Buyer Wants To Return - Not Compatible With Her Computer

mimi1234

ravilious_fan wrote: »

However, I would add that as a seller I would not feel comfortable selling an item if I didn't know basic details about what I was selling.

You are absolutely right, but this buyer was adamant she wanted it in it's sealed packaging so I did not want to open it and then for her to say I don't want it because it's not sealed.

But fair point and I shall take it on board.

Many thanks for your kind input.

The_ICT_Engineer

Flyonthewall wrote: »

USB ports were released in 1996 and produced in 1997 so the computer would probably have to be over 18 years old to not have the port. USB 2.0 was released in 2000, but that's still 15 years. Can't imagine they're using a PC that's over 15 years old. So I'd say almost certainly trying it on, although possibly due to lack of knowledge.

Same here, but as a buyer I'd say the same as it makes sense to know what you're buying, especially at that price, and this buyer clearly didn't.

Usb did not come fitted as standard until after 2000. Up to then only fitted on high end systems or as an after-market fitting. There are many people still using very old PC's. To them, if it does the job, why replace.

LadyDee

If she has opened it then sadly you probably won't be able to resell at the same price. Paypal will require her to send it back at her own cost.

It's a shame she opened a PP rather than an ebay request, because ebay would have been able to see all the messages that have passed between you, especially the one hinting that she's likely to leave you bad feedback.

Flyonthewall

The_ICT_Engineer wrote: »

Usb did not come fitted as standard until after 2000. Up to then only fitted on high end systems or as an after-market fitting. There are many people still using very old PC's. To them, if it does the job, why replace.

That was still 15 years ago (which is what I said).

True, but how many of them PCs are old enough not to have a USB and how many of them users would buy modern products and want them to plug into a computer (despite mains being an option)?

Most would consider any PC over 5 years old to be old. Bit off topic, but I'd be curious to know how many do use old PCs and just how old the PCs actually are (as a main PC that is).

I'd generally assume, and maybe I'm wrong, that most people who have really old PCs are geeks who still love using the old systems, playing the retro games, maybe coding and that type of thing or older people who use a computer every now and then but don't need the latest tech, maybe don't know much about how to use, and so just keep their old one. They certainly wouldn't think to charge/use such a product through a computer.

This buyer doesn't appear to be either. That's not to say it's impossible that she has an old PC with no USB, but I'm certainly not convinced that's her issue.

centretap

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

It's worth remembering that although you appear to be 100% in the right and should be able to refuse a return, more often than not ebay will find in favour of the buyer should they open a dispute.

If the device in question is simply something that uses the computer USB socket for charging, like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-Rechargeable-sliding-Nano-Facial-portable-Steamer-Spray-Home-Spa-Skin-Care-/141778654555?hash=item2102aa955b:g:e3MAAOSwjVVV14V3
then you may be better off contracting the buyer and seeing if they would be happy for you to send them a mains plug usb charger like this:

You can generally get them from a £ or two upwards (you might even have one laying about somewhere).
I realise that you shouldn't have to do this but it might keep your buyer happy and save you getting an opened item back that you would fine hard or impossible to resell.

I would be very wary of cheap non branded USB mains chargers, there are some horrors out there. http://thedorsetknob.co.uk/5246/apple-charger/

Flyonthewall

centretap wrote: »

I would be very wary of cheap non branded USB mains chargers, there are some horrors out there. http://thedorsetknob.co.uk/5246/apple-charger/

When it comes to cheap chargers there are the fake ones that are like 10% of the price the should be and usually don't look quite right in some way. They should be avoided.

Then there's ones direct from China which haven't been manufactured to our safety standards and should be avoided.

Then there's cheap unbranded ones being sold here that should be fine as they should be manufactured to our safety standards. However, they may be more likely to break or not last as long as they're often made from cheap materials (although having said that, people complain about official Apple chargers and they cost a lot lol).

Then there are third party branded chargers which should be fine. They often aren't quite as cheap as the unbranded ones but are cheaper than official ones.

d70cw6

people buy the oddest crap

The_ICT_Engineer

Flyonthewall wrote: »

That was still 15 years ago (which is what I said).

True, but how many of them PCs are old enough not to have a USB and how many of them users would buy modern products and want them to plug into a computer (despite mains being an option)?

Most would consider any PC over 5 years old to be old. Bit off topic, but I'd be curious to know how many do use old PCs and just how old the PCs actually are (as a main PC that is).

I'd generally assume, and maybe I'm wrong, that most people who have really old PCs are geeks who still love using the old systems, playing the retro games, maybe coding and that type of thing or older people who use a computer every now and then but don't need the latest tech, maybe don't know much about how to use, and so just keep their old one. They certainly wouldn't think to charge/use such a product through a computer.

This buyer doesn't appear to be either. That's not to say it's impossible that she has an old PC with no USB, but I'm certainly not convinced that's her issue.

From my client base, about 20% are using machines older than five years (Which includes myself, my main PC at home is nine years old) Not one of them is a geek, They are just people just need a computer to do what they want and no more. Not everyone using Ubook or Facetube, The same thing can be said about twater. Some of my clients are still using machines built in the early ninety's along with their printers which were supplied at the same time.

Same thing can be said about windows, Version 10 may have been released. Yet more than 20% of users are still using XP.

Flyonthewall

The_ICT_Engineer wrote: »

From my client base, about 20% are using machines older than five years (Which includes myself, my main PC at home is nine years old) Not one of them is a geek, They are just people just need a computer to do what they want and no more. Not everyone using Ubook or Facetube, The same thing can be said about twater. Some of my clients are still using machines built in the early ninety's along with their printers which were supplied at the same time.

Same thing can be said about windows, Version 10 may have been released. Yet more than 20% of users are still using XP.

How big is your client base? If it's like 10 people that doesn't say much, if it's thousands that means more.

Although even with thousands that is still quite a small amount compared to how many people have PCs and possibly quite a select group.

What age are the clients generally? I didn't say all would be geeks, I mentioned two groups. Geeks and (generally) the older generation who perhaps don't use computers as much (or as you've said, just need them to do what they want).

Still the clients you mention don't seem the type to buy an item such as the one OP and want/expect to charge it through a PC.

Also, I'm really going to hope you mean Twitter! What you said sounds like it'd be an entirely different site that I don't want to know about lol. Are you making fun of the whole youtube/facebook/twitter thing or just clueless on social media?

A fair amount of people have upgraded to Windows 10. I think after 8 people have been a bit happier to upgrade to 10, although many have still been cautious after disliking 8. I have an older PC with Vista on which is offline and I'm using for just one thing and then my main desktop (Win 7) and a laptop (Win 8). Not a fan of Win 8, but it's not bad enough to want to change it. I've no interest in upgrading.

Windows XP is no longer supported. Still it has been very popular for years, even with the release of new versions, and many people would probably say they prefer using XP and would still use it if they could.

For those who lack knowledge on OS or just computers in general are less likely to upgrade if XP is what they know and like (plus upgrading that may mean upgrading the hardware too. All expense and hassle and confusion). So a fairly large percentage still using XP wouldn't be much of a surprise, although I imagine now the support has gone that the percentage of users for XP has gone down a bit.

The_ICT_Engineer

Flyonthewall wrote: »

How big is your client base? If it's like 10 people that doesn't say much, if it's thousands that means more.

Although even with thousands that is still quite a small amount compared to how many people have PCs and possibly quite a select group.

What age are the clients generally? I didn't say all would be geeks, I mentioned two groups. Geeks and (generally) the older generation who perhaps don't use computers as much (or as you've said, just need them to do what they want).

Still the clients you mention don't seem the type to buy an item such as the one OP and want/expect to charge it through a PC.

Also, I'm really going to hope you mean Twitter! What you said sounds like it'd be an entirely different site that I don't want to know about lol. Are you making fun of the whole youtube/facebook/twitter thing or just clueless on social media?

A fair amount of people have upgraded to Windows 10. I think after 8 people have been a bit happier to upgrade to 10, although many have still been cautious after disliking 8. I have an older PC with Vista on which is offline and I'm using for just one thing and then my main desktop (Win 7) and a laptop (Win 8). Not a fan of Win 8, but it's not bad enough to want to change it. I've no interest in upgrading.

Windows XP is no longer supported. Still it has been very popular for years, even with the release of new versions, and many people would probably say they prefer using XP and would still use it if they could.

For those who lack knowledge on OS or just computers in general are less likely to upgrade if XP is what they know and like (plus upgrading that may mean upgrading the hardware too. All expense and hassle and confusion). So a fairly large percentage still using XP wouldn't be much of a surprise, although I imagine now the support has gone that the percentage of users for XP has gone down a bit.

My client-base is in the thousands, a mix of individuals and companies, both small and large. So a wide range of all types.and ages. But then I have worked in IT for nearly 40 years. Most work I do today is dealing with cyber security and cyber forensics. But I do still do PC repairs and teach to keep my hand in.

As for social media. It is coincided to be one of the greatest aids devised for cyber criminals. Far to many people put to much personal information onto social media sites. Which aids the criminal to commit a crime against the user.

As for Windows 10 many users have been upgraded aginest their wishes due to updates to 7 and 8 to do automation upgrade to 10. One of the main reasons that some still use XP is down to bespoke software not being able to run under later versions of windows. This includes many government departments.