Help, Ebay- always a bad egg !

[peacefulgirl]

Gesh! People are nuts! There is always someone to ruin things it seems.

I have my 1st bad dealings with an Ebay customer.

It seems she just isn't happy with the boots! These were never worn and do not have mold or smell ... pahleeze, why would I go through selling and shipping these like that ? DUH ! Anyway here is what she said in her email :


Hi, I received the boots today and was expecting new boots sincs you wrote your daughter never wore them. They have mold (white) on the part where the pullstring is and they smell rotten. I would like to send them back for a full refund (including return postage of $5.65), because I would have never made a bid, if I knew the condition they are in. Thanks for your fast answer, Jeannette

Oh the picture of the boots were She paid 7.50 and s&h 5.65. I paid 5.50 to ship them and 2.08 in fees.

What would you say and do? HELP!

Thanks
PG

see pic here

 

[Cindy B]

Well, I am a very literal person, so I will ask a pretty stupid question.

Your listing said your daughter never wore the boots, but did you get them from someone else who maybe did?

Were they gently worn by someone else? Or were they given to you by someone else?

Sometimes its possible to buy a worn pair of shoes (returns) from a store as well.

Personally, you didn't state that the sale is final. I am a big stickler on putting that in every single listing.

 

[pjlla]

Okay... here is my taken on it (sorry if I sound cynical).... she got them home and either her DD didn't like them or they didn't fit. So she is trying to find a way to get her $$ back. I guess I am just assuming that they were exactly as you presented them to be.... like new. But for the sake of feedback (and customer service) I guess I would take them back and take the $$ loss.... P

 

[peacefulgirl]

I bought the boots myself from the store so no, no one ever wore them ...

I will be putting that "all sales are final" in the future !

so how do I handle this now?

 

[robinb]

You can bid with confidence, see my 100% feedback

I would refund her money. FWIW, I try not to buy from eBayers who have a no refund policy.

 

[peacefulgirl]

hmmm true .........


But still no one is answring what I say and do ..... do I refund the s&h on the sale and the refund??

 

[kilee]

Is what she saying accurate?? Was there damage to the boots?

 

[beavismom]

Well, it depends on whether or not you can stand to get a negative or neutral feedback.

This is what I would do... refund the auction price if she agrees to ship it back to you at her own expense. You shipped it in good faith and have no way to recover that money where you can sell the boots again. It is unlikely that she will actually do it and may give you negative or neutral feedback. You have a chance to respond in your feedback section and can give her negative feedback as well.

I think it is like the previous poster said, she didn't like them when she got them or they didn't fit. If you don't have enough feedback to weather a negative, you may want to do the refund and chalk it up to the experience of selling on Ebay.

Good luck.

 

[peacefulgirl]

thanks!

I am at 123 and have 100% feedback. I just wish she was honest is all. If you look at the auction linked about, you can see they were never worn and are not moldy !

She can still leave bad feedback anyway, after the return... its a gamble I guess.

hmmm

 

[bettyann29]

Do they still have the tags on them? Just curious.... I would offer to let her return them to you.. but I would not pay her for any of the shipping fees.. I would say that when you recv them back and if they are in the condition that she says they are in then you would offer to pay the shipping charges.. That way if she leaves you negative feedback, which she might do anyway.. you can list that you offered to pay the shipping if indeed the merchandise is in the shape she claims it is in.. By looking at the picture I personally dont think they are the way she is describing it.. I think she just changed her mind..

 

[disneychrista]

If KNOW you know that you send boots in good condition. And that her alligations are false, I wouldn't refund.

A trick I have heard about is to tell her that you will refund her money once you recieve the item back and that you verify that they are the boots you sent. Tell her that you mark all items wand that it can only be detected with a special light. If she is lying in most cases she isn't going to risk sending them back.

 

[bettyann29]

disneychrista.. That is hilarious!! I like that one.. I believe you're correct.. if that is what she is doing than I would bet she would think twice about sending them back..

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by disneychrista
Tell her that you mark all items wand that it can only be detected with a special light. If she is lying in most cases she isn't going to risk sending them back.

Many people that sell books on Amazon do the same thing. Sometimes people will say that the book they received was in much worse condition than ordered and what they did was order 2 books and "returned" the better one. This is not the case. I agree that she is probably just having "cold feet". If you really have any customer service other than taking $$ and shipping out the goods you must take returns. Even for buyer remose.

I would still refund the amount plus shipping after you received the boots back.

 

[aunt2brant]

A couple of months ago, I bought something for my computer at a 'good' deal...well the seller did not send all of the pieces and I was mad. I contacted the seller but got nowhere, as he said that he sent everything. After numerous e-mails, I agreed to a refund of 1/2 of my buying price, minus shipping charges. I was not happy about it because I still feel that I was taken and in fact, I have not bought anything from e-bay since and probably won't for a while.
Anyway, enough of my saop box...I like the idea of the lady sending them back and refunding the $$ if indeed they are molded. If I were her, I would probably just cough it up and not worry about something that cost as little as 7 or 8 bucks, but I guess that some people are on a thight budget or just unwilling to let things like that go.
BTW the computer thing cost a whole lot more than that and everything was pictured.

 

[NeverBeentoDisney]

I had this problem not to long ago. I sold the item as is. It was a car radio and the guy insisted a refund even though I insured it and I am also sure that it was damaged in shipping with UPS. He threatened me by telling me "you will never sell again!" I offered him a half refund because he said the CD player doesnt work but on the condition that he had to send it back to me in good condition and insured as I shipped it to him, and I would not refund the shipping costs that he paid. Because I had shipped it to him... Just my two cents worth.

 

[iluvdisnee]

I think if it was less than 10 bucks I'd tell her to keep the stinkin (No pun intended, LOL) boots and give her a refund. Its not worth negative or neutral feedback.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Originally posted by iluvdisnee
I think if it was less than 10 bucks I'd tell her to keep the stinkin (No pun intended, LOL) boots and give her a refund. Its not worth negative or neutral feedback.

I disagree with this. That woman has probably gotten tons of free stuff from ebay by pulling that stunt on everything she receives. Have you already left feedback for her? If not, wait until you see what she puts for you. I would not refund the purchase price or the shipping costs. She knew what she was buying when it was *her* decision to bid on the item.

This was on page 8 of the buyer's (first_of_five) feedback comments:

the books were in worse condition than described.
Buyer witchbog ( 159) Oct-01-03 16:10 3552604336
Reply by first_of_five: description said: used books,show signs of wear.that's exactly what you got

So, it that the pot calling the kettle black, or what?

 

[tinaluis]

I just checked her feedback and see that she purchased another pair of boots, size 4, in auction #6708500508. I think it's just buyer's remorse. I wouldn't refund the purchase price or the shipping. If she leaves you negative feedback, I'd respond very matter of factly, that the boots were in the condition stated.

 

[floridagirrl2]

I would not refund her money, especially considering that you've got lots of positive feedback. A negative won't hurt you. I agree that this bidder has probably blackmailed/scammed a BUNCH of Ebay sellers!

My auctions state, "All sales final unless an item has somehow been misrepresented." I've sold probably 1000 items on Ebay and have only had a couple of people try to do returns--one was for an item that had damage I forgot to mention (and I refunded shipping both ways plus purchase price on that one!) and one was for a book that was exactly as represented, but the buyer didn't read the auction. I did not refund shipping for that item, but did refund the purchase price out of the goodness of my heart (AFTER the book was returned, of course).

I think I would email her and tell her the boots were brand new and could not possibly be moldy or have an odor, and that therefore it is not possible to refund her money. If she gives you a negative, respond to it and give her a neg, too.

 

[peacefulgirl]

Thanks all !

Makes me afraid to sell... but you guys are encouraging... whew !

hey anyone want some FREE smelly & moldy boots LOL LOL LOL