Ebay - what would you do?

[tinatark]

I bought a lot of 6 pairs of pants. I paid less than $5 for the lot + $9 shipping, here are the results and the email I sent the seller (450+, 100% positive):


xxxxxxx@aol.com wrote:

Got these pants today - Thanks for the quick ship! I anticipated throwing the black ones away, keeping the rest.

Issues:

2) Blue CALVIN 10, excellent condition -have been altered in length - 4 inches shorter than a pair of Old Navy size 10's

3) Blue CLASS CLUB 12S, excellent condition -these are faded to a gray color

4) Blue EASY FIT GAP 10H, excellent condition -VERY faded

5) Khaki ARROW 12S, excellent condition - this is the only pair I will be able to use from this set

6) Khaki BUGLE BOY 10R, excellent condition in great shape,6 inches shorter than the Old Navy size 10's I have

I do not know what the solution is - I would have very likely bid on the Arrow Khaki colored pants - and paid the flat rate shipping for them. If I had known these other pants were worn and altered, I wouldn't have bid on the lot.

I'd like to come to a resolution that would make this a mutually satisfactory transaction.

Thank You.
Tina

*I copied her auction description to send the first email* I sent that on Wednesday, with no response, so today I resent it , here is her response:
Hello....I'm sorry that you had a problem with the pants. I thought that I described them well. What can I do to resolve this for you?

So, I'm ending up paying $12 for one pair of pants. Too much for an ebay auction! Resolution suggestions, anyone? I know the $$ isn't that much, but the auction was deliberately misleading!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Did the auction list inseam measurements? I know that whenever I listed clothing, especially pants, I received many emails from potential buyers asking me for inseam measurements. Comparing the length from a pair of Old Navy pants to Calvin or Bugle Boys brands is not necessarily a valid test. I find that Old Navy and GAP brands tend to run long. At 5'7", I wear a Regular length from those brands even though I wear TALL jeans in other brands.

As for the descriptions, your idea of "excellent condition" and someone else's may be entirely different. To me, it means gently worn, with no tears, rips, loose seams, missing buttons and minimal fading. If the item has never been worn, then I would expect that it would be described as NWT or NWOT (new with/without tags). It appears to me that the degree of fading is an issue for you but not for the seller, hence the dispute over the condition of the clothing.

I would suggest that a possible solution would be for the seller to refund the difference in shipping cost between a flat rate parcel and the $9 that you spent to ship all 6 pairs of pants. I see no reason to give a partial refund for the items you feel that you cannot use. Since you paid less than $1 each for them, it's hardly worth the hassle.

I hope that the two of you can resolve your differences. I sounds as if she is an honorable seller and is willing to work with you to make you a happy customer.

 

[ohiominnie]

3) Blue CLASS CLUB 12S, excellent condition -these are faded to a gray color

4) Blue EASY FIT GAP 10H, excellent condition -VERY faded

Maybe this seller's descriptions were wrong, but it appears your email back to him/her was unclear too... I'm confused how you can say a pair of pants is in "excellent condition" and yet they are "faded to a gray color." same with "excellent condition" and "very faded."

I'd also go with the refund of shipping charges. Tell her you noticed her feedback was very high and you don't want to have to give her negative feedback for not working with you. Good luck. Donate those other pairs to the Salvation Army and at least something good will come of them.

 

[wendyl]

Were there pictures in the listing? How were these described? Did you ask for more pictures, or for more details before you bid? Are you just assuming these are altered because of the difference in length with another brand (which is not a good measure)---or can you tell by the way they have been hemmed?

 

[SandrA9810]

For me, if you want to save a few dollars, go to a salvation army store. And every day they have a different colored tag that gets you 50% off. Plus you can try them on in the store.
You realize how many pairs of pants have the original tags on them?? So many people get pants that they never wear and just donate them. I even found a brand new monopoly anniversary edition at a good will store for 15$. Everything was still sealed.

 

[welovedis]

Well, I found the auction and it really had so little info in it and no questions asked, that I'd say you probably got what you paid for. As a seller I'd be more careful to include better pics of the individual pants and measurements, but as a buyer I know better than to trust someone's idea of excellent & ask questions myself.

Just my .02!

For $3.24 + shipping you really got a good price, whether or not you got a good deal is a whole 'nother topic!

 

[kilee]

As for the inseams I always include them in my auctions. Mostly because if I don't I get bombarded w/ questions about the inseam. I know I state in my auctions I don't refund for the item not fitting. Please be sure to ask for all measurements prior to bidding.

As for the condition not being what was stated. Well, thats another story. If they are advertised as excellent condition, and they are clearly not. I'd have a problem w/ that.

 

[ceecee]

I think she should have stated in the auction that the pants were altered. If she did not do this and just put in the original size then I think she owes you a partial refund.

 

[tinatark]

I can tell by the seams that the pants were altered. I know that sizes vary from brand to brand - this wasn't the case, they were altered.

I think I will ask for the difference between the flat rate shipping I would have paid for one pair and what I paid.

I guess I am such a conscientious ebay seller, I expect the same of other sellers - if things are listed as *excellent* condition - they should be. Navy faded to gray is definitely NOT excellent!

Thanks for your input!

 

[tlbwriter]

I think I will ask for the difference between the flat rate shipping I would have paid for one pair and what I paid.

I think that's the best solution. Keep in mind that with that volume, she's probably not selling things she just had around the house - she's probably buying items for resale. And therefore she might not have known the pants had been altered. I think what you're asking for is very fair.

 

[Amyg]

For me, if you want to save a few dollars, go to a salvation army store. And every day they have a different colored tag that gets you 50% off. Plus you can try them on in the store.
You realize how many pairs of pants have the original tags on them?? So many people get pants that they never wear and just donate them. I even found a brand new monopoly anniversary edition at a good will store for 15$. Everything was still sealed.

This is the way to go! I go to Goodwill when they have their 50% off everything (usually on holiday weekends) and have purchased ALL my home clothes there. Getting back to your ebay stuff, def. get the difference in postage! As a seller I always state any fading, I don't consider something very faded as "excellent", but instead "faded but in very good condition". Best advice would be to always ask about stuff like that. Good luck!

 

[disneychrista]

They deffiently seem to be misrepresented, from your description, but in the end you get what you pay for.

I must say this Will be washed before sending! would have be a red flag. The items being clean when shipped should be a given, not a bonus.

Take this as a lesson to ask questions and be more careful when bidding.