Ebay sellers - advice please!

hum_lovely

My son sold his iphone for £50 on ebay but wasn't aware he could charge anything other than second class postage so was sent second class without insurance.

It hasn't turned up two weeks later and the buyer wants their money back. My son has spent the money on sweets and parcels to send to his brother who is studying away from home and is very homesick so doesn't have the money to refund to the buyer, who understandably is not happy.

Ebay sellers - what would you advise? Does my son have to refund it, even though the buyer didn't take any enhanced cover out, or didn't request any insurance, or is it his fault/risk for not offering enhanced cover option in the first place?

Thanks in advance:o

Ms_Chocaholic

I'm afraid it's your son's fault, with normal 2nd class post he is only covered for lost items up to £20 and only when he has obtained a proof of posting. He will have to refund buyer.

I'm unsure though whether, if he has a proof of posting, whether he'll be able to claim the £20 even though the item is worth £50 and therefore has been mosted by the wrong method.

Did your son keep a note of the IMEI?

RFW

hum_lovely wrote: »

Ebay sellers - what would you advise? Does my son have to refund it

Yes. If he doesn't refund Ebay/Paypal will force the refund. Nothing else really matters.

If he has proof of postage he could try a claim via Royal Mail but by the sounds of it he stuck a £50 object in a post box with a second class stamp on it.

hum_lovely

He did take it to the post office so does have a proof of posting but it says on the top in handwriting 'Mobile phone not covered'

I understand what you are saying about Paypal etc but surely the buyer has a little of the risk when they agreed to buy knowing that the item would be posted second class only.....?

celestius

hum_lovely wrote: »

He did take it to the post office so does have a proof of posting but it says on the top in handwriting 'Mobile phone not covered'

I understand what you are saying about Paypal etc but surely the buyer has a little of the risk when they agreed to buy knowing that the item would be posted second class only.....?

I think this applies to international sale: enhanced compensation is not available for mobile telephones
However your son should be able to claim £20 for loss within u.k. - unfortunately the balance is his loss, the buyer is not at fault here and Ebay will side with the buyer.

glentoran99

hum_lovely wrote: »

He did take it to the post office so does have a proof of posting but it says on the top in handwriting 'Mobile phone not covered'

I understand what you are saying about Paypal etc but surely the buyer has a little of the risk when they agreed to buy knowing that the item would be posted second class only.....?

Nope. the buyer hasn't got what they ordered would you be happy if you paid for something you never got,


however, its entirely possible they did get it but as it wasn't signed for they knew they could claim, tell them you qill report it stolen and have the IMEI number blocked, and you might find it suddenly turns up, and if it doesn't its something you should be doing anyway,


£50 seems very cheap for an iphone

pinkshoes

hum_lovely wrote: »

I understand what you are saying about Paypal etc but surely the buyer has a little of the risk when they agreed to buy knowing that the item would be posted second class only.....?

They probably deliberately bought it as it was going to be sent second class!!

Being sceptical, I might guess that buyer has it, but knowing it isn't tracked, has claimed non receipt. Scammer's dream!

Have you checked any feedback left for buyer?

It is 100% the sellers responsibility to use the right postage. Tracking is ONLY for the seller's benefit.

Expensive lesson learnt. He needs to refund, or just leave it and Paypal will reverse the transaction.

I would leave tactical feedback of "sorry you did not receive the phone".

JethroUK

hum_lovely wrote: »

My son sold his iphone for £50 on ebay but wasn't aware he could charge anything other than second class postage so was sent second class without insurance.

It hasn't turned up two weeks later and the buyer wants their money back.

You must refund immediately!!!

The buyer has no responsibility for receiving goods

As you decided to sell remotely then seller has 100% responsibility to make sure they receive what they paid for

The courier is acting for the seller.
The courier is the sellers agent
If "your" courier sets fire to "your" parcel it's "your" loss

The buyer should never be made party to any delivery discrepancies

I've just sold a gold token for £175 and buyer has not received it within 48 hours so I refunded in full and asked the buyer to pay me if/when it arrivesarrives which could take up to 30 days and they should not be out if picket for this time

hum_lovely wrote: »

My son has spent the money on sweets and parcels to send to his brother who is studying away from home and is very homesick .....

Pathetic cop out

1/ He has just received £50 and needs to give it backback

2/ Stop making excuses for him

3/ If your son can not shoulder responsibility then you must do it for him

4/ the buyer does not owe him any favour

soolin

The only other thing to add to this is your son sounds like a minor if he is buying sweets, why on earth is he using ebay? The age limit for an account is 18.

19lottie82

glentoran99 wrote: »

£50 seems very cheap for an iphone

Not for an iphone 3, or maybe even 4.......

Just be glad it was "only" £50, it could have been a lot worse.

19lottie82

JethroUK wrote: »

I've just sold a gold token for £175 and buyer has not received it within 48 hours so I refunded in full and asked the buyer to pay me if/when it arrivesarrives which could take up to 30 days and they should not be out if picket for this time

That's not particularly sensible, unless you sent via a "guaranteed" service.

48 hours isn't a long period of time, and you're effectively relying on your buyers goodwill to return your £175 when / if the item shows up.