eBay iPhone dispute

Pixie5740

I recently sold my old iPhone 5s on eBay using the "Buy it Now Now or Best Offer" service.

I negotiated a price with a buyer and sent the iPhone off using Royal Mail's Special Delivery Service. The buyer is now claiming the iPhone is locked to a network and wants a refund of £X to get the iPhone unlocked. I know the iPhone is not locked to any network. I bought it directly from Apple without a sim card and have used it with two different networks myself.

Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this? I'm tempted to tell him just to post the iPhone back to me and issue a full refund rather than give him any kind of discount. Funnily enough the discount he has asked for would mean that he would end up paying the same as his initial Best Offer.

pinkshoes

Did you make note of the serial number?

I would just politely say that you bought it directly from the apple store, so not with any network, and therefore it is unlocked. Ask him to try a different SIM card, then ask him to return the phone tracked in the same condition as he received it if he is not happy with it.

Pixie5740

I do have a note of the serial number and took multiple photos before sending it off just in case the buyer claimed there were scratches etc on it.

I've sent the buyer a message explaining that I purchased the handset directly from Apple but that if he wants to return the handset then I'll give him a full refund.

I haven't sold anything on eBay for ages now and situations like this are why I stopped in the first place.

19lottie82

When telling the buyer that you will accept his return, make sure he knows that you have details of the IEMI number etc and any attempts at fraud will be reported to the police and ebay. You don't need to be accusing just say it's standard when selling mobile phones on eBay.

You may suddenly find out that the phone suddenly becomes "unlocked".

chickendipperbabe

You'll find some "savvy" buyers know they're onto a winner and will use the dispute system to extort a partial refund. Had one myself last September on a high value toy joblot, buyer complained regarding damage clearly shown on the listing pictures and wanted a huge partial refund. Do as I did, be as polite as you can and apologise profusely. Tell your buyer you don't do partials and that you'll refund in full once you receive the phone back.

Its pointless arguing and its best to go into damage limitation mode, your buyer has the upper hand and they know it. In my case the buyer opened up a return request but closed it once I accepted the return, I called their bluff but was left with a defect.

Pixie5740

Yes I think you're right. It's a full refund once the phone has returned or nothing.

The time before I sold something the buyer raised a dispute the morning after the auction ended saying the item hadn't been delivered.

I'm now put off selling anything further on eBay.

chickendipperbabe

Up until a few years ago Ebay would have been my first port of call come upgrade time to sell off my old phone, now I wouldn't dream of it. Its Gumtree for me now, cash in hand. Now its just too risky for a private seller to list high value items on ebay, sellers aren't protected enough.

I've just started selling regularly again myself after a long break, just had a huge sort out so lots of old junk to list. Had no problems so far touch wood, its all sub £30 stuff so no big deal if I encounter problems.

Pixie5740

I've got a few other low value auctions ending on Sunday and I think after that then I'll close my eBay account down, or at the very least, never sell anything on eBay again. Decent, reusable items with either go on Gumtree or be given to charity and anything else will just go to the tip for recycling.

Pixie5740

If the buyer does decide to return the handset for a refund then who pays for the return P&P? I sold the item with free P&P if that makes any difference.

Kingsd316

There are plenty of online websites that check the network lock status of an iphone and even apples live chat can also confirm this.

Pixie5740

Yes, I had a look at some of those websites last night and as I thought the handset is indeed unlocked. I already knew this as I've had both EE and Giff Gaff sim cards in the handset.

I think the buyer is at it and is trying to get another £X amount off the phone. I can't be bothered with the headache though and would rather just get the phone back and sell it on Gumtree.