eBay: I sold brand new item, buyer says it is stained

soolin

garfield33 said:

Hi all, the buyer has now come back to say that they really like the item and want to keep it, so could I knock a small amount of money off to cover the cost of a cleaning fluid.
I'm torn between just going along with it for a quiet life (it is only a small amount), or saying that it was fine when I posted it, and asking for a better photo of the "stain". The buyer has made no mention of any damage to the packaging.

It will depend on costs of course but for me it all depends on how I feel, I don't like being taken for a ride. I have replied in the past something along the lines ' thank you for your understanding, However I am happy to take the item back for a full refund if you would be kind enough to return the packaging as well as I would like to see if I can improve my packaging to avoid anything similar happening in future, sorry for any inconvenience'. 

As above though it will depend on costs involved. 

diystarter7

garfield33 said:

Hi all, the buyer has now come back to say that they really like the item and want to keep it, so could I knock a small amount of money off to cover the cost of a cleaning fluid.
I'm torn between just going along with it for a quiet life (it is only a small amount), or saying that it was fine when I posted it, and asking for a better photo of the "stain". The buyer has made no mention of any damage to the packaging.

Hi OP

Just give the buyer the discount and its all done and over as no more paying for postage, waiting for the package that may never arrive and possibility of negative feedback

Personally, I'd tell them no but my to get rid of this problem ASAP,  - however, I'd still worry a bit re people like this not leaving good feedback as mine is 101%

Your choice, good luck, please put a close to it A=Sap

Belenus

garfield33 said:

Hi all, the buyer has now come back to say that they really like the item and want to keep it, so could I knock a small amount of money off to cover the cost of a cleaning fluid.
I'm torn between just going along with it for a quiet life (it is only a small amount), or saying that it was fine when I posted it, and asking for a better photo of the "stain". The buyer has made no mention of any damage to the packaging.

In my opinion this buyer is almost certainly trying it on and is attempting to get a post sale discount. Are there any clues in his feedback, both received and left for others, to suggest that he has tried this before?

In your shoes I would tell him to either keep it or return it for a full refund. I wouldn't care that this risks poor feedback.

If he does leave poor feedback, just reply with a factual account of what happened. That will be useful to others in the future.

Good luck.

Brywalker

In this instance I would be inclined to give them the partial refund and move on.  Of course, add them to your blocked list too.

bris

Ebay keep a note of serial returners as they think they can get away with it all the time, like Amazon they hit a certain limit and  things start to go against them.

Thing is you need to report them to Ebay but sadly we all just sit back and take it so they continue to get away with it because of performance scores etc. 

I have concentrated more on mens wear now as they are much easier to deal with and very few problems with them.

cymruchris

I personally would still offer the full refund and get them to send it back, even if they've stained it. If this sort of thing is normalised, it will become even more widespread. If they get away with it once, they'll keep getting away with it and eroding your sales figures. I'd be very polite and say that you'd rather offer them a full refund on return, and thank them for their co-operation and understanding.

pinkshoes

garfield33 said:

Hi all, the buyer has now come back to say that they really like the item and want to keep it, so could I knock a small amount of money off to cover the cost of a cleaning fluid.
I'm torn between just going along with it for a quiet life (it is only a small amount), or saying that it was fine when I posted it, and asking for a better photo of the "stain". The buyer has made no mention of any damage to the packaging.

Well 50 washing capsules are £10 (or even £9 with a Tesco Clubcard) so that's 20p a tablet. It's about 30p to run a washing machine, so I would offer them a discount of 50p or stick with them opening a "not as described" dispute and sending it back. 

Spoonie_Turtle

pinkshoes said:

garfield33 said:

Hi all, the buyer has now come back to say that they really like the item and want to keep it, so could I knock a small amount of money off to cover the cost of a cleaning fluid.
I'm torn between just going along with it for a quiet life (it is only a small amount), or saying that it was fine when I posted it, and asking for a better photo of the "stain". The buyer has made no mention of any damage to the packaging.

Well 50 washing capsules are £10 (or even £9 with a Tesco Clubcard) so that's 20p a tablet. It's about 30p to run a washing machine, so I would offer them a discount of 50p or stick with them opening a "not as described" dispute and sending it back. 

I've recently received a pair of boots with marks that weren't detailed or shown (including an area where they've tried to get black marker off and lightened the leather) but I love the boots, so much so that I'm willing to look into leather dye to correct it (which will cost about £10 and I'm likely never to need it again) but daren't risk asking for any money back because they'd most likely - rightfully - ask for the boots back for a full refund.  It'll cost me more to do this than it would to get a stain out of clothing, some people really are just chancers.