Help with ebay buyer

[smile145]

I need some help from experienced ebay sellers. I have sold sporadically over the past 15 years but not a huge seller, just an item here or there.

I recently sold an unopened gift that my Dad didn't want which was a Bluetooth speaker. It was sold as a buy it now for about $30 less than the item sells for new on Amazon, as I just wanted to sell it quickly.

About a week after it was received, the buyer has emailed me that they are unhappy because "the music doesn't sound like as advertised". Now, they are talking about manufacturers advertising since I did not advertise anything in my listing, I only listed the name of the item and that it was "new in unopened box".

They did not open a case against me, just sent an email about being unhappy. What should I do? If I take the item back, it's now opened and can't be sold again as new. Any advice?

Thank you

 

[supersnoop]

What was your stated return policy? I'd stick with, "I'm afraid you'll need to contact the manufacturer with your concern."

 

[MommyinHonduras]

Most peraonal eBay auctions are not returnable, you are not a store. Unless the item was not as described or issues of listing something inaccurately and then good faith comes in.
I recently bought a Disney gift card and the seller sent me the hang tag, gift card was not there. They accepted my "return". I took that as a misunderstanding on their part and all was handled well.
It is an auction, who returns items at an auction? if they wanted to try something with option to return it, they should have paid the $30 more and bought from Amazon. I would kindly state that to them.

 

[Princess Minnie321]

This has happened to my DH so many times. He sells an item and then the person wants to return it. I tell him all the time, your listing says no returns, you are not a store, they got what they ordered based on the description. He is too easy and usually caves and returns the item. I think stick to your guns because since he opened it, you would have to sell it less since it is no longer an unopened box. He bought what you advertised and it is not your fault, he does not like the item.

 

[amcc]

I sold semi-frequently on ebay last year as a personal seller (no store) and if the seller opened a case against me, even if I had a "no returns" policy in the listing, ebay could and would refund the money and take it out of my account. All the seller had to do was say it was "not as described" and ebay would almost always side with the buyer (not one time was the item not as described, the buyer only has to say that it was).

All that to say that if the buyer doesn't open a case, I agree to refer them to the manufacturer. If a case is opened (and I really hope that the buyer won't do that), then your options are limited as per ebay's terms.

 

[littlbugmom]

I once sold a hard to find, discontinued Little People item, used. It was in near perfect condition. I fully tested the sound and lights before packing it like a pro. The guy wanted it for a holiday gift. He gave me his work address to ship it to. The item was delivered to his place of business within the specified time frame but it apparently got shuffled around at work and didn't make it to his desk in time. Since it was after the holiday, he didn't want it anymore. Since I was sure he was in the wrong, I wouldn't allow the return. He opened a case and changed the reason he no longer wanted the item to "it doesn't work. no lights or sound".

Long story short.....Ebay sided with him and he sent it back. When I opened the box, it was obvious that he had BROKEN it in order to claim it didn't work!

If I had allowed the return, I could have relisted the item. Now I'm out $ and the item.
Some people really suck.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Most peraonal eBay auctions are not returnable, you are not a store. Unless the item was not as described or issues of listing something inaccurately and then good faith comes in.
....

Not true; sellers decide if they accept returns or not and many do.

OP, tell the buyer you're sorry, but the item was new and unopened and if he has any issues, he needs to take it up with the manufacture.

 

[Alexle2007]

DH sold a brand new never been opened Wii U last year. The buyer said it didn't work and opened a case with eBay. EBay "graciously" decided the case in favor of the buyer and the item that was returned was clearly not the one that had shipped since the controller was worn and the console didn't have the games pre-loaded like the one he had sold. From now on, DH opens the box, takes pictures of the serial number and posts them with the item to keep from getting burned again!

 

[Madteaparty001]

DH sold a brand new never been opened Wii U last year. The buyer said it didn't work and opened a case with eBay. EBay "graciously" decided the case in favor of the buyer and the item that was returned was clearly not the one that had shipped since the controller was worn and the console didn't have the games pre-loaded like the one he had sold. From now on, DH opens the box, takes pictures of the serial number and posts them with the item to keep from getting burned again!

This! Record everything and require they pay return shipping, usually if they have to pay to ship it back they won't bother, and ebay can't refund the money since you offered to take it back.

 

[nancygirl1]

Ebay specifically states that the buyer is personally responsible for paying return shipping. It is their policy. I would email the buyer and reiterate that the item bought was new, in the box and was never used. If they have a problem with the sound then they should contact the manufacturer. Tell them that you do not take returns.

Unfortunately, even if you state NO returns in your auction you can see from other peoples experiences that if the buyer opens a case Ebay usually ALWAYS sides with the buyer. It stinks, but that's what they've turned into. They don't care about the sellers.

 

[Cinbride]

We do not accept returns won the ebay case for returns. Buyer was ticked we wouldn't do what they wanted but we followed ebay rules and they were mad. They sent back pkg. They went to PayPal. Paypal refunded them because it wasn't delivered to their address(even though I had proof of delivery) they tried sending something else back even shipping weight was different. PayPal didn't want to hear it. lost $80 shipping (big item) ebay final fees and item. Sellers seem to always lose,