Is "Not sure if working..." - 'Code' for "IT DOESN'T WORK??"

[many*splendid*things]

Just curious about other buyers' experiences with items where the seller states "not sure if working", or "not tested with batteries" etc. (Or where the seller gives minimal written information but stresses looking very closely at photos -as though there's a flaw they'd rather not announce because it might turn buyers away).

Not suggesting all of these statements come from an intention be a bit sneaky, just interested in others experiences when buying items where these kinds of disclaimers have been stated (after recently buying something myself which wasn't working but was listed as 'not sure if working'. I see this written a lot in listings for electronic (battery operated) items- but how hard is it really to pop in a few common household batteries in to test if anything happens?

Thanks if anyone has any thoughts.

[jellybirddesigns]

Really depends on the item. 

Yes, I agree a seller could get some batteries and test the product. However, there are far too many threads where a seller has sold an item as "working" and then the buyer gets it, uses it for 5 minutes and then it stops working for whatever reason. Almost safer for the seller to say they are not sure so as to cover themselves.

On the other hand, many years ago I picked up an old sewing machine which I had no idea how to use. I sold it "as is" and the buyer was very pleased with it. Turns out it worked fine, but I was clueless about getting it to work.

[many*splendid*things]

"However, there are far too many threads where a seller has sold an item as "working" and then the buyer gets it, uses it for 5 minutes and then it stops working for whatever reason. Almost safer for the seller to say they are not sure so as to cover themselves."

I hadn't thought of that- I suppose the 'hope' that something 'might' work (or be easily fixable) would likely fetch a higher price than for the same item listed bluntly as 'not working'. On the other hand something listed as working would have greater dollar value, but your logic makes complete sense in the case of aftersale claims of  faultiness. Maybe many sellers' are content to sell for less to spare headaches later where a buyer has inadvertently wrecked something (or claimed as such).   Thanks for your thoughts.

[maranock]

Often items have either been sitting in the garage for years, or have been picked up in a box from a garage sale and the seller just wants to get rid of it without any bother with testing. If you buy a big lot you just list them all as is and as long as you make a bit of profit it is all good. It can just be too much bother if you have to test out a heap of stuff.

[bsal6160]

i would never buy an item with such a description. purely a lazy seller to bothered to even find out if the item works. if you buy an item like that, then what chance of a refund do you think you will have if you receive the item and find it doesnt work. NIL chance.

[jfmgray]

I am a seller of second hand items (CDs) and would never list like that.  If I have any doubt about my items I test them and only list if they are fully functional.  On the rare occasion that a botchy one slips through, then full refund. 

[the_pooze]

I will sometimes list items (watches) as untested if:

 a) It has an unusual battery size that I do not have readily to hand with which to test it.

 b) I'm offering it as "parts/repair only" as it's condition is poor.

 c) I'm offering a number of watches in a single lot to just have a clear out.

On these occasions the price reflects the fact it may not work.

The biggest concern with the bulk lots is when I later see the items listed individually by the person who bought them being sold as "Not presently running, just has a flat battery".  If you've gone to the trouble to open 'em up and test 'em, surely you'd just leave a new battery in 'em and sell 'em at a higher price as a working item.

As for minimalist descriptions, I used to describe in great detail but, kept getting low ratings for item not matching description becasue people seemed to want every conceivable thing spelt out even when it was clear in the photos.  e.g. one item I sold and described all the faults I could see and with a general covering statement of "poor condition" I was hit with a "not as described" as there was a scratch on the case back, clear in the photos but, I didn't specifically note in the written description where I'd described the scratched crystal, corrosion, etc, etc in detail.

Since only providing minimalist descriptions (i.e. the physical properties of the item only and if it runs or doesn't in most cases) and stating "condition as shown in photos" sales have decreased slightly but, the ratings for item matching description have increased.

A bit long winded but, the crux of it is Sellers providing only the barest of information is in all probability a reaction to the eBay rating system and Buyers ratings using that system.

[many*splendid*things]

Thanks for your input everyone who has responded, it's interesting to hear the seller perspective on this. I'm getting to understand why a more minimal description may be better for the seller (placing the onus on the buyer to ask specific and detailed questions).

I think my original question was more directed towards the small/private seller (ie. not high volume ebay selling). From the previous responses I can understand why the high volume ebay seller/dealer may not have the time to do thorough checks and price accordingly, but the occasional seller who might have only a handful of items listed at any one time surely has that luxury.

I'm more inclined to think items described with the 'not sure' angle by small sellers have likely been tested to some extent and either don't appear to function at all or operate to some degree but not necessarily as they are supposed to. But rather than sell for a low price as as not working, some may try to milk the 'hope factor', with the 'not sure' angle.

When it turns out to be an easy fix that's great - you get an item for less than for the fully functioning product (hence the hope factor), but it'd still be helpful if more sellers stated plainly "when I put batteries in nothing happened". At least then you know what you're buying. I guess there's also the dubious end of the spectrum where an item is basically junk, but rather than throw it on the hard rubbish, some may play a bit dumb to get more than it would be worth if sold as 'for parts or not working'.

[lane-ends]

Experienced sellers with a lot of feedback will not be hiding anything deliberately, or it will show in their feedback. With priovate sellers you can range from believes it is but not sure how well or for how long, right through to deliberately hinting it might while knowing it wont. bottom line is assume it doesn't. If it does then its a bonus.

[springyzone]

I think as lane ends said, you would have to assume it probably wasn't, just to be on a safe side, then anything else is a bonus.

Just speaking personally, a while back my sister & I listed a whole lot of CDs, probably between 60-70 of them from memory, I forget exactly. It was part of my brother's estate and we just didn't have the energy left to test each one right through & quite frankly it was not worth it for what we might get anyway, but we suspected they would all be in very good-excellent condition as my brother was a music buff and looked after his collections.

But in the ad we wrote they were 'as is', we thought they would be okay but we had not tested any, just to cover ourselves.

So.. I think it depends on what it is you're looking at. If it is one item, maybe you do wonder why someone didn't take a moment to test it. If it is a  fairly large collection then I would say the odds are it's just not economical to test the lot & probably most will be okay but some might not be.