Gumtree Return?

stereojustice

I bought a set of speakers from someone via Gumtree. When I got the speakers home they sounded in terrible condition. I bought them for gigs but couldn't even use them because they sound so bad. There's no wear and tear to the speakers so they look like they haven't been used much but I've tried different ways and still sound poor. The seller agreed to take the speakers back but every time we arrange a time or date so I can return them he doesn't answer his phone or reply to my texts. This has been going on for a while now. Is there anything that I can do?

lovinituk

Forget it and move on or threaten him with small claims action.

stereojustice

The speakers cost £250 and would buy me another set of speakers. I wouldn't even sell them on knowing the condition that they're in.

lovinituk

stereojustice wrote: »

The speakers cost £250 and would buy me another set of speakers. I wouldn't even sell them on knowing the condition that they're in.

As it was Gumtree I assume you went there in person so would have had an opportunity to test them?

Gumtree provides you with no protection or come-back. If you can't resolve it amicably with the seller then your only option is to take him to small claims court. As it would have been 'sold as seen', I'm not sure how much success you would have.

19lottie82

what lovinituk said ^^^^^^ gumtree really is "buyer beware".

you could take the seller to the small claims court, but unless the buyer had described them in the ad as "sound great" or something similar, you would find it difficult to win. even then "sounds great" is pretty subjective. if you lost you would have to pay the sellers costs also.

you could send a "letter before action" (as an empty threat), hoping it will spur him into refunding, but realistically, that's about it.

take it as a lesson learnt re buying something on gumtree you've never seen / tried out, before handing over cash.

stereojustice

I didn't test them. The guy wasn't there when I purchased them, it was his mum. I know, I should have waited but he was selling a lot of gear. Macbook, lights, midi controllers that looked in excellent condition. I didn't have time to wait around as I travelled nearly 40 miles to collect them.

lovinituk

I would never pay £250 for something on Gumtree that I didn't test first! I think you'll just have to accept your loss and move on. Or take your chances at small claims.

campdave

You have less rights buying in person because you have the chance to inspect before purchase.

Whether or not a small claims court would find in your favour given you had opportunity to test them beforehand is debatable. If you want a guarantee, you need to buy new.

theonlywayisup

stereojustice wrote: »

I didn't test them. The guy wasn't there when I purchased them, it was his mum. I know, I should have waited but he was selling a lot of gear. Macbook, lights, midi controllers that looked in excellent condition. I didn't have time to wait around as I travelled nearly 40 miles to collect them.

Unfortunately that was your mistake.

Travelling 40 miles to buy something is exactly the reason why you should test them, it's not an excuse not to.

RMS2

This reminds me of the old, man in a van con.


I'd be walking down the high st during my lunch hour, when a couple of guys in a small van would pull up.


They'd tell you that they'd just done a delivery of 8 speakers but the warehouse had actually loaded 10.


The paperwork was being thrust in your face to 'prove it'. It would show some high quality high priced speakers.


You'd be offered them well cheap, because they wanted to off load them before they got back to the warehouse.


Of course, the speakers they passed off, were a pile of steaming tat.

heuchera

RMS2 wrote: »

Of course, the speakers they passed off, were a pile of steaming tat.

And probably stolen :eek::rotfl: