topic Re: Confused and frustrated... in Selling

Confused and frustrated...

*555 — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 19:03:47 GMT

Hi,

I recently sold an item on eBay Australia that I shipped to an American buyer, and now the buyer is stating that it is ‘missing parts’ due to it not fitting in her electrical socket (head scratch....) - I have offered a partial refund if over 10% of the selling price which she agreed to, but now she has been informed that she can return it to me and that I must pay for return shipping!!!!!!

The shipping was $70Aud (more than I charged the buyer) - I can’t understand why I must be charged for return shipping when the item was brand new with all original parts present!

Can anyone help me???

Re: Confused and frustrated...

*tippy*toes* — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 19:06:00 GMT

Tell her to go and buy an AU to US adapter and then tell her to get stuffed. If it was listed as having an AU plug, then she has no comeback.

Re: Confused and frustrated...

*555 — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 19:12:49 GMT

Ebay have just found in her favour and deducted $92 from my PayPal account - the item sold for $600...

I’ve been stitched up, I’m so over ebay - looks like I’ll do my trading via other means.....

I suppose my mistake was not stating that the item was Australian delivered hence the connection, I assume that would have been a given seeing as though I sold it and it shipped from a AU addesss.

I was played, so over it.

Re: Confused and frustrated...

*tippy*toes* — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 19:19:02 GMT

SOunds like they've just removed the postage amount both ways. It's showing me $60 to post to the US. Tell the buyer to return the item and you will refund on delivery. It's your best bet, otherwise ebay will refund the $600 and tell the buyer to keep the item.

Re: Confused and frustrated...

*555 — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 19:25:59 GMT

I just had notification from eBay that the case is closed - the refund was supposed to be $70AUD but I feel that the buyer has had a whinge and received $70USD ($91AUD) -

Before this was honoured eBay requested that I pay for return postage as the goods were ‘missing parts’ - bloody ridiculous.

Thank god it’s over though, not the best outcome but at least it’s done.

It seems the buyers have far more protection than the sellers on he eBay platform.

Re: Confused and frustrated...

lm-entertainment — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 19:44:33 GMT

the mind boggles.

in fairness, the photos don't show any plug on the device - but you'd assume that if you're from a different country, you'd check these things out with the seller before buying - or as tippy said, go and buy a converter which are readily available. if you've paid AUD$700 for an item as a buyer, you'd think you'd be willing to outlay a few dollars to buy a plug converter.

Re: Confused and frustrated...

*555 — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 20:58:31 GMT

Yep, I didn’t want to ‘disturb’ the packaging since it was new and packed from the factory so well.

I guess we can’t assume anything anymore - the $90 part refund is a joke.

Onwards and upwards

Re: Confused and frustrated...

clubesquire — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 00:03:21 GMT

Onwards and upwards. A favourite saying of mine 555. Live it 🙂

Its over, it has cost you, but you're much wiser for the experience.

Try and not let someone else spoil your day.

I wish you well.

Onwards and upwards,

Melina.

Re: Confused and frustrated...

*555 — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 00:07:54 GMT

Cheers Melina!

Wise words.

Re: Confused and frustrated...

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 02:09:36 GMT

@lm-entertainmentwrote:
the mind boggles.

in fairness, the photos don't show any plug on the device - but you'd assume that if you're from a different country, you'd check these things out with the seller before buying - or as tippy said, go and buy a converter which are readily available. if you've paid AUD$700 for an item as a buyer, you'd think you'd be willing to outlay a few dollars to buy a plug converter.

But they're from the US, and they're the centre of the universe so why would they even think that someone else does anything differently?

Re: Confused and frustrated...

egglesdtp — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 02:20:31 GMT

@Anonymous
But they're from the US, and they're the centre of the universe so why would they even think that someone else does anything differently?

Oh so true.

Re: Confused and frustrated...

lm-entertainment — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 06:20:09 GMT

true - i mean, they have "rights" and "freedom."

Re: Confused and frustrated...

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 06:46:14 GMT

The buyer came up Trumps

Re: Confused and frustrated...

*555 — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 06:48:37 GMT

Hair and all - I got trumped! Pants down.

Re: Confused and frustrated...

languidlady49 — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 14:15:17 GMT

another thought to ponder, Australian items run on a 240volt system while the US is usually 110volts, if the buyer just buys a straight plug adaptor well BOOF and smoke

Re: Confused and frustrated...

designers*n*more — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 19:25:37 GMT

I would appeal the decision based on the fact that there is nothing "missing" from the itjem contrary to the buyer's reason for the dispute. Mention the reason was that the US buyer purchased and electrical item from Australia, which obviously has different electrical plugs. On the pictures it is even stated the product is from an Australian distributor and that you should not be held responsible for a buyer's error.

you have nothing to lose by appealing but everything to gain ($90 back)

Re: Confused and frustrated...

*555 — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 19:41:42 GMT

Agree, how do I dispute the decision? This is all new to me.

B

Re: Confused and frustrated...

iqlessthan40 — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 00:12:02 GMT

I can see pictures in your listing of the power supply box in one it says EU UK on the side the other pic has AU on the side - I cant see any that have US on the side...

That being said - and i hate to play 'devil's advocate' but if you're going to sell electrical items internationally you should state input voltage in your listing (my opinion), and be aware of other countries laws regarding the sale of such.

On the other hand if they had found it on ebay au, and you did not have worldwide postage but they pestered you to send it o/s, I would have said it was their responsibility to check.

Sorry if its not what you want to hear - just my opinion - i dont mean to insult or offend 🙂

Re: Confused and frustrated...

purplemon18 — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 09:55:42 GMT

I would suggest requesting a call back in the help section of the website, so that you are speaking to an actual person. And then trying to kick it up the chain if you are not getting anywhere ("I want to speak to your supervisor").

Last time I tried to dispute a case, I did it through the automated system and it seemed like they didn't even bother to read the text I wrote, and gave no explanation of their decision. I felt like I was just dealing with Bots, not real people.

Off Topic:

I work in a retail outlet that sells the converters to use American stuff in Australia, and I can tell you that we are no better than the Yanks at buying compatible equipment.

One of the most common items ill-informed people buy from the US is some sort of fancy blender. By the time they also buy the power converter (not just plug converter) they end up spending about 50-100% more than they would have paid for an Aussie one.

Quick rule of thumb for buying electrical equipment overseas:

1) check the input voltage, if it's over 200 volts you only need a plug converter which are $10.

2) If it has a heating element (like a kettle), or a high speed motor (like a blender) and the voltage is under 200 volts, forget it. The power converter will probably cost hundreds.

3) Everything else gets complicated because it depends on how much current (amps) the device needs to run. And the cost is highly variable ($50 to $500+). Do proper research before buying.

Those are just basic rules, and it gets a lot more complicated.

Re: Confused and frustrated...

justkidzbiz — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 11:40:20 GMT

Go to your Seller Dashboard - opens in new window or tab.
Expand Closed without seller resolution.
Select See cases and find the item in the list.
Select See details and then send us an appeal.