Funky eBay Experience - Need Advice

[MosMom]

1 year ago I sold a bed on eBay. Shipping arrangements were to be made by the purchaser. She said she would make them in the next month because she needed the bed for the holidays. Never heard back from her. I called her about arranging shipping and never heard back. Emailed her several times, never heard back. I was eager to have her make arrangements because I wanted it out of my garage!! That is why I sold it in the first place!

So, the other day she calls me wanting to make shipping arrangements. 1 year later. Well, I gave the bed to my SIL about 2 months ago because I figured this woman didn't want the bed.

What should I do? I feel like I could ask my SIL for the bed back but I also feel like I shouldn't be someone's free storage facility for a year until she gets around to having it shipped! I could refund her the money she spent on the bed but I also feel like that isn't quite fair either as I didn't do anything wrong in the transaction.

This is the most bizarre eBay experience I've ever had. What would you do?

 

[Tina]

She paid for a bed and waited a year to arrange shipping? That's insane! Honestly, I would probably just refund her the money she paid, less any cost you incurred (Ebay fees, Paypal fees, etc). On the other hand, she's WAY past the 30 day deadline to file a complaint with Ebay. She's lucky she was even able to still contact you after waiting a whole year. Your SIL should definitely keep the bed, regardless of what you decide to do with the buyer.

 

[Microcell]

I understand your frustration, but you probably should pay her back minus your costs.

 

[BeamsofLight]

That is bizarre.

I think you could be in the wrong if you don't supply the bed now, however I can't imagine eBay expects you to store things like that. And if she never paid for shipping (assuming that's part of what you meant by making the shipping arrangements), then she was in the wrong too. Very odd situation.

I would look around the eBay page (if you haven't already) and see if they cover this, or email their support. Honestly I think if you just told her 'too bad, you waited a year and now it's too late', she couldn't do anything about it anyway because you have to file complaints through eBay within a certain time frame and she's waaaaay out of it now. I don't know if I would feel comfortable doing that though (but then I'm a soft touch ).

Good luck. Let us know what happens.

 

[DCLuvinit]

Have you responded yet? Since it has been 1 year, I would just ignore her, like she ignored you. Why would someone actually expect to get their item after all this time?

 

[lapinluv]

I would probably refund her money, minus your fees. It'll just be cleaner that way.

 

[Brandon79]

don't forget to add in her "storage" fees that have added up in this year! ha!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Wait 6 months and then refund the money (minus your fees)

(she waited a year, 6 months should seem short, right?)

 

[Serena]

I would just tell her that you had to put it in storage and she in fact owes you since it went above and beyond her original payment.

 

[Kim&Chris]

I don't think I'd refund her money (at least not all of it). Maybe 25%, but definitely not all of it.

 

[MosMom]

Well, I see I'm getting no real agreement on what to do. I kind of agree about charging for storage or only returning a portion of the money. I know that will really piss her off probably but I think splitting the difference would be the fair thing to do.

I really did nothing wrong here and normally *I* am in charge of shipping it but this was such a large item that I stated arranging shipping would be the responsiblity of the buyer. When she paid for the bed, she never paid for shipping and I certainly wasn't going to pay $100 to ship the bed and then possibly never be reimbursed.

When I got the message I was truly shocked. She even said in her message that her name was a blast from the past and that she was ready to arrange shipping for the bed now. She was quite nice and chipper about it like she had just purchased it yesterday. So bizarre.

 

[1stNoel]

Well, she paid for the bed and technically it is her property. She can and probably will take you to small claims court if you don't give her the money back or the bed. I'm not sure you should even withhold the fees you paid from the refund. If you don't give her the bed she purchased, YOU are the one in default, even though this transaction took place a year ago and she didn't respond. If you had paid to store it, you may have been able to recoup that cost, but you cannot get anything for storing it in your garage. Fair? Not really, but you probably should have found a way to return the money when she didn't follow through on the shipping.

 

[Beanie]

In my opinion, I wouldn't refund anything to her. Why in the world would she purchase something off ebay and then one year later think she would still receive the item?? Very bizzare!!

Bridget, you always have the best stories!! LOL

 

[Chicago526]

I'd tell the buyer the truth, that you gave the bed away when you didn't hear back from her. I'd refund the money (either withholding the fees or not) and be done with it. Maybe leave negative feedback if you still can?

Really, it's not worth the hassle of fighting with her over it, IMO.

 

[MosMom]

Originally posted by Beanie

Bridget, you always have the best stories!! LOL

Beanie, I know. I feel like I live in Seinfeld land most of the time.

I am a weirdo magnet. That is why you like me. LOL

 

[CheshireVal]

I don't understand how all of these people are recommending not giving her a refund!

I agree she was totally stupid by waiting a year before arranging shipment.... but if she gave you money for the bed then really the only decent and fair thing to do is return it to her.

You're of course under no obligation to hold the bed for her indefinitely, but I don't think you can really justify keeping her money.

 

[PhotobearSam]

I would not reimburse her the money...You had to store it, she ignored you for a YEAR!!! ou could have sold it to another and not had this problem.

How much $ are we talking about? She paid you, I assume you used that money, she did not arrange shipment, I would not return the money.


If she took you to small claims court, you would get credit for having to store it. No decent person in their right mind would expect that you just are going to keep the bed for her for a year unless agreed upon before hand.

I don't understand people saying you should give back all the money...Why should you have to be punished for her lack of resposibility...I would tell her that the timeframe for arranging transport has long since experired and that you tried several times to contact her.


She probably is just hoping you still have it and will be kind enough to let her get her way but she surely does not really expect you to still have it. I wouldn't...

Just my 2 cents

 

[Beanie]

Originally posted by MosMom
I am a weirdo magnet. That is why you like me. LOL

Yes, you are my "off the wall" friend!! But, your stories always make me smile!!

 

[MosMom]

Originally posted by Beanie
Yes, you are my "off the wall" friend!! But, your stories always make me smile!!

*sigh* I meant that YOU are the weirdo since *I'm* the weirdo magnet. That's okay though. You think I'm a weirdo. Fine. I can live with that. *sniff*

 

[Beanie]

Yeah, I know what YOU meant, but what I interpret is a whole different thing!!

Being a weirdo is a good thing around here!