Facebook buyer unhappy and wants refund

Ana_M

I posted my 2 year old sofa in good condition on Facebook to sell. Someone wanted to buy it within an hour and pestering me to accept a deposit etc. 
The buyer didn’t ask any questions, didn’t asked to view it, didn’t ask for anymore photos or a video of the item (which I found bizarre). The buyer arrange a delivery company to pick up the item as they live a good 45min-60 mins away. Once the buyer received the sofa then took loads of photos of the sofa and sent them me with a little bit of abuse saying that I have miss sold the item as I stated it was ‘very good’ which I didn’t it was classed as good for a 2 yr old velvet sofa. She also said there was holes in it (but didn’t provide any photos of that). Now is expecting a refund. 

Am I in my rights to ignore this buyer? They never asked questions about the sofa before buying and didn’t visit when they have ample chance and more than welcome. I think the buyer has rushed in to get a sofa. She keeps threatening me with legal action and going to the police- as the sofa is ‘not fit for purpose’. To top it off the sofa came from a pet and smoke free home and they smoke and have pets and I think they might have mistreated the sofa I sold to them. 

This has never happened before and I have sold loads and loads of items on FB from other sofas to electrical items and not one person has complained. 

Any advice? 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Police won't be interested, it's a civil matter  

Legal action could only be small claims and to have a chance of winning the advert would have had to have stated something untruthful. "Good" is very subjective and a weak point to base a small claim on IMHO. 

How much did they pay? 

Ana_M

thanks for the advice- this would never have happened if they just visited my home to check things out. 

£500 as the sofa was expensive and good quality material. 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

If the buyer intends to issue small claims proceedings they should first send you what's called a letter before action, this is just a standard letter in the post to notify you of their intentions to go to small claims if an agreement can't be formed, if they fail to send one it can affect the court's decision to award costs and generally it's advised to wait for this to happen to see if the person's threat of legal action has any merit. 

£500 + what they paid for collection is a fairly sizable sum, if you wished you could post the ad + pics here as well as the buyers photos for opinions on the matter.  

Ana_M

I stupidly deleted it in haste. And now the buyer has blocked me as I ask her to wait until I had got some advice- literally 40 mins ago. 

But how do I know the delivery van and they have not damaged it further. 

diystarter7

A lesson to all for something like this, IE Tell the buyer you are free to view or you have bought as described and in pictures and I offered you viewing and more pictures but you declined.

pinkshoes

If they've blocked you then nothing more you can do.

Otherwise reiterate that the sofa was in very good condition for a 2 year old sofa and had no holes when collected, so if it arrived damaged they need to claim from their courier.

How did they pay? 

Ana_M

Over a bank transfer- but I was literally pestered for them to pay! My Facebook post said it was in ‘good’ condition not ‘very good’

i do feel they should have done some more investigation before they decided to get it delivered etc. even during Covid times people did videos etc if you couldn’t go somewhere. 

user1977

Tell her you're perfectly happy to allow the police's Disappointing Sofa Squad investigate the matter.

pinkshoes

If they paid bank transfer then all is good.

Ignore and see if they take legal action. If they do (unlikely) then just defend it.

Facebook sales are generally for cash and face to face transactions for things like this. They chose not to.

Sounds like buyers remorse. Bet it doesn't fit!

elsien

Anyone who pays £500 for something they’ve not seen or asked for more information about is asking for trouble. Who is that daft?