewhere ( to a different address). I asked on here if this was ok and was advised to say no and report it to ebay. Thankyou quack quack oops!
I had already opened a case so again asked the seller ( on the case messaging) if I could return the item for a refund, the seller again asked me again to post to an alternative address. I explained to the seller that I was not prepared to do this as it is not ebay policy and I would have no way of proving that they had received the return.
The seller replied saying ' if you send it to the original address it will be returned and you will not get your refund'.
I then asked ebay ( through the escalation) to advise me of what I should do. Ebay offered me a full refund due to non compliance of the seller and sent me an email saying I was right to refuse to return to a different address and that they had given me a full refund.
Now the seller has sent me an email asking me to return the item anyway.
What shall I do?? Before they said that they were not at that address, now they are asking me to return it. Can ebay take my refund back if I refuse to return it?.
I'm not trying to get something for free but I've been messed about so much and don't feel I should.
Of course if people thing I'm being mean I will send it back but then I've lost out on postage on top of all this agro??
Thanks

paulofessex

I would consider offering the seller to organise their own courier at their cost, to collect on a date suitable to yourself. Advise them that you will keep the item safe.

I wouldn't worry to much about if they claim it got lost in transit etc, they cannot make a claim from you via ebay etc.

Don't forget to block the seller so they cannot bid on any of your items you may sell.

themull1

If ebay have given you a refund and not told you to send the item back, dont send it back.! Its not the sellers item now, its yours.

cattie

Great advice from paul. Let's hope the seller in question learns that buyers of damaged items need to be treated fairly from the start.

I'm not sure if you're able to give feedback on this purchase, but if so I'd give him a neg & low stars as well.

LittleAoife

I will offer the seller to have the item collected at their cost. I'll let them know that they can arrange the courier and they can pay for it.
Thanks for all of your advice.

George_Michael

LittleAoife wrote: »

I will offer the seller to have the item collected at their cost. I'll let them know that they can arrange the courier and they can pay for it.
Thanks for all of your advice.

To be honest, I wouldn't even do that at this stage.
At the moment, you don't know if it was the seller that refunded you or if ebay issued a no fault refund (which they pay themselves). If this is the case then your seller still has their money so there is no need to return the goods.

If the refund did come from the seller, you should ask them to send you a paypal gift payment to cover the return costs.
If they arrange the courier, you might well have to wait in all day for them to arrive, but if you get payment up front, you can set the collection time (or drop it off at a post office or courier depot) at a time that is convienient to you.

Ralph-y

Ask Ebay ...............

lordra

I like george M's info, go with that.

slenderkitten

i would contact ebay for advise on whether to return it or not before doing anything.

LittleAoife

Update I contacted ebay with regards to the item and they said, now I have a refund the case is closed and it is my discretion as to whether I return the pram or not. I have again contacted the seller and offered to return the item to the correct address. They said that they would not accept the item being returned to this address as they were away travelling so it would be returned to me. I messaged ebay again who reiterated that it was to my discretion as I have had the refund.
I bought the replacement parts for the item and used it a few times but
The seller contacted me again and asked me to send the item to the origional address on the listing and not the alternative one. Ebay then suggested that as a good will token they will send me a pre paid postage label to cover the return postage. I packed up the pram to send back when I have a day off to wait for the courier.
I then received a phone call from the seller (they apparently got my number via ebay although I did not give ebay permission to send the my number) they said that they spoke to ebay via live chat and that ebay said it is theft and a criminal matter, they told me on the phone that ebay have agreed to take the money back from my paypal account and freeze my ebay account and contact the local police. I got upset and told the seller that ebay have stated clearly that it is my discretion as the whether or not the pram is returned. They called am a liar and asked me to prove it by sending them copies of my emails with ebay which I did. I offered to return the pram or to give them a partial refund back as I managed to replace the broken parts and was happy to keep the pram if I could refund them minus the cost to myself for the parts. The seller the sent me a notice of intention to take me to the court for the full amount for the item. They have said that as I used the item I have remained in contract with them for the item and now owe them this money, they said I admitted to using it now so I have to pay them.
They added to the cost of the item, court fees, their ebay fees, their paypal fees and it now is totaling over £450!!!!! It was only £375 for the item
I got really scared and paid them £300 this is all I have as a good will to draw a line under the whole situation.
I paid them the £300 via PayPal and wrote them an email in return stating that I felt it was only fair as they are refusing a refund that I pay the cost of the item minus the cost to myself for the replacement parts and that for me is my final off.
Now the seller has emailed to say that they don't accent the £300 ( although they have not returned this money to me via PayPal) and they will be proceeding to claim the additional £. 100 plus fees from the court and inform the police as I have stolen their property, in their email they copied in a quote which is from ebay which states ' this is a matter of theft and you need to call the police to get your item back from the buyer'.
They have headed all their correspondence to me with bold letter stating ' 'without prejudice' and I'm now really scared that 1.the police will come and recover the item and I will be liable for criminal proceedings and 2. They will also take me to court for the additional £100.
Can anyone help me regarding this.

littlecutiepie

That's very confusing. I think the mistake that you did is that you have used and replaced some parts of the item while the case is stil running and that's obviously wrong. If ebay refunded you the money and it looks a high value item, they will take it of the seller's account and you should then get a prepaid return label because you can't keep both . Now you have the pram AND the money :Very unfair isn't ?

I would say contact ebay again and again and get an email confirmation of them of what they told you before. Stay on the line until you get the email. Refund the seller the full amount you paid upon purchase. You have used and replaced the item and therefore you have breached the return policy.