buyer returning different items

repeatoffender

I sold a bundle of items on ebay - fisher price little people type figures. The buyer emailed and said they were not as she expected. I told her to return them for a refund. She opened a SNAD case - I have now received the bundle but two of the figures are missing and two have been switched.

Is there anything I can do? I have messaged stating different items have been returned but had no reply. I have read enough on here to suspect that ebay will see a return and issue a refund no matter how much I protest. Is that the case?

Thank - you

theonlywayisup

You should use the report a buyer option and ring CS and ask them for help. Send a further message to the buyer giving them one last time to return they items or they will be reported. It probably won't have any effect but it is worth a to.

IME they will refund the buyer and tell you to appeal.

19lottie82

Ask eBay for the buyers details and give them a call to discuss.

Speak to eBay and upload photos of what you had returned, compared to what you sent out.

I'm pretty confident eBay will tell you to refund anyway, but it's always worth a shot.

Past that you can appeal, then it would be the small claims court, but I'm guessing the latter wouldn't be worth your while for some toy figures, unless they were some kind of valuable collectors item.

pinkshoes

Send the buyer a polite email stating that they have sent back the wrong item, and 4 of the original items (list them) are still missing, so you need them to send back these items before you can issue a refund.

If they refuse and get their refund, then send them an email saying that as they have received a refund, then they have 7 days to either re-pay £x for the missing items, or send the items back, otherwise you will have to take them to court for the money. If they do not repay or return, follow this up with a letter before action in the post.

repeatoffender

I suspect that the buyer is not going to answer my emails and wait until ebay refund her. They are not collectables - so not worth the time or effort of a small claims. I would be wasting my time writing letters that I had no intention of following up and I think the buyer is counting on that fact.

I do wonder how many ebay sellers use a small claims court and follow it through where the buyer brazens it out and does not respond to ebay messages.

Thanks for your replies and advice.

campdave

repeatoffender wrote: »

I suspect that the buyer is not going to answer my emails

Which is why it was suggested to you that you request their details and ring them.

Of course, if their contact details are incorrect, you could always report them for that too.

19lottie82

repeatoffender wrote: »

I do wonder how many ebay sellers use a small claims court and follow it through where the buyer brazens it out and does not respond to ebay messages.

I suppose it all comes down to whether a seller thinks it's worth the trouble or not. For an expensive item, if you have proof, then yes, it would be worth it. In your case, not so much.

Unfortunately, this is a common risk these days with eBay, which is a shame.

bxboards

repeatoffender wrote: »

I do wonder how many ebay sellers use a small claims court and follow it through where the buyer brazens it out and does not respond to ebay messages.

Thanks for your replies and advice.

I have used MoneyClaim a couple of times.

It has never come to court as the buyers (actually connman) have paid up before it got that far.

I think if you just shrug your shoulders and let yourself become a victim, then I don't think there is any advice anyone can give.

I use Small Claims because I add the cost my auction to the claim - the buyer pays, not me. I have zero tolerance for scams, no matter how small the value - some scammers may start small and become emboldened, so nip it in the bud with a Final Letter Before Action, and issue procedings via Moneyclaim online 7 working days later.

repeatoffender

I will try customer service for contact details - I have had a look at MoneyClaim thanks - can I just ask when you submit this claim I worked it out at costing £25 then does your buyer have to pay the full cost of this plus the cost of sale and auction fees regardless of whether it goes to court?

pinkshoes

repeatoffender wrote: »

I will try customer service for contact details - I have had a look at MoneyClaim thanks - can I just ask when you submit this claim I worked it out at costing £25 then does your buyer have to pay the full cost of this plus the cost of sale and auction fees regardless of whether it goes to court?

Often scammers have fake details, so request their number, phone them, and if the number doesnt work report them ADAP and enay might find in your favour. (Might!!!)

Your buyer would indeed have to pay the £25 once court action has started and you win. make this clear in the letter before action that they will also be reponsible for costs... Most of them will cough up before you have to take it to court.

Have you looked at previous feedback that might indicate they have done this before?