Problem after selling Apple Iphone on Ebay

M_Thomson

Hi everyone,

I wonder if anyone could help? I bought 3 Apple Iphones to sell on Ebay while I was on holiday in LA recently. 2 of them have been sold to buyers with no problems whatsoever. I am having a problem with buyer 3. The auction ended on October 4. I received an email from him asking if he sends the money the next day can I post it to him so he can "play with it" over the weekend. I wrote back to him saying I could post it but that he would not get it until around the day after the post strike finished (October 11). He then wrote back saying he would send me the money on Tuesday October 10 so I could send it to him on October 11. I got the money on the Wednesday, so I mailed it to him using special delivery that day.

I then received an email today saying he is not happy with the item. On my auction I mentioned that the phone was brand new but I had to open the box to unlock the phone. I was very careful not to touch the phone and to keep the protective plastic wrapping on it whilst I unlocked it. Obviously there were a couple of finger marks on the wrapping as I had to touch the wrapping to carry out the unlock. He also said that the box was marked, which was a lie. He said it looks like the phone has been played with which again is not true. I unlocked it with the wrapping around it at all times. Never touching the phone. He said that the wrapping covering the screen had finger marks on it which was a lie again. He also said the phone had sticky marks on it which was another lie.

He claims that he bought this phone as a gift even though the week before he said he wanted to "Play with it". I checked his feedback and the day after he won my auction he ordered a cheaper locked version of the Iphone directly from America. I have a feeling that because he got this he is inventing excuses to get out of my auction.

I would appreciate any advice as to what I can do from here. He has asked for a full refund. He said he will send the item back to me. What do I do if I get the item and he has messed around with it making it unsellable? Or damiging it in some way.

My other 2 buyers were more than happy with their phones.

Thanks everyone.

charlottevwa

Ah sorry you are dealing with a complete tw*t!!! I'm afraid that you are probably right.. he has seen a cheaper version, and so wants to back out of yours. Did you take pictures of it before you sent it?? if so you can use these to back up any possible dispute he may open against you.

Your options are:
1) Just take the phone back and refund him AFTER he you have received it back.
or
2) Fight your corner... let him open a paypal dispute against you (you will most likely win this btw, in my opinion)

with option 2... he will leave you a neg I'm sure of it.. but would that be much of a problem for you?? It's not the end of the world.

Now about refunding him... you are right... he could have messed about with the phone... but I reckon it will be fine. As you already know the reason he wants to return it. If you accept it back and refund him, you should get him to take pics of the phone first.. in the condition it is in before he sends it.. that way, you know it is defo in the same condition...

does that make any sense?? I don't half ramble on lol!!!!!!

M_Thomson

charlottevwa wrote: »

Ah sorry you are dealing with a complete tw*t!!! I'm afraid that you are probably right.. he has seen a cheaper version, and so wants to back out of yours. Did you take pictures of it before you sent it?? if so you can use these to back up any possible dispute he may open against you.

Your options are:
1) Just take the phone back and refund him AFTER he you have received it back.
or
2) Fight your corner... let him open a paypal dispute against you (you will most likely win this btw, in my opinion)

with option 2... he will leave you a neg I'm sure of it.. but would that be much of a problem for you?? It's not the end of the world.

Now about refunding him... you are right... he could have messed about with the phone... but I reckon it will be fine. As you already know the reason he wants to return it. If you accept it back and refund him, you should get him to take pics of the phone first.. in the condition it is in before he sends it.. that way, you know it is defo in the same condition...

does that make any sense?? I don't half ramble on lol!!!!!!

Thanks for that Charlotte.

A couple more questions for you,

1) If I do refund him, am I within my rights to refund him the price of the phone minus the postage he paid.

2) If I get the phone back and the phone or packaging has been damaged do I have any recourse?

3) While I decide what to do, should I confront him and tell him what I suspect he is up too?

custardy

i would be loathed to refund tbh.
do you have the phones serial number? he may have swapped it with another.
if you did refund it would be minus the postage you paid for and your fee's for me.
he's returning it over nothing.if he wanted he sealed box he should have got a locked phone

charlottevwa

Well the be honest.. the answer to question 1 is up to you... did you say on the listing that you accept refunds?? I assume not.. (i dont either!) So you should maybe tell him that you are happy to refund him, but you will not refund postage, as then you will be out of pocket (but to be honest, he will probably kick off about this... as he thinks that you are in the wrong here)

2) I have no idea, sorry, hopefully someone else can help you here.. but i think as he will be sending it via special delivery, you could blame the damage of packaging on Royal Mail, and claim money back)

3) possibly yes.. but maybe someone else will advise differently??

Sorry i'm not too much help!!

charlottevwa

custardy makes some good points there... and i personally would not refund either.. i would just let him neg me... he doesnt have a leg to stand on

M_Thomson

charlottevwa wrote: »

custardy makes some good points there... and i personally would not refund either.. i would just let him neg me... he doesnt have a leg to stand on

If I refuse to refund, can he do a chargeback, even though he has the item? I have proof of postage. Along with a tracking no.

charlottevwa

I don't think he can no... so long as he still has the item.. he cannot claim any money back

FloFlo

Is there any chance he could be planning to swap the phone for the cheaper one he bought. I would be tempted to tell him that you am aware of the other phone he has bought and that you have photographic proof showing that the phone was in perfect condition and security details of the phone he has received.

__lsx__

If you ask him to send it back, you could be letting yourself in for more trouble with a buyer like this. Firstly he's contradicted himself as to the purpose he's bought it for, which indicates he's making things up as he goes along. Secondly he might return another phone rather than the one you sent him if he's so inclined. Then you'll have to file a dispute and do all the hard work / stress.

From what you say, you've had two happy buyers for your other two iphones and perhaps they'll vouch for their happiness with your service. I think this buyer is hoping you'll just refund out of 'can't be bothered-ness' rather than sticking up for yourself. If you have supplied two other iphones as described, it's likely the one in dispute was more or less in the same condition. I would imagine that the buyer saying he wants a refund because of finger prints on the screen wrapper making ebay laugh a bit, then reject the dispute.

I'm sorry to rant but I've gone off ebay completely. Just about everything I buy turns out to be a lemon... I bought a cylinder head described as 'ready to fit' and 'in perfect condition'.. turns out it's not perfect to the tune of £160+vat to make it right. The seller has evaporated... wish I could get my money back because of the 'free' spiders it came with let alone a fingerprint:(

marty1888

M_Thomson wrote: »

Thanks for that Charlotte.

A couple more questions for you,

1) If I do refund him, am I within my rights to refund him the price of the phone minus the postage he paid.

2) If I get the phone back and the phone or packaging has been damaged do I have any recourse?

3) While I decide what to do, should I confront him and tell him what I suspect he is up too?

With Phones I always note the IMEI number (both from the sticker within the phone and by pressing *#06#) so that it cant be swapped.
I wouldnt refund him and would fight any dispute he opens.
If you do opt to refun I most definitely wouldnt refund the postage. I would also deduct listing fees for both your auction and for having to list a new auction to sell the phone again.