ebay - What would YOU do?

[TangaroaTiki]

Good luck with that. Paypal tends to side with the buyer.

 

[Mike2023]

Your description is clear, but it depends on how it was laid out in your sale page. Also the what you named the item. Naming the item "used" is misleading in this case. Should have been named "broken".

I would offer a refund minus the shipping and and ebay fees. You can put it back up for sale and not be out any cash. Seems to me like you where not expecting what you got for it anyways.

Tiki is right, if you let paypal/ebay decide, you might be out the money and the item.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

It sounds to me like the buyer didn't do his homework and read the description. Now, he's angry at himself and taking it out on you. I hope eBay sees the description you listed here. It's very clear.

 

[dansyr2514]

sorry...double post

 

[dansyr2514]

I had an issue like this about a year ago as a seller and I won the dispute. Just be sure to respond promptly and clearly state your case when contacted by ebay. Your listing is very clear and I don't think ebay will fault you.

 

[mikelan6]

It seems ebay has sided with the buyer as a few of you mentioned they would.

The buyer has to return the item to me and will issue him a refund upon receipt. The buyer printed a shipping label one minute after the resolution was issued.

Another thing I learned, by doing a little research on the buyer's feedback page,is that he bought ANOTHER identical adapter from another seller the day before he received mine and paid more than what he paid for mine.

Oh well, lesson learned. I will try and resell it again and make sure I am doubly clear on the wording so that even a can understand it.

 

[WaltD4Me]

It seems ebay has sided with the buyer as a few of you mentioned they would.

The buyer has to return the item to me and will issue him a refund upon receipt. The buyer printed a shipping label one minute after the resolution was issued.

Another thing I learned, by doing a little research on the buyer's feedback page,is that he bought ANOTHER identical adapter from another seller the day before he received mine and paid more than what he paid for mine.

Oh well, lesson learned. I will try and resell it again and make sure I am doubly clear on the wording so that even a can understand it.

I'm sorry they sided with the buyer. I thought your description was very clear.
I read over listings about 10 times before I buy anything on ebay. I would never just go by the listing title.

 

[SamSam]

It seems ebay has sided with the buyer as a few of you mentioned they would.

The buyer has to return the item to me and will issue him a refund upon receipt. The buyer printed a shipping label one minute after the resolution was issued.

Another thing I learned, by doing a little research on the buyer's feedback page,is that he bought ANOTHER identical adapter from another seller the day before he received mine and paid more than what he paid for mine.

Oh well, lesson learned. I will try and resell it again and make sure I am doubly clear on the wording so that even a can understand it.

So sorry that Ebay sided with the buyer...doesn't seem right to me. Lesson to me is to be very careful how things are worded on Ebay!

 

[mytripsandraces]

Did eBay explain why they sided with the buyer?

 

[garettdoyle]

This just confirms my opinion of ebay. Over the years I have done a little bit of buying and selling on ebay. I have heard too many stories like yours to buy or sell on ebay in the future. Too much fraud and idiots for me.

 

[Lewisc]

The buyer wasn't really 100% wrong. I don't think the unit can be repaired. Put whatever disclaimer you want. You can't auction garbage and act surprised if another buyer files a complaint.

It seems ebay has sided with the buyer as a few of you mentioned they would.

The buyer has to return the item to me and will issue him a refund upon receipt. The buyer printed a shipping label one minute after the resolution was issued.

Another thing I learned, by doing a little research on the buyer's feedback page,is that he bought ANOTHER identical adapter from another seller the day before he received mine and paid more than what he paid for mine.

Oh well, lesson learned. I will try and resell it again and make sure I am doubly clear on the wording so that even a can understand it.

 

[mikelan6]

The buyer wasn't really 100% wrong. I don't think the unit can be repaired. Put whatever disclaimer you want. You can't auction garbage and act surprised if another buyer files a complaint.

That is your opinion, but I beg to differ. Many items can be repaired when you know how, or can be used for parts. The automobile junk yard industry is a huge example. It's sad that we have become a society where we throw so much stuff away just because it's cheaper to buy a new one, rather than repair it.

 

[safetymom]

I am sorry to hear they sided with the buyer. I am another one that doesn't use Ebay to sell items.

 

[Disneyrsh]

sure

 

[Lewisc]

That is your opinion, but I beg to differ. Many items can be repaired when you know how, or can be used for parts. The automobile junk yard industry is a huge example. It's sad that we have become a society where we throw so much stuff away just because it's cheaper to buy a new one, rather than repair it.

The problem with a thread like yours is DIS members tend to support ebay sellers. You get a number of posters telling you you're right. Telling you the buyer was wrong. Ebay/paypal was evil for authorizing a return.

Chances are a power surge fried your item. Board level repairs, on an item that retails for well under $100 aren't done. The equivalent of a new MB (circuit board) would cost far more then the unit is worth new.

Cars have hundreds (thousands?) of parts that can be used. Your unit has zero. The only thing that might have value, but probably not even equal to first class postage, is the network cable which you're not including. It is beyond insulting to compare the value of your unit to that of junk car.

The only reason to even take the unit, even for free, is if you thought the person getting rid of the unit didn't know what he's doing and the unit wasn't really broken. THIS ISN'T THE CASE.

I sort of took your side the first time.

Now I hope your next buyer does the same thing.

What you're trying to do is word your auction in a way that allows you to sell it as is (no refunds) but still imply the unit might have some value. It gets to a point where all the language in the world doesn't change the fact that by selling the object you are representing, at least indirectly, it has some value.

You have to decide if getting negative feedback is worth whatever you're making on shipping and handling.

I suspect your buyer bought a couple of powerline adapters on ebay. Kept whatever one worked and returned others.

You want to know where you got in trouble so you can correct your next listing?

Maybe you can fix the main unit or use it for parts.

The unit is not fixable and there aren't any parts to use. You're trying to sell something that has no value. I'll speculate the buyer may have contacted the mfg and been told the unit isn't repairable.

This kind of reminds me of the threads where sellers complain about buyers not purchasing insurance and paypal siding with the buyer when the merchandise arrives damaged. You don't get to change the rules. Seller is responsible if the merchandise doesn't arrive in good shape.

Seller may be responsible (paypal sided with your buyer) if there are issues with the product. You described the unit as something that might be fixable.

It's not.

 

[Cherinva]

The buyer wasn't really 100% wrong. I don't think the unit can be repaired. Put whatever disclaimer you want. You can't auction garbage and act surprised if another buyer files a complaint.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with this. My DBF is an electronics technician, you would be surprised at what can be easily repaired with just a minor weld, or replacing a resistor...it really is sad today that so many electronics are thrown away when all it needs is some minor repair...Mike made it clear in his ad, that the unit didn't turn on....and I think your comment about auctioning garbage was uncalled for...JMO

 

[Lewisc]

Just because you don't think the unit can be repaired, doesn't mean the unit can't be repaired. Unless you're an electronics expert, it's just your mostly uninformed opinion and it means nothing. He sold an item that had the condition clearly stated, then had the buyer complain about the condition.

Too many idiots and crooks for Ebay to really work anymore, imo.

Paypal sided with the buyer. The problem is people don't learn from their mistakes.

OP--Who's the manufacturer and what model? Will the manufacturer repair the product (out of warranty)? Will a place like Best Buy repair the item? Will the manufacturer sell parts for the item? Take the unit apart. Is there a socketed memory chip that might have blown that can be replaced?

My opinion may mean nothing. The opinion of everyone posting in this thread means nothing.

Ebay and paypal's opinion matters. They sided with the buyer. The listing clearly stated the item might be repairable. My guess is the manufacturer will say the unit isn't repairable. Chances are paypal will side with the buyer every time.

No matter how many ways you spin it the OP is trying to sell something that should be thrown out.

edited to add Can the unit even be taken apart? Are there screws? Clips? or Is the unit in a sealed plastic box?

I initially sided with the OP. He didn't realize he was doing anything wrong. Second sale my opinion changes. See how many buyers if you list it honestly. Unit is broken. Has no user serviceable parts.

you get the picture.

The OP asked what would YOU do. I'd throw it out. Does your community have a place to drop off e-waste? OP says he has an issue with throwing out stuff that might be fixable. Try freecycle, I've never used them. I'd learn from my first auction. Like it or not ebay/paypal is going to side with a buyer when you try to sell something as possibly repairable when we all know it's not.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with this. My DBF is an electronics technician, you would be surprised at what can be easily repaired with just a minor weld, or replacing a resistor...it really is sad today that so many electronics are thrown away when all it needs is some minor repair...Mike made it clear in his ad, that the unit didn't turn on....and I think your comment about auctioning garbage was uncalled for...JMO

You don't repair anything electronic with a minor weld. A blowtorch would melt the item. Some things might be repairable with a soldering iron. Ask your DBF about repairing something like a powerline adapter.

The buyer chatted with the manufacturer. My guess is the manufacturer told him the unit isn't repairable. Probably told him the unit doesn't have any user serviceable parts.

You don't have to agree with me. Paypal already told the OP to issue a refund. JMO but the OP is looking for trouble if he relists the item.

Ebay wouldn't be a success if buyers are afraid of being ripped off. Siding with the buyer if there is any question makes some sense. Ebay can function if a few sellers don't like the buyer protection policies and stop selling.


Calling it garbage was kind. The unit has no parts that can be used. It evidently isn't repairable.

You don't have to agree with me. Paypal authorized one return. No reason to think they won't authorize another. Accept the fact that paypal takes the buyer side in cases like this.

An item breaks. My first thought is if I can "fix it" by resetting it. Is there an external power supply "brick"? Is that working? Is the network cable attached firmly? Will it work with another cable? It would never occur to me to see if I can word an E-Bay auction cleverly enough so someone will buy my powerline adapter but have no recourse when he finds out it's completely dead.

A person buys a computer that's broken. Listed as might be repairable. Maybe it just needs a new power supply. Maybe a memory chip is bad. Possibly it needs a new motherboard. The point is it can be repaired and might have some value.

I have sympathy for the poster in this thread who sold a toy that had been chewed on. It was disclosed and the item was still usable. I don't know how chewed it was. At a certain point the item should be thrown out. All the disclosure won't help you if the item is truly junk. I accept your explanation that your picture accurately showed the extent of the damage. Other sellers might not be as honest. Was the toy so chewed up that it was too disgusting for you to keep? Doesn't sound that way but if it was that bad I'd side with the buyer.

There is something to be said for Craig's list or a garage sale. The buyer sees the physical item and makes an offer. He leaves with the item and you get the cash.


I posted too much in this thread. Bottom line is sellers are wasting their time when they list items they know will be an issue if the buyer complains to paypal. You don't have to agree with ebay/paypals side. You don't have to see the situation from the buyers side. You do have to accept the rules. A buyer has rights, no matter what language you put in your listing. Some stuff can be repaired. Some stuff can be used for parts. Some stuff just needs to be thrown out.

 

[Lewisc]

I sent the OP a PM. I think my posts in this thread are excessive. I don't think the OP had bad intentions when he first listed the item. I don't he should have listed it but I see his side of it.

Given the response of ebay/paypal relisting the item is a mistake. Paypal will not always side with the seller if terms like no return and as is are the issue. There is a difference between listing an item that might be fixable/have parts that can be used and an item which has almost no chance of being fixed or containing usable parts.

People who post on DIS tend to be ebay sellers and take the sellers side. You don't have to see the other side of it. Just accept the fact that paypal will side with a buyer, if there is an issue with the product. Your terms won't carry weight if you sold an item which has no value.

 

[BriarRosie]

I sent the OP a PM. I think my posts in this thread are excessive. I don't think the OP had bad intentions when he first listed the item. I don't he should have listed it but I see his side of it.

Given the response of ebay/paypal relisting the item is a mistake. Paypal will not always side with the seller if terms like no return and as is are the issue. There is a difference between listing an item that might be fixable/have parts that can be used and an item which has almost no chance of being fixed or containing usable parts.

People who post on DIS tend to be ebay sellers and take the sellers side. You don't have to see the other side of it. Just accept the fact that paypal will side with a buyer, if there is an issue with the product. Your terms won't carry weight if you sold an item which has no value.

I have never sold anything on eBay, just bought stuff. And I sided with Mike because I thought his listing was clear. As a buyer, I always make sure I know what I'm buying, and if I have any questions, I always ask the seller before I place a bid. If the buyer did not do that, than it's his problem, not Mike's.

I had a problem years ago with a WDCC sculpture I bought. It arrived broken, and the seller never followed through with the insured mail claim. I surrendered my sculpture at the post office and was out my money. It was about 6 years ago, and eBay didn't have this type of protection in place.