We recently bought an outdoor spa on eBay. The user rating is 100%, from 31 transactions. Also, I found out that the user runs a removals business. So after checking their business name was legit, I thought it would be ok to purchase.
How wrong was I? Very.
There are 2 issues:
1. The eBay ad shows pictures of the chemicals used in maintenance of the spa, being included, I'm estimating at $150 worth, as well as the ad stating that "comes with... all the chemicals you need to get you started." When the spa was delivered, these were not included. We asked about this and were told that "I forgot, I'll bring them around next week." Trying to follow up with messages and phone calls was unsuccesful.
2. The eBay ad specifically states that the blower works fine, twice. When the spa was delivered, we filled it up, and turned on the blower - no response. We asked the person via eBay messaging in a polite way if there was any trick to getting it going, no response. We tried calling the mobile, calls weren't answered, messages weren't returned, lodged a case with eBay resolution centre, no response. I have referred them to the eBay trust and safety team, and also put negative feedback against this user, but this doesn't help me with losing the $$. These blowers cost about $800, the spa was only $1300. At this point, I decided to pull the blower apart. It had a blown fuse - replaced the fuse, and found that it worked for a few seconds, then tripped my safety switch, with wires smoking and 'burnt out' smell (fuse didn't blow). Further examination shows that the inside of the blower is worn out and rusty and the bearings are seizing up. It looks like this blower hasn't worked for some time. So they likely would have known this when posting the ad. 
Paypal was one of the payment methods, but when I hit 'buy it now' I was asked not to use Paypal, as their account wan't set up or something. We stupidly paid a direct bank deposit of $300, as they requested, as they wanted to "organise staff to help unload it", however when they got here, there were only two people. Since I had to work, (I wanted to be there, but work was insane at that time) my wife was at home when they delivered it, so she paid the balance of $1000 cash, but this was before we knew that the blower didn't work. He said he would bring the chemicals back to us (yeah right).
We do have a receipt to prove that the cash was paid to them. The receipt was sent from their business email address "quote@businessname.com" and acknowledges that it has been fully paid for.
My question is: Do I have any recourse/action here? I have followed the eBay process, and I'm still out of pocket around $950. I know the company name, so is there anything I can follow up through fair trading or anywhere, even though it was sold as a private sale?
