Agressive Buyer Making Threats and Unreasonable demands

[bdstratton]

I need help I sold a Generator on Ebay this week that was listed as an 11 KVA Generator with close up pictures of the model number and ports etc.

It was listed as pick up only in Melbourne

I sold it to a man in Sydney who insisted on driving 11 hours to come pick it up. When he arrived he accpted the generator and signed an invoice to say he had accpted the item in it's condition and he paid in cash and took it home.

The next day the buyer called saying the Generator was not as described he said i lied about the Kilowatts Amps of the Generator. He claims it's only 8amps

 i did not lie on the listing - i used the original advert details and specs from the place I bought it from.

This is were it got disturbing the buyer called my parents a number and made threats to call the Police, His Lawyer etc if we did not meet his demands,

he kept calling over and over bullying my parents (he had their number because they were helping with the sale)

he yelled at my father and was really aggressive

To try to resolve the issue i offered to pay for a courier to collect the generator and bring it back to melbourne but he refused that.

and then i would refund the item once it was returned

The buyer refused the offer

He is demading i refund the cost of the drive to and from his house in sydney. (An 11 hour drive)

And he wants the refund as well for the item

I think these demands are unreasonable - what should i do? Any advise would be appreaciated as i'm not sure how to deal with this guy.

He is one of the worst buyer's weve ever come across.

[*tippy*toes*]

Keep a copy of the ad and ignore any further calls from this person. Suggest your parents do the same. Assuming his number comes up on caller ID? As the item was pick up, he has NO buyer protection, so you owe him nothing. Yes, he could try and take you to court, but it will end up costing him more than a new generator. In the event that he does try and take you to court, your ad will win the case for you and he will have egg on his face. There are several threads I have seen in regards to sellers being taken to court (and winning).

If you know which phone carrier he uses (often you can tell by the phone number if it's a mobile), contact that provider and let them know their customer is harrassing you. I would also get onto your phone provider and get his number blocked from their end. You can block his number from your phone but apparently they can still send text messages (according to a close friend who is being harrassed and stalked by her husbands ex wife).

[amber-eyed-girl]

Mobile numbers are portable and can be any provider. The best bet is to keep all written messages in case of any further trouble. Advise eBay of the nature of the calls so it can go on the buyer ID's record.

On an iPhone (with up-to-date software) blocking a number should block texts also. The sender won't know, the intended recipient won't get them.

However, I would want to know if the buyer was sending any potentially threatening texts. I just would not respond to them. Particularly as the buyer knows where the seller lives (albeit 11 hours away).

[mbselections00]

What a horrible person that buyer is !!  Definitely have no more communication of any type with them.

As well as what tippy has advised, I would also ring eBay and report the buyer for harassment and give them all the details. 

If in the interim period he rings again, I wouldn't answer (assuming you have calling number display & his number isn't private), but keep a record of the times of the phone calls, even if they do show as Private - long story, nothing to do with eBay and to be honest I cannot remember exact specifics, but I do recall, once they have harassed you 5 times, your telephone provider and/or the police can and will intervene - they can trace the 'Private' number, but the time of the calls is critical.  Once the Police have determined it is the same person each time, they will visit the caller - should put a stop to any further threats.

Best of luck, try not to stress about it, my understanding is they don't have a leg to stand on - they inspected the item before taking it and signed the invoice !  When he arrived he accpted the generator and signed an invoice to say he had accpted the item in it's condition and he paid in cash and took it home.

Keep us posted . . . . . . . .

Hahaha, I'm a slow typer : as well as what amber said also

[mbselections00]

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@*tippy*toes* wrote:

As the item was pick up, he has NO buyer protection, so you owe him nothing. Yes, he could try and take you to court, but it will end up costing him more than a new generator. In the event that he does try and take you to court, your ad will win the case for you and he will have egg on his face. There are several threads I have seen in regards to sellers being taken to court (and winning).

---

The listing for the generator had 30 day Return Policy with Refund - just for laddybugs peace of mind (and my curiosity) - is this definitely over ridden with Cash on Pick Up ?  My understanding is it is, but then again I have never experienced it being put to the test.  And also, even if it was applicable, the buyer would be responsible for return in same condition - yes ?

[bdstratton]

i did not deny the refund

i haven't even spent his money (i have stored it in a safe in case he does return the generator)

I have offered the refund to the buyer as long as he returns the generator

and i also offered to pay a courier to pick it up for him

but he is demanding i also pay his travel costs from sydney to melbourne  which i think is unfair because i did not make the decision to drive all this way to melbourne to buy the generator

that was the buyers decision and he is being unreasonable

[digupatin]

If the buyer continues to abuse you or make threats let them know that you will be reporting them to ACORN and follow through if they continue to harass you.

https://report.acorn.gov.au/

[mbselections00]

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@laddybug-2011 wrote:

i did not deny the refund

i haven't even spent his money (i have stored it in a safe in case he does return the generator)

I have offered the refund to the buyer as long as he returns the generator

and i also offered to pay a courier to pick it up for him

but he is demanding i also pay his travel costs from sydney to melbourne  which i think is unfair because i did not make the decision to drive all this way to melbourne to buy the generator

that was the buyers decision and he is being unreasonable

---

Sorry if I caused any confusion.  I don't think he has a leg to stand on as it was Cash on Pick up and he inspected the goods.  It was his choice to drive 11 hours, not your problem.  Under NO circumstances pay for a Courier to collect it - he could give the courier anything - even an empty box !

I only posted about your Return Policy on the listing because I thought you may have felt obliged to honour it, where in fact I don't think you have to - and personally, in your case, after the abuse you and your parents have suffered, if I did not have to honour it, I most certainly wouldn't.  Whatever his argument, he inspected it before paying and taking it.

It sounds to me because you have been more than reasonable - ie offering a refund AND to pay for Courier to collect, he thinks he can intimidate you by making threats - as I said previously, this is one horrible buyer. 

Make sure you ring eBay

[erg-auto-electrical-wholesalers]

Offer a refund, and yes I have had a similar situation.
It was his choice to drive that far.
I sold a motorcycle as is, and he drove 4 hours. I took the photos and said if you come you take it as is, regardless of if it works or as it is described.
Solved a lot of issues.

[erg-auto-electrical-wholesalers]

What is your return policy on that item?