another ebay question

[richmond282]

I sold a hairdryer on ebay. It was listed with a picture of the product and all of the information that was written on the box. A buyer from out of the country contacted me and asked if I would ship internationally (it was listed as USA only). I said "sure" and quoted a shipping rate. This person bought the hairdryer.

Fast forward, I now receive an email from the buyer stating that they live in Europe with a different electrical voltage system and I should have told them this hair dryer wouldn't work with their electrical system. Wants to know what I am going to do about it.

I say this buyer contacted ME and could clearly see I had this item listed in the United States. He did not ask me about the voltage before purchasing. Not my fault. I haven't actually sent a response yet.

What would you reply?

 

[erincon23]

Heard the saying "buyer beware?" This certainly applies here -- it was HIS responsibility to check this out. YOu do not owe him a refund -- now he can go on ebay and buy an adapter.

 

[DisDiva2]

I agree. Let them get an adapter. I have been weary selling stuff on ebay for a while now. I always seem to run into a issue.

 

[richmond282]

Thanks guys! You confirmed what I already thought. It's not my responsibility to be "up" on electrical issues in other countries. He should have asked.

 

[starry_solo]

I'm surprised neither you (seller) nor he (buyer) knew that the US and Europe uses different electrical voltages and prongs/plugs. He needs an all-in-one converter & adapter.

1. Did he pay?
2. Did you ship?

 

[AnninIowa]

I am an Ebay seller (6 years and nearly 6000 feedbacks). If you copied all the info from the box, hopefully the electrical info was part of it. If not and the buyers files a complaint with Ebay, expect Ebay to side with the buyer. 99.9% of the time, Ebay sides with buyers, even when the seller is right. This guy could see you are a new seller and be trying to take advantage of you, too. Sadly, it happens. Hope he just gets a converter and leaves you alone!

 

[disneychrista]

As a seller, how do I know that the buyer is not buying it for a trip to the US ? I don't think you are responsible to find out if they can use the thing.

 

[richmond282]

I'm surprised neither you (seller) nor he (buyer) knew that the US and Europe uses different electrical voltages and prongs/plugs. He needs an all-in-one converter & adapter.

1. Did he pay? Yes.
2. Did you ship?Yes. And he gave me positive feedback.

I am an Ebay seller (6 years and nearly 6000 feedbacks). If you copied all the info from the box, hopefully the electrical info was part of it. If not and the buyers files a complaint with Ebay, expect Ebay to side with the buyer. 99.9% of the time, Ebay sides with buyers, even when the seller is right. This guy could see you are a new seller and be trying to take advantage of you, too. Sadly, it happens. Hope he just gets a converter and leaves you alone!

I'm not a new seller. I don't do it for a living, but I have sold quite a few things mostly toys though. I at no point in time led this guy to believe this was anything other than a hair dryer used on our electrical system. It was NOT listed internationally. I guess he searched the united states site.

As a seller, how do I know that the buyer is not buying it for a trip to the US ? I don't think you are responsible to find out if they can use the thing.

This was what I thought or perhaps it was going to be a gift.

 

[SandrA9810]

I wouldn't worry about it. Ebay's return policy doesn't include buyer's remorse. While they do like to side with a buyer, if you contact them first, they can make notes on your account.

There's been a couple of buyer's remorse cases, where they were threatening to open a claim. Ebay can read all messages sent and received, and what the seller tried to do to correct the problem. Sometimes if you give them a heads up on the problem, they'll side with you since you completed your side of the deal.

 

[Robinrs]

I am an Ebay seller (6 years and nearly 6000 feedbacks). If you copied all the info from the box, hopefully the electrical info was part of it. If not and the buyers files a complaint with Ebay, expect Ebay to side with the buyer. 99.9% of the time, Ebay sides with buyers, even when the seller is right. This guy could see you are a new seller and be trying to take advantage of you, too. Sadly, it happens. Hope he just gets a converter and leaves you alone!

I wouldn't worry about it. Ebay's return policy doesn't include buyer's remorse. While they do like to side with a buyer, if you contact them first, they can make notes on your account.

There's been a couple of buyer's remorse cases, where they were threatening to open a claim. Ebay can read all messages sent and received, and what the seller tried to do to correct the problem. Sometimes if you give them a heads up on the problem, they'll side with you since you completed your side of the deal.

Ebay RARELY sides with the seller... take my word for it.

If he paid by PayPal and he opens a claim saying that the item is not what they expected, PayPal will refund them. I doubt if they even READ your response, it's appalling how quickly they'll take the money out of your account.

I've had two bad experiences with buyers since 2002. It hasn't swayed me because I've had thousands of good ones. Both times they were in the wrong and I was forced to refund them. Great for buyers, insanely bad for sellers.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

They may file a claim through Paypal, however, if they want a refund they are required to return the item, at their own expense and you won't be charged the refund to them until the shipping tracking shows it has been received by you. So worst case scenario you have to take it back and refund him. Ebay and Paypal usually do side with the buyer even when the buyer is obviously defrauding a seller.

I would let the buyer know they will need to buy an adapter or return the item at his own expense and you will refund him. I can't imagine someone wanting to buy an American blow dryer and pay international shipping when you can buy a blow dryer new for $10.

When YOU communicate with him let him know you will issue a refund once you receive the item MINUS the original shipping.

 

[richmond282]

Well, he hasn't demanded a refund or threatened to file a claim just wants to "know what I'm gonna do about it." I replied that I was sorry it didn't work on their electrical system and he should try an adapter.

I doubt it would be worth his time or $ to return the item considering how much international shipping costs. I guess if he demands a refund, he can return it at his own expense.

 

[iluvdiscruises]

Well, he hasn't demanded a refund or threatened to file a claim just wants to "know what I'm gonna do about it." I replied that I was sorry it didn't work on their electrical system and he should try an adapter.

I doubt it would be worth his time or $ to return the item considering how much international shipping costs. I guess if he demands a refund, he can return it at his own expense.

It sounds like you already told him to try the adapter, but FYI (t0 all posters here...) most US hairdryers DO NOT WORK with an adapter and will smoke pretty instantaneously when you try (can you tell I have tried this?). I read the box when I got home and it CLEARLY says not for adapter use...lesson learned the hard way as I fried a great hair dryer!

Good luck with the buyer...I too have had a few sneaky ones who I had to refund when ebay sided with them when it was clearly buyers' remorse (and I never got my items back).

 

[MickeyP]

Tell him you will be happy to refund his money. He will never ship it back, so you won't have to worry about it.

 

[tzeitel]

I wouldn't worry about it. Ebay's return policy doesn't include buyer's remorse. While they do like to side with a buyer, if you contact them first, they can make notes on your account.

There's been a couple of buyer's remorse cases, where they were threatening to open a claim. Ebay can read all messages sent and received, and what the seller tried to do to correct the problem. Sometimes if you give them a heads up on the problem, they'll side with you since you completed your side of the deal.

They actually cannot - at least that is what they told me when a buyer was harassing and threatening me. I had all the emails (through Ebay) but was told they could not read them, they told me to try to get the person to use my personal email address and then report him to his IP.

And no Ebay does not usually side with the seller. The buyer just lists "not as described" and they get their money back - as long as they return the item.

 

[rvchat]

ebay always sides with the buyer.

that's why sellers keep leaving them and selling on other sites.

btdt

They actually cannot - at least that is what they told me when a buyer was harassing and threatening me. I had all the emails (through Ebay) but was told they could not read them, they told me to try to get the person to use my personal email address and then report him to his IP.

And no Ebay does not usually side with the seller. The buyer just lists "not as described" and they get their money back - as long as they return the item.

 

[crashbb]

It sounds like you already told him to try the adapter, but FYI (t0 all posters here...) most US hairdryers DO NOT WORK with an adapter and will smoke pretty instantaneously when you try (can you tell I have tried this?). I read the box when I got home and it CLEARLY says not for adapter use...lesson learned the hard way as I fried a great hair dryer!

You need an adapter AND a converter. Many electronics are now dual voltage (or have built in converters), but things like hair dryers do not. Thus, you need the adapter (to fit into the plug) and a converter to convert the voltage.

 

[Robinrs]

They actually cannot - at least that is what they told me when a buyer was harassing and threatening me. I had all the emails (through Ebay) but was told they could not read them, they told me to try to get the person to use my personal email address and then report him to his IP.

And no Ebay does not usually side with the seller. The buyer just lists "not as described" and they get their money back - as long as they return the item.

On both of my cases neither returned the item. I asked for delivery confirmation and never got it. Both were returned their money. They were allowed to steal from me.

 

[rvchat]

On both of my cases neither returned the item. I asked for delivery confirmation and never got it. Both were returned their money. They were allowed to steal from me.

that is so wrong. no one files any cases against ebay? wow

 

[richmond282]

And no Ebay does not usually side with the seller. The buyer just lists "not as described" and they get their money back - as long as they return the item.

But I DIDN'T describe it as being able to be used in Europe. It was listed on the UNITED STATES ebay site.