topic Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?) in Selling

Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

samantha8538 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 02:26:57 GMT

I sold an old Apple laptop, the buyer is saying the laptop "makes a noise" and that it was not in the description. I dispute this, as the laptop was in top condition. He requests a refund with me paying all shipment costs. I also had no refunds, but he claims the "noise" is faulty.

I had a bad feeling about this buyer as he also witheld payment after purchase and had miniscule questions.

Should I just have him open a refund/dispute and go through ebay? I have a 100% positive rating and this is the first issue I've ever had.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

clarry100 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 02:59:10 GMT

If he is claiming it's faulty due to the house then eBay are most likely to back him on this. Doesn't matter what your listing said about returns or refunds.
If you want it back you will have to pay the return shipping. I would get him to open a return request. Doing this puts it formally on his buying account record.
Then once you receive it back in original condition only then issue the refund.
I would be cautious and have a credible witness with you when you open the package just in case they send back a brick. The witness would need to sign a stat dec if this happened.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

clarry100 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 03:00:41 GMT

Oops..
That should read due to the noise.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

padi*0409 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 03:15:01 GMT

Could it be that the noise is from the hard-drive? You'd have to hope he hasn't got one of the laptops already and swapped your 12 month old HD into his and put his old one into yours.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

samantha8538 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 03:17:40 GMT

this is what i am worried about. The computer works well and i never thought it made a "noise". It's a solid state hard drive so it's quiet.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

davidc4430 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 03:27:07 GMT

i rekon used computers like phones should only be sold on a pick-up only sale so you get to demonstrate its working and get paid cash.

unless your selling it as 'for parts only'

too many shonks out there in ebay buyer land.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

lyndal1838 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 03:49:55 GMT

Don't involve ebay.....you are likely to lose the money and the laptop.

Obviously he cannot send a photo of the "noise" to prove the laptop is defective.

I would just offer a full refund including the initial postage when he returns the laptop. That way you will at least have the latptop to resell.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

clarry100 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 04:14:09 GMT

The only possible source of noise from a laptop fitted with a SSD (Solid State Drive) is from the internal cooling fan. They can make a barely audible noise if running in a hot environment when the fan is running at full speed. This is completely normal tho.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 04:19:23 GMT

I am half wondering if the supposed 'noise' is not him using youtube

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

samantha8538 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 05:18:33 GMT

i agree, but i dont think i will win. He was quite odd to begin with, so I think im going to get scammed...with over $500 down the drain. I'm pretty peeved, I think i;ll get a case opened and see what happend.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

davidc4430 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 05:47:55 GMT

maybe you could bribe the guy, tell him if he returns the laptop you will refund the full cost plus say $50 for his trouble once you get it back.

better to be out $50 than $500

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

padi*0409 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 05:52:21 GMT

@samantha8538 wrote:
i agree, but i dont think i will win. He was quite odd to begin with, so I think im going to get scammed...with over $500 down the drain. I'm pretty peeved, I think i;ll get a case opened and see what happend.

If you open the case yourself you run the very real risk of eBay finding in the buyer's favour and you'll lose your money and the laptop.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

lyndal1838 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 06:29:42 GMT

@padi*0409 wrote:
@samantha8538 wrote:
i agree, but i dont think i will win. He was quite odd to begin with, so I think im going to get scammed...with over $500 down the drain. I'm pretty peeved, I think i;ll get a case opened and see what happend.
If you open the case yourself you run the very real risk of eBay finding in the buyer's favour and you'll lose your money and the laptop.

I have already warned of that Padi.

Not much else we can do if warnings are not heeded.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

padi*0409 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 07:00:52 GMT

@lyndal1838 wrote:
I have already warned of that Padi.
Not much else we can do if warnings are not heeded.

Yes I knew that lyndal, but thought I'd reinforce it anyway.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

clarry100 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 09:58:40 GMT

@padi*0409 wrote:
@samantha8538 wrote:
i agree, but i dont think i will win. He was quite odd to begin with, so I think im going to get scammed...with over $500 down the drain. I'm pretty peeved, I think i;ll get a case opened and see what happend.
If you open the case yourself you run the very real risk of eBay finding in the buyer's favour and you'll lose your money and the laptop.

I read that as get the buyer to open the case. Not he himself as the seller, open any case. What case could he open as the seller anyway?

If the OP is prepared to accept a return request and fund the tracked return postage (before any escalation) and then refund once he gets his laptop back in original condition, then I can't see it being too much of a problem for him other than he loses postage both ways of course. Doing it this way forces the buyer to record the case on his buying account. Something he might be reticent to do to get his refund if he is indeed a serial scammer.

Or am I perhaps missing something in this??

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

padi*0409 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 12:01:54 GMT

I think you're correct in your assumption clarry that the OP wants the buyer to open a case, I hope so anyway.

Brain probably not connected earlier..................................

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

samantha8538 — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 22:16:00 GMT

Yes, I have read the comments. And thank you for your advice. I am not opening a refund, the buyer will need to if they believe there is an issue, which is what I understand most of you are saying.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

audio--junction — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 01:30:19 GMT

welcome to my world. Iv just had 2 similar cases. Basically you have to give 30 days guarantee for vintage gear that may fail at any time and is subject to misuse or parts swapping. This is no place to sell this type of gear

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

phorum_junkie* — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 01:41:25 GMT

My response would be to tell them if they return it you will have it checked over by Apple and if it is a fault that could not have been caused by the buyer using it wrongly you will be happy to refund in full including postage both ways however if Apple find it has been opened and tampered with misused in any way then you will return it to them on receipt of the cost of postage.

If they are out to scam you this will let them know you are not going to be a pushover so they may back off.

If they continue and return it either off their own bat or through an ebay dispute and you think it has been tamperred with let them know you are having it inspected and should it have been opened up or any work done on it so it is not in the condition it was sent in you will be opening an enquiry through ACORN.

Re: Buyer Dispute: Requesting Refund (do they have a case?)

letscleanupmycupboards — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 16:03:15 GMT

How/why would any eBay ruling for a faulty item cost you the item and the money? I don't get it.

If the buyer puts in a claim and the seller pays return postage it's as simple as that isn't it?

Would it not be better to encourage the buyer to return it without opening a case then you can opt to refund item cost and original postage only rather than return cost too (esp if you're sure nothing is wrong).